So John Boehner has given his surrender press conference. But there were some things he said in his very dispirited recitation that I suspect we’ll be hearing in TV commercials next year. I get the sense that Boehner’s been beat up so bad over the last 72 hours that he just couldn’t get the candor in check.
You know, sometimes, it’s hard to do the right thing. And sometimes it’s politically difficult to do the right thing. But, you know, when everybody called for a one year extension of the payroll tax deduction, when everybody wanted a full year of extended unemployment benefits we were here fighting for the right things. May not have been the politically the smartest thing in the world, but let me tell you what. I think our members waged a good fight.
And then a bit later …
If you can get this fixed, why not uh, why not do the right thing for the American people – even though it’s not exactly what we want?
Video after the jump … Read More
Just as Speaker Boehner was holding a press conference in the Capitol trying to put lipstick on this pig, the White House released the following statement from the President: Read More
The speaker outlines the cave in a written statement. House GOP leadership convenes press conference to face the music at 5:30 p.m. ET. Watch it live.
Freshman Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) heads for the life boat. Says Boehner should just pass the payroll tax cut compromise and move on.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): “As Senator McConnell’s statement today makes clear, the only thing standing between 160 million Americans and a tax increase is House Republicans’ refusal to act.”
With Republicans geting killed in the payroll tax fight, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) calls for House Republicans to capitulate and pass a short-term extension. More shortly …
Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) just doubled down on the payroll tax hold out in a big way, telling reporters at a press conference moments ago that they won’t give in until everyone else gives in and reopens the whole negotiations on the House GOP’s terms. “Nothing can happen until we sit down with conferees,” Boehner said. “We’re not going to sit here and negotiate with ourselves”
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s office tells TPM it will release a video as early as today showing officers struggling with a Latino vet who later died of his injuries.
How’s the payroll tax hostage-taking playing for Republicans back home? Not so well.