Pence Closer to Stepping Away From GOP Leadership

National Journal ^ | 27 Oct 2010 | Billy House

[mandaladon]

House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence of Indiana is inching closer to his anticipated decision to step aside as the House GOP’s third-ranked member, a move prompted by his aspirations for higher office as well as his growing irritation with the internal maneuverings of the House GOP.

Senior GOP aides say that while they are unaware of any move by Pence to officially inform Minority Leader John Boehner of his intention to vacate his conference post, they expect Pence to step aside when Republicans choose new leaders after the November 2 elections.

Should the Republicans win back the House on Tuesday, the position open behind Boehner as Speaker and Eric Cantor as majority leader would be that of House Majority Whip -- a job that essentially oversees lining up and counting votes on important legislation, especially those bills seen as important to leadership. But those duties would place significant time demands in Washington on a potential candidate for other office.

It has been well-known that Pence has been mulling possible bids in 2012 for governor or even president -- and that continues to play a main role in his thinking, according to sources. But Pence, 51, also has become agitated with some of the internal maneuverings of the GOP conference, most recently when he and his staff were excluded from helping to design the "Pledge to America," the conference’s new governing manifesto.

[mandaladon]

"The Indiana conservative may be motivated not only by aspirations for higher office, but aggravations over internal House GOP maneuverings." I wonder how true that is.

[ScottinVA]

I hope he’s considering a run for President. He’d get my vote.

[GoCards]

hmmm. I like Pence enough. Just not sure which higher office I would like him in??? VP?

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

I’m willing to bet that Pence is already disgusted at Cantor and Boehner’s inevitable plan to “reach across the aisle” and compromise with the same Rats who have locked Republicans out of committee meetings in 2009 and 2010.

[MHGinTN]

It would be wise of We The People if Barry the Bastard is the LAST Senator elected to the presidency. Governors have at least managed an economy and dealt directly with the people.

[wordsofearnest]

As a fellow Hoosier I’d take him as either one (with the Governorship leading to the Presidency).

[Deo volente]

President Pence...has a nice ring to it!

[DrC]

This doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. In the 1970’s, House Republican chairman John B. Anderson parlayed his position into a 3rd party run in 1980. Used right, the conference chair can greatly enhance his own national visibility and influence party positions on issues. If Pence hasn’t figured out how to be a leader in this position, why does he suppose that he’ll do better in the WH?

[Servant of the Cross]

I hope he’s planning to run for Speaker on a separate slate.

[onemiddleamerican]

Palin/Pence rolls off the tongue easier than Pence/Palin...
:-)

[Andrea19]

The only three sitting senators elected to be president in the last hundred years were Harding, Kennedy, and Obama. Truman and [LB] Johnson had been vice-presidents, then became president when the top of ticket died. Wilson, [FD] Roosevelt, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and [GW] Bush were all governors who directly ran for president. Coolidge was a vice-president who then became president when Harding died. Make of this history what you wish; it’s a mix.

[Andrea19]

Always remember that technically the Speaker of the House need not be a member of the House. It's a tradition that a representative be chosen as Speaker.

[Liz]

THE LINCOLNESQUE MIKE PENCE

"The Presidency and the Constitution" (Cong. Mike Pence at Hillsdale College)
EXCERPT---The American Spectator | 9/20/10 FR Posted by hillsdale1

"The President of the United States of America bows to no man. You do not bow to kings. When in foreign lands, you do not criticize your own country. You do not argue the case against the United States, but, rather, the case for it. You do not apologize to the enemies of the United States. Should you be confused, know that a country, people, or region that harbors, shelters, supports, encourages, or cheers attacks upon our country, the slaughter of our children, our mothers, our fathers, our sisters, and brothers… are enemies of the United States.

SOURCE LINK http://spectator.org/archives/2010/09/20/hillsdale-speech-on-the-presid/2

[rfp1234]

If not running for POTUS, Mike, please challenge RINO Lugar!

[Kenny Bunk]

"Boehner and Cantor""
Somebody take these two ani out back and show'em the stick. Boehner has been drinking so much so long that his brain is dead. Cantor? No excuse for this young vermin who made encouraging conservative noises to get elected, and went RINO PDQ.

If Pence won't be Speaker, who else we got?

[lonevoice]

Pence, 51, also has become agitated with some of the internal maneuverings of the GOP conference, most recently when he and his staff were excluded from helping to design the "Pledge to America," the conference’s new governing manifesto.

I must have been living in a cave when that got airplay from our conservative commentators. I don't even remember seeing any articles about it on FR. Any info about why and how this happened would be appreciated.

[rob777]

"Pence thinks he is a viable candidate for president because he has what aides describe as the perfect conservative voting record during the Obama and Bush administrations."


Although many GOP elected officials are now opposing Obama's big government advances, Pence was one of the very few who stayed true to the principles of limited government when the advances were being promoted by President Bush. I remember his being "taken to the woodshed" on a few occasions when he had the audacity to insist that the GOP leadership remain true its professed conservative ideals. Pence has shown that he will stick to opposing big government even when it comes from his own party. DeMint is another one who I can say this about, but there are precious few others. I hope one of these two runs in 2012 as I want a tried and true limited government conservative back in charge of the GOP again.

[Soul Seeker]

I’m not impressed.

He’s out positioning himself as a great conservative hope and that House has learned their lessons and then he plans to bail after the election when we NEED conservatives to rise up and stop the leadership from reverting to habit? I know DeMint is saying he won’t run for the Presidency and I have no reason not to believe him but if he were I doubt he would be backing down from the position when we need him MOST.

I don’t care what Pence’s future aspirations are. We need strong conservatives in the House and in the Senate for the upcoming battle with the establishment and I am NOT amused by this talk of him cutting and running now.

[Ex-Democrat Dean]

But Anderson lost, didn’t he.

[HighlyOpinionated]

I tweeted him and told him that before he moves out of leadership he needs to have a LOT of TEA Party support otherwise, WE THE PEOPLE, will not accept his candidacy.

Remember, We The People, will NOT allow ANYONE else to choose OUR Candidates . . . not the Candidates themselves, not the MSM, not even Sarah Palin. WE CHOOSE.