Boehner may be reversing course on the Iran deal

Fred Fleitz reports at The Corner,

A congressional source just told me that a rebellion by House members against the Iran deal has forced Speaker John Boehner to reverse course and not pursue a resolution of disapproval of the agreement.

House consideration of a resolution of disapproval was supposed to begin at 11 a.m. today. This was delayed due to dissention by rank-and-file GOP members sparked by a floor resolution filed by Congressman Peter Roskam (R., Ill.) that Congress cannot consider the Iran deal under Corker-Cardin since President Obama did not comply with its requirements to provide all documents associated with the agreement to Congress, including all side agreements. Roskam believes this includes the secret side deals between the IAEA and Iran.

My source tells me House GOP opposition to going forward under Corker-Cardin is so strong that Boehner agreed to drop this process and instead adopt a different approach with three House resolutions.

The first would declare that President Obama violated Corker-Cardin by failing to provide the side deals to Congress.

The second will bar President Obama from lifting sanctions against Iran.

The third will be a resolution outside of Corker-Cardin to “approve” the Iran deal that all Republicans will vote no on. Most Democrats will vote yes.

If this arrangement occurs, it will be a repudiation of President Obama’s Iran diplomacy and of Corker-Cardin. It will also provide Boehner with a way out of a GOP rebellion over the Iran deal. (I was at the rally outside the Capitol today. This rebellion was quite evident.)

These resolutions will still be vetoed by President Obama and could be filibustered. But they remove some of the absurdity of the Corker-Cardin process by forcing supporters of the Iran deal to cast three votes that more clearly put them on the record as supporting the dangerous Iran nuclear pact.

"Vacant"

Here is the full text of today's resolution by Congressman Mark Meadows to declare the office of the speaker of the House "vacant."

Whereas the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the
114th Congress has endeavored to consolidate power and
centralize decision-making, bypassing the majority of the
435 Members of Congress and the people they represent;

Whereas the Speaker has, through inaction, caused the power
of Congress to atrophy, thereby making Congress subser-
vient to the Executive and Judicial branches, diminishing
the voice of the American People;

Whereas the Speaker uses the power of the office to punish
Members who vote according to their conscience instead
of the will of the Speaker;

Whereas the Speaker has intentionally provided for voice
votes on consequential and controversial legislation to be
taken without notice and with few Members present;

Whereas the Speaker uses the legislative calendar to create
crises for the American People, in order to compel Mem-
bers to vote for legislation;

Whereas the Speaker does not comply with the spirit of the
rules of the House of Representatives, which provide that
Members shall have three days to review legislation be-
fore voting;

Whereas the Speaker continues to direct the Rules Com-
mittee to limit meaningful amendments, to limit debate
on the House floor, and to subvert a straightforward leg-
islative process; and

Whereas the House of Representatives, to function effectively
in the service of all citizens of this country, requires the
service of a Speaker who will endeavor to follow an or-
derly and inclusive process without imposing his or her
will upon any Member thereof:

Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
That the office of Speaker of the House of
1
Representatives is hereby declared to be vacant.

A resolution declaring the office of speaker of the House "vacant"

Elise Viebeck writes in the Washington Post about Congressman Mark Meadows' resolution to declare the office of the speaker of the House “vacant.”

In a blistering resolution, Meadows slammed Boehner for causing the “power of Congress to atrophy” and using his office to “punish members who vote according to their conscience instead of the will of the Speaker.” The measure was referred to the Rules Committee, aides said.

Meadows’s claims reflect a longstanding critique of Boehner’s leadership among House conservatives.

...The resolution filed Tuesday afternoon contained eight complaints against Boehner. Meadows argued that the speaker seeks to “consolidate power and centralize decision-making,” manipulates the House’s calendar to “create crises for the American people, in order to compel members to vote for legislation,” and limits debate and amendments on the floor.

Read more here.

A first for the Golf Channel

Boehner cries...again.


Thanks to Bridget Johnson at PJ Media

Time for Boehner and McConnell to resign

Mark Levin calls for the resignation of John Boehner and Mitch McConnell:

It is time for Mitch McConnell and John Boehner to resign for the good of the nation and the Republican Party. The nation and GOP are both suffering as a result of the unwillingness or inability of McConnell and Boehner to effectively defend either. Instead, these politicians are consumed with consolidating their own power on Capitol Hill and silencing opponents who dare to challenge their ironfisted rule. Sadly, they rarely act in the best interests of America's future. Indeed, time and again they have delivered victory after victory for Obama and his radical agenda -- from spending, borrowing, and Obamacare to illegal immigration, Iran and "trade" power. Never before has a Congress controlled by one party been so thoroughly impotent. This is due to the disastrous leadership of McConnell and Boehner. It is time for younger, wiser, and more courageous Republican leaders -- constitutional conservatives who understand the role of a statesman in perilous times -- who are willing to truly lead the nation and the Republican Party based on America's enlightened principles, advance the cause of liberty and republican government, and make the case everyday to the American people.

Compromise, or Coup?

Mike Lillis writes at The Hill about Tea Party Republican members of Congress being unhappy with Speaker John Boehner. Can they get enough votes to oust Boehner? And what about the Democrats? Will they happily go along with ousting Boehner, or will they support him? Read about it here.

Boehner invites Israeli leader to address joint session of Congress

This is interesting. Kudos to Boehner anyone?

House Speaker John Boehner announced Wednesday he is inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress next month about the threat from Iran, in a sharp rebuke to President Obama.

Such invitations typically are coordinated with the White House and State Department, but this one was not. The House speaker's office said Netanyahu will be invited to speak Feb. 11 before a joint session of Congress. The invitation comes as lawmakers weigh legislation, supported by Republicans and some Democrats, to tee up more sanctions against Iran in case negotiations fail to curtail the country's nuclear enrichment program.

Obama vowed Tuesday during his State of the Union address to veto any such legislation. But Boehner signaled he wants Netanyahu to explain the stakes of the debate, as he pledged to press ahead with the legislation.

Read more here.

An appropriate and timely gift

How the game is played

It's payback time. Politico reports that Representatives who voted against Boehner will be stripped of plum committee assignments. Read more here.

Boehner reelected Speaker

24 voted against him. Read more here.

The GOP plan to lose the 2016 elections

Manhattan Infidel has been listening and watching closely our GOP leaders. They have a plan guaranteed to lose the 2016 elections. Read his magnificent satire here.

A golf game the media did not report

Today I had a quick visit with a friend who works at the famous Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado, just down the road from where I work. Guess who recently showed up there for a golf game? Chain-smoking cigarette smoker and Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner, and Golfer-in-Chief Barack Obama! My friend says Obama is not a good golfer. He stood just a few feet away from the two famous golfers. Did you hear or read anything about this? Neither did I!

Why are Boehner and Cantor blocking the appointment of a select committee on Benghazi?

Allen West writes that we can no longer accept silence, obfuscation and inaction on the tragic events of September 11, 2012 in Benghazi, Libya.

I’ve joined family members of the victims of the Benghazi terrorist attack and more than 70 fellow conservative and military leaders in sending a letter to House Speaker John Boehner demanding that he install a select committee to once and for all get the answers and the truth.

There is widespread support for a select committee to get to the bottom of disturbing questions surrounding the attack, as H.Res. 36 has 178 cosponsors. Yet Speaker of the House John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor refuse to bring it to the House floor for a vote. You have to wonder, is there something they know that they prefer not come to light?