Question about Boehner's role in this mess

[shireen]

There is something I do not understand.

There are 232 Republicans in the House. The fanatics that are adamantly against the ACA number in the 30s. That is about 13% of the House Republicans.

How are they able to have such a strong grip on Boehner, who is not a tea partier?

If Boehner is doing this for his own job security, this has got to be one of the most unpatriotic acts I've ever heard of ...

[el_bryanto]

1. It is a bit of a puzzlement

There was a good article about it at Talking Points Memo - he sort of challenges the theory that there's only 50 - 80 votes in the House for this tea party mess.

I will, as they say, believe it when I see it. A couple days ago, Rep. King (R-NY) was supposedly going to lead a 'moderate' revolt of 25 members. But in the end, only a handful voted against the relevant House 'rule' and half of those were folks like Bachmann and Steve King from the Crazy Caucus who think the Boehner strategy doesn't go far enough.

On the day before the shutdown, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), who's actually no moderate, was at first castigating his colleagues as "lemmings" for going along with the Boehner/Defundo strategy but by the end of the day was going lemming himself and voting with them.

I guess one question is that if there are a lot of house republicans who don't like the way this is going couldn't they give Boenher cover to move? But they haven't, and they don't seem likely too. Part of that is fear that the Tea party will challenge them in primaries, and part of that may be that they just don't like Boehner.

Bryant

[global1]

3. If Boehner And The Moderate Repugs Don't Take A Stand On The Tea Party Repugs.....

the Tea Party Repugs will challenge them anyway in the primaries - the money is there and they are being emboldened everyday that Boehner and the Mod Repugs don't take them on head on.

Boehner and the Mod Repugs need to get smarter right now and end this and even use the President and the Dems to shut down the Tea Party Repugs. My prediction is - if they don't - no matter what happens - the Tea Party Repugs will get a stronger foothold in the 2014 Congress. The money and the support is there for them through those far right wing organizations - that are pushing for minimizing the government and taking it out of the hides of the Poor, Old, Middle Class, Sick and Children.

Really - if they don't put an end to the Tea Party right now - face these bullies down - it's only going to get worse.

[el_bryanto]

7. I don't know - I don't know that Big Business is in favor of this

and with out business contributions can the Tea Party grow as it has been? I think the tea-partiers in the house are probably safe, but after this performance, will they really want to put up more of that type?

Bryant

[global1]

2. We Need To Start Calling For Boehner's Resignation From Speaker Of The House.....

I'm calling for John Boehner to resign as Speaker of the House as he doesn't speak for the whole House and isn't doing his job to bring this government shutdown to an end. It doesn't have to go on any longer because he has the votes in the House to end it and just doesn't have enough good common sense and love for this country to do it.

[Mass]

4. Do you seriously think Cantor or McCarthy would do any better? Or Paul Ryan, for the matter?

Boehner is pathetic, but the GOP moderates had a chance to stop the charade yesterday, and they ALL voted against stopping it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023770630

We have to stop hoping the moderates will do something. They WONT. We're in this for a long time and I feel sorry for those who are paying the price (not the tourists wanting to visit the National Parks, but those being furloughed and poor people who need the help).

[mnhtnbb]

5. The first day I sent a message to my House Rep (a dem) telling him he needed to convince

any 'moderate' Republican colleagues of just that: foment a rebellion and oust Boehner.

Trouble is, will they just select some other Repub doofus?

[True_Blue]

6. True

There are enough votes to pass a clean CR, but Boehner won't allow it. He must be afraid of the Teahadists.

[GeorgeGist]

8. see post 4.

Apparently it's a myth the Boehner has the votes.

[True_Blue]

12. I didn't realize that

So much for hoping on the moderate republicans

[Xyzse]

10. If Boehner resigns or ousted as speaker of the House...

I am sorry to say, but I rather have him than any unknown evil that they would put forth.

Republicans still control the Majority of Congress. I don't see them promoting any one more towards the middle than Boehner. In fact, I think they would only find someone further to the Crazy Right.

I'd love to say that things would be better without him, but I don't know the alternatives.
Before we do call for that resignation, who would replace him?

[AlinPA]

14. It wouldn't make any difference. Boehner talks like, and acts the same as any teabagger. They are

all crazy.

[Xyzse]

15. That's true

I guess I prefer the devil I know to the devil I don't.
Just wish we had better options.

[FSogol]

11. Seriously? Don't you see all the turds standing behind him?

Everyone one of them would be the same or worse.

[Xyzse]

9. NPR talked about this earlier today.

The issue if I remember are the following:
http://www.npr.org/2013/10/03/228708153/boehner-stays-in-line-with-what-gop-hardliners-want?ft=3&f=2,3,5,7,10,13,35,39,46

-Those 30 are in massively gerrymandered red states. No matter their crapulence at this time, they are safe and will most likely retain their seats.
-Those 30 were almost able to remove Boehner from speakership.
-Since they are safe and their support are from the most extreme wing of the party which is also the loudest, the rest of the Republicans vote the way they do, since they are scared that they will be the ones targetted next by the same extremists.
-With Boehner being scared of them being able to remove him, he has no balls to buck their push, and if he can't go against the 30, few if any would be willing to go against that.

Sucks, but they got stuck with crazy.

[AlinPA]

13. RE: "Boehner, who is not a tea partier"?? He talks like and acts like a teabagger and is leading

the House in this shutdown. There are lot more teabaggers in the House than 30. Based on the recent "revolt" by the "moderates" which is around 17 according to the count of such members, Boehner is leading the majority who are all right-wing.

[grantcart]

16. Hastert Rule

In order to enhance the power of the Republican majority Speaker Hastert initiated a rule that he wouldn't bring to a vote any legislation that didn't have at least 51% of the caucus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastert_Rule

If Boehner breaks this rule it is almost certain that he will lose his position.

He can only move (in his mind) when he has 51% of the Republican caucus behind him.