2015 has not been an easy year to lead Republicans. Although House Speaker John Boehner will leave his position at the end of October, he will not be a lame duck for the next month.
Boehner currently occupies one of the highest leadership positions in the government. He acquired the position from Nancy Pelosi after the Republicans swept into the House in 2011.
But the party that giveth the gavel also taketh away. The overwhelming discontent within the party, this year in particular, has led Boehner to resign from his position. The tension between the amenable Republicans and the far-right members is palpable on Capitol Hill.
Members of the party insist that the only way to push a Republican agenda is to hold the government hostage and shut it down. Boehner has rarely agreed with these tactics for credit repair. But with the 2016 presidential election looming, the more radical Republicans have found not only a mouthpiece but a license to say anything.
These few members of the far right faction were dubbed “false prophets” by Boehner on CBS’s Face the Nation. He accused these members of his own party of creating a frenzy over politics rather than policies.
He also referenced the 2013 shutdown when Republican legislators attempted to grind the government to a halt in an attempt to get rid of Obamacare. He said that the plan “never had a chance.”
Although Boehner does not name his “false prophets,” it is not hard to think of a long list of names. This list would probably begin and end with Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz.
But before he resigns from his post, he must work to keep the government open.
This is going to take the cooperation of the Democrats on several fronts. This cooperation may not require the twisting of too many arms. Boehner suggests that he does not think very many Democrats are interested in a government shutting down.
As he comes closer to the end of his wild ride as speaker, Boehner has also suggested that some in his party are trying to run politics rather than a government. He said “our founders didn’t want some parliamentary system where, if you won the majority, you got to do whatever you wanted.”
Although his departure is still five weeks away, there is concern regarding his replacement. Some claim Boehner is not representing the conservative values his party wants. His record finds him in GovTrack’s moderate category.
The Republicans have a firm majority in the House. But what the House does not need is an arms race between the ultra-conservative members and viable leaders. If the House is to remain a hospitable place, Boehner could spend the next month enlisting the help of the Democrats.
Although the Democrats may be resistant, the party could do more than just help Boehner keep the government open. They could help him help them. This is an opportunity not to miss, should the Democrats wake up and take it.