Posted on 12/06/2012 4:26:04 PM PST by lbryce
The Ohio Republican is facing a backlash for "purging" four ultraconservatives from important committees. "The Conservative Movement is capable of firing Boehner with just 16 votes," insists the right-wing American Majority Action group. "The Conservative Movement is capable of firing Boehner with just 16 votes," insists the right-wing American Majority Action group.
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) pulled four ultraconservative House members from cushy committee assignments this week, a move that was widely perceived as a bid to exercise a degree of control over his raucous caucus. Boehner is in no mood for dissent as he tries to broker a budget deal with President Obama to avoid the fiscal cliff, and the four members Reps. Tim Huelskamp (Kan.), Justin Amash (Mich.), Walter Jones (N.C.), and David Schweikert (Ariz.) all opposed Boehner by voting against raising the debt ceiling last year. Now, Boehner has warned House Republicans that he is "watching" their votes, according to Huelskamp, suggesting that the speaker has more punishment in store for anyone who causes trouble.
Boehner's move delighted liberals, who saw it as the latest evidence that the House leadership is on the verge of surrendering to Obama's demands. "This white flag is as big as a bedsheet," says Dana Milbank at The Washington Post.
And it naturally infuriated some conservative groups, who proclaimed that Boehner was conducting Stalin-esque "purges" of members who didn't toe the party line. Influential conservative commentator Erick Erickson said conservatives "must seek retribution" against Boehner, and Tea Party group FreedomWorks has demanded that the four members be reinstated. Taking dissatisfaction with Boehner to its logical end, American Majority Action, a conservative nonprofit group, is now urging the House to depose Boehner when his speakership comes up for a vote at the start of the new Congress in January:
Everyone thinks its a fairytale, but the Conservative Movement is capable of firing Boehner with just 16 votes.
The House rules demand that a Speaker receive a majority 218 votes to be elected speaker. If no nominee for speaker receives 218, the House remains speakerless as it did during parts of the Civil War.
If 16 House Republicans were to abstain from voting for Speaker, Boehner would only receive 217 votes.
Once we depose Boehner and cause a firestorm, the Republican caucus will get the memo: Pick someone else! These 16 Republicans only need to hold out until the caucus chooses a new leader.
The AMA's strategy is technically feasible, even if it would be a monumental embarrassment for the party. (As a rule, repeating episodes of government dysfunction last seen during the Civil War is not the smartest idea.)
But Boehner may be safe for now. Most members of his caucus "have fallen in line," says John Flowers at MSNBC, and AMA is not influential enough to pose an existential threat to his career. However, there's no doubt that conservative grumbling with Boehner is growing and it could get even louder as the fiscal cliff talks proceed.
/johnny
lbryce~:” Why John Boehner may be a goner.”
Do it soon, before he gives the whole Congress and the Constitution away !
I don’t give a flying flip what Boner will or won’t put up with—My member of Congress is there to represent my interests, not cater to Boner’s whims.
Boehner is a liberal clothed in conservative garb.
Has he ever successfully negotiated anything ?
I’ll bet his wife proposed to him !!
Indeed. Boehner’s inaction on 0bama’s numerous impeachable offenses MAKES HIM COMPLICIT. IMPEACH BOEHNER!
I called the Washington office of my TN4 congressman, Scott Desjarlais, yesterday...
I told them I would like him to vote for someone else ..
I donated regularly, but no more until the RINOBonehead is gone.
Also, thanks to him, I am no longer a registered Republican.
He should be a goner but I would not put any hope in Boner getting deposed. I had some hope until I just heard Kudlow say that that Ryan came out publicly supporting Boehner. If we can't get Ryan to run or help garner support around a single House member then Boner will almost certainly survive.
Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America~:” Indeed. Boehners inaction on 0bamas numerous impeachable offenses MAKES HIM COMPLICIT. IMPEACH BOEHNER!”
I agree that he is complicit
Obama is spending this country down the sewer , and into becomming a bannana republic , and Boehner is holding his hand !
Get Boehner out ..NOW !! before he gives our citizenship , our property , our livlihood and jobs away !
This whole thing is a joke. I wake up every day wondering why somebody with the improbable name of Barack Hussein Obama is President of these United States.
It's like living in a nightmare.
They shouldn't abstain. The Speaker is chosen by an absolute majority of votes cast. If they and enough others don't vote, Pelosi might get that majority despite leading the minority party. And you think we're in a world of hurt NOW?
If sixteen Republicans with stones can be found, they still need to vote. Just not for Boehner.
Most members of his caucus “have fallen in line,”...
Well, I have a little flash alert for Boehner and the sheep that “have fallen in line”. These Reps have a voting constituency that put them in the House. They are up there to represent the people of their districts.
Personally, if my Rep were to “fall in line” with Boehner, my Conservative district wouldn’t take it kindly.
If the HOP House won’t fire Bonehead, scandal his sorry a$$ out.
He’s been in DC 20 years. He’s got to have some bones in his closet.
Fire Boehner and pick Newt Gingrich, then watch the the fun. Obama Reid and the rest, would not be able to keep up with him.
I nominate Mark Levin for Speaker of the House!
Betwseen Boehner and Justice Roberts we’ll be handing everything over to the commies by the 2014 elecions (if we still have them by then)
Do it. We will drink no wine before its time. It is now time.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.