House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) recently delivered a major-league pep-talk to his Republican caucus, which was very well received. GOP lawmakers gave Boehner a standing ovation, and were all smiles as they looked ahead to the rest of the year. They were led to believe that tying Dems in congressional races to Obama and Pelosi would be a recipe for success, and Republicans might even gain seats this year.

This same Republican caucus was feeling far less jovial during their confab yesterday. Boehner’s election strategy has been tested twice now in two months in two reliably Republican districts — first in Illinois’ 14th, then in Louisiana’s 6th. The GOP went 0-for-2. Worse, the NRCC has very little money to make a serious go at actually narrowing the Dems’ majority. None of these guys left the room smiling yesterday.

What might cheer congressional Republicans up? How ’bout a trip to the White House?

House Republicans will hold a rally with President Bush on Wednesday morning, with all 199 members invited to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. to show solidarity with the president, according to GOP sources.

Oddly enough, I’m not sure whose spirits this is supposed to boost — Republicans’ or Dems’.

As Tim F. noted, “Blind, deaf Americans living under rocks for very long periods of time have figured out that everything the President touches is a half-assed failure. Any sane person would treat the guy as radioactive. So what gives? I have to assume that this little pep rally will be about as well attended as Alberto ‘abu’ Gonzales’s farewell party at the DoJ.”