re: #566 BryanS

For all intents and purposes, it’s Boehner now. When the Repubs were all out of power, it’s much tougher to identify that leader. Mitch McConnell was probably it before the recent midterms. He was the leader in strongest political position with his ability to affect legislation in the Senate much more than Boehner could do in a simple majority rules House.

Who was the Dem leader when Bush and Repubs had all branches of government?

sorry, i was in transit

usually, the current or last president of the party is the leader. clinton continued to be the leader of the democratic party not only because of this, but because in actual fact nobody had as much authority to speak for the democratic party as he and carter had. and they continued to speak out and “lead” during the bush years

right now, however, bush is practically a memory. freepers and teabaggers routinely disparage him - he is a “closet liberal”. he certainly does the opposite of attempt to make his opinion known and assert his authority

if you frame the question a little bit differently, however, the answer to my question becomes unavoidable and undeniable: who is the most powerful person in the republican party? who has dominated republican opinion for more than 25 years?

it ain’t boehner