# John Boehner has drawn a line in the sand. (Fiscal cliff) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 19, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569 "2012-12-19T20:42:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/21 "2012-12-20T21:10:39Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Too bad neither the President nor Congress has the guts to acknowledge [the obvious](http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2012/12/19/taxes-fiscal-cliff-middle-class/1781371/). I think they both would be fine with going over the fiscal cliff (which does address the ‘obvious’ point in the article), so long as they aren’t blamed by the middle class. Obama would be fine with going over the cliff if the middle class blames Boehner, and vice-versa. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/22 "2012-12-20T21:13:44Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > You’re calling the wrong person a dick there. Norquist? Cantor? Mitchell? Tea Party members? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/23 "2012-12-21T01:34:26Z")
Well, [Boehner has withdrawn his “Plan B” bill because he couldn’t get enough support from his own caucus to secure its passage.](http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/20/politics/fiscal-cliff/index.html?hpt=hp_t1) In a country with a Westminister parliament, this would be the point where Boehner would be obligated to resign as he lacked the confidence of the chamber. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/24 "2012-12-21T02:17:07Z")
If Boehner can’t get the house republicans to support his own plan there is no chance in hell a compromise has a chance of passing. We are going over the cliff. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/25 "2012-12-21T02:27:57Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > Norquist? Cantor? Mitchell? Tea Party members? Nah, you forgot one person. But this isn’t the pit so… > [@Smapti](#): > > Well, [Boehner has withdrawn his “Plan B” bill because he couldn’t get enough support from his own caucus to secure its passage.](http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/20/politics/fiscal-cliff/index.html?hpt=hp_t1) > > In a country with a Westminister parliament, this would be the point where Boehner would be obligated to resign as he lacked the confidence of the chamber. Uh, yep. We’re in for an interesting news day tomorrow guys. Mr. JB is taking his ball and going home. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/26 "2012-12-21T02:38:24Z")
I still see that the tea baggers just want to dare stepping over the line. > **[Bugs Bunny Rides Again](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugs_Bunny_Rides_Again)** > > Bugs Bunny Rides Again is a 1948 Merrie Melodies animated short directed by Friz Freleng. The short was released on June 12, 1948, and stars Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam. > The animated short is both a Western and a parody of the genre's conventions. > Voice characterizations are performed by Mel Blanc. It is the third cartoon to pair Bugs and Yosemite Sam, after Hare Trigger (1945) and Buccaneer Bunny (1948). The title is a typical Western reference, as in "The Lone Ranger rides again", and also... > [@](#): > > When Sam returns to the surface, Bugs dares him to cross a line drawn with his foot. “OK, I’m a-steppin’!” Bugs continues this schtick all the way out of town to the edge of a cliff, where the unobservant Sam steps over the line and plummets toward the ground far below. And I see all the Republicans as Yosemite Sam. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/27 "2012-12-21T02:39:11Z")
How does Speaker Cantor sound? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/28 "2012-12-21T02:46:28Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > If Boehner can’t get the house republicans to support his own plan there is no chance in hell a compromise has a chance of passing. We are going over the cliff. I guess now this gambit will be known as “Boehner’s Boner”. So they were going to show party unity in the face of Obama and throw it back in Obama’s face. Now the trick cigar has blown up in their own faces and they’re going to take off for the holidays. And they might as well. They can’t support their own plan, they certainly wouldn’t support Obama’s, and they obviously can’t support anything in between. What would they support? Obviously something to the right of Boehner’s plan, which would be DOA in the Senate. So because they insist on suckling at the dick of Grover Nordquist, everyone’s taxes will go up, draconian spending cuts will happen and we will spin into another recession. I think Boehner has to go. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/29 "2012-12-21T03:01:51Z")
Maybe Boehner can get enough Republicans to support Obama’s plan now that it is clear the tea party wing will sink anything they can come up with. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/30 "2012-12-21T03:04:40Z")
Next week’s headline: House leadership loses its Boehner. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/31 "2012-12-21T03:08:57Z")
In the words of the venerable political observer, Casey Stengel…“Can anyone here play this game?”. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/32 "2012-12-21T03:16:55Z")
I am THRILLED that Boehner got his ass handed to him tonight. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/33 "2012-12-21T05:17:25Z")
Plan B. The morning after bill. My line. OK, I read it somewhere, but it didn’t have a name, so its mine now. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/34 "2012-12-21T05:59:10Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Maybe Boehner can get enough Republicans to support Obama’s plan now that it is clear the tea party wing will sink anything they can come up with. HAHAHAHAhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha … ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/35 "2012-12-21T06:16:08Z")
Obama will let the tax cuts expire, everyone will see their paychecks shrink, then he makes an announcement in his State of the Union Address that he will introduce a bill in the House sponsored by (X) and (X + 5) Republicans cutting taxes on everyone earning less than $250,000. No Republican will be able to vote against it. Obama gets what he always wanted and the Republicans will get all the blame. Republicans will then want to increase spending, especially for defense, and will have to negotiate social spending cuts to get what they want. It’s a huge win for Obama and a huge embarrassment for Republicans. Please proceed, Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/36 "2012-12-21T06:18:32Z")
Say you are Obama. Say you are convinced, behind your negotiating position and the bluffing that involves…say you are convinced that if we go over that edge, disaster ensues. A disaster that might be mitigated, if not avoided, by caving to all the Republican demands, just to get something done… And I wake up screaming… ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/37 "2012-12-21T06:19:46Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > HAHAHAHAhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha … Not so far fetched. He only needs twenty or so GOP members to pass a bill with Dem support. He’s already relied on Dem support to pass previous deals. But in this case, if he goes that route, I think it’ll be because he’s given up on being Majority Leader for the next Congress. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/38 "2012-12-21T06:21:48Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Obama will let the tax cuts expire…Please proceed, Republicans. From your lips to the Ears. But how much are we willing to bet? Don’t matter if we can’t lose. Are you sure we can’t? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/39 "2012-12-21T06:33:20Z")
Let me rephrase: Does the success of this plan depend, in any way, however small, in the Pubbie’s acceptance of reality, and willingness to be reasonable? ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569/40 "2012-12-21T06:37:43Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > From your lips to the Ears. But how much are we willing to bet? Don’t matter if we can’t lose. Are you sure we can’t? Boehner was playing poker and although he had a weak hand, he made a reasonable bluff. When his own team called it, the game switched to chess, and Obama called a checkmate. The smart Repubs know this already, the 2010 Teabaggers are about to learn a very difficult lesson. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-has-drawn-a-line-in-the-sand-fiscal-cliff/644569.md?page=3)