Boehner's presser

Condensed version:

Speaker Boehner said the president must lead--meaning do things the Republican way--and that the GOP is perfectly willing to settle on "common ground," as long as it doesn't entail compromise.

Boehner, though, seemed unsteady. Perhaps that's only wishful thinking on my part. But to me it sounded as though Boehner was merely throwing out a pro forma, initial bargaining chip, with a face value of approximately zero--and he knew it. President Obama cannot conceivably retreat from his pre-election position of an end to the upper-end Bush tax cuts, which, statutorily, is coming anyway.

True, most Republicans cannot retreat from their defense of them, but Boehner--and maybe a handful of partisan colleagues?--likely comprehend that they lost and Obama won the election.

Comments

[Chris Andersen]

No. Mr. Speaker. It's time for *you* to lead.

[priscianus jr]

"Boehner--and maybe a handful of partisan colleagues?--likely comprehend that they lost and Obama won the election."

Possibly -- and if they don't, they will eventually figure it out. But it's interesting, I don't think they ever really did get the fact that Obama won his first term.