Everybody else has offered solutions to the crisis of government we now confront, so why not me? The central problem appears to be John Boehner's unwillingness to risk the loss of his position as Speaker of the House. Matt expresses a widespread wonder about why Boehner wants to keep a job that seems to give him so much grief, but there it is. So we must craft a solution that will enable him to keep his Speakership and his seat in Congress, at least for another term. Here is what I suggest .
President Obama should hold a meeting with Boehner, Nancy Pelosi, and Chris Redfern. Chris Redfern? Who on earth is Chris Redfern? Glad you asked. Chris Redfern is the Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party [Boehner represenmts Ohio's 8th CD.] Obama should then offer Boehner a choice:
If he allows a clean one year Continuing Resolution and a clean Debt Ceiling rise to come to the floor of the House, where both will pass, then Nancy Pelosi will guarantee that Boehner keeps his Speakership, so long as there are at least seventeen Republicans who will stand with Boehner in any Tea Party challenge to his position. How can she do this? Simple. When a vote is forced on the Speakership, if Boehner has a majority of the Republicans behind him, she will withdraw her name at the last moment, all the Democrats will vote "Present," and Boehner will win a majority of the votes cast , giving him the Speakership. If Boehner cannot win a majority of the Republicans, enough Democrats will vote for him to elect him Speaker.
Meanwhile, in the Ohio 8th, a furious tea Party challenge to Boehner will immediately arise. [Boehner has represented the district for twenty-one years, and ran last year unopposed.] If Boehner loses the Primary, he can run as an Independent, and Chris Redfern will throw the support of the Democratic Party of Ohio to his support, pretty much guaranteeing that he will win.
If Boehner refuses the deal, then Obama will ignore the debt limit on 14th Amendment grounds and invite Boehner to impeach him, confident that it will be impossible to get two thirds of the Senate to vote for conviction.
