The Blame Game

I rise to agree with much of what John Feehery had to say today about House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio).

In an atmosphere of gloom (Boehner was recently quoted as saying life as a congressional Republican was just “awful” these days), Boehner and the Republican rank and file soldier on. I receive frantic press releases from the House GOP conference, which Boehner leads, and wonder where the e-mail authors find the stamina to continue with the fight. Most of the releases are adequately outraged about every single thing the Democratic majority does, or doesn’t, do, like lower gas prices immediately. On other days there is a sinking quality even to the press releases, like the one I received last week touting Rush Limbaugh’s support for the House GOP energy plan. No joke.

But in my column this week, I listed the numerous reasons behind the current mess and coming wipeout in November, and they aren’t Boehner’s fault. It’s easy to blame somebody in the short term — easier, anyway, than taking the long view and taking the requisite medicine to rehabilitate as a party.

President Bush is a good target for any angry Republicans looking for an outlet for their outrage. And those Republicans seeking space between themselves and the president are going on the record. When John McCain’s campaign took him to flood-ravaged Iowa yesterday, the same day Bush visited, McCain adviser Charlie Black let reporters know: “We’re not going within 30 miles of the city he’s in.”

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