House GOPers met this morning to discuss the Boehner Plan to raise the debt ceiling. During this pep talk in which Boehner angrily exhorted his caucus to “get their asses in line,” Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA), offering similar encouragement, shouted, in football locker room style, “Let’s go out there and kick the shit [expletive reinserted] out of them!” shouted Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa..

I have a question: Who are “they”? The American people? I don’t think so. The US Senate (often referred to by the House as the true enemy)? No. The only option left for “they” are the Democrats. Kick their asses? Is this a game? Is this whole exercise about one-upping the “other team?”

Regardless of one’s policy views, the work of the Congress  impacts all Americans. This is not a game. The decisions that Boehner, Kelly, and the rest make are decisions that WE are going to have to live with. I do not want serious policy decisions–very, very serious policy decisions–made to disgrace the other team.

I want policy decisions to reflect the common interests of the country. When serious politicians are acting seriously–even when they actively disagree–this is the result of our political process.

Representative Kelly’s behavior is sophomoric and revealing. Sophomoric in that it belies his belief that this is a game. It is revealing in that the GOP strategy on the debt-ceiling is nothing more than a stratagem, a designed play meant to score, that is, to promote the interests of his party over those of the country.

Truly disgraceful.