Bottoms up for Boehner's home town
Cincinnati, Ohio (CNN) - When Nancy Pelosi handed off the gavel to John Boehner Wednesday, friends of the Ohio Republican in the bar where he grew up raised a glass in his honor.
"We all did a shot of Crown (Royal)," said Vicky Bauer, the owner of Andy's Bar, which was founded by Boehner's grandfather. "We all did a toast."
Watch: CNN's Mark Preston visits Boehner's father's bar where the new House Speaker worked as a teenager, after the jump
While Boehner's brothers and sisters traveled to the nation's capital to watch their brother become the next House speaker, a feisty group of regulars gathered at the bar to witness it themselves. Boehner grew up in Andy's, where he mopped the floors and tended bar. Now, he is one of the most powerful Republicans in the country and will play a key role in leading the GOP's efforts against President Obama's agenda.
At Andy's, which is named after Boehner's grandfather, a picture of his father, Earl, hangs behind the bar one of two lasting memories of the Boehner family, who no longer own the bar.
A benevolent moose head with a party hat gazes down on the patrons, who line up at the eight seat bar. Everyone seems to know each other and even though Boehner's family no longer owns the bar - his sister remains a bartender.
In this blue collar neighborhood in this Rust Belt state, public expressions of emotion are not always the norm. And Boehner is known to shed a tear, every once in a while.
"Come on John, dry it up and don't cry," shouted one of the patrons as Boehner took the handoff from Pelosi.
But Bauer, the owner of Andy's, looked up from the bar admiringly.
"He is so cute!" she said approvingly.
And for the owner of his old haunt, Boehner is good business too.
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Congratulations John Boehner. We now finally have a real Speaker of the House. Fair play and no more lies will be forthcoming from a Republican ran house. I can't wait until 2012 when the rest of the trash is swept from the White House.
Congradulation to House Speaker John Boehner. Since you are the new pitcher on the mound ... We The People would like to remind you of just one thing ... "There's no crying in baseball."
Oh please...spare us the bogus theatrics. He mopped the floor of his family drinking hole and served a few pastrami subs. Big deal he did that as a teenager but never had to get a "real" job like the rest of us. What a joke Boener.
I am sure he is still handling a bottle or so, and a smoke or two or three. It interesting that a guy with his blue collar background is working to destroy the middle class.
stop taking pictures and do your job!!! where are the jobs Boner!!
The Liberal trolls are out in force today ... They are schooled in Alinsky smear tactics, just like when they were accusing everybody of racism. These brain washed Obamatons lash out with vile insults whenever they loose ground, or whenever barack, nancy, eric, or harry get exposed for the traitors they are.
"No longer can we kick the can down the road."
-John "Weeper of the House" Boehner
You mean like enacting a 2 year extension of unnecessary, imbalanced, inequitable tax cuts for the 2% that constitute America's super rich and which will ultimately be paid for by the middle-class to the tune of over $95B...all without finding any means of funding them and despite the fact that they never created any jobs or stabilized the economy or prevented a massive recession and constitute the largest contributing factor to the skyrocketing national debt and deficit?
Congratulations John on a job well done!! Now kick some leftist butt. We're counting on you!
Boehner looks positively naked without Eddie Cantor right behind him, usually slightly out of focus.
Nice story John, now put aside all of the fluff and do something besides being a money grabbing politician. Where are the jobs and how are you going to jump start the economy? Put up or shut up and stand aside.
Old man Boehner's drinking must have rubbed off on son John. The guy blubblers, slobbers and stammers like a first-class drunk. Perfect example of the new Republican party.
At least Pelosi had the balls to never break down in front of everyone.
Oof. That's rough.
Mostly shocked that they aren't all orange. Or maybe I shouldn't be I guess.