Republicans in House Battle Turmoil in Their Ranks

[liberal N proud]

WASHINGTON — Under pressure to make deeper spending cuts and blindsided by embarrassing floor defeats, House Republican leaders are quickly discovering the limits of control over their ideologically driven and independent-minded new majority.

For the second consecutive day, House Republicans on Wednesday lost a floor vote due to a mini-revolt, this time over a plan to demand a repayment from the United Nations. Earlier in the day, members of the party’s conservative bloc used a closed-door party meeting to push the leadership to go well beyond its plans to trim about $40 billion from domestic spending and foreign aid this year, demanding $100 billion or more.

The spending rebellion came after the House on Tuesday rejected what was expected to be a routine temporary extension of anti-terrorism Patriot Act provisions when Democrats and about two dozen conservative Republicans balked at a fast-track procedure. Republicans, still searching for their footing after assuming control in January, were also forced to pull a trade assistance bill from the floor after conservatives raised objections. They found themselves mediating other internal fights as well.

Speaker John A. Boehner conceded that the fledgling majority was encountering turbulence. “We have been in the majority four weeks,” Mr. Boehner said. “We are not going to be perfect every day.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/us/politics/10congress.html?hp

[KharmaTrain]

1. Boner In A Box...

If you thought Nancy Pelosi had a tough time with the Blue Dogs...it's nothing compared to the mess Boner has created by trying to first placate and now put the screws to the teabaggers. The prime problem is rushpublicans know how to campaign, they don't know how to govern. They have no agenda other than to repeal and destroy what's already in place. Boner's "pledge" about no pork barrel and other lies aren't working either as the "establishment" continues to do its business as usual while the new kids want their piece of the action. Boner is a hack...an opportunist, not a leader and we're seeing that with the votes this week. Imagine had Pelosi lost three votes in a matter of two days...the corporate media would have been relentless.

In many ways this is a good thing. The GOTB is making the most of missing opportunities and dividing themselves in the process. They don't have the votes to really pass anything and the more unorganized and inept they are the better this administration looks.

[Omaha Steve]

2. Beat me to the post

K&R!

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Republicans are discovering the joys of democracy.

You have to negotiate with all members of your party before you do anything.

[liberal N proud]

4. That is something they are not good at

It has always been tow the party line for republicans and now they have the tea baggers. Two groups that are made for each other.