Posted on 01/02/2013 1:50:21 PM PST by SeekAndFind
There's just one hitch. It's a terrible, thankless job and no one else wants it.
American Majority Action spokesman Ron Meyer told Breitbart News late Tuesday that enough House Republicans have banded together in an effort to unseat House Speaker John Boehner from his position -- they just need a leader to take up the mantle.
At least 20 House Republican members have gotten together, discussed this and want to unseat Speaker Boehner --- and are willing to do what it takes to do it, Meyer said. Thats more than enough to get the job done, but the one problem these guys face is they need a leader to coalesce behind.
There's no Speaker until someone has a majority of votes from the entire House, so if 17 Republicans flatly refuse to vote for Boehner then he’ll be effectively blocked — unless a few Democrats decide to cross the aisle to get to 218. Could that happen? Dave Weigel says nope but I’m not sure. There’s no conceivable way that a Democrat gets elected tomorrow, so if you’re a tea-party-hating liberal backbencher, why not use your vote to spite conservatives instead? The Dems could sit back and let the drama play out for a few rounds: On the first ballot Boehner gets a heavy plurality of the GOP caucus but is blocked from a majority, on the second ballot a conservative challenger (Cantor or Jordan) pulls even but Boehner loyalists refuse to back down, on the third ballot a compromise candidate (Ryan?) enters the fray and the vote splits three ways. Then Democrats could swoop in and humiliate their enemies by voting en masse for Boehner. Not only would it deepen the fracture in the Republican caucus that Obama’s worked so hard to cause — imagine a GOP majority having to serve under a Speaker whom they knew was elected by the other side — but Democrats could spin it as a show of bipartisanship for the media. Depending upon how badly Boehner wants to keep the job, they might even be able to extract some concessions from him. Imagine this guy having to negotiate with Obama on the debt ceiling and the sequester knowing that he’s in that position chiefly because of Democratic support. Just one problem with this goofy yet fun hypothetical: Would Boehner or any other Republican agree to be Speaker without the backing of a majority of his own caucus? The job would be even more terrible and thankless than it is now. You’d need a truly self-aggrandizing, quasi-independent RINO to accept an arrangement like that. Hmmmmmm.
Ah well. A member of Boehner’s team tells NRO they’re in touch with caucus members and not worried about the vote. Read Joel Pollak’s piece at Breitbart last week to see why. When push comes to shove, there’s no reason to think anyone else would do a better job of uniting moderates and tea partiers or getting Obama to agree to serious deficit reduction except maybe Paul Ryan, and he’s the last person who wants Boehner’s job now.
Update: Don’t wander away from your computer tonight:
GOP caucusing from 5-7 pm tonight. Topic: Future of House GOP leadership. Hear Boehner may resign there.
— Matthew Boyle (@mboyle1) January 2, 2013
Incoming GOP Rep. Steve Stockman said today that he’ll vote against Boehner tomorrow. That’s one. Are 16 more out there?
Update: Or not:
Boehner is not resigning tonight. His office says its made up.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 2, 2013
RE: GOP Leaders: Allen West for Speaker of House!
How does that happen when West just lost his election?
How can 20 members do that?
I’m not so sure Boehner has done anything so wrong under the circumstances, it appears McConnell put through something worse than Boehner’s “Plan B”.
But Boehner is an awful public persona for the party, no personality, no ability to win a PR war with Obama.
At least 20 House Republican members have gotten together, discussed this and want to unseat Speaker Boehner -— and are willing to do what it takes to do it, Meyer said. Thats more than enough to get the job done, but the one problem these guys face is they need a leader to coalesce behind.
So these 20 conservatives are so spineless that none of them will step forward as a leader? This goes no where.
I think ther are enough Democrats willing to go for loser Boehner
How sad. Bone-wad is the Speaker of the House. And he’s about as good as there is.
The job of the Speakership is not dependent on being a sitting representative. It can be from within the ranks or outside the ranks.
boner cut the original deal with reid, pelosi and obama behind closed doors... when he lied to us and said Cut, Cap and Balance was the ONLY plan on the table. He is a coward, a drunk, a liar and a progressive.
LLS
I understand that the Speaker of the House does not have to be a member.
Because the rules state anyone can be the speaker. They do not have to be a rep.
If true, then why did Pelosi relish it so much?
No, Boehner's troubles stem squarely from his propensity to fight Conservatives harder than he fights Obama and the Rats.
You’re right and should he resign, he’ll CRY while doing it....LOL.
Happy, healthy, hopeful, and very prosperous New Year to you and your precious family, my dear, sweet and cherished friend.
How does that happen when West just lost his election?
It won’t even though the Speaker doesn’t have to be from the elected group. The House hasn’t ever elected someone that isn’t currently an elected member to that position and isn’t going to start tomorrow. JMO.
Anyone have Uncle Newt’s phone number handy?
Now the RINOs are unnecessary to DemoRats, and will no longer be allowed to retain their positions. There are Rats that want those seats and they shall have them.
“How does that happen when West just lost his election?”
It happens because there is absolutely no rule that the speaker of the house be a member of the house. They could elect Kim Kardashian if they wanted to.
How is it that Democrats get to vote on who is to be Speaker of a GOP controlled House?
Happy New Year dear friend... may GOD bless you and yours! I did send you a freepmail before Christmas. A belated Merry Christmas too!
LLS
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