Opinion: John Boehner is right about the GOP before Trump

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Opinion by Charlie Dent

During Donald Trump's presidency, many of his critics argued that he was the cause of so many problems plaguing the country and the Republican Party. While Trump was far from innocent, as a former member of Congress and lifelong Republican, I have never bought the simplicity of that argument.

Instead, Trump was a consequence of the shifting dynamics in the United States -- and specifically within the GOP -- that allowed an anti-establishment candidate to rise to power and act on his worst impulses while in office.

-snip-

In the 2010 midterm elections, when the Tea Party-affiliated candidates gained a number of seats in Congress, Boehner wrote, "You could be a total moron and get elected just by having an R next to your name -- and that year, by the way, we did pick up a fair number in that category."

Unfortunately, those Boehner labeled "morons" gained an outsized voice within the House GOP conference, bringing their extreme views and conspiracy theories to Congress. They pushed for legislation that had no chance of passing -- including defunding Obamacare while President Barack Obama was in office and Democrats controlled the US Senate -- and attempted to obstruct the raising of the debt ceiling, which would have led to fiscal Armageddon.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/opinion-john-boehner-is-right-about-the-gop-before-trump/ar-BB1ffBIp?li=BBnb7Kz

[LizBeth]

1. I want to know why Ryan got out so quickly. I think there is something there.

[stopdiggin]

2. always saw Ryan as more of an old style 'ideologue'

more married to theory, agenda and platform -- than the populist crowd of tea party bumpkins. Whether there was some sort of dark secret that also played a role I have no inside knowledge or take. But -- can't help but think that Ryan sees Ron Johnson as braying jackass, with no thoughts worth discussing at all (kind of like the rest of us) -- and there's a natural aversion to being in the company of such cretins.

In no way trying to paint a picture of any sort of moral or ethical pillar, the party and the 'party man' were never that -- but I do think there were people who it can truly be said, "I didn't leave the party .. the party left ..."

[LizBeth]

3. He is a bagger before the baggers got out of hand. Ayn Rand'er, befrore the Palin. Becoming the Q's.

Thinking further I see what you are saying, used the bagger stupid like McConnell and McCarthy. But any Rand lacks morality which is the whole point of their movement hence feeling something was there.

[Skittles]

4. Boehner was with them, until they got out of control

he very much helped to shape the Greedy Old Pig party into what it is today