About twenty years ago, on a long forgotten Sunday, the Detroit Lions played a non-significant football game. Honestly, I can't remember who won the game. I remember the first four plays of the game, though. There was a touch back, a Barry Sanders run up the gut, then another. Then on Third and Ten, with the announcers mocking Bobby Ross' offense, the Lions pitched the ball to Barry, and how anyone with half a brain would stop running the ball, and throw it to Herman Moore. Before the third snap, Barry looked over at the Detroit sideline, with an exasperated expression. But, Scottie Mitchell took the ball, turned left, pitched the ball to Barry Sanders.
And he broke it for 80 yards.
Right now, John Boehner is Barry Sanders. He's particularly adept at his job. He can legislate successfully an agenda that does very little for his constituency. He appears articulate and confident on the 24 hour news circuit. He is a living breathing embodiment of the the Baby Boomer's ideal family patriarch. He probably played linebacker, first base, and was also school president while growing up. He'd look great as the leader of the local Elk's club. So, the American Voter will disagree with Conrgressman Boehner's policies, but still vote for him, and his party.
During times of low growth and fears on inflation, John's party signed on to a Pledge that would prevent taxes from being raised and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stymied. The man with the plan, Grover Norquist, doesn't care the down and distance, nor is he swayed by what the pundits and voters decide. He has a play called, and he's going to run it. War on terrorism? No new taxes. Dangerously increasing gap between lower and upper classes? No new taxes. Ballooning National Debt? No new taxes.
And if even John Boehner looks for a policy change, the play is no new taxes.
Barry Sanders never won a Super Bowl, or even played in one. He retired shortly after this game. Bobby Ross was let go at the end of that season. It was neither's fault. One was a great player, one was a great coach, but the way they played the game was woefully out-of-date.
John Boehner's career is in the hands of Grover Norquist's out-of-date game plan. Will he suffer Barry's fate, and be nothing more than a tremendously talented player, that never wins the big games?
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