First they came for former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, defeating the senior Republican in a surprise challenge from the right. Then House Speaker John Boehner saw the writing on the wall and ran for the door (and Florida golf courses) when he announced his retirement after successfully convincing Pope Francis to address a divided Congress. And then, in a surprise move, current House Majority Leader and would-be Boehner successor Kevin McCarthy dropped out of consideration after the powerful minority House Freedom Caucus pledge their support to ultra-conservative challenger, Rep. Daniel Webster.
They eat their own.
While conservatives remain stunned by this latest development, reportedly crying in the cloakroom and desperately suggesting Dick Cheney as a last minute contender for House Speaker, former Scott Walker strategist Liz Mair perfectly summarized the chaos that’s enveloped the House GOP — and how John Boehner is probably feeling right about now:
John Boehner is, right now, presumably taking a long drag off his cigarette and laughing a lot.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) October 8, 2015
Mair’s comical presumption may not be that far off from reality.
Shortly following McCarthy’s unexpected announcement this afternoon, Boehner cancelled a scheduled appearance on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” today.
