The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

House of Representatives PSA

Posted on | January 5, 2015 | 45 Comments

by Smitty

Those crazy Republicans:

Gohmert’s announcement follows on the heels of the declaration by Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) that he would not support Boehner and would consider having his name placed in nomination as an alternative.

At least two other GOP lawmakers, Rep. Tom Massie of Kentucky and Rep. Jim Bridenstine of Oklahoma, have announced their intention to vote for someone other than Boehner when the election to choose a new House speaker is conducted on Tuesday, just as they did in 2013.

Keep in mind the dissent means that they’re really circling the drain, trying to figure out how to deal with their raaaaacism/sexism/homophobia/xenophobia/privilege/halitosis, and have Absolutely No Ideas Whatsoever for dealing with anything.

In stark contrast,

. . .minority Democrats, who are expected to nominate House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, of California, for the speakership. . .

are clearly enlightened beings who are harmonized on a Progressive view of Correct Thought.

This has been a public service announcement, just so all y’all knuckledragging, Teahadist, Godbag Christofascists are in the know.

via Instapundit

Category: Democrats, Republicans

Comments

45 Responses to “House of Representatives PSA”

  1. K-Bob
    January 5th, 2015 @ 10:53 am

    Erick Erickson has an interesting point on this topic. Not sure if it’s maff-matically correct or not:

    RedState: Conservatives in the House Have Only a Veto Power

  2. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    January 5th, 2015 @ 10:57 am

    You say Teahadist like it is a bad thing…

  3. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    January 5th, 2015 @ 10:59 am

    I agree completely. If you are serious abut blocking Boehner you have to line up the votes and block him. A scattered approach with various candidates shows you are not serious and organized, hence not a viable alternative to Boehner and the Establishment Pubs.

  4. Matt_SE
    January 5th, 2015 @ 11:25 am

    By my count, this is now the third attempt to unseat Boehner. Two years ago, the attempt was amateurish and easily brushed aside. Last year, I had the chance to speak to my congressman directly and told him I expected a more organized approach…we know how that turned out. Now, here we are again.
    Whether the challengers are motivated by patriotism or personal gain is irrelevant. LARGE portions of the base are dissatisfied with leadership, and the continuation of their tenure will be yet another poke in the eye.
    The GOP is perilously close to implosion. It will only take a few more capitulations/betrayals by Boehner to make millions of voters leave the party. The same would be accomplished if an uber-RINO like Jeb wins the nomination (resulting in the lowest GOP turnout in modern history).
    Boehner must go. He won’t leave willingly, and he’s had years to game the system in his favor, but the decision is ultimately not up to him. We the citizens must put pressure on our congressmen and hold them accountable for continuing to vote for this farce.

  5. Dana
    January 5th, 2015 @ 12:30 pm

    The esteemed Mr Erickson makes the point that while the conservatives can block Mr Boehner — unless, of course, Mr Boehner pulls in some Democratic votes specifically to retain his office — they cannot force their preferred candidate to be elected.

    The option then is to bargain for real power without the Speakership, which means the Minority Leader’s position and chairmanship of the Budget, Appropriations, Rules and Ways and Means Committees, with Appropriations and Rules the real prizes.

  6. Adobe_Walls
    January 5th, 2015 @ 12:45 pm

    Assuming the squishes are just as likely to ”veto” a conservative who is the compromise speaker between conservatives and establishment?

  7. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    January 5th, 2015 @ 1:15 pm

    Exactly. If you can block Boehner you can also attempt to negotiate to replace him with someone else. Obviously you are not going to get a Tea Party firebrand if you don’t have the votes, but I think we can still do better than Mr. Weeps.

  8. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    January 5th, 2015 @ 1:16 pm

    You find someone who is more conservative than Boehner. How friggin hard is that?

  9. Bob Costas, Conservative Liberal… No, Really | Regular Right Guy
    January 5th, 2015 @ 3:42 pm

    […] House of Representatives PSA […]

  10. DeadMessenger
    January 5th, 2015 @ 5:18 pm

    That shouldn’t be hard at all. But somehow, it’s going to turn out to be so damn difficult. -_-

  11. Adjoran
    January 5th, 2015 @ 6:20 pm

    Speakers don’t vote except for ties, but in the last ten years before he became Speaker, 2001-2010, ACU ranked him the 8th most conservative member of the House.

  12. Adjoran
    January 5th, 2015 @ 6:21 pm

    Erickson is a blithering idiot.

  13. Adjoran
    January 5th, 2015 @ 6:22 pm

    Gohmert bragged about having the votes last time, too. He doesn’t.

    Say, you know who Yoho voted for in 2013 instead of Boehner? Eric Cantor.

  14. Adobe_Walls
    January 5th, 2015 @ 7:20 pm

    Doesn’t in and of itself negate the utility of un-speakering Boehner.
    Answer me this; was knocking off Canter good for the 1)party, 2)the caucus, 3)and most important conservatism?

  15. Adobe_Walls
    January 5th, 2015 @ 7:32 pm

    Heritage Action rated him 61%
    Conservative Review 48%
    ACU as of 2013 86% lifetime buuut they rate Renee Ellmers at 83%.

  16. Adobe_Walls
    January 5th, 2015 @ 7:40 pm

    That’s the problem with an anyone but Boehner movement, it makes stupid choices look reasonable. Though I must say it would have been instructive for Republicans, for Cantor to have won his life’s ambition and then lose the primary.

  17. House of Representatives PSA : The Other McCain | That Mr. G Guy's Blog
    January 5th, 2015 @ 8:03 pm

    […] House of Representatives PSA : The Other McCain. […]

  18. Art Deco
    January 5th, 2015 @ 8:50 pm

    Boehner is at odds with his caucus on a non-negotiable matter: immigration law. He should by rights be deposed, as should McCarthy.

    All that is secondary. The question of primary interest is the Senate rules package. If McConnell refuses to countenance elimination of the filibuster, it’s over. They’ll never accomplish much of value.

  19. Art Deco
    January 5th, 2015 @ 8:55 pm

    The problem is not that he is insufficiently ‘conservative’ as a rule. The problem is that on immigration matters, he sides with the business lobbies and his donors against the public interest, against the interests of his party, and against his caucus.

    However, the problem with getting rid of him is rather like getting rid of Ngo Dinh Diem. Could just lead to a mess. Astringent dissidents like Steve King are good things; they do not necessarily make good team captains.

  20. Art Deco
    January 5th, 2015 @ 8:57 pm

    When you run away from some place, you in effect run to some place. To where are you running?

  21. Art Deco
    January 5th, 2015 @ 8:58 pm

    We are well rid of Cantor. The problem re Boehner is locating someone who is better on policy, better on maneuver, and better as a captain.

  22. Art Deco
    January 5th, 2015 @ 8:59 pm

    The GOP is perilously close to implosion.

    You need to get on the reality train. The position of the GOP in legislative bodies is as advantageous as it has been at any time since the 1920s.

  23. Quartermaster
    January 5th, 2015 @ 9:04 pm

    ACU’s ratings are questionable and have been for a long time. Anyone placing Renee Ellmers at 83% is nothing short of insane.

  24. Quartermaster
    January 5th, 2015 @ 9:05 pm

    Not even close to you, however.

  25. Art Deco
    January 5th, 2015 @ 9:15 pm

    Anyone placing Renee Ellmers at 83% is nothing short of insane.

    This is silly talk.

  26. Jim R
    January 5th, 2015 @ 9:33 pm

    Excellent point.

  27. Adobe_Walls
    January 5th, 2015 @ 9:52 pm

    ACU’s rating are probably perfectly aligned with the Chamber of Commerce.

  28. Adobe_Walls
    January 5th, 2015 @ 10:05 pm

    She was my congress critter when she beat Bob ”The Mauler” Etheridge in 2010. She ran as a Tea Party candidate but wasn’t my pick in the primary. I pulled for her anyway even gave money. On the day she got to Washington I don’t think she could spell Tea Party. Six months later John Stossel used footage of her hugging some insurance lobbyists, welcoming them into her office. The piece was about cronyism. If I’d still been in NC last election I’d have voted for Clay Aiken.

  29. Adobe_Walls
    January 5th, 2015 @ 10:32 pm

    GOP should hold the house for at least the next decade. However, there’s no particular reason to believe they’ll have the senate this time 2016. A significant portion of their base hates Boehner with a blue passion. They can’t build on their lead in the senate or win the WH without the base. And every time they f**k the base the loose more of it for good.

  30. JadedByPolitics
    January 5th, 2015 @ 11:14 pm

    Proud TeaHadist here looking for Boehner to be fired. Do I care who is in there? nope, he said he would be speaker for one term, he lied, he sold America out for 1.1T$ CR, I do believe we fired the Democrats for 1T Obamacare. This isn’t rocket science, when they seek to make our children and grandchildren pay for their buds in business’s expensive lifestyles it is incumbent upon We The People to destroy them.

  31. Matt_SE
    January 5th, 2015 @ 11:27 pm

    The GOP, mostly at the national level but also somewhat locally, is enjoying the benefit of being Obama’s opposition. Nobody thinks November’s results were a resounding “YES!” in favor of the GOPe…that was an anti-Obama vote.
    Before and during the midterms, the establishment openly declared and prosecuted a war against conservatives. Many people have not forgotten that.
    So yes, the GOP hold seats…FOR NOW. But being told to F_ck off by your own party will not sit well forever.
    That’s how the Democrats lost the ENTIRE South.

  32. Matt_SE
    January 5th, 2015 @ 11:29 pm

    I don’t know. Nobody in the current leadership chain, as Boehner (like Obama!) picked them to be sycophants.
    There’s over 200 Republicans in the House. I’m sure they’ll be able to find someone.

  33. Matt_SE
    January 5th, 2015 @ 11:32 pm

    Boehner’s ranking on Heritage Action is at the House average of 61%. That’s not very high:

    http://www.heritageactionscorecard.com/

  34. Matt_SE
    January 5th, 2015 @ 11:34 pm

    I don’t care to analyze Boehner’s mind or motivations. I’m not a mind reader.
    The only things I know for sure are that he’s not voting the constituent’s best interests, and he seems incapable of articulating our positions to the public.

  35. Quartermaster
    January 6th, 2015 @ 7:25 am

    And what you are claiming is worse than silly talk, it is simply ignorant.

  36. Quartermaster
    January 6th, 2015 @ 7:26 am

    Probably so. Ellmers certainly is no conservative, much 83% conservative.

  37. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    January 6th, 2015 @ 9:53 am

    Sort of like Tobacco on my eggs. Not necessary from a nutritional stand point, but it definitely improves the eggs.

  38. Art Deco
    January 6th, 2015 @ 9:58 am

    Ignorant of what? The sectaries on this board have extended the term “RINO” to cover the American Conservative Union, Republican presidential nominees, the entire congressional caucus, and the Republican National Committee. The politicians you want do not exist and cannot exist because once in office you merely retreat to the next item down on your list of endless discontent.

  39. Art Deco
    January 6th, 2015 @ 9:59 am

    Have you checked? If not, why not?

  40. Squid Hunt
    January 6th, 2015 @ 12:23 pm

    I think this is all for show. Same thing happened last Congress and Boehner walked across home plate. Rest assured. The GOP is united in their support of the great betrayer.

  41. Lemuel Vargas
    January 6th, 2015 @ 12:29 pm

    Hopefully, the opposition has unified under 1 candidate if they will have a credible chance of winning the Speakership. Well, we will see after today…

  42. Lemuel Vargas
    January 6th, 2015 @ 12:32 pm

    W/c must a good sign for the Tea Party. We are in this for the long haul, you know.

  43. Quartermaster
    January 6th, 2015 @ 1:38 pm

    That’s simpleminded BS. I don’t expect perfection, but I do expect consistency with the label you adopt. Ellmers is not consistent with the label she adopted to get elected. The ACU is of questionable efficacy when it comes to rating someone conservative or RINO. Ellmers is just one example of their unreliability.
    I would submit that the list you post pretty much define themselves as RINOs by their actions, not us.
    If the sectaries on this board bother you so much, why do you stay?

  44. Quartermaster
    January 6th, 2015 @ 1:40 pm

    Regardless, if the Conservatives don’t unite, then everything they do is of questionable value.

  45. Daniel Freeman
    January 6th, 2015 @ 2:32 pm

    I’m really proud of the work that one of my senators, Jeff Merkley, did to chip away at the antiquated custom of the filibuster. In such a hidebound body, it’s amazing how much of an effect he was able to have on the rules as a freshman (albeit only because Ted Kennedy died).

    I’ll be honest: I actually voted for him, both times, precisely because he demonstrated in the Oregon House that he’s good at building cross-party coalitions for non-partisan issues. It’s an undervalued skill.