John Boehner hits out at ‘false prophets’ in Republican Party

Appearing Sunday on CBS’s Face the Nation, Boehner was asked by host John Dickerson whether some in his party were “unrealistic about what can be done in government”.

“Why do I want to put the institution through this?'” Boehner said. “And there are people out there [in the GOP] spreading noise about how much can get done”, Boehner said.

Pressing matters include striking a deal with President Obama to keep the government open through the coming fiscal year, raising the federal borrowing limit, passing a long-term transportation bill and extending popular tax breaks.

During the interview, which was the first following his shocking resignation on Friday (25 September), Boehner said he “absolutely” believed that the more conservative members of the GOP had been unrealistic. Marco Rubio related the news to a conference of conservatives – who erupted in triumphant hoots. “I think the country’s benefited from his leadership”. In particular he had some comments about the threatened October 2013 government shutdown over Obamacare. I hope all Republicans – including those in the Senate – are listening to what grass-roots conservatives are saying: “it is time for conservative leadership and conservative principles”. “The sad thing is we have a lot of Republicans honestly telling Republican voters the problem up here are Republicans”.

Sunday morning talk news shows picked up on the questions that loom around a potential government shutdown and the circumstances of Boehner’s resignation. “Things are not that different”.

Until, that is, Boehner met Pope Francis.

Boehner’s shocking announcement on Friday that he’ll retire from Congress at the end of next month promises to ease passage of the measure through a shell-shocked House. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid tweeted that it was wrong to force “a good man like Speaker Boehner – someone who understood the art of compromise” out of the party.

“I am certainly thankful for Speaker Boehner’s career of public service in the House of Representatives”, DesJarlais said. “I mean, are they just speech-makers?” And I try to do the best thing every day.

He said that in his next 30 days as speaker, he’ll make decisions the same way he has since assuming the position in 2011. “But you know, it’s Washington“, he continued.

But even as he looked forward, Boehner had terse words for the faction that he ultimately could not control. Boehner referred to this effort on Sunday, calling the attempt a “fool’s errand”. They wanted this long, slow press. “And so change comes slowly, and obviously too slowly, for some”.