parting shots

John Boehner Sneakily Called Ted Cruz a ‘Jackass’ on Face the Nation

John Boehner’s departure is bad for a number of serious reasons, but it’s also sad for entertainment purposes, as the House speaker was unusually willing to publicly sass members of his own party. Sunday on Face the Nation, Boehner offered a reminder of what we’ll be missing when host John Dickerson asked if the most conservative members of the Republican party make unrealistic promises about what they can accomplish, such as their crusade to defund Planned Parenthood. “Absolutely, they’re unrealistic!” he exclaimed. “But, you know, the Bible says beware of false prophets, and there are people out there spreading noise about how much can get done.”

Dickerson then asked if Senator Ted Cruz, who instigated the government shutdown in 2013 in an unsuccessful attempt to get rid of Obamacare, is one of those “false prophets.” “Listen, you can pick a lot of names out; I’ll let you choose ’em,” Boehner said as he took a sip from his mug, eyes twinkling. “You don’t debate that assertion?” Dickerson asked. “I refer you to my remark at a fundraiser I made in August in Steamboat Springs, Colorado,” Boehner replied.

While it was never officially confirmed, several sources told the Daily Caller that Boehner called Cruz “that jackass” at the private event last month. We can’t wait to see how Boehner cryptically tells Harry Reid to “go fuck yourself” in his final speech from the House floor.

Boehner Refers to ‘Jackass’ Cruz on National TV