So I was lucky enough to flip to CSPAN just as Boehner the Orange got his minute and a half. And he started with some marginally confrontational words about being ashamed of ourselves (I do often feel ashamed of myself), but his heart just didn't seem to be in it. That changed. His face darkened, which I didn't think was possible. He became a man possessed. Now I'm no Boehner fan, but he seems like a pretty calm guy, at least in public, with a sonorous voice. And I'm wondering, "why's this dude so pissed off now?"
By now, you've all seen it. Boehner said H - E double hockey sticks at the house rostrum into the mike, and he did it in an odd context:
He shouted, "Did you read the bill??"
"Well, no, actually I didn't." I thought as I ate a chip.
"HELL NO!!", he booms. Then he does the same thing with some other things that I haven't read, and feel awful for not having done so. (I have read the Citizens United decision, and it was long.)
So I wondered, "Why is he so mad that we haven't read the bill?" I thought those guys were supposed to be mad about other things like taking over 1/6th of the economy, and genetically mating Stalin and Hitler so that his offspring, Stitler, will be appointed Czar (like a real czar) and take over everything.
But Boehner was just mad that we hadn't read the bill. What gives?
The answer is from the NY Times, which has a very nice summary of the provisions of HCR and the changes to the reconciliation bill. And guess what one of the sources of revenue will be to pay for the thing? That's right! It's a personal attack on the minority leader's lifestyle . . . the part that has nothing to do with family values. Says the NYT:
TANNING TAX: Would impose a 10 percent tax on indoor tanning services starting in 2010.
So, in case you were wondering why Boehner went all apeshit on the house floor, now you know. He read the bill, and now he knows that he's going to picking about half of the $940 billion price tag for this deal himself, just so that he can continue to remain, faithfully ours . . . day-glo Boehner.