Boehner’s speech: Thumbs up or down?
What was your reaction to GOP Leader John Boehner’s emotion-choked election night remarks?
Text:
House Republican Leader John Boehner Delivers Remarks at Election Night Results Watch
Grand Hyatt Washington, Washington, DC
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
NOTE: Written text may differ slightly from spoken remarks.
Thank you.
Thank you Pete Sessions, for your tireless leadership.
And thank you to all our candidates, supporters, and volunteers who have worked so hard to make this moment possible.
Let me just say this: it’s clear who the winners are tonight, and that’s the American people.
Your voice was heard at the ballot box! Your voice!
Listen, I’ll be brief, because we have real work to do – and this is not a time for celebration … not when one in 10 of our fellow citizens are out of work … not when we have buried our children under a mountain of debt … not when our Congress is held in such low esteem.
This is a time to roll up our sleeves. To look forward with determination. And to take the first steps toward building a better future for our kids and grandkids.
Across the country right now, we are witnessing a repudiation of Washington … a repudiation of Big Government … and a repudiation of politicians who refuse to listen to the people.
Of course, this campaign is not yet over. To folks out in the West, where the polls are still open, seize this opportunity to be heard … to reject the spending sprees, the bailouts, the backroom deals, the takeovers and all the nonsense … and to join your fellow Americans in putting Washington on notice.
Because for far too long, Washington has been doing what’s best for Washington – not what’s best for America.
Tonight, that begins to change.
With their voices and their votes, the American people are demanding a new way forward in Washington. And I’m here tonight to tell you that our new majority will be prepared to do things differently… to take a new approach that hasn’t been tried before in Washington – by either party.
• It starts with cutting spending instead of increasing it.
• Reducing the size of government instead of expanding it.
• Reforming the way Congress works and giving government back to the people.
• And for all those families asking ‘where are the jobs?,’ it means ending the uncertainty in our economy and helping small businesses get people back to work.
The people’s priorities will be our priorities. The people’s agenda will be our agenda. This is our Pledge to America … this is our pledge to you!
While our new majority will serve as your voice in the people’s House, we must remember it is the president who sets the agenda for our government. The American people have sent an unmistakable message to him tonight, and that message is: “change course.”
We hope President Obama will now respect the will of the people, change course, and commit to making the changes they are demanding. To the extent he is willing to do this, we are ready to work with him.
But make no mistake, the president will find in our new majority the voice of the American people as they’ve expressed it tonight: standing on principle, checking Washington’s power, and leading the drive for a smaller, less costly, and more accountable government.
These are the principles our new majority will stand for, and we hope you will stand with us in the hard work that lies ahead. Because we are humbled by your trust in us. And we recognize that with this trust comes the responsibility to listen, and listen we will.
Let’s start right now by recognizing this is not a time for celebration. This is a time to roll up our sleeves and go to work.
We can celebrate when small businesses are creating jobs again.
We can celebrate when the spending binge in Washington has stopped.
And we can celebrate when we have a government that has earned back the trust of the people it serves … when we have a government that honors our Constitution and stands up for the values that have made America, America: economic freedom, individual liberty, and personal responsibility.
I hold these values dear because I’ve lived them. I’ve spent my whole life chasing the American Dream.
I started out mopping floors, waiting tables, and tending bar at my dad’s tavern. I put myself through school working odd jobs and night shifts. I poured my heart and soul into a small business. And when I saw how out-of-touch Washington had become with the core values of this great nation, I put my name forward and ran for office.
So I want to close by thanking my friends and neighbors in Ohio for giving me the chance to serve and the opportunity to stand before you now ready to lead.
Thank you. God bless you, your families, and the United States of America.
***
My reax: Ok, no more tears, GOP. Fight. Hard. Don’t blow this.
And as always, actions speak louder than words.
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This is a big f’ing deal…?
U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A!….
The speech is OK, but it’s just words. Let’s see what happens when they take over. If they go back to their old ways, they’re toast. There’s plenty of time now to start grooming conservatives to replace the backsliders.
Well written,
a clear call to Obama-
“Change course!”
He looked like a serious leader,
he scored, but didn’t strut or spike the ball.
Let’s celebrate by killing Obamacare
Boehnor seems happy for himself anyway.
If the repubs backslide and just do token budget cuts (that get rejected-which we expect) but fail to have the balls to cut off funds for Obama’s agenda (via the regs from the laws he just passed, Fannie and Freddie, NPR and etc.), they’re toast.
The Tea Party should go 3rd paarty at that point, and such sentiment should be implied now to the victorious repubs by the champions of the Tea Party inside and outside Washington DC.
If the Tea Party movement hadn’t been fought every step of the way by establishment repubs, there would have had better coordination and more victories in the Senate.
The emotion appeared genuine and real and not contrived … so …
I’ll give him that from his humble beginnings to be on the verge of becoming the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the United States Congress would be a moment of intense pride and emotion …
Now … harness that emotion and bring the people some measurable results to show us that you really were listening to us and are going to do what WE want and no more of the “same old same old” BS that has been the way of Washington for way too long …
If not … then you will not be back …
There is no longer a “silent majority” … like Elvis it has left the building never to return …
I liked his speech but
what was missing?????
De-fund Obamacare?
I liked his speech, and as a man who rose from pretty humble beginnings He was genuinely moved by the honored office that he will hold.
I pray he will be a strong leader and help get this country back on the right track.
OK GOP, this is your last chance!
When he started choking up, I was nervous; he looked like he was stroking out or something.
He sounds like he “gets” that this wasn’t about lifting up the GOP; it was about repudiating what the liberals have done the last two years. The slam-down of establishment-anointed candidates in favor of Tea Party candidates (who went on to win in many cases) demonstrates that. So as others have said, you’re being given another chance, GOP, don’t screw it up like you’ve done in the past.
I loved the humanity and humility of Mr. Boehner. His emotion touched me deeply. Arrogance has lost.
Ok, so far so good. But someone needs to put a picture of Michele Bachmann standing next to the Speaker’s chair where he can see it everyday.
His first lie:”… listen I will be brief …” Another lie:”… The people’s priorities will be our priorities …” yea right. I will believe it when I see it.
This weak-suck is going to roll over like a dog for Obama. Please GOP don’t elect this idiot Speaker of the House.
Maybe he finally understands that we are sick of him and his kind; but I doubt it.
You are absolutely right, Love2Rumba!
The California Republican Party was particularly clueless about the potential power of the TEA Party.
California’s Republican Party did not work with the TEA Party and now we have Governor Moonbeam.
California Republicans also lost several other races tonight that should have been winnable if these strong candidates had more support or even basic infrastructure from the California GOP.
I’m with Michelle & I think she might need to dust off the “No More Tears” shampoo graphic if this keeps up.
Stop your sobbing, Johnny.
This from the party who brought us out of control spending and Medicare Part D.
An apology might have been nice. Then we could believe they were ready to move forward.
The speech was okay, but let’s see what he does as Speaker. Actions, not words.
As far as I’m concerned, he’s on two-years’ probation and better produce now. Tick tock!
Meh, I always cry when I am emotional. He better remember what he is saying because we will give no quarter.
RE Boehner’s Emotion:
Mr.’K’ was impressed (didn’t expect that from a husband who keeps his cards close).
I believe Boehner was humbled that he/his party has been given a second chance.
He’d better back that up or the electorate will give him a reason to cry.
Im not much for all these tears from people giving speeches, but as one poster already said: actions will speak louder than words. Let’s roll!!
This is a very critical time in our nation’s history. The progressives will try every trick in the book to force their agenda and turn the US into a third-world $#!+hole.
Boehner, et al have a great opportunity to start bringing our country back from the brink of socialism. If they can accomplish this, they will be heroes in American history. If not, they will be among the long list of forgotten failures.
His emotions came as he thought about his dad, if you ask me. Not inappropriate, per se — and I doubt I would fare any better, would you? — but let’s not have another weepy Republican from Ohio. We just got rid of the last one.
He’d better not let us down, though. None of them had better.
No more passing bills into law so we can find out what’s in them. That’s a good place to start.
Heh… remember when Boehner had that stack of paper? I hope the House doesn’t allow any House bill so big that some uppity Democrat can pull the same stunt.
And I hope he does the stack of paper thing again with ghastly-large Senate bills that get brought to the House.
At least they’ll get read before they’re voted on.
BTW, Boehner’s my Rep. So for now, you’re welcome.
So, the party of Big Unconstitutional government LOST to the party of Big Unconstitutional Government.
Let’s hope we get REPEALS!
Obamacare
Patriot Act
No Child Left Behind
Prescription Drug Plan
And was too much more to list. My guess, Obama care might get repealed. Anything the GOP did under Bush stays. If so, their not serious about the constitution or cutting spending. Their just partisons. I’m hoping for the best, but expecting to be disappointed.
Oh alright, I’ll give the sniveling weak-kneed mamby-pamby hanky twisting poof another chance, but it’s the last one!
They’ve got to do this right. They can’t fall into line with the Feudal policies of the Democrats, but they can’t just be seen as a bunch who are saying “no” to everything either. They’ve got to make Obama look like HE’S the one who is obstructing the will of the people. If this congress can handle the job right, they’ll crush the Dems in 2012.
He appropriately held out an olive branch, being a leader, expecting compromise from the other side, not with the other side. It was a call to civility.
I sensed no willingness to go along to get along, but rather offering the opportunity for positive cooperative effort.
I don’t believe Boehner or any of us expect this to work, but by taking this first step he’ll be able to then say “Well, we gave you the opportunity, it is you, Mr. O, who have been partisan and ideological”
I think voters sent a really strong message but I’m concerned about the inability for the media and voters to understand how bad things actually are in our economy.
Step 1: On the tax issue, I would hope the new GOP leadership will push through bills that are specific and porkless. I’d like to see them offer the Senate and President a chance to sign a permanent extension of the 2001 tax cuts. Let them turn it down. Then issue v 2.0, with 1% increases over the 2001 cuts. Let them turn it down. Then v3.0 with another 1% increase, and so on until something permanent is secured.
Let people see the Democratic Senate and President say no to the economic growth promised by tax decreases. Make them vote and make it painful.
Step 2: Repeal lame-duck (or vote to repeal lame duck) bills.
Step 3: Make real cuts (or vote for them) and seek to reduce the budget size to pre-2006 levels.
I assume the “D” senate will attempt to obstruct efforts of the House.
Even with last night’s win, I believe our economy and nation are on a perilous path so forgive me if I’m not popping the champagne.
We all need to stay cold sober and watch these guys and the WH/Senate. And pray for our nation.
Oh, and DEFUND, DEFUND, DEFUND.
all I can say is how sick I am of the continuous lies still being shoved down our throats; this past week and this morning it’s been ‘foremost in all the voters’ minds is JOBS’.
No. Foremost in everyone’s minds is this ridiculous healthcare that is destroying existing job-life.
Get that fact straight and first–talk about the elephant in the room, and get it done.
I agree!
As a common chestnut from my younger days proclaims: “Talk is cheap, but whiskey costs money!”
Let us see if they’re serving whiskey at this party.
Where was this John Boehner when Obama was serving up the “crap sandwich”? All he did was coin the term “crap sandwich” and let it pass. Crocodile tears.
It may be that the heart is in the right place but we are looking for a leader with spine to fight when the going is tough, not just give emotional speeches after people like us defeat his lackies and are suddenly in his face demanding his head.
I say thank you Mr. Boehner but you had your chance and blew it. It’s time to step aside and allow a believer with spine to take it from here. And I don’t mean that other spineless weasel Eric Cantor either.
At least he appeared humbled and not entitled like Obama.
However, it is put up or shut up time. Actions speak louder than words.
hmmm
If I was taking on his mammoth responsibilities, I would cry too!! I am willing to give him a chance. I am not going to bad-mouth him like some of the posters are doing. Geez…give him a chance to be the LEADER who has more power and can actually get things done. Why are so many down on him already? Yes, we need to hold him to his promises. But calling him names accomplished NOTHING…just makes this thread sound like the huffington babble. It is unfair to dump on him the day after the election.
He can talk the talk, he better walk the walk. I hope he has the cojones. It really makes me nervous when men cry in this kind of venue. After all, it’s not like his sister was rescued from the Taliban… wait… Never mind.
Exactly. I remember all the big talk of change that came out of the ’94 takeover and that ended up. We have to keep at them to ignore the media, the dems and the whiner in chief and do what must be done to undo the damage done by the leftists.
meant to write “…how that ended up.”
Eric Cantor will be hearing from me regularly as he has in the past, we have to keep on these guys so they don’t start thinking about reaching across the aisle to help the socialists pass their agenda. Too many of them have the same globalist masters.
Two thumbs up!
Cut Boehner some slack, Michelle. Those tears were the emotion of an American who fought hard for the American Dream… a small business owner who grew frustrated about what Washington was doing to small business owners, and he decided to do something about it.
Put yourself in his shoes when newly-inaugurated Obama basically told Boehner to sit down and shut up because “I won!”
Now, Boehner is emotional because the American people have responded to restore sanity in the U.S. House of Representatives.
I’d be emotional, too, if I were in Boehner’s shoes.
He will. Just like he did against Obamacare.
He won’t. He “gets it”. Now for the rest of the GOP representatives, they better darn well listen to their constituents.
As always, yes.
I think it was a fine speech. There’s no point to list the litany of liberal sins – that would take hours. Instead, he kept it parallel to the main thrust of the TEA party:
To me, the word ‘when’ said it all – the work of “We The People” hasn’t ended, it is just now beginning.
On November 3rd, 2010 at 3:49 am, CC said:
+1!
Danceswithdachshunds said:
+1!
I thought Boehner was either drunk or having a stroke.
One of the few things both parties do have in common???
Selecting the most bizarre, bland, repulsive, uninspiring, whore-like personalities one can imagine to rise to the top of their ranks.
Bush, Dole, Pelosi, Reid, McConnell, Boehner; what more proof is needed?
Look folks, the same immutable truth existed last night as always has: Elections are controlled by the Idiot Muddled Middle. The kind who can no more engage in critical thinking than they can walk to the moon.
Thus, it is not just principled conservatives we must find, but ones with the “starpower” to also appeal to The Morons (it is that ability that enabled Despercrats to get Clinton and Obama in power).
That Harry Reid still has a job this morning tells us all we need to know.
Beyond un-f’ing-believable.
Boehner?
As Bill the Cat would say … ACK
He should have declared War. My God, he’s staring at people who SAY openly they want to destroy America and yet we get more of this go along get along thanks for your leadership BS. I’m tearing my hair out. THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE JOHN!!! TRY TO FIND THE STONES TO PUT THE DAMN FIRE OUT AND SAVE THE BABIES.
well, Out Here (Colorado) the Republicans had their ass handed to them, again … despite all the hoo-rah at what size the victories would be.
And I note that while key races fell the Democrat way, the modest gains of Tea Party, Conservatives, Republicans amply demonstrates the country isn’t nearly as ticked off as the Right side of the aisle talked itself into.
But then, how can we expect The People to vote in the interests of freedom and the Constitution when they’re so dumbed down that they can’t understand the instructions on a box of cereal?
I know you’ll disagree with my analysis, and I’m not trying to be a party pooper, but the easiest time to raise capital is in the middle of a Boom, like the Tech Boom late 1990s. You could raise money for anything because of the classic Tulip Fever syndrome.
We were in a Tulip Fever syndrome coming into the elections because of the vile, dastardly, un-Constitutional and dangerous moves by Obama and this Congress.
And we should have been able to sweep all Democrats out the door. As it stands it looks to me like less than 50% got the boot.
That doesn’t bode well, not at all.
I just hope Conservatives get over their obsession “I know there’s a pony under here, I just know it.”
It is time for conservatives to take their heads out and take real control of immigration reform. We can’t be the party of no on this issue. There is no doubt that something has to change and let’s make it a conservative led change with conservative principals at the forefront.
On November 3rd, 2010 at 10:01 am, Pasadena Phil said:
“I say thank you Mr. Boehner but you had your chance and blew it. It’s time to step aside and allow a believer with spine to take it from here.”
The man held his caucus together with great success over the last 20 months. He did not have one member defect on several bills (I think Joseph Cao did once). As the minority leader operating against a hyper partisan president and solid opposition majorities in both houses, what would you have had him do differently?
I think Reid stole his re-election…
A co-worker told me this morning that they spoke with a relative in Nevada who received a ballot that was already marked for Reid!
She was outraged, reported the offense, and the FBI spoke with her for half an hour.
I pray that all of the corruption that went into Reid’s “win” is exposed, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced.
It is not his job to hold a “caucus” together while providing no effective opposition while the DC establishment sells the country out to communism. He might have kept the House Republicans “united” but he was ineffective.
It’s not all about votes. You need to convey a message that shapes the narrative so as to provide a foundation for exercising principles when the opportunities present themselves. He chose party over principle. No spine. Maybe he is great in a foxhole when survival requires not being detected by the enemy but we are looking for someone with the courage to take the chance of being detected and taking the fight to the “enemy”.
Keep strong, Boehner. You will need every ounce of your convictions to make it through the next 2 years. I am just happy that Speaker San Fran Nan P-lousy will soon be EX-SPEAKER.
Listening to Obummer’s speech on radio – “let’s work together, yada, yada, yada.” I have 2 words: Shove It.
He’s not my first choice for speaker. Talk is cheap. It’s now time to deliver. We the people have been shut out of DC for too long. If any of the GOP want to keep their jobs, they need to put up or shut up. Get the job done because the unemployment lines are waiting for those who do business as usual.
On November 03, 2010 at 11:53 am, ITookTheRedPill said:
That doesn’t surprise me at all. I also bet that the Dinosaur Media doesn’t give a rip.
It was an OK speech, but We, the People are not going to sit back on our laurels and go back to sleep. After this election MY elected officials know my name and my face and will hear my voice if they do not live up to their promises. I have already warned them they work for me.
There will be no “crossing the aisle”. We have spoken, as Boehner stated, and any politican that thinks they know better than we do will have hell to pay.
From a headline this morning, spoken by Boehner:
One can only hope.
I’d rather have Ron Paul become the Speaker.
THUMBS UP!!!!!
He’ll make a fine Speaker!
I still think that Boehner is an orange-tinted buffoon (props to Bridget Jones’ Diary). Despite his teary speech I think that there should be another GOPer appointed as speaker…. not him.
Anybody but him.
No room for SLACKERS!!!! If they’re slackin’ send ‘em packin’!!!!
Write it on the side of the barn and see if it’s still the same in 2012.
Crying? I wouldn’t have cared were he down on one knee and singing, “Mammy.” Remember this – just a few weeks ago, both Boehner and McConnell were talking about compromising with Obama! Only when Rush and Hannity had near catasterstrokes on their radio programs did they backtrack! Both Boehner and McConnell deserve to be at least challenged for their leadership positions, if not outright replaced, in the next Congress. Personally, I don’t yet trust that any of the ‘old guard’ GOP has yet gotten the complete message that its base is fed up to its eyebrows and is already making a list of RINO names to throw out next election.
Until people stop holding their noses while voting, we’re destined to continue circling the drain of socialism.
The GOP leadership has the same globalist masters as the Democrats.
Amnesty and carbon taxes are just two things they agree on.