16 votes couldn’t derail his Speakership unless they’d be willing to accept Pelosi as Speaker again. Maybe now they would - and in some sick sense I would love to see it because I have gone from disliking Boehner to just loathing him deeply - but the idea that merely 16 could derail.....not quite as simple as that.
Pelosi wouldn’t have become speaker, as she would also need a majority vote. All the Pubs had to do is vote for another Pub instead of boner.
I don't pretend to know the detailed mechanics of the procedure. But it was certainly my impression that had the (supposed) conservatives stuck together they could have thrown a big monkey wrench in Boner's selection as speaker
Which also brings up the question of why does the minority party (Dems) have any say so in picking the majority party's speaker?
Finally, someone that knows how it works! I got so tired a long time ago trying to explain to these third Party people that they have a loosing battle - but they didn’t listen. I hope the good Lord blesses you with a better outcome than I had.