Posted on 11/11/2010 3:35:48 AM PST by Scanian
When John Boehner is elected House speaker early in January, there will be more Republicans -- some 240-plus -- than in any House since the one elected in 1946, before Boehner and most other members were born.
For a speaker, having a majority in the 240s or (as Nancy Pelosi has in the outgoing Congress) 250s is a sweet spot.
If you have 235 or fewer, as GOP Speakers Newt Gingrich and Denny Hastert did, it's hard to hold everyone in line on partisan roll calls. Some members will have districts or convictions that require them to dissent. If you have more than 260, then just about everyone assumes he or she can go off the reservation.
As House Speaker Sam Rayburn said to Lyndon Johnson on election night 1958, when his party gained 50 seats: "Too many Democrats. Too many Democrats."
After the initial glow of the 1994 revolution dimmed, the glue that Gingrich and Hastert used to hold their members together was money. They let Appropriations Committee members channel money to favored projects and members.
The bill came due in 2006. Disillusioned conservatives stayed home or voted Democratic. Most freshmen this year ran decrying the spending of Republican as well as Democratic Congresses and promising to do better. Boehner, who's never had an earmark, says the same thing.
Boehner has promised to do things differently; the freshmen (a third of GOP members) will surely hold him to it. His majority's size will strengthen his hand against the appropriators.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
When I first heard that, I softened my view on him. I was afraid he was going to be another “moderate” Republican.
I’m confident the GOP will let us down without much delay.
Debatable. Him and the GOP say no, the rats claim he has had ONE earmark.
From what I can see, I don't think that "one" earmark was really an earmark, in that, it had to do with plane, that he didn't want built, when it was going to be built anyway, he got a factory in Ohio (not his district) to manufacture one of the parts, which, resulted in cost savings.....
So, no, he does not have any earmarks at all.
I’ve heard that from a number of independent sources, so I have to believe it, as incredible as it seems.
If he is lying, you can bet the ‘Rats will do their best to expose him.
Let’s give them a chance to let us down before we declare defeat. The Tea Party brings a whole new dynamic to the District of Corrption.
Pray for America
Republicans don’t forget
It’s an opportunity not a mandate
DON’T MESS IT UP
Someone else on FR pointed out they have enough seats to deny a bailout to california and still let the california R’s vote for a bailout
Along with the NY and Mass Rs ?
Someone else on FR pointed out they have enough seats to deny a bailout to california and still let the California R’s vote for a bailoutSupremely important. The only way California will be able to get their act together is to be put into receivorship, or whatever the term is where you no longer have control of the purse.
Absolutely true.
The man doesn't have the biggest balls but he ran on the promise that he'd not take earmarks and he's kept his word for over 20 years.
Weird, huh?
A politician that says something and then does it.
Unfortunately, FR is thick with “RINO hunters” who shoot anything that moves, but can’t tell the difference between a RINO and an elephant.
“Let’s give them a chance to let us down before we declare defeat.”
They don’t even deserve this chance or the two or three they had before this one.
However, I shall begin using your phrase, “District of Corruption.”
Some presume that, just because a conservative was elected before 2010, he/she is an enemy.
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