U.S. Speaker Boehner says doesn't like being called 'spineless'

[IDemo]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said on Thursday he doesn't like being called "spineless" or a "squish" by critics, and he vowed to prove his mettle to lawmakers who opposed his re-election earlier this week.

Boehner was re-elected Speaker of the House on Tuesday even as 25 members of his own Republican party declined to support him, the biggest such intra-party rebellion against a speaker candidate since 1859. His detractors, many of them on the right wing of his party, say Boehner is too prone to compromise with Democrats.

Boehner said that portrayal is false.

"During my years here when I voted, I have the eighth most conservative voting record in the Congress. And it does pain me to be described as spineless or a squish," he told reporters.

http://news.yahoo.com/u-speaker-boehner-says-doesnt-being-called-spineless-193336021.html

[FSogol]

1. No one ever calls him sober.

[sharp_stick]

2. Well the preponderance of evidence

means that even the teabagging fuckwits wouldn't try to make that comparison.

They'll say that Louis Gohmert is qualified to be Speaker but they just couldn't say John Boehner is sober with a straight face, simply not possible.

[monmouth4]

10. Bwahahahaha...n/t

[unblock]

3. "during my years here when i voted"? what, doesn't he vote anymore?

or does he mean if he ever disagrees with the conservative side, he abstains rather than actually voting against?

[PoliticAverse]

5. By custom the Speaker of the House only votes on legislation when their vote would be deciding. n/t

[Action_Patrol]

6. The Speaker doesn't typically vote unless

The vote is close and the number is needed for passage (or if it's a passion vote)
Not exactly the same but similar to how the President of the Senate (Vice President) only shows up to vote if it's going to break a tie.

[unblock]

8. got it. fwiw, in the senate that's in the constitution, the veep only breaks ties.

but it's usually pretty difficult for the veep or the speaker to not let their position on a matter up for vote be known, whether or not they have or use a formal vote. so it's a bit of a technical distinction.

[Action_Patrol]

9. Pretty much what I was yammering about

My apologies if I wasn't being very clear.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. Fine. He is a boneless Boehner. nt.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Yet, he doesn't mind being called a Republican.

[Johonny]

11. I don't think he's spineless, the whole party signed their power over to a handful of demented rich

Half or more of his caucus have no idea what they are doing and how a government functions. They listen to lobbyists that can tell them water is flammable and they'd believe it. Boehner has done a rather amazing job to avoid complete party embarrassment up to this point, not that the American voter cares as they seem to vote for the dumbest Republican they can. I think these next 4 years will finish him off. He can't save face by forming caucuses with Dems and blaming Harry Reid anymore. He's screwed to put every Tea Party stupid idea up to vote and pretend to like it. He saved his power but is completely powerless because the whole party signed their power over to a handful of demented rich billionaires. They have the spine, his job is to get wiped by each billionaire to move in their private direction which is usually mutually exclusive of what the next puppet master wants.

[Rex]

12. He is SO lucky not to be anywhere near me!

Spineless is the least offensive word I have for Pickled Orange Man.