What do you think the odds are of Boehner getting the Senate bill to pass the House?
I just don’t believe he can make it happen. I get all the issues progressives have with Obama as a weak negotiator. I’m personally concerned that Obama is not all that committed to preserving the social safety net. On the other hand, Boehner has consistently shown an inability to get his caucus to follow him, even on deals that are extremely favorable to Republicans. He’s no Tom “I’ll Make you Squeal Like a Stuck Pig Until You Vote the Way I Tell You too” Delay. He has the least power of any Speaker I’ve seen in my lifetime.
Perhaps someone can explain to me how Boehner (or any other member of the House GOP Leadership, for that matter) can corral the herd of cats that currently make up the Republican Caucus to accept the terms of the Senate deal. In fact, I don’t see him getting a majority of Republican members to sign off on any deal with Obama, especially since I suspect many of them think Obama will cave some more if they kill it. Why would any Republican Congressperson risk getting primaried over a deal that raises taxes (I know, it only raises them on a very small minority of well-off people, but nonetheless …)?
But I suppose I could be wrong.
