John Boehner and the Republican Senator from Israel

Rick Unger, writing for the conservative website Forbes.com has offered up a scathing opinion of John Boehner (R-Ohio), his Speakership, and the invitation to address Congress which he extended to Israel's Prime Minister.  Mr. Unger's full article can be read here.

(Any underlines in the quotes below are mine.)

Calling Mr. Netanyahu "the Republican Senator from Israel," Mr. Unger accuses Speaker Boehner of attempting "to create two conflicting foreign policies for the United States--one pursued by the President and the other pursued by the Congress." 

Mr. Unger wrote: "I get that the Speaker doesn't like the President or his policies...But what neither the Speaker, nor those who cannot manage to think beyond their distaste for this president, understand is the truly unprecedented step Boehner has taken by joining with the leader of a foreign nation against his own president.

Presidents come and go.  However, respect for the office of the presidency...should not.

Through his actions, Boehner may have scored some points for his party...But in the process, the Speaker of the American House of Representatives has succeeded in embarrassing the Office of the President.

Considering that Speaker Boehner has failed to accomplish anything of note during his Speakership, I can only wonder how it must feel to have his legacy be his effort to disgrace the American President in an effort to bolster the political chances of a foreign leader...

...Seeking to damage any American President by helping a foreign leader embarrass our own leader can never be considered something that is best for the nation."

what eye thynk:  Considering that Mr. Boehner's invitation is designed to undermine the White House's current nuclear arms negotiations with Iran, the Speaker's actions would seem to come very close to treason.

I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Unger's assessment that John Boehner "has succeeded in embarrassing the Office of President," but I doubt Mr. Boehner or his fellow Republicans really care about that.  In fact, I would submit that embarrassing the sitting President is their whole point.

As for the Speaker taking action that seeks to do "damage" and "can never be considered something that is best for the nation," did I already mention treason?  Oh, yeah, yeah right, I did.

The fact remains that Republicans are determined to run the United States according to their own agenda, no matter who the American people elected to sit in the White House. Just this past week, Mr, Boehner announced the House is considering another lawsuit against the President.  With the Republican led Senate still dithering over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, the House wants to sue the President over his executive action on immigration.

In an e-mail, the Speaker wrote "We are finalizing a plan to authorize litigation on this issue."  He is supported by Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) who said, "Congress should defend its power from overreach by the executive branch."

It's as though the GOP, unable to grant itself veto power over the President of the United States, views suing the White House whenever they don't get their way as a kind of Republican wannabe executive action strategy. The Democrats propose something, Republicans hate it, the President waits and waits and waits for Congress to make any movement on the proposal then finally takes executive action himself, followed by the GOP suing because they say they have been left out of the democratic process.

Drew  Hammill, spokesman for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (R-California) replied to Mr. Boehner's announcement, "Once again, House Republicans are crawling to the courts to relieve them of their responsibility to govern...Republicans' loathing for immigrants and the President is already clear."

Let me put it another way:

Dear Mr. Boehner,  If you are so dead set against the President's executive order on immigration, instead of wasting time and dollars on a useless lawsuit, why not take a cue from the President himself, (I know, I know, you hate him, but maybe just this once?), and "Pass a bill?"  Like, for example, the bill the last Senate passed over 19 months ago--with solid Republican support?

Or maybe the White House should take a cue from Speaker Boehner and sue the Speaker and Congress for not doing their job--oh, and for treason.