Many have mentioned the November secret ballot as the time for replacing the worthless Boehner. Perhaps so, but it is important to remember that it was after this vote that he and the “leadership” rammed CRomnibus (funding Amnesty and fully funding Obamacare) down our throats in the Lame Duck session.
This was the first time that Boehner could be confronted, and the Republican Caucus folded up like a cheap suit.
I think the key point in this debate is that the conservative wing is not in the majority position within the Republican party. The move to replace Boner had to be conducted with a secret vote if there was any hope of persuading other Republican members to join the minority conservatives.
This was not a forum that lent itself to a contest with Boner, Pelosi and some unannounced candidate. It was mentioned above that 5 votes would have led to a 2d ballot. I haven't done the numbers but think it highly unlikely the conservatives, even with a 2d ballot, could have cut deeply enough into Boner's 216 without giving Pelosi's 164 a significant advantage.
Will stipulate I am not a political expert, but I think the only way for the apparent R minority to effectively test whether it was the R majority with no risk was with the secret November election. Otherwise, you get what we have.
Again, it is too damn bad there isn't anyone in the conservative wing sophisticated enough to have accomplished that. But that doesn't mean all the conservatives are two-timing a$$holes as some of the no doubt trolls in these various threads would have us believe. (Not referring to you, RinaseaofDs)