Boehner tightens grip on GOP rank and file ahead of deficit talks
The Ohio Republican has smoothed over differences with Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), expanded his powers on the panel that doles out plum committee assignments, shot down a challenge to his earmark moratorium and worked behind the scenes to ensure that Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) would win her leadership contest.
All of Boehner’s moves are aimed at shoring up his influence over the GOP conference, which in turn maximizes the Speaker’s leverage with President Obama and the Democratic-controlled Senate…
Boehner rewards loyalty, and his power on the GOP Steering Committee — which selects panel chairmen and other committee slots — has been expanded.
Boehner now has five votes on the committee, up from four. Cantor has three and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has two, while everyone else registers one vote.











Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Good.
If the party’s divided internally, the Democrats and media (BIRM) will slam the ones who don’t want to compromise, and then blame any failures on all Republicans.
KingGold on November 20, 2012 at 11:11 AM
The Golden Rule – those with the power – make the rules
jake-the-goose on November 20, 2012 at 11:16 AM
The representatives are a voice for their district.
They don’t work for John Boehner.
portlandon on November 20, 2012 at 11:18 AM
Well I hope boehner will help us by staying strong against bho/d’s?
Also going on from the senate next week for a vote by that ding dong harry!
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57552225-38/senate-bill-rewrite-lets-feds-read-your-e-mail-without-warrants/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=title
L
letget on November 20, 2012 at 11:19 AM
There is no solution and the dems and msm will blame the repubs anyway.
How.many.times.do. we. have.to. repeat. this. process?
Mimzey on November 20, 2012 at 11:20 AM
So basically the status quo wins. Just like August of 2011 when Boner had his lemmings vote to raise the debt ceiling.
MoreLiberty on November 20, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Let it burn.
a capella on November 20, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Why do I have a terrible feeling about all this?….maybe because it’s Boehner we’re talking about. {{{shiver}}}
tencole on November 20, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Boehner has done a better job with the House than McConnell has done with the Senate or thn Cornyn has done with NRSC. I’m willing to give Boehner another go at the gavel. He’s been a better Speaker than Hastert or Gingrich.
dczombie on November 20, 2012 at 11:39 AM
So when do we start pushing to have him replaced as house speaker?
Or do we even bother? Clearly the Republicans in Washington are at best affable dunces and at worst in collusion with the enemy. Maybe it’s time we just wrote them off and concentrated solely on state and local Republicans.
CurtZHP on November 20, 2012 at 11:40 AM
He also had his “lemmings” vote to okay Presidential appointments without congressional approval.
http://www.therightscoop.com/mark-levin-slams-house-republicans-for-voting-to-eliminate-senate-confirmation-for-169-presidential-appointments/
Boehner needs to go….period.
“Levin believes that Boehner and his leadership team are a huge problem in the House, calling Boehner an intellectual lightweight who is constantly outmaneuvered by Obama and the left. He says that Boehner is constantly drawing lines in the sand only to go out and take a swim in the ocean.”…..
http://www.therightscoop.com/mark-levin-slams-boehner-saying-hes-is-a-lightweight-intellectually-constantly-outmaneuvered-by-obama/
tencole on November 20, 2012 at 11:41 AM
He needs every republican to stand together in complete capitulation and failure.
lm10001 on November 20, 2012 at 11:47 AM
Boehner should have been replaced. We fired Newt for less.
Valkyriepundit on November 20, 2012 at 11:59 AM
No more than about 20 R’s are needed to pass any compromise these idiots come up with. If the Democrats in the House won’t stand by their President, why should we?
txhsmom on November 20, 2012 at 12:42 PM
yes
Joseph Russo III on November 20, 2012 at 12:47 PM
Boehner thinks that CAPITULATION is the key to Republican success. He is wrong.
Pork-Chop on November 20, 2012 at 1:10 PM
Newt was an awful speaker. Every time there was an opportunity to be schooled by Bill Clinton, Newt showed up to class and sat on the front row. Problem is, Newt always got schooled but never learned anything.
dczombie on November 20, 2012 at 1:13 PM