[The Old Hoosier]

This post contrasts Boehner, who basically has no choice but to work with the conservatives in his caucus, with DeLay and Pelosi, who simply told their members how to vote and ruthlessly punished them when they got out of line.

[DJ MacWoW]

Wasn’t it Bonehead who removed Conservatives from key positions?

[bigbob]

We are seeing the results in the form of Ted Cruz, Trey Gowdy, and others who have found their voice. A domineering speaker might not allow this to happen...

[cotton1706]

Boehner has demonstrated that when push comes to shove, he will ignore the conservative majority of his caucus and bring legislation to the floor and pass it with democrat votes.

The so called “Hastert Rule” whereby legislation was not brought to the floor unless it had a majority of republican support, was a tool to keep conservative legislation from the floor under the guise of “well, it just doesn’t have the support of a majority of the caucus” -because the old guard establishment types were still a majority of the majority. However, with around thirty either retiring or being defeated in ‘06 and then another thirty retiring or being defeated in ‘08, the old guard majority is gone. The sixty odd members who were elected in ‘10 to essentially replace them are mostly conservative. Thus, out the window goes the “Hastert Rule” because it now gives power to the conservatives and that of course is anathema to all in power in Washington.

[LibFreeUSA]

I hope that this is true, and the evidence all around seems to bear this out.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

One more reason to despise DeLay.

[DJ MacWoW]

Boehner Removes Conservatives From Committee Positions

Boehner, GOP Leaders Purge Conservatives from Powerful Committees UPDATE: Boehner Scoffs

[Buckeye McFrog]

Job #1 for the Tea Party this cycle, IMO, is to pull the plug on Boehner’s power to send a message to all the other RINO’s out there not to frack with us.

Even if that means plunking for the Democrat after a failed primary challenge. One more DUmmy in the House is going to do a lot less damage than a bumbling RINO squish in a key position of leadership.

[McGruff]

Newt. Now there was a Speaker.

[9YearLurker]

What an idiotic article.

Those previous bad votes came when they had a weak (half-Democrat) same-part president (George W. Bush).

Suggesting that Boehner’s half-Democrat leanings are ‘beside the point’ is to completely miss the point. Best to have a strongly small-government Speaker.

The greater part of Boehner’s weakness isn’t that he’s trying to build consensus, but that he’s trying to undermine those representatives in his party who actually represent the party’s base and principles.

Jeesh!

[Moonman62]

Leave Boehner alone!