Boehner on Cruz
Steven L. Taylor
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Thursday, April 28, 2016
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13 comments
Via The Stanford Daily: John Boehner talks election, time in office
When specifically asked his opinions on Ted Cruz, Boehner made a face, drawing laughter from the crowd.
“Lucifer in the flesh,” the former speaker said. “I have Democrat friends and Republican friends. I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life.”
The interview has his views on the rest 0f the field as well.
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and a College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored
A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog).
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Note the use of “Democrat” as an adjective, which makes the whole sentence kind of ironic, since this usage has long been a right-wing shibboleth meant to make Democrats sound ridiculous.
And so Ted Cruz is a pretty good barometer of just how many Americans are miserable, angry, and resentful. To be fair, many people are for Ted because he hates the Washington (liberal/socialist/Marxist/Alinskyesque) status quo. However, many of these folks are for Ted because they actually are miserable and resentful.
These days Ted Cruz is really trying hard to smile (at least in situations other than when it’s at the expense of someone’s misfortune.)
This is good. However, Lindsey Graham’s hypothetical of killing Cruz on the Senate floor remains the best.
This must be terribly confusing for the Trumpkins. They hate Cruz, and they used to hate Boehner, but now they’ll have to love Boehner because he likes Trump and hates Cruz.
As Vox points out, Boehner is saying the same thing that Democrats have been saying for years about the current crop of Republicans:
“John Boehner was the Speaker of the House as recently as a single year ago. He is, himself, a conservative Republican. And he is saying, flatly, that the Republican Party has been captured by morons, goofballs, and “Lucifer.” He is saying that the party has moved so far to the right that Ronald Reagan wouldn’t recognize it.
Boehner is validating one of the most persistent and controversial critiques of the modern Republican Party. And he has the authority to do so.”
This deserves a lot more than a quick take.
In addition to the quote above Boehner also repeatedly called the Freedom Caucus “knuckleheads” and “goofballs”.
So here is an ideological Conservative saying what needs to be said about the Republican Party, that they have been taken over by morons, goofballs, and “Lucifer.”. And that it has tacked so far to the right that their patron saint could no longer be an influential part of it.
Republicans cannot govern. They have lost control of their own nomination process, and are getting ready to nominate someone, whether it is Cruz or Trump, who is wholly unqualified for office.
And here is a former leader, third in line from the Presidency, saying quite clearly that his party is fwcked.
Seems like a big deal to me.
And while I’m at it…here is Obama explaining Republican economic theory:
@C. Clavin:
Very possibly, if not probably. However, one blogs with the time one has (and if you have noticed my lack of blogging of late, you can maybe guess that quick take time is about all I have at the moment).
@Steven L. Taylor:
Understood and thanks for at least bringing attention to it.
I’m sure Cruz will revel in the attention. I kind of view him as Emperor Palpatine:
“Good, I can feel your anger. I am defenseless. Take your weapon. Strike me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete! “
@C. Clavin:
And Boehner is not the only one. Former Reagan official, Bruce Bartlett, has some stark things to say.
http://www.salon.com/2016/04/25/complete_and_total_destruction_of_the_republican_party_former_reagan_official_bruce_bartlett_on_why_he_backs_trump/
Lucifer is reported to be quite angry at the comparison.
@Tony W:
Yes, but when the Prince of Lies says he’s angry, does that mean he’s really pleased?