This is
just pathetic.
Speaker John Boehner says he's not worried about his political future, but the Ohio Republican’s fate has become an overwhelming obsession of House Republicans. His backers believe Boehner is being "blackmailed" by conservative hard-liners into supporting a government shutdown. His critics insist they just want their leader to do the right thing.
The latest flash point for Boehner is the controversy over federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Hard-line conservative Republicans want Boehner to do whatever it takes to shut off funding for the group, even if it means a shutdown. They're vowing to vote against any spending bill that allows such funding to continue.
The warning to Boehner is obvious: The speaker can either do what they want on Planned Parenthood, or they'll force a vote to replace him. […]
"There's a fuse burning, and things are going to blow up soon," added a GOP lawmaker close to Republican leaders. "It's not if it will blow up. The only question is when."
How about this? Blow the fucking thing up. How about the "leader" grow a spine and tell these guys who are "blackmailing" him to pound sand? They are a minority. If he stands up to them, he'll get the backing he needs from the majority of his conference to keep the government open and maybe even do something for the country. Yes, that's a novel idea, serving the country instead of the far-right wing of the Republican party. But it's well within Boehner's power to accomplish. If he holds the House and prevents a shutdown, Mitch McConnell can hold down Ted Cruz and Rand Paul in the Senate.
Boehner's problem is emblematic of the whole GOP establishment—they've allowed themselves to be held hostage to the very worst element in the party just to keep winning seats. Look where that's got them—with Donald Trump leading all the polls. It's the bed they've made for themselves, so they deserve it. The problem is they're dragging the rest of the nation into it.