Posted on 01/10/2006 12:20:14 AM PST by RWR8189
WASHINGTON — The contest to succeed Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) as House majority leader appeared to shape up as a two-man race Monday, as Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) and another possible contender announced they would not run for the powerful No. 2 position.
That apparently leaves the field to two senior Republicans — Roy Blunt of Missouri and John A. Boehner of Ohio — to compete for support from fellow House Republicans, who will choose DeLay's successor in a secret ballot election the week of Jan. 30.
There is a chance that another candidate may yet enter the race because there are a large number of undecided lawmakers, including some who think neither Blunt nor Boehner offers the fresh face they believe the party needs to distance itself from a recent spate of scandals.
Indeed, two lawmakers who had called for DeLay's departure urged their colleagues Monday to refrain from public commitments in the contest, saying no candidates had yet fully addressed their demand for broader institutional reforms, such as elimination of pork-barrel projects.
"Elections that appear to be foregone conclusions do not advance the reformist agenda many of us pledged to uphold to our constituents," Reps. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Charles Bass (R-N.H.) said in a letter to their colleagues.
Still, the likelihood of a three-way race diminished, as no other candidate emerged and Blunt and Boehner moved aggressively to build support — mostly by telephone, because Congress is in recess and lawmakers are spread around the country.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Which one of these two will promise to bring the Fair Tax to the floor this coming session? That's the one who needs everyone's support.
I like the Fair Tax, and even if it passed the House it would be DOA at the Senate.
Same old, same old.
Are either of these two conservatives? If not, the Republican Party is in deep trouble in the House races in 06.
Not very good choices. Boehner is from what I understand semi-Rino and Roy Blunt has absolutely no charisma whatsoever.
I remember his speech to the College Republicans at Mizzou back when he was Secretary of State..It was awful!
Not very good choices. Boehner is from what I understand semi-Rino and Roy Blunt has absolutely no charisma whatsoever.
I remember his speech to the College Republicans at Mizzou back when he was Secretary of State..It was awful!
According to Hotline, Blunt has almost doubled Boehner in terms of public support.
I don't think Boehner would be a good leader for the Party right now, here is how Cleveland's Plain Dealer described him:
"Boehner, for instance, loves golfing with corporate contributors at some of this country's best courses, from California to Virginia. He enjoys dining at Washinton's fine restaurants, often in the company of lobbyists...
In 1995, he openly passed out checks from tobacco industry lobbyists to colleagues on the House floor.
And he had no problem when, in 2004, the lobbyist of one of the biggest businesses affected by his committee, student loan giant Sallie Mae, hosted a fund-raising dinner in her suburban Washington home for his leadership political action committee. A majority of the company's top executives wrote checks for the event, campaign finance records show."
I have no personal issues with the guy, but this is not the face the Republicans need.
Both Blunt and Boehner can be tied to Jack Abramoff and other K-Street lobbying firms. The party would do well to steer clear of both guys and go with someone with rock ribbed conservative credentials and no hint of scandal.
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