The only reason Boehner is still there is because the Repubs didn't follow through ans push for a challenger. Those that voted for Boehner again were voting against Pelosi who was the only other one who could have taken the seat. Bad as Boehner is, can you imagine Pelosi heading a majority repub House with Reid at the helm of the Senate? It would have pretty much negated the slight edge we have in the House.
Naa...Even if Pelosi had more votes, she still would not have been Speaker unless she got to 218 votes, which wasn’t going to happen. The result would have been a House without a Speaker, and more votes. Eventually Boener might have won, or might have withdrawn (as he almost did), with Cantor or someone else getting to 218.
That would have been GREAT as far as I’m concerned, by teaming up with Democrats to push Obama’s plan through, he has NO BUSINESS being Speaker anymore - but we’re stuck with him.