Boehner is irrelevant. Unfortunately, and quite ironically, we could use a few more of him and less of the Tea Party. He is the last vestige of old school Republicans who understood the Art of the Deal. Even though he lacks the spine (or votes) to show it.
The bigger problem is the wide swath of midwestern farm country and southern America. These people are living in 1955. And they have philosophically boxed themselves into a corner, they live and die for ideology. Progressive change will not come easy.
It's hard enough that Corporate power and wealth has its hands around the neck of both parties. But the system is set up so the far right has leverage. And they use it. And they are far more willing to be ruthless about it than the Left. There are a few things that are as certain as death and taxes...
Everything changes.
Nothing is linear.
The thing that kills isn't the thing you're paying attention to, it's the thing you aren't.