I am sharing the following to provide information for the discussion, not for support of Boehner.
I received the following email from Rep. Pete Olson, 22nd District of Texas (Tom Delay’s old seat)
January 7, 2015
Dear Friend,
Yesterday, my colleagues and I were sworn in for the 114th Session of Congress and I voted in support of John Boehner for House Speaker. Last month, House Republicans met to decide who our candidate for Speaker would be. That was the time for those who wanted to provide a different choice to speak up. The position of Speaker of the House is third in line for the presidency. Anyone wishing to serve in this role should, at a minimum, provide a clear vision of how they intend to run the House, promote conservative solutions to strengthen this great nation, and personally talk to us about why they could better manage the role of Speaker of the House. None of the candidates who ran at the eleventh hour spoke with me about their candidacy or made any argument for how they would do a better job.
This is a critical year for a Republican House and Senate to show America how our vision and solutions can more effective solve problems for the American people. Without an obstructionist Harry Reid protecting President Obama, we have an opportunity to develop an agenda that is in clear contrast to the failed liberal policies that have increased our debt and strangled our economy. Over the course of this year, my colleagues and I will hold our Republican leadership accountable to their House majority and expect a Republican-controlled Senate will be an energetic partner in crafting and sending the president legislation to reform the role of government, empower American families instead of bureaucracy, and help our families get back in control of their lives.
Ultimately, Speaker Boehner won the majority of the House Republican Conference during the selection process. Boehner will be the Speaker until and unless someone else is capable of presenting a compelling plan and vision that convinces a majority of House Republicans - not just a few - that they could do a better job. Should Speaker Boehner promote legislation that is against the wishes and beliefs of the people of the 22nd Congressional District, I will oppose those efforts just as I have done in the past – most recently in voting against the Omnibus spending bill.
While some may disagree with this decision, I will continue to seek your guidance, wisdom, and feedback so that we can work together to produce the most conservative solutions possible to help strengthen America and our hard-working families.
It’s an honor to represent you.
Very respectfully,
Pete Olson
“Last month, House Republicans met to decide who our candidate for Speaker would be. That was the time for those who wanted to provide a different choice to speak up.”
Was that before or after the CRomnibus?
But you will only get to vote on those bills that John lets come to the floor, right?
Olson is also my Congresscritter. This letter is a pathetic attempt at backing and filling, using the same reasons put forward by Mulvaney from S.C. The excuse is just as bogus as it was before: In the November caucus, Boehner had not rammed CRomnibus down our throats and hamstrung the incoming Congress before it could assume power, and funded Amnesty and Obamacare. Hence, this latest vote was a vote to repudiate those actions and punish Boehner for stabbing all Republicans (and America) in the back.
Be sure to attend Mr. Olson’s Town Hall meetings, and chew his ass for this. I will.