Boehner is by far less conservative than Roy. I dont get the Shadegg endorsment for Boehner.
That said, I dont think Roy ran a very good campaign. Instead of engaging people on ideas and reminding members of accomplishments - it was like i dunno - it just didnt work.
Blunt had the misfortune of being linked to DeLay. I was fond of The Hammer, but the scent of scandal is following him these days, and it had started to track Blunt, too.
Blunt had ties with DeLay and Abramoff. The last thing the Republicans need is to prolong this scandal by elevating another implicated politician to such a high position of authority that the media can kick around and continue the "era of corruption" cabal.