Boehner elected House minority leader; Blunt elected whip
posted at 9:34 am on November 17, 2006 by Allahpundit
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By a landslide, according to Fox. So much for the Mike Pence groundswell.
Will the GOP make it a business-as-usual two-fer by reinstalling Blunt as whip? Stay tuned!
In the meantime, mull the implications of this:
The [Washington] Times reported Tuesday that four potential 2008 Republican presidential contenders — including Arizona Sen. John McCain and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney — had called Mr. Steele to urge him to take the RNC post, but only if he won an ironclad agreement to be free to run the RNC so as to further the party’s interests rather than take orders from Mr. Rove.
It’s Karl Rove’s party. You just think it’s yours.
Update: Optimists face reality.
Update: How much of a landslide was it? 168-27, according to Hotline.
Update: Let the misery of others cheer you on this gloomy November morning. Along with the hope of more misery to come.
Update: Just across on Fox — Blunt beats Shadegg in the race for whip. Everybody drink!
Update: More schadenfreude:
Pelosi’s failed effort to anoint her own chief lieutenant fueled doubts among critics about the political skills she brings to leading her fractious party. It also sent a clear signal of what kind of leader she is: an old-style politician who puts a premium on personal loyalty, even at the risk of high-profile defeat.
Update: Blunt won by a landslide too.
Update: Quality snark here from Tom Maguire on the Pelosi debacle. “I eagerly await the panel presentation by Messrs. Murtha and Lamont tentatively titled ‘It’s All About Iraq.’”
Update: McCain calls for a return to conservative principles, which to him presumably means amnesty and infringements on free speech.
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It’s going to be a long 2 years as the House Pubbies and the House Dems race each other and their Senate counterparts for the title of dumbest organization.
steveegg on November 17, 2006 at 9:46 AM
Stuck on stupid.
Cary on November 17, 2006 at 9:46 AM
It’s like a political version of the Monty Python Twit Olympics.
Slublog on November 17, 2006 at 9:51 AM
Congress is like a box of chocolates. Chances are you will get something kind of nutty that will make you sick to your stomach.
Benaiah on November 17, 2006 at 9:57 AM
You know, the more I ponder the loss of Murthra, I wonder if it was a no-vote on Pelosi. Yes, I know she was voted Speaker uniamously… but maybe them saying no to Murtha was telling Nancy that she won’t get away with whatever she wants and it was a symbolic “We’re watching you, and keeping you in check.”
Enoxo on November 17, 2006 at 9:59 AM
Further…
Steele for RNC Chair!
Steele for RNC Chair!
Steele for RNC Chair!
Steele for RNC Chair!
Enoxo on November 17, 2006 at 10:00 AM
Further…
Steele for RNC Chair!
Enoxo on November 17, 2006 at 10:00 AM
I agree, they are ’stuck on stupid’
retired on November 17, 2006 at 10:01 AM
No crap.
Just ask any conservative defeated in the last few years because they were “unelectable” according to the Papal Bull of Bush-Rove. If they did scrape through the primary, there was nearly zero support for them from the RNC.
Valiant on November 17, 2006 at 10:01 AM
Holy posts batman… I apologize for the multiple posts above. They weren’t showing up on my refresh, so I thought they didn’t go through.
AP! We need a delete / edit function!
Enoxo on November 17, 2006 at 10:03 AM
That’s not a drum beat, its a heart beat and it’s dying!
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on November 17, 2006 at 10:09 AM
Dread Pirate - I can’t even hear that dying heartbeat out here well outside the Beltway.
steveegg on November 17, 2006 at 10:22 AM
When does Rove finally go away?
p0s3r on November 17, 2006 at 10:22 AM
Stuck on stupid!
lorien1973 on November 17, 2006 at 10:26 AM
Whatever magic Rove once had, it is now just a fond memory. The recent election and Series of Unfortuante Appointments have proved that.
Republican leadership needs to confront Bush and especially Rove with the intention of taking back control of the GOP. If Bush and Rove give any flack, threaten them with a very public media war. Steele is the right person for the RNC Chair. Martinez is a lackluster meal of dry-white-toast and water.
natesnake on November 17, 2006 at 10:27 AM
So. What’s next for the Conservative base? Do we keep on fighting, or pick up our marbles and go home? Neither seems like a good option.
BNCurtis on November 17, 2006 at 10:27 AM
I do have some good news, and no, it’s not about car insurance:
Just in case you missed the Michelle Malkin trackback above, allow me to repost paragraph 2:
Too bad we can’t find more McConnells. Let the gridlock begin in earnest!
steveegg on November 17, 2006 at 10:31 AM
Meanwhile, I eagerly await the panel presentation by Rep. Hoyer and those that elected him tentatively titled ‘It’s All About Inappropriate Behavior With Pages’.”
steveegg on November 17, 2006 at 10:40 AM
It’s more than apparent that the GOP is pushing conservatives out of the party. I’m at a loss for ideas too and not pleased at all.
Buzzy on November 17, 2006 at 10:41 AM
…there you have it…gonna be like two years of watching retards drivin’ bumper cars…somebody get a mop for the drool, or they’ll electrocute themselves…
…anybody thought to make popcorn?
Puritan1648 on November 17, 2006 at 10:42 AM
It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion…
SouthernGent on November 17, 2006 at 10:50 AM
Thanks, Slu. I needed that laugh.
steveegg on November 17, 2006 at 10:50 AM
I think the GOP has two options at this point:
#1 Play the polics as usual card and be the opposition/obstruction party.
#2 Throw Bush and Rove under the bus for next two years.
With option #1, the GOP looks like a bunch of cry-babies and furthur alienates the Independants and moderate conservatives. I believe that approach makes little gains or possibly loses in the ‘08 cycle.
With option #2, the GOP sends a clear signal that the party is not lost and we are willing to clean our own house and get back to conservative principles. This will fire up the base and gain the Independant votes lost this year.
natesnake on November 17, 2006 at 10:51 AM
We really need to cut the lega out from under the good old boys club. We need to give our money to primary candidates and get these life long politicians out of the party.
Theworldisnotenough on November 17, 2006 at 10:51 AM
With #2 clearly being the better option, let me fearlessly predict that the SOP (stupid old party) will choose #1.
thirteen28 on November 17, 2006 at 10:52 AM
Man, we have Boehners in the house, and minority whips… kinky… (yes, I know that’s not how you pronounce it).
E L Frederick (Sniper One) on November 17, 2006 at 10:59 AM
Before I send another one of those vaunted letters to my Republican congressman to convey my disappointment, is it a federal crime to gorge it with expletives?
Mark V. on November 17, 2006 at 11:00 AM
natesnake - I vote for #3 - all of the above
steveegg on November 17, 2006 at 11:02 AM
MKH is saying there’s drinks floating around these parts. Might be a tad early here in the Midwest, but I need an extra-strength one.
steveegg on November 17, 2006 at 11:06 AM
#!*%$X#!*@>%#+°‡^x*%!
RushBaby on November 17, 2006 at 11:08 AM
I used to sit in amazingment at how clueless the Dem leaders were - trying to engage the middle class with urban elite values. I kept wondering how out of touch they had to be to fail tounderstand why they weren’t connecting with their target audience.
Now the GOP is just as out of touch and clueless.
F**k the GOP.
Clark1 on November 17, 2006 at 11:08 AM
They assume that the base will just swallow these dud nominations, be upset for a while, but ultimately, keep coming back to vote GOP on election day. Conservatives have no other credible third party.
Remember the Harriet Miers revolt? Can’t be done again.
Here’s what you do instead …
De-register from the electoral roll THEN write the party/congressmen/senators - say that you’ve quit and give your reasons. Threats won’t work this time - quit BEFORE writing. Make it clear that you’re very upset about the special interests, pork, spending, immigration, etc. Say you’ve had enough but that if they ever start putting things back together again, you might consider coming back. Put the requirement on them to pull their act together; not the base to be forced to accommodate passively.
lazerua on November 17, 2006 at 11:09 AM
lazerusa - the only “good” thing about de-registering to vote is the Dems won’t be able to immediately use your name to commit vote fraud. However, I’m sure that their operatives will re-register “you” at the first opportunity.
steveegg on November 17, 2006 at 11:16 AM
My thoughts exactly.
You don’t mind if I quote you, do you Steve?
Lawrence on November 17, 2006 at 11:16 AM
Feel free, Lawrence.
steveegg on November 17, 2006 at 11:24 AM
DRINK!
I say we do listen to McCain…and keep him well removed from power.
steveegg on November 17, 2006 at 12:11 PM
Why don’t they just reelect Strom Thurmond to a leadership position? And his being dead is not an acceptable answer!
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on November 17, 2006 at 12:25 PM
Why is it that only a RINO seems to understand what happened on election day?
Benaiah on November 17, 2006 at 12:44 PM
…McCain…*RETURN* to conservative princples…that’d be like Britney Spears returning to her still-warm seat at the Stephen Hawking lecture the nature of time, matter, the universe and all that other Stephen Hawking stuff.
…er…
…anyway, you’d've had to be there *ONCE* to return….
Puritan1648 on November 17, 2006 at 12:44 PM
It is all about Immigration and the SPP.
Mike Pence went on Laura Ingraham and said he would filibuster any attempt of passing an Amnesty Bill.
This is just another preemptive strike by GWB.
It is the same thing with Mel Martinez.
When was the last time a sitting Senator ran the RNC?
GWB is demonstrating that he intentionally threw the elections so that he could do an end run around the Republican Congress that said no to Amnesty.
GWB is selling out the Base and is selling out all Americans in the name of Free Trade and the North American Union.
ScottyDog on November 17, 2006 at 12:50 PM
Pence would have just driven Shays, Castle and whatever GOP moderates are left in the House straight out of your caucus. Boehner might not be a good leader, but he doesn’t come off as someone who will put his foot in his mouth every other day.
Grebrook on November 17, 2006 at 1:07 PM
So. What’s next for the Conservative base? Do we keep on fighting, or pick up our marbles and go home? Neither seems like a good option.
Damn, you said it. Why do I get the feeling that the Bastards on both sides of the aisle are exactly the same? They want the same things, great personal enrichment and bringing the money back home.
When we start grumbling, one side screams, “they are going to take away your right to chose” and the other, “we must protect marriage.”
Other than that, they are a club that we schlubs just aren’t invited to.
Crap.
CrankyNeocon on November 17, 2006 at 1:33 PM
John Boehner (R-Ohio) is an open borders Amnesty loving RHINO.
Read all about it at Debbie Schlussel’s Blog.
Grebrook
Your the one that continually put his foot in his mouth everyday in this Forum
ScottyDog on November 17, 2006 at 1:41 PM
I just changed my voter registration status to independent. I am no longer a Republican. Moreover, I will only vote for a real conservative in any election - regardless of party affiliation. No conservative; no vote.
plaidsheetman on November 17, 2006 at 1:41 PM
Too bad I’m not an elected politician.
Ah, by the way, don’t bother moaning that you didn’t get your leader, America doesn’t want either of them: http://www.pollingreport.com/congress.htm#misc
Grebrook on November 17, 2006 at 1:49 PM
Congressman Boehner on FoxNews.com:
Huh? Mr. Boehner, is this an ‘08 campaign statement or is this for real this time?
And does the senate minority leadership share that spirit?
ricer1 on November 17, 2006 at 1:52 PM
Grebrook
…..and your point is?
Anybody can manipulate polls as I demonstrated here to tar and feather your opponent.
ScottyDog on November 17, 2006 at 2:01 PM
Hey, sorry, but if they just hate us less, we still win :)
Disapproval of congressional leaders is a very strange question to ask, anyway. According to most polls, more than 50% of the country doesn’t even KNOW who Nancy Pelosi is. Seems more likely than not that people use those questions to attack Congress in general.
Grebrook on November 17, 2006 at 2:08 PM
And still they hate democrats! Wait till they get to know her!
lorien1973 on November 17, 2006 at 2:10 PM
From Taranto’s column today at Best of the Web Today:
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on November 17, 2006 at 2:22 PM
And Bob Michel wasn’t available.
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on November 17, 2006 at 2:23 PM
Shoot your spouse, drown your children, hang yourself.
There’s no hope for the future with these congenital retards.
mikeomatic on November 17, 2006 at 3:23 PM
Okay, well, at least now we know it’s not just Bush and Rove; it’s most of Congress. Which is useful information.
Cancelling registrations won’t help; the Rs have made it clear that they have no interest in our votes.
So what now? Do we start a third party, or is there one already that we get behind? We have no way to clean out the Rs; we just tried.
Might some current Republicans (Pence, Shadegg, anyone who voted for those two…) be interested in jumping ship? Are there any Ds who ran as conservatives and meant it?
The choice for the foreseeable future is between voting for a Lefty with a D behind his name, and a Lefty with an R, so spending some time in the wilderness is going to happen regardless. Might as well spend it doing something constructive.
kate q on November 17, 2006 at 3:32 PM
Yeah, Republicans who spent the last two years interfering in court cases to “save” braindead Florida women, obsessed over trying to outlaw flag burning, gay marriage and interstate abortion.
Yeah, man, LIBERALS.
Grebrook on November 17, 2006 at 5:32 PM
McCain, once again, proves that he can’t be trusted.
pocomoco on November 17, 2006 at 9:36 PM
New Party please.
WisCon on November 18, 2006 at 11:23 AM