Has there ever been a less triumphalist inaugural speech from a new House speaker? The most powerful metaphor in Boehner’s speech just now was the reference to Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. “The ashes remind us that life in all its forms is fragile — our time on this Earth, fleeting. As the ashes are delivered, we hear those humbling words: ‘Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.’” This in a speech putting a punctuation mark on a historic Republican sweep! The new Republican majority, or at least that portion of it that has been around for a while, is haunted by the last Republican majority, by its revolutionary promises that ended in a whimper in 2006. Boehner knows that the power given to Republicans is the result of a great grass-roots movement that rose up outside of the GOP, and has just seen the hubris of Nancy Pelosi swiftly and decisively punished. So modesty was the order of the day. He made a strange promise for a legislator: Congress would do less, rather than more. The bills will be smaller, the process will be slower, and there will be more open debate, even if it makes for less efficiency. He emphasized the new majority’s openness to the battle of ideas and his belief that “we will not always get it right.” He sounded like the Scott Brown of January 2010 in his references to the “People’s House.” Political office is always only on loan from the public and its trust has to be constantly earned. Boehner is not a natural orator. There was no slickness to his delivery and a lot of awkwardness. On this day at least, it didn’t detract from the message. Will Republicans backslide on some of these assurances under the pressure of high-stakes politics? Surely. But Boehner showed Republicans understand the message of the election. “Let us now move forward humble in our demeanor, steady in our principles, and dedicated to proving worthy of the trust and confidence that has been placed in us,” he said near the end. If they don’t, the dust beckons.
Look, I'm as happy with the rhetoric as anyone, but it's still rhetoric.
Should we not hold back our euphoria and reserve judgment until maybe six months or so from now?
The people have placed Congress on watch. I doubt many members are taking this seriously. They are assuming it is business as usual. Lots of talk leading to the election and just after it followed by the usual wheeling and dealing until a few months before the next election.
Pardon my cynicism, but I'll believe the current crop of Republicans is different when they actually show that they are.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI HOPE congress does less, Rich!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLet's give our Republican Majority in Congress an opportunity to do it "right". They have a major job ahead of them; if they keep their word and work to preserve and protect the Constitution and eventually tear apart ObamaCare piece by piece for a close look by the American People they may make mistakes but they will succeed.
The American People, with the help of the Tea Parties and supporters. have given Republicans a "second chance".
This can be the Beginning of a New American Revolution. I hope and pray to God that it is.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI am so disappointed in the funereal speech of Boehner's. There is a point between triumphalism and sackcloth and ashes that he should have found, but I fear as someone who has been a part of the Establishment for too long, he has no real understanding of what the last election accomplished and who accomplished it. I also hope this is the last we'll hear of his tearfulness. I hope he's not unstable.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI thought Mr. Boehner's speech was sincere because it was so humble and unpolished. Particularly, since it came directly after Miz Pelosi's crowing about her dubious achievements. He was a welcome breath of fresh air.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'll pardon your cynicism, but I'll still judge what I see today based on its merit. He got this one right.
My congressman is probably the most far right of the GOP - he is NOT a fan of the Speaker. Too much of the same old BS. I think this post by Rich showed plenty of concern for the future and was a good analysis.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRE. LittleOldMe
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAmen Brother
Give it a rest already! Why do you have to start picking him apart just to have something to say?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSince we know they are not going to have an easy time nor with the Senate as constituted be able to get much accomplished, let's cheer Boehner and the House while we can.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse@WonkoTheGreat: Sister, but thanks.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseKate, I'm over cheering words and mourning deeds. I have three little ones whose lives are going to be majorly affected by the foolishness imposed upon this country from on high. It was a sad day when I realized that, if we continue on the current path, their standard of living will be far less than mine.
It's time for the Republicans to match words with action.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI think some of you on here are unjustly viewing Rich's article as criticsm of Boehner.
It's not!
Rich very clearly states the following towards the end of the article:
"Boehner showed Republicans understand the message of the election."
How is that criticism?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI thought it was a good speech. I look forward to National Review holding Republicans accountable to what they've promised. As I noted yesterday, their rules package seems designed to increase our national debt by excluding certain tax cuts from budgetary calculations. Any future tax cuts should be coupled with spending cuts so that our budget situation doesn't get worse. Instead of a "no new taxes" pledge, we need a "no new spending" pledge.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI, for one, will give this new group of Republicans a chance before picking them apart. I am a major skeptic (it comes with my profession), but we need to let them show us whether they got it or not. If they don't, then I am all for going after them just as much as we went after the last crop of Dems.
But come on folks, things don't happen overnight. I'll continue to put my faith in Paul Ryan. With his oversight on the budget, things can only get better.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm a big Paul Ryan fan, too. He's a bright spot, for sure.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhile I too am skeptical of any meaningful rollbacks or corrections, I AM confident in one thing. Even under the worst of circumstances, this change HAS to be better then the status quo of the 111th congress. The noose we had around our necks has been removed. We may end up having it replaced with an albatross, but that still beats a noose.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDo you mean Boehner is not a natural born teleprompter reader? I'll gladly take someone who speaks from the heart, understands this Republican majority is on a very short leash.
Give them time before the dogs start nipping at their ankles - it took the 111th two years to destroy the future.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNot often mentioned in the hurly-burly of domestic politics and power-playing is that the Speaker of the House of Representatives is second in the line of succession to the position of Commander-in-Chief. We can take some comfort in that Speaker Boehner undoubtedly understands his relationship to, and relations with, such entities as ....the US military...the Central Intelligence Agency (who of course lied to and about Nancy!)...and so forth.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe dust beckons, regardless.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYea, it wasn't much of a speech but it was refreshing to hear after Nancy's loudmouth rant. Had I not seen the voting, I would have thought SHE won the speaker's job...Someone should have told her that her broomstick was double-parked and she needed to wrap it up,,,geez. Love the rules passed today and I'm really counting on Paul Ryan to make a difference. Great start guys and gals!!
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