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November 11, 2010

TIME’s Boehner: The Seducer

By Michael Shaw

<p>Brooks Kraft for TIME</p> <script type="text/javascript">AKPC_IDS += "18809,";</script>

Brooks Kraft for TIME

If you missed the @ktumulty tweet, she wrote:

“Was just pointed out to me that Pelosi was never on covers of TIME/Newsweek by herself. Boehner has now been on both.”

Yes, still one more Boehner cover, these version especially fawning as compared to Newsweek and The New Yorker.  (In a more painterly treatment, he’s also on the cover of the National Journal, too.)  Sorry for the inundation if you’re approaching or have already hit your Boehner fill, but tracking these covers, and examining the “it boy” treatment, is instructive for us to truly understand how a Republican Party coronation is taking place.  (Senate and White House, eat your heart out.)

In the TIME cover, what’s interesting is how it exploits both seduction and innocence.  That gaze and the baby blues and the red hot red makes Boehner out as America’s new lover boy. At the same time, the somewhat goofy/plain happy set to his mouth rounds out the “sexy” with a disarming guilelessness.

Combine “the swoon effect” with the triumphantalist copy: “Mr. Speaker,” “how Boehner will rule,” “the Republican revolution” and those folks who don’t know any better might as well give it over now.

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  • pdawg

    Boehner’s face is so far past any entanglement with integrity that they had to settle for his arch “Tobaco Rentboy” look instead.

    The Republican Udo Kier has finally gotten the exploitation role of a lifetime.

    • pdawg

      Tobacco.

  • Enoch Root

    “Republican Udo Kier…” This made my day. :-)

    To me, though, he looks like a megalomaniac who can only barely hide his glee. Try this exercise: Take your hand and put it over his mouth and nose, so his eyes are peering over. If I encountered those eyes on anyone, staring at me like that, I’d call the cops. The man’s face is an emotional collage, assembled by the artist so he can throw you off guard.

    • Peter Oswald

      I tried your exercise, and it sent a a slight shock through me. Then I took my hand away and, seeing his reassembled face, got a shiver up my spine.

  • http://www.agrippinaminor.com/scarabus/ Wayne Dickson

    Since when does the Speaker “rule” the House?

    My question certainly isn’t how he’ll rule. It’s how he’ll manage and legislate. After all, he and his colleagues have offered nothing to counter Democratic proposals and provide a positive opportunity for negotiation.

    • black dog barking

      Tom Delay pretty much ruled the House for the first four years of this century. ‘Course he wasn’t the Speaker but he was the boss. Sorta like the executive branch during the same years — a ceremonial leader separate from the real power.

  • DennisQ

    John Boehner is unlikely to accomplish much at all unless Republicans climb down from their high perch. They may have already gotten spoiled from the success they’ve had with nothing more than a few winning slogans.

    Of course the Republicans will try to continue to blame Obama as much as they can get away with. But I don’t see how they can turn a short-run strategy into a long-term one. Eventually the voters are going to ask for results.

    Boehner should keep his eye on Cantor, who has a lean and hungry look. I was offended that Cantor went on MSNBC to gloat over the victory, but not answer reasonable questions about how the party intends to achieve its goals. Is he going to lower taxes or lower the deficit? Cantor answered with an irrelevant platitude and refused to budge.

    The rebels may have captured Aqaba, but they may not be able to hold it. They appear to be overextended.

    • http://bagnews.com/staff/#mshaw Michael Shaw

      Dennis:

      My tweet last week after watching Boehner choke up on election night:

      2nd take on Boehner tears: the guy’s a bit of a softy. http://bit.ly/ddCcaA I’d cry too as bonecrusher McConnell and Cantor’s errand boy.

      The Cantor interview, and juxtaposition with Boehner the same night, was instructive. Cantor was not only gloating, he was practically quivering with a mixed charge of venom and expectation. Or course, we know where McConnell is coming from. I’m afraid Boehner is not much more than a front man, with the media — and TIME, in particular — setting him up as the all-too-good cop.

  • http://www.ninaberman.com Nina

    Interesting that Nancy Pelosi, when she was named Speaker of the House, didn’t get her face on a TIME cover, even though her appointment was historic as the first female speaker.

  • Gasho

    He’s really coming off as “Mr. Country Club” in all of these media shots.

  • g

    Dorian Gray.

  • Kija

    It’s been so long since he smiled, his face is cracking.

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