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Depose John Boehner: Why Some Conservatives Are Calling for the Speaker's Head
The Week ^ | December 6, 2012 | Ryu Spaeth

Posted on 12/06/2012 4:26:04 PM PST by lbryce

The Ohio Republican is facing a backlash for "purging" four ultraconservatives from important committees. "The Conservative Movement is capable of firing Boehner with just 16 votes," insists the right-wing American Majority Action group. "The Conservative Movement is capable of firing Boehner with just 16 votes," insists the right-wing American Majority Action group.

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) pulled four ultraconservative House members from cushy committee assignments this week, a move that was widely perceived as a bid to exercise a degree of control over his raucous caucus. Boehner is in no mood for dissent as he tries to broker a budget deal with President Obama to avoid the fiscal cliff, and the four members — Reps. Tim Huelskamp (Kan.), Justin Amash (Mich.), Walter Jones (N.C.), and David Schweikert (Ariz.) — all opposed Boehner by voting against raising the debt ceiling last year. Now, Boehner has warned House Republicans that he is "watching" their votes, according to Huelskamp, suggesting that the speaker has more punishment in store for anyone who causes trouble.

Boehner's move delighted liberals, who saw it as the latest evidence that the House leadership is on the verge of surrendering to Obama's demands. "This white flag is as big as a bedsheet," says Dana Milbank at The Washington Post.

And it naturally infuriated some conservative groups, who proclaimed that Boehner was conducting Stalin-esque "purges" of members who didn't toe the party line. Influential conservative commentator Erick Erickson said conservatives "must seek retribution" against Boehner, and Tea Party group FreedomWorks has demanded that the four members be reinstated. Taking dissatisfaction with Boehner to its logical end, American Majority Action, a conservative nonprofit group, is now urging the House to depose Boehner when his speakership comes up for a vote at the start of the new Congress in January:

Everyone thinks it’s a fairytale, but the Conservative Movement is capable of firing Boehner with just 16 votes.

The House rules demand that a Speaker receive a majority — 218 votes — to be elected speaker. If no nominee for speaker receives 218, the House remains speakerless — as it did during parts of the Civil War.

If 16 House Republicans were to abstain from voting for Speaker, Boehner would only receive 217 votes.

Once we depose Boehner and cause a firestorm, the Republican caucus will get the memo: Pick someone else! These 16 Republicans only need to hold out until the caucus chooses a new leader.

The AMA's strategy is technically feasible, even if it would be a monumental embarrassment for the party. (As a rule, repeating episodes of government dysfunction last seen during the Civil War is not the smartest idea.)

But Boehner may be safe for now. Most members of his caucus "have fallen in line," says John Flowers at MSNBC, and AMA is not influential enough to pose an existential threat to his career. However, there's no doubt that conservative grumbling with Boehner is growing — and it could get even louder as the fiscal cliff talks proceed.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: consevatives; johnboehner
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Why John Boehner may be a goner.
1 posted on 12/06/2012 4:26:11 PM PST by lbryce
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To: lbryce
I see ultraconservative printed... but I never see ultraliberal as a description.

/johnny

2 posted on 12/06/2012 4:29:43 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: lbryce

lbryce~:” Why John Boehner may be a goner.”

Do it soon, before he gives the whole Congress and the Constitution away !


3 posted on 12/06/2012 4:30:52 PM PST by Tilted Irish Kilt (When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes mandatory- Thomas Jefferson)
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To: lbryce

I don’t give a flying flip what Boner will or won’t put up with—My member of Congress is there to represent my interests, not cater to Boner’s whims.


4 posted on 12/06/2012 4:30:52 PM PST by Arm_Bears (The MSM lies about conservatives; and it lies about liberals.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Boehner is a liberal clothed in conservative garb.

Has he ever successfully negotiated anything ?
I’ll bet his wife proposed to him !!


5 posted on 12/06/2012 4:33:26 PM PST by Tilted Irish Kilt (When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes mandatory- Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Tilted Irish Kilt

Indeed. Boehner’s inaction on 0bama’s numerous impeachable offenses MAKES HIM COMPLICIT. IMPEACH BOEHNER!


6 posted on 12/06/2012 4:40:06 PM PST by Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America (IMPEACH OBAMA)
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To: lbryce

I called the Washington office of my TN4 congressman, Scott Desjarlais, yesterday...

I told them I would like him to vote for someone else ..


7 posted on 12/06/2012 4:43:30 PM PST by Tennessee Nana
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To: lbryce

I donated regularly, but no more until the RINOBonehead is gone.

Also, thanks to him, I am no longer a registered Republican.


8 posted on 12/06/2012 4:45:28 PM PST by Da Coyote
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To: lbryce
Why John Boehner may be a goner.

He should be a goner but I would not put any hope in Boner getting deposed. I had some hope until I just heard Kudlow say that that Ryan came out publicly supporting Boehner. If we can't get Ryan to run or help garner support around a single House member then Boner will almost certainly survive.

9 posted on 12/06/2012 4:45:46 PM PST by plain talk
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To: Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America

Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America~:” Indeed. Boehner’s inaction on 0bama’s numerous impeachable offenses MAKES HIM COMPLICIT. IMPEACH BOEHNER!”

I agree that he is complicit
Obama is spending this country down the sewer , and into becomming a bannana republic , and Boehner is holding his hand !
Get Boehner out ..NOW !! before he gives our citizenship , our property , our livlihood and jobs away !


10 posted on 12/06/2012 4:47:37 PM PST by Tilted Irish Kilt (When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes mandatory- Thomas Jefferson)
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To: lbryce
Well, let's see if he does the honorable thing and resigns from Congress like Gingrich did when he was deposed as Speaker.

This whole thing is a joke. I wake up every day wondering why somebody with the improbable name of Barack Hussein Obama is President of these United States.

It's like living in a nightmare.

11 posted on 12/06/2012 4:52:59 PM PST by elkfersupper ( Member of the Original Defiant Class)
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To: lbryce; All
boner = goner (I hope :)...
he a waste of air

12 posted on 12/06/2012 5:02:04 PM PST by skinkinthegrass (Who can take tomorrow, Spend it all today? Who can take your income And tax it all away? Obama Man :)
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To: lbryce
If 16 House Republicans were to abstain from voting for Speaker, Boehner would only receive 217 votes.

They shouldn't abstain. The Speaker is chosen by an absolute majority of votes cast. If they and enough others don't vote, Pelosi might get that majority despite leading the minority party. And you think we're in a world of hurt NOW?

If sixteen Republicans with stones can be found, they still need to vote. Just not for Boehner.

13 posted on 12/06/2012 5:07:33 PM PST by Colonel_Flagg ("Don't be afraid to see what you see." -- Ronald Reagan)
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To: lbryce

Most members of his caucus “have fallen in line,”...

Well, I have a little flash alert for Boehner and the sheep that “have fallen in line”. These Reps have a voting constituency that put them in the House. They are up there to represent the people of their districts.

Personally, if my Rep were to “fall in line” with Boehner, my Conservative district wouldn’t take it kindly.


14 posted on 12/06/2012 5:09:19 PM PST by BlessingsofLiberty (Remember Brian Terry...)
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To: Colonel_Flagg
They shouldn't abstain. The Speaker is chosen by an absolute majority of votes cast. If they and enough others don't vote, Pelosi might get that majority despite leading the minority party. And you think we're in a world of hurt NOW?

Absolutely correct - anyone can be Speaker, they don't even have to be a Representative. Can you just imagine this AGAIN...........................................................




15 posted on 12/06/2012 5:14:39 PM PST by Cheerio (Barry Hussein Soetoro-0bama=The Complete Destruction of American Capitalism)
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To: plain talk

If the HOP House won’t fire Bonehead, scandal his sorry a$$ out.
He’s been in DC 20 years. He’s got to have some bones in his closet.


16 posted on 12/06/2012 5:23:17 PM PST by tennmountainman
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To: lbryce

Fire Boehner and pick Newt Gingrich, then watch the the fun. Obama Reid and the rest, would not be able to keep up with him.


17 posted on 12/06/2012 5:23:23 PM PST by Gator113 (**WHO in the hell gave the damn order to NOT rescue our men in Benghazi?**)
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To: lbryce

I nominate Mark Levin for Speaker of the House!


18 posted on 12/06/2012 5:23:48 PM PST by forgotten man (forgotten man)
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To: lbryce

Betwseen Boehner and Justice Roberts we’ll be handing everything over to the commies by the 2014 elecions (if we still have them by then)


19 posted on 12/06/2012 5:33:39 PM PST by Scotswife
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To: lbryce

Do it. We will drink no wine before its time. It is now time.


20 posted on 12/06/2012 5:40:48 PM PST by imardmd1 (... let such as love their salvation say continually, "The LORD be magnified!" (Ps. 40:16b))
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