# John Boehner to resign. **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 25, 2015, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478 "2015-09-25T13:37:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/21 "2015-09-25T14:39:57Z")
The interesting question is what effect this will have on the 2016 election. I think the replacement will be more Tea Party oriented; that the Republicans will act crazier, resulting in the American people deciding that it would be unacceptable to have a government where the House, Senate and Presidency are all Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/22 "2015-09-25T14:43:29Z")
The New York Times noted that Boehner met privately with the Pope before the Pope’s address. Perhaps the pontiff told him to resign for the good of the planet? ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/23 "2015-09-25T14:45:30Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > It seems just as likely to me that it’s a fit of pique. You honestly think that he is giving up one of the most powerful legislative jobs in the world, at the not-really-that-old-for-a-politician age of 65, in a rash bit of spite? That doesn’t really jibe with my impression of the man. > [@](#): > > Or maybe cowardly. Depends on how the vote goes. Which vote? The clean CR will almost certainly pass now in violation of the Hastert rule. At least I’ll be very surprised if it doesn’t. Or do you mean the Speaker vote? In that case I honestly have no idea what will happen. In my perfect-world scenario the Democrats and moderate GOP’s align to elect a sane Speaker and pass things on a more bipartisan basis until next year’s elections. But I’m obviously not holding my breath. If Boehner uses his new freedom from TP threats to forge an actual budget resolution in the next month, my opinion of the man will go up immensely. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/24 "2015-09-25T14:46:47Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > [Special election.](http://history.house.gov/Institution/Vacancies-Successors/Vacancies-Successors/) It’s a safe Republican seat. A Democrat has not won the 8th district since 1936. > [@](#): > > I’m curious about how far-right the Republicans go when picking the next speaker. Did Boehner do some vote counting and realize he was going to lose to a right-wing coup? As with you and so many others here, I agree that the really interesting part is going to be the election of a new Speaker. I’m not certain that the Tea Party has a majority. If the sane Republicans stand firm, it’s going to be a real mess. A wonderful mess. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/25 "2015-09-25T14:47:23Z")
I find John Boehner enigmatic, orange, and fragile. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/26 "2015-09-25T14:47:43Z")
From the sound of it, the Senate will likely pass a three month clean CR with Boehner getting it through the House on Democratic votes. Then Boehner leaves at the end of October and it’s someone else’s problem come Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/27 "2015-09-25T14:54:11Z")
Orange you glad he didn’t say banana? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/28 "2015-09-25T14:54:36Z")
Good riddance. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/29 "2015-09-25T14:55:58Z")
I’ll put my 2 cents in for a noble gesture. I think he’s partially doing it to avoid a shutdown. I imagine having to constantly look over one’s shoulder at the right wing, while you try not to batshit things like shutdown the government or play around with the debt ceiling is utterly exhausting. I’m surprised he stayed in the role this long. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/30 "2015-09-25T14:56:43Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > From the sound of it, the Senate will likely pass a three month clean CR with Boehner getting it through the House on Democratic votes. Then Boehner leaves at the end of October and it’s someone else’s problem come Christmas. Damn. If Congress is going to give me an unscheduled vacation, early October is greatly preferable to early January. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/31 "2015-09-25T14:57:02Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > You honestly think that he is giving up one of the most powerful legislative jobs in the world, at the not-really-that-old-for-a-politician age of 65, in a rash bit of spite? The power isn’t really there for him, for one thing. As a follow-on, he has to be pretty damn frustrated with it, enough to leave not only the Speakership but the House. We know he’s exceptionally emotional, and there are rumors (yes, I know) about his drinking habits, so figure those in too. > [@](#): > > Which vote? It’s hard to keep track of all the can kicks, but I mean the next CR. I know you’re sure it’s going to pass, but if this latest development wasn’t all that planned, as it seems, then certainty might be misplaced. > [@](#): > > If Boehner uses his new freedom from TP threats to forge an actual budget resolution in the next month, my opinion of the man will go up immensely. If he couldn’t do it \*with \*the power you speak of, then … ? A CR, no matter how long, instead of a _budget_ is a confession of severe leadership failure anyway. Yet it’s become a way of life. And now \*they \*need extraordinary measures to pass. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/32 "2015-09-25T15:00:54Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > If he couldn’t do it \*with \*the power you speak of, then … ? He has the same power for the next five weeks that he’s had for the past few years. What’s changed is that now, nobody has any leverage over _him_. _You’ll never work in this town again, Tirebiter! **What** town?_ ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/33 "2015-09-25T15:05:26Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > He has the same power for the next five weeks that he’s had for the past few years. > > What’s changed is that now, nobody has any leverage over _him_. > > _You’ll never work in this town again, Tirebiter! > **What** town?_ Exactly. He can forge kind of a grand bargain with moderate GOPers and Democrats and not have to worry about someone getting revenge on him by taking away his position. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/34 "2015-09-25T15:06:06Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > He has the same power for the next five weeks that he’s had for the past few years. > > What’s changed is that now, nobody has any leverage over _him_. Nor _he_ over _them_. No, he does \*not \*have the same power anymore as a lame duck. There are no inducements or coercions he can offer, nothing he can trade, and can even make no cajoling that anyone needs to listen to. He’s got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![John\_D\_Adamo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed8c4c/32.png) [@John\_D\_Adamo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_D_Adamo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/35 "2015-09-25T15:07:16Z")
If the loonies finally truly take over the House and we get gridlock like never before seen, will that finally be the wakeup call needed to vote some folks out of there and get in some people who will work with Dems/are Dems? Ugh, probably not. -.- ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/36 "2015-09-25T15:08:26Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Nor _he_ over _them_. No, he does \*not \*have the same power anymore as a lame duck. There are no inducements or coercions he can offer, nothing he can trade, and can even make no cajoling that anyone needs to listen to. He’s got nothing. Listen – he doesn’t need to threaten, cajole, or swindle large numbers of the Republican caucus into voting for a clean bill not to shut down the government. He need to hold a few dozen Republicans and then the House Democrats will vote for the bill. This is very likely a completely doable thing that will avoid a shutdown. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/37 "2015-09-25T15:09:56Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Listen – he doesn’t need to threaten, cajole, or swindle large numbers of the Republican caucus into voting for a clean bill not to shut down the government. He need to hold a few dozen Republicans and then the House Democrats will vote for the bill. This is very likely a completely doable thing that will avoid a shutdown. And leave as his legacy the last act of a complete capitulation to Democrats. Which is kinda fitting. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/38 "2015-09-25T15:13:15Z")
I’m sorry to see Boehner go. I think he’s one of the most skillful politicians we’ve seen in recent decades. I highly doubt that many other people could face what he’s faced within his own party and still retain his position for so long. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/39 "2015-09-25T15:15:32Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > And leave as his legacy the last act of a complete capitulation to Democrats. Which is kinda fitting. Interesting that you see keeping government running as a failure. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478/40 "2015-09-25T15:15:37Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Nor _he_ over _them_. No, he does \*not \*have the same power anymore as a lame duck. There are no inducements or coercions he can offer, nothing he can trade, and can even make no cajoling that anyone needs to listen to. He’s got nothing. He’s got enough democrats and sane republicans to do whatever the hell he wants without any fear of losing his job over it. He has more power now than he’s had at any point in his speakership. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-to-resign/732478.md?page=3)