A Shakespearean comedy, in mixed metaphors

To the left of an online ad for "37 Things You Should Hoard" in a food crisis--one of them being plenty of shotgun shells, judging from the accompanying photo of some squat-bellied bubba sporting a Winchester pump in front of his "Looters Will Be Killed" graffito --Eric Erickson leads the unhappy rabble in a Paul Ryan coup against John Boehner. The present may be a post-averted-apocalypse for the rest of us, but for the RedState crowd, it's still pre-apocalypse. Then again, isn't is always? 

At any rate the villainous Boehner, observes Eric the Reb, was once "willing to raise taxes" and "he now doesn’t even want to fight Obamacare" and, murkiness most foul, "he wants to start putting moderates into leadership positions." Perhaps the speaker's wickedest transgression, though, is that "he is demanding conservatives 'get in line'"--which, in Boehner's defense, is merely the way in which Richard III conservatives began racking up dynastic victories in the post-Goldwater mayhem.

Enter Paul Ryan, who "is actually speaking up defending conservative values, ideals, and principles," all of which, it would appear, Erica Erickson Macbeth-Ryan is attempting to enforce on Ryan's behalf, which leaves the reader in a hazy Say what? about the above, "get-in-line" dagger plunged in Boehner's heart.

Act III--and by now I'm cheering like a wild man: "House Republicans ... should consider Paul Ryan as their Speaker." Aye, Paul. Go for it, says the Missus. For this time it just ain't so: "yet do I fear thy nature/It is too full o' the milk of human kindness."

Comments

[Peter G]

Isn't this the best show ever? I am having a great deal of difficulty in withdrawing my gaze from right wing blog commentary. The big debate is about which group, social or fiscal conservatives, needs to be purged from the party in order in order to strengthen it sufficiently to gain electoral victory in the future. Eric is, of course, both and sees no place for anyone else who isn't. Venn diagrams be damned.

[Robert Lipscomb]

I wish Democrats, progressives, liberals and the left had the humility to reflect on their current situation to determine the best means of taking advantage of existing conditions. i suppose political masturbation is more fun.

Republicans have conceded the culture war, increased tax revenues and some income tax progressivity to focus on their primary objective of using the budget deficit to reduce spending for what they call “entitlement programs”. Progressives should not be alarmed or feel betrayed when Obama agrees to this in return for even more tax revenues through elimination of “tax expenditures” as a means of increasing tax fairness.

Medicare spending, as a percent of GDP, must be brought into line with that of other western nations. The critical issue is to achieve this through improve efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare benefit delivery system – not the level of benefits to Medicare recipients.

Progressives should keep their eye on the ball, give Obama the benefit of the doubt, and judge Obama on this basis. For once, please avoid the histrionics.

[Robert Lipscomb]

"The game is afoot."

Sherlock Holmes slightly misquoting Shakespeare, "King Henry V", Act 3, Scene 1.

http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/henryV/11/

[Bruce Adams]

Please proceed Congressman.

[Peter G]

I know exactly how you feel Robert. I just happen to be a lot more sympathetic to the far left (with certain reservations)because their aspirations are more in line with my own. They can be just as annoyingly nutty and willfully blind as any tea partier. Bless their hearts.