May 26, 2007 - Pensito

“After 3,000 of our fellow citizens died at the hands of these terrorists, when are we going to stand up and take ’em on!? When are we going to defeat ’em?!”
— Boehner

Boehner’s Boo-Hoo: Is the standard of comportment for political leaders different for men and women? You bet. There was a prime example of the difference last week when Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) took to the floor during the debate on the war-funding bill to deliver a tearful (drunken?) non sequitor on 9/11, terrorism and the war in Iraq.

Watch the clip and ask yourself what would happen if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared to lose control of her emotions while addressing the House (or anywhere). Corporate media would be in full meltdown. Pols and pundits would be raising “serious” questions about her ability to lead. Rightwing radio would be telegraphing an unspoken message loud and clear: Told ya. Women are too unstable to lead. It’s doubtful she would survive the scandal.

What’s caught on tape here is not Boehner’s macaca moment, but you could make a case that is equivalently as cringe-making as Howard Dean’s scream. Lucky for Boehner, Big Media is ignoring his performance. Lucky for him, he’s a guy.

Transcript follows:

[…]

Day: May 26, 2007

GOP Leader Boehner Sobs on House Floor – If Pelosi Cried, Her Career Would Be Over

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

A new Fox News Poll finds 71% of voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the Iran War, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while just 37% say it was right.

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.