Does this suggest that perhaps Boehner is going to pretend to be a conservative Republican for a while? What brought that on?

I don´t believe Boehner is operating from any sense of principal. He just stuck his finger in the wind. That wind has some in the media questioning Obama´s dictator-like edicts. Maybe it´s giving the speaker some idea of standing up straight and saying something semi-courageous. But if the media starts to point their finger at Boehner again, he will fold faster than a cheap suit.
I´m so ashamed of the GOP.

It´s fine to fight back, Rep. Boehner, but say what the GOP wants to do! Just say No Taxes Without Cuts Now.

This is because Dear Leader, noble peas prize be upon him, is an alumni of the Chicago Bath House School of Negotiation. Amerika´s Beloved Messiah likes to play butch, too, on occassion. Now do what the Macho Man says and don´t make a scene, Mr. Boehner.

Since the idea of Republicans voting Present and letting Obama own the coming disaster was gaining steam, Obama upped the anty to ridiculous to bring back the perception that Republicans were the obstructioninsts.

Simple gamesmanship. I don´t see how Republicans can win this no matter what they do. The evil party is...well, evil.

Johnnie boy is just upset that Zero dumped him for Billy to go golfing. So, John´s going to show Zero by saying nasty things about his ideas and plans. As soon as they kiss and make up, he´ll go back to shedding tears and kowtowing (in the most genteel manner as stipulated and described in the "The Republican Suck Up Manual in Crossing the Aisle vol 35", of course).

I find this always, always, always bashing our guys on the front lines disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourselves. For the love of Pete, try being supporting and encouraging for a change.

Boehner is checkmated and doesn´t know what to do about it.Obama keeps adding deal sweetners for his own side when the old situation was bad enough as it was. Boehner should pass a bill in the House extending the bush tax cuts for everybody but the rich and dare Obama to veto it.Obama is just jaw flapping about the rich,most rich people in this country are liberals.

"...do what I ask."

Seeme more like do what I tell you or else.

Hate to say it #7 but being supportive of republican leadership has got us precisely to this rotten state of affairs. Boehnor may seem to be coming on strong - a bit too little too late -if only hecould/would sustain it.

#4´s humor is so good he/she should write for a sitcom.

#5 I fear is correct.

Sounds more like roll over and do as I say!

For every little titbit that Zippy adds, Boehner should show the cojones to reduce something even more from the Republican side. The ground rule - made loudly clear - should be that the Entitlement State does not need, deserve, or is legally eligible for a single incremental cent of the tax payer´s money. After that we can negotiate whatever you want. If the Beltway RINOs have that much spine we would have a Republican in the White House and a Republican Senate.

Boehner states the obvious but comes up empty handed when asked what he´s going to do about it.

Zippy ridiculously proposed that Congress permanently relinquish it´s Constitutional authority to control the debt limit. Ok, we conservatives can be just as "ridiculous", (although it would be good governance.) Let´s include with the tax rate increases that Congress and the President must give up their pensions and other post-office perks when they retire. (Need to lower the debt don´t ya know.) Including eliminating their exemptions from Obamacare and social security payments. No COLA´s for salaries. Let´s see how that would play out in the press when congress critters balk at the compromise proposal.

No taxes period. Now start talking about massive cuts in spending say back to 2009.