Posted on 10/27/2010 4:06:07 PM PDT by STARWISE
Republicans are supposed to be focusing on the election every minute, every second.
But with Irish bookies already paying out bets that Republicans will take back the House, who are you kidding? Of course Republicans are maneuvering behind the scenes to grab leadership slots, committee chairmanships, plum office space and God knows what else.
Two recent episodes, one in the House and one in the Senate, show GOP officials are keenly watching the news for power plays and backbiting. Often, that means a game of “who leaked?”
When Politico ran as its top story that House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence might be vacating his spot in leadership, for instance, key GOP aides found deep meaning in the timing.
“I’m told by good sources that he has in no way made a decision and will not do so until after the election, so this Politico story clearly came from someone trying to force his hand,” one aide said.
“If you read the Politico story, there is NO NEWS in it. It’s a recap of what everyone already knew (that Pence was pondering).
Sooooo, the question is who is powerful enough to convince Politico to run a non-story to force Pence’s hand? Hmmmmm….” the aide said.
Others filled in the question, saying House Minority Leader John Boehner, who’s standing ready to become the Republican Speaker of the House next January, probably pumped up the issue to get an answer out of Pence on whether he’ll be a part of his team.
But that theory has its critics, too.
“I don’t think it’s in Boehner’s interest to have this play out in public,” said another House GOP aide, “’cause now he’s gonna get asked about who replaces him instead of trying to do this all hush hush.”
Boehner’s office did not offer public comment on the episode. Matt Lloyd, a spokesman for Pence, noted Pence’s campaign stops in states across the country and said Pence “believes that speculating about who will occupy what leadership position in the next Congress is ‘looking past the playoffs’ and out of place.”
A leadership leak whodunit also took place Monday on the Senate side.
Then, the Wall Street Journal’s Jonathan Weisman tweeted that conservative favorite Sen. Tom Coburn would be serving as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s emissary to incoming freshman GOP senators.
“Republican Senate official: Sen. Tom Coburn will be named liaison to incoming Senate Freshman Republicans in McConnell end run around DeMint,” Weisman tweeted.
If it were true, the announcement would be hugely important. Because Coburn is so well-respected by conservatives, his alliance with McConnell would be a major coup for the minority leader, who faces suspicion from the right wing flank of his caucus.
It would also mitigate the coming hurricane of between six and ten Tea Party or otherwise aggressive conservative senators coming to Washington. Insiders expect the Sharron Angles, Rand Pauls and Ken Bucks of the world to be bulls in the Senate china shop.
*snip*
Conservatives inside and outside the Senate were pretty suspicious about the leak, though. The aides eyed McConnell – and one of his top allies, Sen. Lamar Alexander, Tennessee Republican.
“I think the real story here is McConnell vs. [South Carolina Republican Senator and conservative favorite Jim] DeMint. McConnell has consistently tried to use Coburn to tamp down conservative opposition from the DeMint wing in the Senate. All of his overtures are consistent with that goal. I have to assume this fake announcement today was meant to scare DeMint — the logic being that every time DeMint tried to get the new guys to do something conservative, Coburn would pimp McConnell’s message to do the opposite. That logic is of course absurd,” said a former Senate aide.
Rest @ link
.. Ping!
Do these leaders understand they are about to feel the boot of the tea party. They better quit fighting over who gets the office is in the corner and come up with a plan to accomplish our goals. If they play games and try to screw us this party will not exist in 4 years.
Ugh! McConnell’s lieutenants are Lamar! and Moocurski?
McConnell: A ‘general’ without an army. After the ‘C’-Day Invasion of Nov. 2, McConnell will be swept away - or be even less powerful than he is today.
The current leadership will not have a party if they do not get out of the way. You wanna govern like Dem lite? Then switch to(D)today. You wanna govern like this country was founded on? Then move to the back of the line and earn your way back.
Exactly right!
But, they deserve the benefit of the doubt. That's why I'm still spelling his name Boehner.
I agree. But, with the impending disaster that is coming the socialists way there is already the usual jockying for positions. You can bet the fir will fly between the true conservatives and the rinos. The rinos know dam well they are on the bubble and they have lost a very large part of their clout. So..its up to the true conservatives to exercise their power and push the rinos out of the way.
“But, they deserve the benefit of the doubt. That’s why I’m still spelling his name Boehner.”
Long “O”, silent “E-H”
The sad part of all this is that if the current GOP leadership remains in control of the House, winning numerous seats in the election becomes largely a moot point.
The leadership calls the shots in the House and with “Can’t we just g-g-get along” Boehner and his pet weasel Eric, it’s just welcome to the new boss, same as the old boss.
I hope they do find a way to replace Boehner, preferably with Ryan. Boehner might make a fine speaker, but he comes across as too tidy and patrician to be an effective communicator to the public, shifty eyes and not a hair out of place. Ryan would be better. McClintock would be terrific.
We need a warrior in charge. Paul Ryan does not need a telepompter to tear the RATS a new one.
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