You gotta love the some political observers sourcing. You just want a professor to take out their red pen and white “who?” on the article.
Some political observers believe it’s just a matter of time before McCain aggressively goes after House GOP members for not voting on the Senate-passed immigration measure.
The five-term senator has stopped short of criticizing Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) vow to move immigration reform only if a majority of House GOP lawmakers are on board. Yet, McCain made a pointed comment last weekend that suggested he would only bite his tongue for so long.
I think the premise of those who pursued a comprehensive bill in the Senate was that Boehner would have some guts. To discover that he doesn’t must be galling.
Au contraire, I think the feeling in the Senate was that they could have the issue both ways–first by voting for a bill, and then depending on the House to make sure it never became law.
That seems to the gift that keeps on giving for incumbents of both parties in this Congress.
As should be obvious, nothing is as unpopular with the base as voting for the other side on something that doesn’t become law.
The pro-immigration senators stand very exposed. They have nothing to their credit but cooperation with Chuck Schumer.
<iThey have nothing to their credit but cooperation with Chuck Schumer.</i>
And the Teahadists think Schumer is a Che-loving, Marxist revolutionary.
But they hope to peel off a few Latino votes or moderate votes with their reasonableness. The pro-immigration Senators are from areas with a lesser exposure than the other Senators.
And their hardnosed stands on other issues will offset it. Watch.
Does anyone really think that Cranky McSame will blast Orange Julius by name?
“I think the premise of those who pursued a comprehensive bill in the Senate was that Boehner would have some guts.”
The fatal mistake.
McCain may have a temper and he may well use it but he’ll line up Lindsey and Kelly to toss a few grenades alongside him. At this point a few Senatorial grenades is all they have left.
If the House fails to Pass a bill similar to the Senate Immigration Reform Bill it will be the End of the Republican Party as we know it today. Much like the time the Democrats were adrift from Jimmy Carter to Bill Clinton, the Republicans will be adrift for a generation or more.
Does anyone outside the media echo-chamber care what Grandpa McCain has to say? Does he have ANY juice in the Republican Party anymore (and did he really ever)? Is Republican going to win a primary saying “I stood with John McCain over the Tea Party”?
I guess what I’m trying to say is: does it matter?