Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has been dubbed the unofficial Speaker of the House for his ability to sway conservative members, but House Speaker John Boehner
says he hasn't spoken with Cruz since 2012:
On Cruz, who has given Boehner heartburn by encouraging House conservatives to block moderate proposals floated by Boehner's team: "I've not talked to him since he's been elected" to the Senate in 2012.
So who does Boehner speak with in the Senate?
Boehner said his strong relationship with McConnell would prove constructive in a GOP-led Congress.
"(McConnell) and I could not be closer," Boehner said. "We understand each other very well."
And who does he think would give the GOP the best shot at winning back the White House in 2016? Quite possibly former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush:
"He can talk about Republican issues better than most anybody that we've got out there," Boehner said of Bush. "He's got a real record of reform as governor of Florida."
"... And when you step back and look at what's likely to be the biggest issue in 2016, I think the issue is going to be competence," he said. "I think he could be a very competent candidate and could make that appeal."
So in Boehner's ideal world, the people he'd be working with on a daily basis would be Mitch McConnell, who has been in D.C. for 30 years and counting, and Jeb Bush, whose father AND brother were both president. Heckuva' rebranding you got going there, GOP.