In February, during a debate on a non-binding resolution on troop escalation, which Republicans said was just some symbolic act with no real meaning, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) started weeping. It wasn’t entirely clear why.
Yesterday, Mr. Sensitive was at it again.
Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) broke down on the House floor today, sobbing uncontrollably as he urged his colleagues to vote in favor of the $100 billion Iraq war spending bill.
“Members on both sides of the aisle feel differently about our mission in Iraq and our chances of success there,” Boehner said, pausing to compose himself. As he continued, Boehner began to weep openly, crying out: “After 3,000 of our fellow citizens died at the hands of these terrorists, when are we going to stand up and take them on? When are we going to defeat them?”
I find it hard to believe Boehner is this good an actor, which suggests he’s really this dumb. America lost 3,000 people on 9/11, so we have to stay in the middle of Iraq’s civil war. After all, we need to take “them” on.
“When are we going to defeat them?” I don’t know, Mr. Minority Leader, maybe after we adopt a sane national security policy? Maybe after we withdraw from a conflict that is making al Qaeda stronger?
TNR’s Eve Fairbanks did a feature on Boehner this week. “When you’re comfortable with yourself, you can go through the worst you have to do,” Boehner said, summing up his philosophy. Fairbanks added, “It’s the kind of vaguely New Age self-help line an old-fashioned conservative would have snorted at.”
I might be more inclined to buy into Boehner’s emotional displays if they made more sense.
After all, didn’t Boehner practically admit he’ll eventually abandon Bush’s policy himself? Greg Sargent reported earlier this year:
Late yesterday House GOP leader John Boehner was interviewed by CNN, and he appeared to set a deadline for President Bush to show that his “surge” strategy will succeed. He was asked the following question: “How long can you and your membership give the President and give the Iraqi military before you say, ‘You know what? You’re not doing your job.’?” Boehner’s answer: “I think it’ll be rather clear in the next 60 to 90 days as to whether this plan’s going to work.” So if the “surge” isn’t successful by Boehner’s deadline, what will he advocate then? Let’s all see if we can remember that Boehner said this, shall we?
I remember, and also remember Boehner extending his own deadline. He told Fox News a few weeks ago, “By the time we get to September or October, members are going to want to know how well this is working, and if it isn’t, what’s Plan B?”
So, by the fall, will it no longer matter whether “stand up and take on” those responsible for 9/11?
The man’s emotions appear to have clouded his judgment. Maybe he needs some kind of break from the rigors of congressional work. The pressure seems to be getting to him a little too much.