Posted on 01/04/2015 6:56:14 PM PST by dontreadthis
December’s disgraceful CRomnibus debacle fresh in mind, House conservatives may finally be ready to hand the most powerful gavel in the House from John Boehner to a more principled leader when they vote for Speaker of the House on January 6th. Replacing Boehner is both possible and necessary for a multitude of reasons, but it’s important to understand how the vote works in order to counter the misinformation that has already started coming from those with a vested interest in keeping the status quo.
Under the Constitution, the Speaker of the House must be elected each Congress by a majority of present Members of the House – 218 votes at the current count – and the Speaker election must occur before any other business in the new Congress. Although both parties typically nominate a single candidate before the vote takes place, any Member of the House can vote for any person to become Speaker – they can even vote for someone who is not in Congress at all!
This means that under the current numbers (246 Republicans to 188 Democrats) only 29 Republicans need to vote for someone other than Boehner in order to force another vote. The House will hold as many votes as necessary until one individual gets to the magic 218.
An important point to take away from this is that there is literally no way the Democrats could get the necessary votes to elect a Speaker of their choice unless a large number of Republicans were to join them. The charge that voting against Boehner could lead to a Speaker Pelosi (an accusation that was tossed around last time in 2013 and is sure to come back) is ridiculous and impossible.
At least two conservative members so far, Reps. Ted Yoho (FL) and Louie Gohmert (TX), have stepped up as possible alternatives to Boehner, and many more have publicly refused to vote for him. There's no question at this point that there enough conservatives who are dissatisfied with Boehner's leadership to keep him from a third term as Speaker if they were to stand together.
But voting against the sitting Speaker of the House is a huge political risk for anyone involved – Leadership can kick them off of committees, make it impossible for their bills to get a vote, and even support primary challengers against them. Polls already show a large majority of Republican voters want a new Speaker, but the Republicans in Congress need to hear from you, to know that their constituents stand with them. It’s crucial to send messages and phone calls to their offices to help bolster their resolve.
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yum!
Another idea about how Republicans “Can get it done.” But, unfortunately, it won’t be. Again.
The baton will be passed to a RINO. Watch...
My bet is that Boehner will survive and remain Speaker. He'll do so by making backroom promises to conservative members, promises that he won't keep but will buy him two more years in power.
Ya know....it would help if this “Freedom Works” group knew who the new crop of Reps is going to be.
They sent my message to the outgoing Rep. who now has an address at the Senate.
Is voting by secret ballot?
I don’t hold out much hope that Boner will be replaced. Every congress person who votes for him on the first go round will never change their vote. So, on the second vote all he needs are some democrats and he’s already got them lined up.
The baton will be passed to a RINO.
My bet is that Boehner will survive and remain Speaker. He’ll do so by making backroom promises to conservative members, promises that he won’t keep but will buy him two more years in power.
Remember what Speaker Boehner did to Marty Stutzman. Lied to his face to get his vote on the Cromnibus. I think Boehner’s word is worthless. I smell blood in the water.
I’m betting on da judge. (Gohmert).
Boner decreed that leadership will turn over after 6 years, he should follow his own rule.
We can do this, but you can’t sit on your hands!
No....Voting is by spoken names in alphabetical order of the entire House of Reps.
Each Rep states his or her vote or votes "present"
The trick is to deny the crybaby in the first ballot, thus forcing second and possible consequent ballots with other candidates.
Voting continues for as long as it takes until a candidate secures 218 votes.
My first thought is the lofo’s. They won’t even be involved. There are truly many lofo Republicans! I think this may be doable. All my RNC email goes into the waste basket unopened. I’m sick of their BS too. My congressman, Lamar Smith was sent an email the next day after this ram thru of a budget.
If I am not mistaken, the 6-year rule was part of the Contract With America.
I’m sure the dirt they have on all the members of congress is at the ready to be released if the critters don’t vote for the bonehead.I will be shocked if bonehead does not remain speaker.
Actually, voting against Boehner, would be a resume enhancer for most republicans in the following primary.
Boehner won't be thrown out. He is firmly entrenched in his position. All these stories about a coup are silly. The powerful in Washington remain in power. Nothing will change.
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