John Boehner: Ted Cruz Is ‘Lucifer in the Flesh,’ ‘You Can Call Me Boner’
Former Speaker of the House John Boehner took a break from his golf-course retirement to open up about the state of our nation’s politics in a forum at Stanford University Wednesday.
Boehner — whose term as speaker was cut short by a House coup perpetrated by radical Republicans in his ranks — was profoundly impolitic, likening Ted Cruz to the devil (and calling him an SOB), mocking Hillary Clinton for campaigning on gender, and predicting Joe Biden could still make a splash in the 2016 race.
Here were the greatest moments from Boehner’s appearance.
On Ted Cruz
“Lucifer in the flesh. I have Democrat friends and Republican friends. I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life.”
On how to pronounce his name
“You can call me ‘boner,’ ‘beaner,’ ‘jackass.’ Happy to answer to almost anything.”
On his career in Congress
“I think my proudest accomplishment is walking out of there the same jackass I was 25 years before.”
On how Biden could seize the nomination from Clinton if her email scandal blows up
“Don’t be shocked … if two weeks before the convention, here comes Joe Biden parachuting in and Barack Obama fanning the flames to make it all happen.”
On his high-maintenance relationship with fellow Ohioan, Gov. John Kasich
“He requires more effort on my behalf than all my other friends … but he’s still my friend, and I love him.”
On his relationship with Donald Trump, with whom he also golfs
“Texting buddies.”
On Clinton’s campaign message (to boos from the crowd)
“Oh, I’m a woman, vote for me!”
On the Freedom Caucus members who ousted him
“Knuckleheads.”
On the politically perilous divisions in the GOP
“The Democrats know where our soft spots are.”
On how the GOP has lurched since the days of the Gipper
“Well you know I’m a big fan of Ronald Reagan. But I love all these knuckleheads talking about the party of Reagan. He would be the most moderate Republican elected today.”