A true conservative can not get to 218. That is the main reason. The conservatives are simply asking for a leader who will give them a seat at the table that respects their numbers AND the fact that it was conservatives who put these Republicans in leadership by virtue of their conservative victories.
However, their victories did not put enough conservatives in the majority to ever hope to elect a conservative as Speaker.
They are looking at others, like Jim Jordan or this Daniel Webster guy, but whomever it is must compromise with conservatives enough to allow them a seat at the table.
Right now the Boehner types are doing everything in a smokey backroom. THAT is what conservatives in the House intend to stop. They want a Speaker willing to hear them and give them a vote on the agenda going forward.
The TEAnami wave of 2010 was to turn the tide on these establishment RINO’s.
They realized the threat then, and have been doing their level best to stop the TEA/conservatives, at any cost....even resorting to fighting them in their re-election campaigns harder than the RNC has ever fought the Dems.
Everything was getting back to business as usual and going great, for these GOPee’ers....they slapped the n00b Reps back into submission....until......Trump came on the scene. Trump has given confidence to We the People...a voice...like we’ve not had since 2010...when we were co-oped by opportunistic groups and the establishment.
We’re sick and tired of the same old, same old from these career politicians, who once they finally retire, go on to high paying lobbyist jobs. We’re sick of them putting $$ and power over Country and constituents.
McCarthy and Boehner need to leave their Leadership positions, immediately.
I understand that you need 218 votes.
It would still be encouraging to see a true conservative step up and run
even if he or she did not get elected.