Rep. Roy Blunt
Posted on 01/15/2006 2:45:12 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
Rep. Roy Blunt (R.-Mo.) said today he had secured 117 votes, enough to become the next House majority leader.
Here's Blunt's official statement:
"I've counted a lot of votes in my seven years in the Whip's office, and this was a well-fought fight on all sides," Blunt said. "John Boehner is a great congressman and a good friend. My friend John Shadegg is bringing an important focus to the final days of this race. I look forward to working with both of them as we achieve great results for the American people."
"As I've talked with Members of our conference this week, we've discussed our party's vision for a freer, safer and more prosperous America," Blunt continued. "Our reform-minded majority will regain the trust of the American people and promote the common sense principles of smarter, not bigger government that is accountable to the people who send us here."
"The healthy debate we're having this month will strengthen us," Blunt concluded.
To put it blubntly, who is Blunt??
Good, because John Boehner is Leisure Suit Larry incarnate.
Delay protege. Better then Bonier. Worse than a real conservative intent on major reform.
John Shadegg is who we should all want in the position. endorsed by the CFG
If true, the Republicans may very lose the House this year. Blunt is very beholden to lobbyists, and is the Republican king of the earmark, aka pork.
For big government conservatives who think DeLay's main problem was that he didn't spend enough money, the selection of Blunt would be a major victory.
Not True.
Blunt is a strong conservative. Boehner might as well drop out of the race, and while Shadegg is all but glowing right now, it is only temporary.
Blunt has the large majority of support for a reason.
Blunt is King Of Pork and Earmarks.
NOT a good thing. I am very disapointed.
Yup. Establishment victory. The GOP caucus has learned nothing from the Abramoff scandal.
You need to take what you can get.
Sure, and the reason is that he's handed out a lot of pork money and has lots of favors to call in.
That's the way it looks to me.
Look, the pubs, like it or not, are suppose to be looking like reformers not just reforming. They can reform all they want, but if the American people don't buy it, it won't matter if they reform our way back to Reagan government.
The Dems are going to call Blunt the king of lobbying and earmark "Republican corruption" and the media will be all too happy to build on that.
The pubs just missed a chance to change the debate over the next year. Now that this guy is up there, we will be having this Delay debate until election time. What were they thinking putting this guy up there? That's like having Ted Kennedy lead the Dems to uncover a murder cover up.
What is your source?
Representatives that do not bring home pork, don't get re-elected. Sad, but true.
His son has done an incredible job in his first year as Governor.
He is the father of our young governor and a good man to boot.
How lame.
What is your source? How about this?
Blunt has been complicit in the epidemic of earmarks, where Republican lawmakers far exceeded their Democratic predecessors in the amount of special projects inserted in spending bills without authorization or even a hearing. Blunt has been vigorous in obtaining earmarks for his Missouri district and uninterested in restricting the practice. He was among the party leaders who last year privately spanked Rep. Mike Pence, the RSC chairman, for trying to cut back earmarks.The article then goes on to detail problems with Boehner and lobbyists.Reflecting the Republican leadership, Blunt has failed to appreciate that the ill effects of earmarking are not limited to more wasteful government pork. Earmarks provided a means for resigned Congressman Duke Cunningham to bypass the regular legislative process in paying off his bribers.
Earmarks constitute one major difference between Boehner and Blunt. Boehner does not use earmarks for his Ohio district and has voted against pork-laden transportation bills.
I was hoping Shadegg would at least have a chance. Apparently not.
Isn't it Blunt who called the democrats bluff and forced the troop pullout vote?
If so, Blunt is the guy to go with.
recount
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