The Rout Begins, With Boehner As Road Kill & McConnell Facing A Tea Party Primary Challenge

[kpete]

The Rout Begins
by BooMan
Mon Oct 14th, 2013 at 09:33:55 AM EST

Brian Beutler's analysis mirrors mine, although he puts more focus on the "neo-Confederate fantasists" who seem to have no idea how badly they have been beaten.

A deal is close and the contours are clear. The Tea Party has been routed: So why are true believers delusional?

http://www.salon.com/2013/10/14/debt_limit_defeat_turns_conservative_into_neo_confederate_fantasists/


Scheiber's analysis also mirrors mine, although he adds an interesting wrinkle that I hadn't really considered.
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2013/10/14/93355/860

McConnell and Boehner, in addition to understanding how badly the Tea Partiers have hurt their party, have yet another reason to sue for peace. McConnell is facing a Tea Party primary challenge in his re-election campaign. Boehner has been repeatedly embarrassed by the Tea Partiers in his caucus, who have actively sabotaged his leadership (egged on/manipulated by Texas Senator Ted Cruz). Both men know their side has lost. Both men also know their party’s fanatics are to blame. Do you think they don’t want to see the Tea Party humiliated before all is said and done? Do you think they might want to see the Tea Partiers stuck with all the blame?

At the very least, it’s hard to believe they’ll fight too hard against any deal that accomplishes those goals. As I say, those intra-party rifts are a bummer.

I don't know about Boehner because, at this point, he seems like roadkill. But, McConnell wants to get reelected and he is caught on flypaper having to preside over this humiliating capitulation. His only possible out is to really put the blame on the Tea Party (and Ted Cruz) for pursuing a stupid strategy. Since he has lost all hope of out-righting his primary challenger, he can only hope to discredit the whole movement. This will amplify the already simmering internecine war between moderates and radicals and the House and Senate Republicans.

One last point. I think the Republican majority in the House is now broken and it only exists on paper. Any new Speaker should represent the true majority, which will be the majority that votes to raise the debt ceiling and open the government.

http://www.balloon-juice.com/2013/10/14/mostly-what-we-did-was-pray-and-sing/#comments

[gopiscrap]

1. Let's hope so, nail those two fuckers

[BlueStreak]

2. Beohner is a damned coward. Cannot pull the trigger

The conventional wisdom is that Boehner was the lesser of evils for Democrats. I hope this week he is hearing this message from Team Obama:

"Listen John. We have propped you up over and over again because we figured you were more reasonable than the alternatives. But if you don't have the backbone to do what must be done now, we have no reason to prop you up. Frankly, at this point, our thinking is that it is in our interests for Eric Cantor to be speaker. We figure he will complete the civil war in your party and become the face of the GOP -- a radical, scary face that will drive supporters away by the tens of millions. So the next move is up to you, John. Either you throw the Tea Party crazies overboard and work with Democrats to pass clean bills here or else the Democrats in the House will support an insurrection by Eric Cantor to take your job. It is your move, pal."

[Laelth]

4. Astute. That mirrors what I suspect Democrats are thinking. n/t

-Laelth

[BlueStreak]

7. And Boehner can use that to slap down the teabaggers

Back in the caucus, Boehner can go with:

"Alright, we tried things your way, and Obama kicked your asses. You guys are ruining our chances of taking the Senate in 2014, and frankly, with the games you have played recently, I'm not sure we can even hold on to the House in 2014. Obama wants you to tear the party apart, and that's why he gave you enough rope to hang yourselves.

Well, I'm not going down with your ship. Here are the choices you have. You either get on board with a clean bill or else I am taking that forward with Pelosi's gang. And I'll promise you this. If you don't get in line today on this, you will never see the 'Hastert rule' again from this Speaker."

[TreasonousBastard]

3. My concern is partly getting rid of teabaggers, but primarily...

for some concept of competent government. Which, OK, means getting rid of a huge chunk of rightwing dipshits.

Since I don't think one-party is good in the long run, no matter which party it is, I really, really want reasonable Republicans in office. (Just not too many of them.) If it takes yet another election cycle to shake out teabaggery, so be it, but I hope it doesn't and we get rid of most next year. Fat chance of that with the primaries in their safest states, bu hope springs eternal.

A few radicals on either side makes life interesting, but not if they can bring the country to its knees.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. "But, McConnell wants to get reelected and he is caught on flypaper"

I can't get the image out of my mind.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. "neo-Confederates!" There it is again!

Yeah, baby. I hope it sticks.