John Boehner Calls Ted Cruz a 'Miserable Son of a Bitch'

Hating on Ted Cruz is an art form. And even in retirement, former Speaker of the House John Boehner is a master.

“I have Democrat friends and Republican friends. I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life," Boehner said Wednesday, his perpetually tanned face contorting into a prominent scowl of distaste, during a Q&A hosted by Stanford in Government and the Stanford Speakers Bureau.

The Ohio Republican also called Cruz "Lucifer in the flesh" and said the Texas senator would never get his vote if he somehow emerges as the GOP's nominee.

Boehner's disdain for Cruz sharpened in 2013 when the freshman senator conspired with Freedom Caucus Republicans in the House to shut down the government in a bid to get rid of Obamacare. Boehner famously referred to Cruz as "that jackass" at the time.

Cruz responded to Boehner Thursday morning on Twitter.

The campus paper, The Stanford Daily, was there to record Boehner's bon mots and observations on the current political scene.

On Ohio Gov. John Kasich

“[Kasich] requires more effort on my behalf than all my other friends … but he’s still my friend, and I love him."

On Bernie Sanders

He's a nice guy and the most honest person running for president.

On Hillary Clinton

"Oh I’m a woman, vote for me," he mocked in a what passed for a womanly pantomime. "Don’t be shocked … if two weeks before the convention, here comes Joe Biden parachuting in and Barack Obama fanning the flames to make it all happen."

On Donald Trump

Boehner will vote for Trump, whom he referred to as a texting and golfing buddy, if he's the Republican nominee.

On Ronald Reagan

“Well you know I’m a big fan of Ronald Reagan. But I love all these knuckleheads talking about the party of Reagan. He would be the most moderate Republican elected today.”

On His Post-Retirement Self

After being elected to Congress from his southern Ohio district 13 times: “I think my proudest accomplishment is walking out of there the same jackass I was 25 years before."