Here's one thing the Washington Media Establishment needs to remember as John Boehner calls for negotiations with the White House and the Senate: Boehner doesn't have a majority constituency in the House.
President Obama leads a Democratic Party that is fully behind him. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has the full, united support of the Democratic Senate Caucus. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has the near unanimous support of House Democrats.
And now John Boehner. Who does he represent? The Tea Party caucus, a minority of the GOP caucus, a minority of the House, and supported by tiny minority among the electorate, can veto any deal he negotiates. He can't even get a Farm bill passed without their approval. Time and time again he's brought legislation to the floor only having to pull it at the last minute because he can't get his own caucus to follow him. We also saw this during the infamous Grand Bargain negotiations in 2011. President Obama gave just about everything in the house to Boehner except that one vase and couple of beat up barkaloungers. Even with all that Boehner still couldn't close the deal with his own people.
So when Boehner calls for negotiations, the first thing that should be asked of him is 'if you get a deal, how do we know you can pass it?' The track record indicates he can't. In which case, what is the point of negotiating with him?
The GOP needs to decide who is in charge of their party before they start calling for talks. From my view, that person isn't the highest Republican elected official in the nation, third in line to the Presidency. Apparently its a freshman junior Senator from Texas.