This article in The Hill, quoting sources who were part of the intense whip operation to pass Boehner’s Plan B, reveals chaos and fear in the ranks of the GOP and how it is very close to becoming “every man for himself” on the Republican side of the aisle:
“I think that there were members that are so gun shy about primaries that they weren’t willing to take a risk … some members told me that it was just too hard to explain how it wasn’t a tax increase,” Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) said shortly following Thursday night’s abrupt conference meeting where Boehner told his colleagues they wouldn’t vote on the bill.
Fewer than 24 hours later, Speaker Boehner told reporters that his colleagues were worried about the perception of raising taxes.
“There was a perception created that that vote last night was going to increase taxes. Now I disagree with … that characterization of the bill, but that impression was out there. Now, we had a number of our members who just really didn’t [want] to be perceived as having raised taxes,” the Speaker said at a Friday morning press conference in the U.S. Capitol.
A bulk of the whipping effort centered on shooting down that argument, made by influential conservative interest groups, that Republicans would be “caving” if they gave in on allowing tax rates to increase for any portion of the population.
Boehner and his deputies helping to whip up support for Plan B — a proposal to keep the current rates in place for more than 98 percent of taxpayers instead of allowing them to expire for everybody on Dec. 31 — tried to convince 25-30 holdouts not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
One lawmaker, who has served on the whip team for several years, told The Hill that he was “whipping people that I’ve never had to whip before.”
The lawmaker, who requested anonymity, was getting frustrated with his colleagues for regurgitating the “the same old bull—- lines … like, ‘If we don’t hold the line, or if we cave’… And I said, ‘What??? Then what?’”
He was able to turn several votes when his colleagues couldn’t answer “what then.”
At a time when it is absolutely essential for Republicans to be united, the leadership is failing in its efforts largely because members fear the tea party more than they fear the speaker of the House. More than the tea party, grass roots activists — and those who fund them — are also on the warpath, looking for deviancy from holy writ; no tax increase.
The question then becomes if Boehner is incapable of leading his caucus, shouldn’t he be replaced? That might work if there was anyone better. The problem is that conservatives may not be able to unite around a single candidate.
Brietbart reports that there is a document with an action plan to deny Boehner the speakership when Congress reconvenes on January 3. The key appears to be establishing a secret ballot to elect the speaker. Currently, the election requires a roll call vote where one’s opposition to Boehner is very public and very dangerous. Making it the first order of business to conduct the election for speaker by secret ballot would still be risky because that vote would need to be conducted by roll call. The revolutionaries would be identified in short order and failure to unseat Boehner would have consequences. Therefore, the plan will probably not be implemented unless the ringleaders are fairly certain of success.
Members may be unhappy with Boehner but unless a realistic alternative steps forward, it is likely that the speaker will be re-elected. That doesn’t bode well for the GOP’s future as a damaged and weakened speaker must face the Democrats with a divided caucus behind him. In that case, President Obama may be able to peel off enough Republicans to get his fiscal cliff proposals passed despite Boehner’s opposition.
The Republicans appear to be well and truly trapped and are in desperate need of strong leadership. It doesn’t look like they are going to get it from Beohner.
Some of us are conservatives. We have principles. Others call us purists because of our silly notions like believing that the Constitution is the fundamental law of our land, or that raising taxes on anyone in a bad economy is absolute idiocy. Hey…do your own thing…you idiots.
Conservatives are now being labeled as “radical”. Since when does being in favor of a smaller government, less taxes which means we get to spend our hard earned money ourselves, a strong military,a secure border, and most importantly a preservation of our personal liberties guaranteed by the Constitution qualify as being radical?
Down is up and up is down these days.
Have you noticed how many of our billionaires are progressives?
Since people learned to think.
Speaker Bonehead used Stalinest vote counting to strip the grassroots of influence with the rules change at the convention. He is a tool of the corrupt GOP elite and has to go. And we can do better than the wobbly Paul Ryan.
Its time for conservatives to stop playing defense and playing the role of losers. Paul Ryans debate with Joe Biden will be remembered by the abuse heaped upon Paul Ryan and his refusal to react. In the second debate Mitt Romney had a chance to go after President Obama on the issue of Benghazi, but he decided to drop the subject and avoid confrontation in order to look Presidential. The result was he lost the election by losing part of his conservative base. Bohener is playing games with the President when he should be attacking him at every opportunity. Our annual trilion dollar deficit and the eventual national bankruptcy should be the focus of attention and not the ridiculous pseudo fair share issue. Americans admire a winner. Its time conservatives acdted accordingly.
My one thought of the debates will always rest on Mitt’s inability to capitalize on the Candy Crowly incident.
I can see Ronald Reagan standing there and saying, “There you go again, Might I remind you Candy that a moderator is not supposed to take sides in a debate, but since you’ve taken the initiative to pre arange having the transcripts ready for my opponent, would you please read the section in which he specifically addresses the situation as a Terrorist Attack for all of us.”
Romny looked like the fool he is in the 2nd debate. Deal with it.
“At a time when it is absolutely essential for Republicans to be united, the leadership is failing in its efforts largely because members fear the tea party more than they fear the speaker of the House. More than the tea party, grass roots activists — and those who fund them — are also on the warpath, looking for deviancy from holy writ; no tax increase.”
Um, correct me if I’m wrong, but ist’t that the whole idea of having a vote every 2, 4, and 6 years?
For the people to let the politicians know if they are doing the job they were sent to do, or doing their own thing?
Maybe I’m old fashioned, thinking the constitution was written well and should still be the document on which we base our government. Not like these new modern leaders we have like Ruth Ginzberg who tells other countries that the document she swore an oath to is outdated.
Rick, you’re starting to sound like Tom Friedman who said, “But if Republicans continue to be led around by, and live in fear of, a base that denies global warming after Hurricane Sandy and refuses to ban assault weapons after Sandy Hook…” Sounds like the same thoughts with different words to me.
“It’s all George Bush’s fault.”
Well, George and the republicans, when in 2000, when they allowed themselves to be maneuvered into passing a tax cut with an expiration date.
It’s funny how often principled positions can be explained as venal pragmatism.
So, was what happened in 2000 the result of holding to a principled position? It looked more like venal pragmatism to me at the time.
True to his nature of being a politician first – Republican second – and a RINO at that – Boehner isn’t apt to let go the reins of power. Politicians rarely do unless compelled by strong forces – like voters or other more powerful politicians. Look for this push-over to be speaker for another 2 years – pimping for Obama. End result? We are screwed – more taxes – more Fed spending – more deficits – Obama-Care – less military – less respect around the world – and probably more conflicts across the globe as tyrants everywhere decide its time to screw their neighbor since they’ll likely get away with it. Net result? The Mayans’ were right – at 10:10 eastern time (or thereabouts) was supposed to be the end of the world – does anyone but me correlate the failure of Boehner (the timing is right) to the Mayans’ prediction? Maybe they saw that as the incident that doomed a world? Who knows?
If Boehner were half smart he’d just pass the legislation that WILL pass the House – send it to the Senate and tell Obama/Reid to “Deal with it – the ball is in your court”. Since he is – like Obama a statist – this won’t happen. Must suck to be a ‘deal-maker’ when there is nobody to make a deal with.
2010 was a census year and also a republican sweep of state houses.
So Republicans gerrymandered themselves seats that are all super conservative nightmares, totally safe from being challenged by Democrats, totally safe from the majority of the populations, ie democracy.
But that law of unintended consequences bit you.
Super conservative districts totter in the primaries and fall to radical know-nothings who want to tear down the United States.
You’ve made a House that is safe from Democratic challenge and in the process made the Republican party incapable of being a national party.
JIPA!
(Joshua Ignorance Pontificates Again.)
Your representatives are beholden to nuts and so incapable of governing as the people want.
You think that people can’t see that?
If you can’t govern as the people want, you can’t be a national party anymore, you can’t win things like oooh, the white house and the senate.
If you count the actual number of votes in the House of Representatives, then the Democrats got more votes there too.
What’s the trend, Bubba?
Over the cliff lads.
The only thing that works is when dufus Americans feel pain. Actually paying the democrat bill will make an impact, words won’t.