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.
Let me explain a few things to you, because you are misguided. The notion floated was that ONLY 16 Republicans could defeat Boehner. That is true in only one case - which is those 16 joined a unanimous Dem caucus to elect a Democrat - probably Pelosi again.
My comment was only on the notion of 16. There was never any discussion that there were enough votes to elect another Republican. That was not going to happen.
Therefore, my comments about the 16 scenario are 100% on the money true and to the salient point.