Posted on 01/02/2013 11:07:36 AM PST by Qbert
The absence of a House conservative publicly campaigning to challenge House Speaker John Boehner in Thursday's leadership elections has even his harshest critics, still angered with the "fiscal cliff" deal, expecting the Ohio Republican to keep his post, according to multiple sources.
"If there's a coup in the works, no one has seen fit to tell me about it," said a key conservative leadership aide.
The split vote for the fiscal cliff deal, however, has drawn fire from outside critics and even led to a poll on the Drudge Report showing opposition to Boehner beating support, 85 percent to 15 percent. That led the one outside group pushing to fire Boehner, American Majority Action, to lower their forecast of a coup from a one in seven chance to one in five.
Spokesman Ron Meyer told Secrets that the Drudge poll has sparked concern among some GOP members that backing Boehner could make them look too "establishment," and prompt a conservative primary challenge in next year's elections. "Drudge represents a lot of their constituents," said Meyer.
Still, Meyer said the anti-Boehner effort "needs a leader" for it to take off.
A top Republican House aide, meanwhile, said there is an effort to challenge Boehner, but that chances of success is just "25 percent." It would likely require a vote first for a secret ballot.
Critics have looked to Majority Leader Eric Cantor to take on Boehner, reading meaning into his vote against Boehner and the fiscal cliff deal this week. But his aides dismissed the rumors, as they have for two years, adding that Cantor supports Boehner.
Longtime former House leadership aide Ron Bonjean said he hasn't heard of any coup talk. "Boehner is likely going to be speaker again because House Republicans appreciate his leadership style and many understand just how hard their negotiating position was during the fiscal cliff standoff with Obama as president."
And, said a House advisor, Boehner's crude slap at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who called the speaker a "dictator," helped boost his credentials among conservatives looking for a fight with the Democratically-controlled chamber. Politico reported that Boehner told Reid, "Go f--- yourself."
Others noted that past failed coup attempts have hurt House careers. "If you are going to try and take out the speaker, then you better win or else your political future on Capitol Hill will be filled with miserable committee assignments and fundraising coffers that will quickly run dry," said a key strategist.
"Meyer said the anti-Boehner effort "needs a leader" for it to take off."
Ronald Reagan challenged a sitting president all the way to the floor of the RNC Convention. If not one man or woman is willing to stand up and challenge a failed, vindictive Speaker like Boehner, then what does that say about the future of Conservatism?
You can’t beat someone with no one.
End of story.
As I’ve been saying in multiple of my posts the “e” of the GOPe, or the RINO’s if you will seem to be more as stealth Leftists whom have lied their way into leadership positions for the purpose of allowing the illusion of a two party system. I have to believe these people with their blatant assaults on Conservatives are for a reason working with their brother, and sister Democrats.
In the House, and as long as the Republicans are the majority the Democrats should be very pleased to support their guy, and of course the RINO’s. That leaves few to oppose his leadership although the constituency has another point of view.
Constituency only means something to lie to anymore.
We know the Dems, RINOs and their MSM want to keep Boner so grains of salt all around.
I would imagine House Democrats and the White Hut appreciate his leadership style also.
And that's why I say, "The hell with the Republican Party".
Enough is enough with that pack of clowns.
Not in the new Congress, so he can't run, or vote, for Speaker.
That would be a "raise" in forecast, wouldn't it?
-PJ
If he’s “safe—for now,” he’s “safe—forever.”
Conservatism met the electorate Nov 7. The electorate wants free stuff. The were promised free stuff. Conservatism is opposed to giving free stuff. Conservatives can just pay for the free stuff.
There is no requirement the Speaker be a Member. But a non-Member has never been a speaker.
It says absolutely nothing about the future of conservatism. It does however, say a lot about the future or lack of one for the Republican Party.
In the land of squishy wimps, the squishiest, wimpiest of them all is the natural leader.
"You can’t beat someone with no one. End of story."
Yep. And there's really little to lose here for somebody who wants to challenge him (despite the concerns that the article mentions). If Boehner stays on as Speaker, the GOP will likely soon lose control of the House (through a combination of caving on amnesty, 2A rights, and everything else)- plus, any Conservative who hasn't been on board 100% behind Boehner's dictatorship the past two years will be on the GOP-e "S-list" forever, anyways.
In the other corner, you have tens of millions of people wanting Boehner out- just look at the Drudge poll.
These people are delusional. Do they really think that what conservatives are looking for in a House Speaker is someone who will call the other side naughty words when the other side succeeds in getting under his skin?
“You can’t beat someone with no one.”
And that’s our problem. With Boehner as Speaker, we have no one. Therefore, we keep losing to Pelosi, Reid, and JugEars.
"It says absolutely nothing about the future of conservatism. It does however, say a lot about the future or lack of one for the Republican Party."
I have to respectfully disagree. Don't intend to be mean or controversial here- especially towards the good Conservatives who are fighting the right fights- but if we can't find one person willing to stand up to this ineffective disgrace of a "leader", then they will all be partly responsible.
This is a dire situation. I don't think we should cut anybody any slack here.
Find the best looking GOP woman in Congress and make her speaker. Have her smile for the cameras, have her articulate Conservative ideas, and have her attack Lil Barry’s manhood like a woman scorned. The new figurehead of the GOP. Meanwhile, let the GOP minions in Congress attack Barry’s policies. Divide and conquer the ‘RATs. Lil Barry’s ego will hoist himself with his own petard.
Better yet, minority woman. Remember, the race and gender card is being played regularly by the Left - we *need* to remove that from consideration.
A minority, lesbian, ex-felon on food stamps... that’ll cover all the bases!
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