Boehner On CO2 Emissions Just Another Case of Long Road Back for GOP

We've written extensively on the utter bankruptcy of the Republican Party, and this morning on "This Week," House Minority Leader John Boehner was absolutely full of it on climate change. Courtesy of Politico:

"The idea that carbon dioxide is a carcinogen that is harmful to our environment, it is almost comical," Boehner said. "Every time we exhale, we exhale carbon dioxide. Every cow in the world, when they do what they do, you have more carbon dioxide."

Let's add this to the list of all the other things that resemble "what cows do" that the Boehner led Republican Party has tried to peddle to the American people this Congress, along with a bogus stimulus plan, an "alternative budget" without numbers, and a joke-of-a-budget that proposes an across the board spending freeze (at the worst possible time for the economy). Unfortunately for the Republicans, there does not seem to be a credible leader or policy idea, at least at the federal level (and the hopes for the future at the state level seem to shoot themselves in the foot every time they open their mouths).

As one smart Democratic communications operative said to me about Boehner's line on carbon dioxide emissions, the Republicans have already established how out of touch they are on economics (and established their complete lack of interest in working with the president to fix the economy). Energy policy is really one of the last few places where, perhaps, the two parties could work together. Boehner on the morning shows spewing such irresponsible, unscientific untruths shows yet another example of how long the road back is going to be.

Boehner leads a minority up against some of the hardest political times in the history of the party. One of its top strategists on Friday said that its insistence on religious tests risks long-term political viability, and the Republican Party continues to demonstrate just how ill suited they are for actual governing. (As if the last eight years weren't enough.) Unless something changes for the party quickly, it's leaders' days in those roles are likely numbered, and its relevance is likely to continue to diminish.