Sunday, January 08, 2006

Boehner Not The Man To Replace DeLay

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) appeared on Fox News live today to tout his bid to succeed Rep. Tom DeLay as House Majority Leader and fell flat. Boehner boasted of his talents as a “legislative reformer” and a “former member of leadership” who would offer a “unified vision.” When Fox News’ Brian Wilson reminded Boehner that his colleagues had voted him out of leadership in the past, he insisted that it had nothing to do with him personally but was part of an effort to “clean house” in the wake of former Speaker Newt Gingrich’s abrupt resignation under an ethics cloud.

Confirming his unfitness to assume the leadership post, Boehner told Wilson that no new House rules were needed in the face of the Abramoff lobbying scandal. Even House Speaker Dennis Hastert has concluded otherwise. No sooner had Boehner completed his interview with Wilson than another member of the House leadership, Rep. David Drier (R-CA), appeared live to announced that he had been tapped by the Speaker to tackle the House GOP’s highest legislative priority—lobbying reform.

Boehner is facing off against interim Majority Leader, Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO), for the top leadership post. Neither represents the future of the party. The GOP must turn to a new group of leaders to pull itself out of the smelly sewer it has fallen into if it has any hopes of holding on to its majority in the House. New Republican faces which have been mentioned include Rep. Eric Cantor (VA), Rep. Mike Pence (IN) and Rep. Paul Ryan (WI).  

Not typically shy when it comes to speaking to the media, Rep. Mike Pence oddly has declined to comment to various news outlets on his intentions concerning the open leadership post.

No comments: