Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Anatomy of a Failed Coup: Boehner’s opponents were slow and uncertain.
National Review ^ | 01/07/2015 | Joel Gehrke

Posted on 01/07/2015 7:29:59 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Around 10 a.m. this morning, Representative John Fleming (R., Md.) received a phone call from a colleague asking him to vote against Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) on the House floor today.

Fleming has a longstanding alliance with Representative Steve King (R., Iowa), Representative Jim Bridenstine (R., Okla.), and other ringleaders of the unsuccessful effort to oust Boehner from the speaker’s chair, which makes it surprising that this was the first time anyone had contacted him about the issue.

“To ask me to vote against the speaker on the last day like this, without having an alternative to vote for, without really having a chance to vet that person and debate this and discuss this, I said, was just a really bad idea,” Fleming told National Review Online, explaining why he voted to confirm Boehner as House speaker. “If we’re going to change leadership, we need to do it in a very systematic and organized way.”

Fleming’s experience is indicative of the disorganization that characterized the coup attempt. And it points to a second problem: the lack of a top-tier alternative — someone such as House Ways and Means Committee chairman Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) — willing to rally the opposition against Boehner. Ultimately, those factors combined with the difficulties inherent in challenging a sitting speaker, sinking the coup.

“We should have done all of that after the election, and then in December, that’s when we should have had the battle over who should be speaker,” Fleming says.

Representative Ken Buck (R., Colo.), who took office this morning, said that the rebels made it harder for freshman lawmakers to oppose Boehner by waiting so long to go public with the fight.

“If this effort was going to be successful, it would have had to start in November, and it had to be an effort that included the freshman class,” Buck, who also voted for Boehner, told NRO. “A lot of the freshman class never received any phone calls from anybody, and that put us at a disadvantage.”

That was especially problematic given that the freshmen don’t know much about Representative Daniel Webster (R., Fla.), the lawmaker who placed second among Republican candidates for speaker. As of Sunday, Buck said, Webster hadn’t decided if he was willing to get in the race, and Webster’s ambivalence prompted Representative Ted Yoho (R., Fla.) to throw his hat into the ring. “The delayed effort told me that some people aren’t ready to lead,” Buck says.

Boehner’s detractors responded to those criticisms by pointing to the events of the lame-duck session. After President Obama used executive power to confer the benefits of legal status to millions of illegal immigrants, many immigration hawks wanted the House GOP leadership to fight back immediately. Instead, Boehner backed a $1.1 trillion spending package known as a “cromnibus” — an omnibus bill funding most of the government for a year, but keeping the Department of Homeland Security on a short-term continuing resolution — rather than staging a dramatic attack against Obama’s orders.

“We didn’t get 72 hours to read [the cromnibus] — 1,600 pages that spend $1.1 trillion,” Representative Walter Jones (R., N.C.), who voted for Webster to replace Boehner, told reporters. “Everybody’s finding out every day what’s in it. That’s not what’s in the best interest of the people.”

That argument didn’t sway Fleming, despite his dislike for the cromnibus. “The cromnibus was consistent with other things the leadership has done,” he says. “We shouldn’t have been surprised.”

In keeping with Fleming’s point, Jones confirmed that he had a meeting with Webster and small groups of other lawmakers in September, when House Republicans were fresh off of an internal fight over how to respond to Obama’s immigration policies and the border crisis.

But the effort began to heat up seriously only in December, when Boehner’s most ardent opponents started sounding out a small group of lawmakers to assess their chances of cobbling together the 29 votes needed to prevent Boehner from winning on the first ballot.

They worked hard for weeks to get the support of colleagues such as Representative Tom McClintock (R., Calif.), but they fell short. McClintock, who says he is also “disappointed” in Boehner’s leadership, agreed with Fleming that this debate should have taken place in November, at the conference’s organizational meeting. By starting the fight on the House floor, McClintock argued, conservatives risked creating a scenario in which they ended up with a more liberal House speaker.

“Having shattered the precedent that the House Republicans are bound by the decision of the House conference on this issue, that then gives license to 29 of the most morally flexible members of the conference to go to Nancy Pelosi and say, ‘Hey, let’s work a deal for a truly bipartisan, post-partisan House,’” McClintock told NRO.

Given the risks involved and the difficulty in finding a candidate, it’s perhaps more surprising that the rebels convinced 24 Republicans to vote against Boehner than it is that they came up short. One Republican congressman said that the results today actually understate the conference’s interest in new leadership.

“People — especially activists — hate Boehner,” the lawmaker, who voted for Boehner in order to guarantee that House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) wouldn’t get a chance to become speaker, told NRO. “It’s the most unpopular vote most of us will ever take.”

—- Joel Gehrke is a political reporter for National Review Online.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: analysis; boehnerspeakervote; congress; coup; housespeakervote; johnboehner; speaker
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last

1 posted on 01/07/2015 7:29:59 AM PST by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing - Edmund Burke


2 posted on 01/07/2015 7:31:27 AM PST by Resolute Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

“coup”

“ringleaders”

What is this — ChiCom news?


3 posted on 01/07/2015 7:31:41 AM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

The fact that someone had “to ask” Flemming to vote against Bonehead
says it all.

Flemming joins a long list of frauds and fakes.


4 posted on 01/07/2015 7:32:44 AM PST by tennmountainman (True conservatives don't like being rained on by their own party!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

When is the next chance to dump Boehner , because you know he’s going to screw the party up big time


5 posted on 01/07/2015 7:33:24 AM PST by molson209 (Blank)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Whatta fiasco.

What LAME excuses.

I’m a Rebublican NO MORE! Mebbie a Conservative, I dunno right now.


6 posted on 01/07/2015 7:36:17 AM PST by Flintlock (Soapbox didn't work; ballot box neither--we're left with the BULLET BOX.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Republicans are running around like eunuchs in a Hong Kong whorehouse. Useless! My Congressman, Billy Long once said,”Mitch McConnell and John Boehner were the problem.” Yet he voted for Boehner. Go figure...


7 posted on 01/07/2015 7:38:50 AM PST by donozark (Andrea Chalupa:"Ukraine is fighting for survival. The UN is fighting for relevancy.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Not to matter.

The GOP is now officially dead.

Let’s get working on a real party.


8 posted on 01/07/2015 7:40:37 AM PST by Da Coyote
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

So Rush...are you going to keep telling us that 3rd parties still won’t work?

I’m done voting Republican!


9 posted on 01/07/2015 7:40:37 AM PST by Artcore
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
The holidays made a perfect cover for The Boehner Gang to hold onto power, voting on the 1st business day of the new year.

I wonder how many newbies voted for Boehner after campaigning to support a new speaker?

10 posted on 01/07/2015 7:41:21 AM PST by TexasCajun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
Ultimately, those factors combined with the difficulties inherent in challenging a sitting speaker, sinking the coup.

This is a NEW congress. Boehner is not the Speaker until he is elected.

Perhaps a distinction without a difference but it needs to be said that Boehner was not a foregone conclusion as speaker simply because he was the Speaker in the last congress.

Boehner failed miserably to advance the Republican agenda in the last congress and should lose his position.

11 posted on 01/07/2015 7:41:56 AM PST by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

voting no on boner should have been as natural as breathing and no “coup” needed


12 posted on 01/07/2015 7:42:28 AM PST by crusadersoldier
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

13 posted on 01/07/2015 7:44:43 AM PST by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

House vote bump....


14 posted on 01/07/2015 7:47:36 AM PST by indthkr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Please link me to a list with the 25 patriots’ names. We will support them with campaign money when they run in ‘16.


15 posted on 01/07/2015 7:49:44 AM PST by txrefugee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
The fact is that it was not well organized. I think that's because nobody really wants the job.
16 posted on 01/07/2015 7:51:14 AM PST by clintonh8r (Death to islam.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TexasCajun

I wonder how many newbies voted for Boehner after campaigning to support a new speaker?
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
The FNG’s turn into seasoned Vets once they get the first indoctrination. Play the game or get a broom closet for an office and be on the committee that oversees nothing.

Years ago O North was basically turned down (one of the main points) because he was ‘different’ and VA would be ‘losing’ a vote in the Senate because he would get absolutely NO good ‘jobs’.

Of course, if he had succeeded, another would have followed etc, and very possibly Ted Cruz would have a strong force to belong to.

Like ‘they’ kept telling us about drilling for oil on the ‘North Slope’.

“It will be 10 years before we see the fruits of this”

Of course that was 40 or so years ago so we could have been ‘enjoying’ the fruits for 30 some years, yet ‘every’ time it comes up, the dissenting ‘argument’ is

“It will be 10 years before we see the fruits of this”.


17 posted on 01/07/2015 7:58:17 AM PST by xrmusn ((6/98)those who understand, no explanation needed-Those who don't none will work.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Artcore

I’m done. No more voting if it goes democratic so be it there is no difference. I odd are I have maybe one or two more presidential elections before the eternal dirt nap..screw em.

You numpty’s who threw money to people like Mia Love and most of the TP candidates got taken for a ride...enjoy the scenery.


18 posted on 01/07/2015 8:01:54 AM PST by BubbaJunebug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: txrefugee
Here are the Republicans who voted against John Boehner for speaker

If you see WHO they voted for instead, you begin to understand why the whole endeavor failed. There was not one person they were united to vote for.
19 posted on 01/07/2015 8:05:10 AM PST by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
.


Free Republic’s Bitter Kasserine Pass DEFEAT with John Boehner : WHY ARE WE HAPPY TO KEEP LOSING ?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3244193/posts


That thread wasn't designed to be a pity party ...

So ... a genuine "thanks" for the Segway here ...



Several months in the future "Obama-Boehner Event ABC-XYZ" will require a massive public-political action ...


Question-1 : Should Free Republic even consider getting involved ? (Yes/No)


Question-2 : "IF" yes ... how should Free Republic be "pre-organized" for an EFFECTIVE response


2-A) "Free Republic Action Teams" set-up in advance ?

2-B) "Free Republic Action Teams" set-up in ALL fifty-seven (57) state chapters ?

2-C) "Information Infrastructure" (Congressional Telephone Numbers, Rally Locations) already be set-up and ready ?

2-D) Free Republic "coordination" with other Patriot groups ?

2-D-1) Red State (Erick Erickson) ?

2-D-2) Freedom Works (Matt Kibbe) ?

2-D-3) Overpassses For America (James Neighbors) ?

2-D-4) National Tea Party Patriots (Daveda Gruber) ?

2-D-5) Overpasses for Impeachment (Roger Ogden) ?

2-D-6) Stop The Busses (Stella)?

2-D-6) Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Beck, Josh Bernstein, Jon Matthews, Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Mark Davis, Joe Pags, etc.

2-D-7) Tea Party / 912 STATE groups

2-D-8) THE DRUDGE REPORT media interface contact

2-D-9) An "Action-Rally Graphic/Tag-Link" on the Free Republic website masthead ?



Only Jim Robinson can decide this question for Free Republic; after all he's the Founder and genius behind Free Republic.



"Thanks" Big Red Badger for asking the $ 10 million dollar question ...



 photo SOAFJB--100-01_zps07c79c35.jpg

 photo SOAFJB--001-05_zps1bfa9850.jpg

 photo SOAFJB--001-04_zpsf44e2861.jpg

 photo Free-Republic-000_zps6c5204b8.jpg

.
20 posted on 01/07/2015 8:05:34 AM PST by Patton@Bastogne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson