Althouse: "Most days Mr. Boehner, 61 years old, spends the early-morning hours vacuuming his apartment or ironing."

January 4, 2011

"Most days Mr. Boehner, 61 years old, spends the early-morning hours vacuuming his apartment or ironing."

"He eats breakfast alone at Pete's Diner, a cramped eatery a few blocks from the Capitol, and checks his Facebook page on an iPad. At night, he stops whatever he's doing at 10 o'clock."

That's my favorite part of the WSJ's profile of John Boehner.

Boehner's got a nice, humble image that suits the times — these post-Pelosi times. I like the picture of the man who's replacing the woman being a man with a vacuum cleaner...

... and it's not even a metaphorical vacuum cleaner. (I seem to remember a magazine cover illustration of Gerald Ford after the Nixon resignation. He was vacuuming the Oval Office.)

36 comments:

Anonymous said...: Nice! I can relate to a man like that. Sounds like he could be Speaker Pothole. That's what they used to call Senator Alphonse D'Amato—Senator Pothole. You took a problem to D'Amato, and he would fix it in short order. I know that for a fact, and will always be thankful to him. Let's hope I can say the same about Boehner; though, given he wants to power share with Democrats, I don't think so.; 1/4/11, 10:46 AM
Ron said...: Was that the same issue with Hoover in the French Maid outfit with the feather duster? Oh, yeah...the good old days.; 1/4/11, 10:46 AM
Triangle Man said...: When does he have time for a smoke?; 1/4/11, 10:50 AM
Scott M said...: I think it's further heartening that Boehner is having trouble getting freshman Reps to sit on the Appropriations committee...once thought of as a sweet gig. It could be that good things are afoot. I reserve my judgement.

No, I don't think setting up Obamacare for a vote is misguided. Personally I think it goes to the SC and the individual mandate gets axed, but as to priorities...I'm betting that, unlike 111, this Congress will be able to walk, chew gum, and reduce spending all at that same time.

The key thing to watch is what leverage (and saying they're going after Obamacare first may be just the opening salvo of that leverage-hording) they are going to get out of the Administration to get them to agree to raise the debt ceiling. That's a far bigger deal in any regard.; 1/4/11, 10:50 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: He has 11 siblings. That means it is impossible he is full of himself.; 1/4/11, 11:02 AM
Michael said...: Scott M: I think the house should compel the rescission of all Obamacare exemptions that have been granted. This will concentrate the minds of those beholden to the unions who are being cut slack. then they should begin hacking. To have a losing symbolic vote is to set themselves up, again, for hating the poor and the weak and the feeble and the....; 1/4/11, 11:09 AM
Scott M said...: I think the house should compel the rescission of all Obamacare exemptions that have been granted.

Or, conversely, give a waiver to any private citizen or company that applies for one.; 1/4/11, 11:11 AM
Unknown said...: He would appear to be the man for the moment and I wish him well.

Scott M said...

I think it's further heartening that Boehner is having trouble getting freshman Reps to sit on the Appropriations committee.

He wants to try to clean out the swamp and they realize how corrupting it can be. Jeff Flake, who's fought for a seat to try to fix things (he was never in line for Chair, BTW), finally has it. I wish him even more luck.

PS As to the business of him tearing up, if he can do something substantive about the mess we're in, I don't care if he cries like Tammy Faye Bakker.

PPS Watch for the Full Alinsky to be applied early and often.; 1/4/11, 11:13 AM
Scott M said...: As to the business of him tearing up, if he can do something substantive about the mess we're in, I don't care if he cries like Tammy Faye Bakker.

...a la Lincoln re Grant.; 1/4/11, 11:16 AM
Pastafarian said...: Althouse said: "I like the picture of the man who's replacing the woman being a man with a vacuum cleaner..."

Why is that?

Seriously, I'm trying to come up with a reason that this image would appeal to you, and I'm drawing a blank. Maybe I'm just particularly slow-witted today.

Would it have been even more satisfying if he were wearing an apron? And what does this have to do with Pelosi, who probably hasn't touched a vacuum cleaner in decades (if ever)?

I don't see gender as the big contrast between Pelosi and Boehner. I see a midwestern small businessman, and an elitist coastal lifetime politician.; 1/4/11, 11:30 AM
ricpic said...: Why do you use the word image? Is it impossible for you to consider Boehner's modesty genuine?; 1/4/11, 11:31 AM
Anonymous said...: AJ - You are correct in general, but remember that Nancy Pelosi was one of six children. She was the youngest, though.; 1/4/11, 11:42 AM
Anonymous said...: Nancy Pelosi was one of six children

Wasn't her family fairly well to do? One of six kids in a well-off family is very different from one of 11 kids with one bathroom.; 1/4/11, 11:48 AM
Scott M said...: She was the youngest, though.

That is a huge difference regardless of income level. Every youngest I know from a family of 3 or more sibs, is perpetually stuck in I-WANT mode.; 1/4/11, 11:53 AM
Anonymous said...: That's why I drew the distinction. I am one of six myself - but not the youngest.; 1/4/11, 11:58 AM
Palladian said...: "Why do you use the word image? Is it impossible for you to consider Boehner's modesty genuine?"

Politicians are phony until proven genuine.; 1/4/11, 12:13 PM
Methadras said...: What's wrong with a man vacuuming? I learned how to cook, clean, iron, vacuum, sew, and all that other domesticated stuff from my mom when I was 10. I got my mechanical aptitude from my dad. There is nothing I can't fix. I still do it all today and these lessons have been a gift since now I work away from home where I need to do these things for myself. I totally relate to Boehner because he's been doing what I've done for years.; 1/4/11, 12:43 PM
Hoosier Daddy said...: Why do you use the word image? Is it impossible for you to consider Boehner's modesty genuine?

Not impossible but its hard not to be cynical.; 1/4/11, 12:45 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Good point re Pelosi being one of six- it shows there are exceptions to my rule of thumb.

Also, Pelosi's father was mayor of Baltimore at one time I think.

That may mean Nancy was born with a stolen silver spoon in her mouth.; 1/4/11, 12:48 PM
Sharc 65 said...: As I recall, W had to use a wet-vac on the Oval Office carpet. By comparison, Nixon was easy to clean up after.; 1/4/11, 12:55 PM
Scott M said...: If you don't think Nixon's head acting as the president of Earth in the year 3000 is funny...well, there's simply no hope for you.

"The loot! The loot! The loot is on fire!"; 1/4/11, 12:57 PM
David said...: At night, he stops whatever he's doing at 10 o'clock.

This used to confuse Mrs. Boehner, but she has got the guy figured out by now.; 1/4/11, 2:25 PM
Sharc 65 said...: David FTW.

WV: defack (see David's comment, supra); 1/4/11, 2:44 PM
reader_iam said...: "Most days Mr. Boehner, 61 years old, spends the early-morning hours vacuuming his apartment or ironing."

How big is his apartment, I wonder? And what all does he iron?; 1/4/11, 2:57 PM
DaveW said...: The vacuuming is fine but even I don't iron anything. The cleaners is pretty cheap for men's stuff like shirts and slacks. They make it up by ripping off women on their stuff - my wife's cleaning is ridiculously expensive by comparison.

He seems like a pretty humble guy. They have to produce results though. Theatrics wont cut it anymore, they better figure out a way to force the budget numbers back into sanity.; 1/4/11, 3:20 PM
KCFleming said...: "pretty cheap for men's stuff like shirts and slacks"

It's cheaper because it's easier than women's clothes.

Ripping women off?
If that were actually true, some enterprising soul would have taken that difference as profit and ran with it already.

"...it costs them between three and four times the labor expense to properly “finish” a women’s blouse compared to a men’s shirt.

[Because] men’s shirts have basically looked exactly the same for more than 100 years and they’re almost always made of 100% cotton or a cotton/poly blend...[m]any cleaners have special “assembly line style” machines that can finish the typical men’s business shirts without any hand ironing.

[But] women’s blouses come in an extremely wide variety and combination of different patterns, fabric types, trims and ornamentation ...these variations can change dramatically from season to season with the latest changes in fashion. This prevents the machine manufacturers from developing presses that will fit the majority of women’s blouses."; 1/4/11, 3:31 PM
Scott M said...: I did enough ironing in the military, thank you very much. It's to the dry cleaners for shirts/slacks/ties for me now, bourgeois defiler that I am.; 1/4/11, 3:35 PM
DaveW said...: Pogo-

Thanks for that explanation. The cost difference has been a mystery to the wife and I for years.

I still don't see why a simple wool aline style women's skirt would cost $5+ to clean, but I accept the idea that men's stuff is just way easier due to it being so standardized.; 1/4/11, 3:54 PM
AllenS said...: I have three vacuum cleaners, one for upstairs, one for downstairs and a Shop Vac for the basement. I vacuum every spring whether my place needs it or not.; 1/4/11, 4:54 PM
MadisonMan said...: I am reminded of Howard Borden.

Politicians are phony until proven genuine.

Even when proven genuine, I still think they're phony at their proven genuineness.; 1/4/11, 5:07 PM
holdfast said...: I'm with Scott M. - I can iron my stuff if necessary, but I've earned the privilege of not having to.; 1/4/11, 6:16 PM
Opus One Media said...: rise and shine john

7am carpets
740 shower and dress
8 breakfast
830 special interest golf
noon shove poor people under buses
2p afternoon 9
5p special interest cocktails
6p special interest cocktails
7p special interest cocktails
8p dinner
9p wonderful world of golf
10p stop work, ready vacuum for morning.; 1/4/11, 6:17 PM
Eric said...: Boehner's got a nice, humble image that suits the times — these post-Pelosi times. I like the picture of the man who's replacing the woman being a man with a vacuum cleaner...

I doubt mafia princess Pelosi has ever touched a vacuum cleaner.; 1/4/11, 6:45 PM
Quaestor said...: noon shove poor people under buses

And thanks to Obama and his Democrats there are SOOOO many of them to shove. Really, HDHouse, you are well past your prime.; 1/4/11, 7:01 PM
Moneyrunner said...: By contrast:

Nancy Pelosi’s final days as Speaker of the House were spent at the exotic Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu in Kona on the island of Hawaii.

Escorted throughout her trip by a mini security motorcade that included Secret Service and Hawaii County Police officers, Pelosi was seen at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Kailua-Kona, where she received Communion. Parishioners greeted her warmly, Hawaii Reporter was told. Two police SUVs were on guard outside the hotel during her week long stay.

Pelosi, who traveled to Hawaii by private plane, spent the holidays in Kona last year at the same hotel in an elaborate suite that reportedly rents for $10,000 a night.

The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai’s details its luxurious setting and amenities on its web site: “Gloriously revitalised, this natural tropical paradise offers more than ever to explore – with a newly expanded Spa, beachfront dining, fashion boutiques and new Deluxe Suites, in addition to Jack Nicklaus signature golf. Set on the Big Island’s exclusive Kona-Kohala Coast, this showpiece resort captures the essence of Hawaiian design, culture and tradition.”; 1/4/11, 7:08 PM
Methadras said...: HDHouse said...

rise and shine john

7am carpets
740 shower and dress
8 breakfast
830 special interest golf
noon shove poor people under buses
2p afternoon 9
5p special interest cocktails
6p special interest cocktails
7p special interest cocktails
8p dinner
9p wonderful world of golf
10p stop work, ready vacuum for morning.

I see your envy is showing again, along with your Alzheimers.; 1/5/11, 8:14 PM