As expected, Cantor’s palace coup failed:
Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) was reelected Speaker of the House on Thursday after a week of rumors of a possible GOP revolt.
Boehner won a bare majority in a vote that saw nine Republicans vote for other GOP members, and several others who abstained from voting or voted “present.” Two years ago, Boehner won all 241 available GOP votes.
In a vote that opened the 113th Congress, Boehner received 220 votes, compared to 192 for Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the minority leader. Fourteen members voted for other candidates or present. Boehner needed 218 votes to win reelection assuming a full roster of 435 members voted, but only 426 voted, so he only needed 214 votes.
So Boehner can expect another two years of being pantsed by Cantor and the teahadists.
low-tech cyclist
I think this worked out perfectly for Cantor.
He wouldn’t do himself any favors by actually being Speaker – either he’d have to engage in at least the appearance of negotiating, which would kill his Tea Party cred, or he’d have to be Dr. No, in which case he’d lose his MSM cred.
His best position is right where he is, with Boehner still Speaker, but with extremely shaky support. And damned if that isn’t what happened.
Hill Dweller
The Crying Orange Man’s vow to stop meeting with Obama for one-on-one negotiations seemed to seal the deal.
Everything that morally and intellectually bankrupt party does is motivated by their hatred of Obama(and Democrats in general).
JPL
Boehner said he would not deal with President alone. If I were the President, I’d send an invitation to play golf just to see what happens.
angler
Cole was right.
TR
@JPL:
Obama should publicly say he heard the Speaker won’t meet with him one on one, and say Boehner can bring along whatever chaperone he wants if he’s scared.
Thatgaljill
I think my favorite part is that there were Republicans that actually voted for Allen West who, wait for it, is no longer a member of Congress. That’s like writing in Mickey Mouse. (rolls eyes at the stupidity)
geg6
I have a hard time understanding why he even wants it. He’s been effectively neutered by his Teabagging colleagues, especially those who are the #2 and #3 GOPer in the House under him. From several things I’ve read, he’s completely delusional about his own legacy…he seems to think he’s going to go down as one of the all-time great Speakers, like Sam Rayburn or Henry Clay. He has expressed this wish to other people. They must have been astonished at him actually saying such a thing out loud where other people could hear him.
Regardless, this empty suit with bourbon fumes wafting from it almost got beat by Nancy SMASH. Whatta loser.
Edmund dantes
I believe you don’t actually have to be a member of Congress to be speaker. Similar to how you don’t actually have to be a lawyer to be on the Supreme Court.
geg6
@JPL:
Add a rare bottle of some single malt and you’d see the skid marks he’d leave on his way there.
Hill Dweller
@geg6: Boehner’s delusions would explain him thinking Obama burned him during their one-on-one negotiations, hence his refusal to do it again.
Napoleon
@Thatgaljill:
What did Mickey ever do to you to deserve being compared to West?
jibeaux
@TR: Now that I like.
jayjaybear
Or a cardinal (or even a priest, really) to be Pope.
Of course, in the event that some barefoot Italian shepherd got elected Pope, they’d fast-track him through ordination and eleveation so fast there’d be surplices still spinning in the air when they got the Fisherman’s Ring on his finger.
General Stuck
Manic Progressive Dispatch
OBAMA CAN’T NEGOTIATE!
EMBOLDENS REPUBLICANS!
stop
WITH LIVERAGE!
FOR O CAVE ON DEBT CEILING!!
stop
THIS TIME, THIS TIME, REPUBLICANS WILL TAKE OUT NEW DEAL WITH oBAMBI HELP thisTime!
ThiS iS tHE eND
thiS TiME
jayjaybear
@geg6:
[Dot voice] Ew. [/Dv]
Southern Beale
Heard via the Twitter machine thingie that my Blue Dog Dem Congress Critter Jim Cooper voted for Colin Powell, saying, “we need a hero now more than ever.”
Wonder if quoting the Dark Knight Rises in this instance would be considered racist?
Don’t answer that.
FormerSwingVoter
@Thatgaljill: Technically, the Speaker doesn’t need to be a member of Congress. I think a single vote for Colin Powell snuck in there, too.
geg6
@Hill Dweller:
He did get burned. Just because he didn’t burn him the way you prefer doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
Jeebus, am I tired of these firebaggers. Why don’t you go pick on people on your own level, like the teabaggers and birthers?
Citizen Alan
The thing that baffles me about this is … are the perks of being Speaker so great that there is no amount of humiliation that would make someone not want the job? One wonders what Boehner would have done if, say, ten or so Republicans said that they would support him for Speaker but only if he conducted House business for the next two years wearing a pink leotard with a penis drawn on his forehead.
MattF
It looked to me like Boehner basically gave up after the Plan B failure. Maybe he thinks he’s playing 121-dimensional chess.
Balconesfault
So how’s this work? If Boehner decides that this term, he’s going to blow off the Hastert rule and actually bring up legislation that has substantial support in the GOP caucus, rather than just majority support of the GOP caucus – could he be recalled?
the golden ticket
Fat bastard Christie lover wrong again Cole was of course WRONG AGAIN when he said Cantor “is done”.
The guy is up there with the best of them when it comes to being wrong about everything. He and Dick Morris should get together for a fail competition.
huckster
@Balconesfault: I think it means that they are just going to let Mitch McConnell handle all the details.
Napoleon
@Southern Beale:
Cooper is a complete horses ass. I have always loved the story that when the Dems were wiped out in 94 that one Clinton staffer is said to have said something along the lines of the silver lining was that Cooper lost his seat.
Jack the Second
Sigh, I was hoping that somehow, despite being minority leader, Pelosi would end up Speaker again.
Culture of Truth
Don’t blame me, I voted for Allen West
Hill Dweller
@geg6: Touchy, aren’t we? I wasn’t implying Obama did anything wrong.
My point was Boehner thinks it was the President that burned him, but it was his own weakness that did him in.
In my view, the President gave Boehner enough rope to hang himself. He knew Boehner could never deliver his caucus.
eemom
Good post title.
Doubt they’re still having fun though. [snicker]
Evolving Deep Southerner
Too bad that didn’t gain traction. It’s impossible to describe how happy I am that I don’t live in Broun’s district anymore.
The prophet Nostradumbass
Duh, Huh huh, he said Louie.
geg6
@Hill Dweller:
If that was your point, you should have made it. You didn’t. Instead, you implied that, somehow, Obama SOLD US OUT AGAIN!
Apologies if I’m totally off base. But I’ve had enough of this shit the last few days to last me the rest of my life.
Balconesfault
@huckster: Boehner always struck me as the kind of guy who would be happy to cut deals that brought home the bacon for his GOP peers … but he’s been saddled with a cadre of TeaPols who are elected by gerrymandered districts that will vote R even if said R is taking a wrecking ball to the local economy. Thus, normal rules don’t apply – unless he sheds the Hastert rule as he did for the Tax Bill. If Boehner really does intend to be crafting legislation that has a chance of hell in the Senate, he’s gonna have to start working with Nancy to get it passed.
Hill Dweller
@General Stuck: Some Senate Dems were more a problem than Republicans in the fiscal cliff negotiation. Obama was afraid to go over the cliff because he feared a handful of midwest Dems, not Republicans, would undercut him.
Those same midwest Dems(and Schumer) are torpedoing any attempt to make real reforms to the filibuster.
The emoprogs would be better served focusing on the Senate Dems.
Humanities Grad
@Balconesfault:
I don’t think that’s likely. I’m “lucky” enough to live in Boehner’s district (just outside Dayton), and he seems to be pretty well entrenched here–the Democrats didn’t even have a candidate on the ballot opposing him last November.
Given how psychotic most teabaggers are, you can never completely rule out a primary challenge, but I don’t see it happening. Recalling Boehner would mean losing the prestige that comes with being the Speaker’s district, and I doubt the locals here want that.
Ash Can
In a way, I’m disappointed. I would have been thoroughly entertained by a successful Cantor coup, followed by him realizing just what he had to do as Speaker and, of course, failing miserably and hysterically at it. The status quo isn’t all that bad, though — a virtual cartoon character put in place by a bunch of unruly idiots and lunatics who voted for him because they know they can run roughshod over him like a substitute teacher, and whose opposition alternately laughs at him and extorts him for the votes he needs to get his bills past his own fucking caucus. Naturally, I’d be much happier if the Dems had retaken the House in November and we didn’t have to deal with this silliness at all. But since we do have to deal with it, I’m glad there’s at least a little entertainment in it.
Balconesfault
@Hill Dweller: The emoprogs would be better served focusing on the Senate Dems.
Yeah … how many times has that been the story, from the Public Option to Gitmo to the Financial Sector reform bill?
gene108
I have trouble believing rabid right-wing Christian fundamentalists, i.e. GOP House members, would vote the lone Jew in their caucus to lead them.
The antisemitism that pops up from right-wingers, i.e. the GOP base, from time to time is pretty disturbing and I think would effectively limit how close a GOP politician can be openly supporting a Jew for House Speaker.
Balconesfault
@Humanities Grad: I actually meant the TeaBaggers in the GOP House Caucus finding a way to recall him as Speaker?
dr. bloor
@low-tech cyclist:
I’m not completely convinced this is true. I think you’re right about Cantor not wanting it this time around, although I don’t think he put himself any closer to getting it in the future this week.
The way Boehner handled the last Fiscal Cliff vote might have been the smartest thing he’s ever done as speaker. He made it plain that Cantor runs a portion of the caucus that can stop things from happening, but is nowhere near having the power to actually implement their agenda.
Whenever Cantor and his crew decide to throw a tantrum and smear feces on the walls, Boehner can now take legislation to his caucus, challenge Cantor to come up with 218 votes for Tea Party preferences, and do any damn thing he likes when they fail, with or without Democrats. The composition of the Republican caucus isn’t going to shift significantly enough over the next few election cycles to change that.
Hell, Boehner might even grow fond of what occasionally being all bipartisany does for his, uh, “legacy.”
Balconesfault
@dr. bloor: He made it plain that Cantor runs a portion of the caucus that can stop things from happening
As long as Boehner allows them to. That’s the key here, imo.
Besides Boehner’s legacy … I suspect that the business community isn’t keen on letting the Teabaggers kneecap the economic recovery for 4 more years.
Hungry Joe
The real upside is another two years of Boehner photos with Cantor in mid-background soft focus, trying to look steely but coming across as lean and hungry.
Judas Escargot, Bringer of Loaves and Fish Sandwiches
@Hungry Joe:
“Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look.”
Poopyman
@Jack the Second: Count your (our) blessings. The one thing that would unite the Republican caucus would be Pelosi as Speaker.
Bubblegum Tate
@TR:
Oh my god, the wingnut butthurt over that would be so exquisite.
dr. bloor
@Judas Escargot, Bringer of Loaves and Fish Sandwiches:
Or possibly Gollum lusting after his precious.
General Stuck
@Hill Dweller:
I agree. In the midwest, the problem is senate dems in overall more conservative region of the country and electorate. But there are any number of dems, and some, otherwise quite liberal, who are either wealthy themselves, or have friends that are wealthy in affluent blue states. Schumer, and even Pelosi nibbled around the one million cutoff for those tax cuts to be made permanent. They aren’t that vocal about it for obvious party platform reasons, but you have to keep an eye on them on any and all financial issues.
There were some goodies in this bill that came out of the senate, for the wealthier folks, and no doubt snuck in by democrats. But on the whole, it was a progressive bill in basic structure, and avoided new spending cuts and a great ratio of revenue/cuts. And I just don’t get the emo progs and pro left kvetching about how Obama negotiated badly, thereby emboldening the wingnuts for the debt ceiling battle.
This is twice now on these issues that the day was saved by from GOP games of chicken with dem votes on fairly clean bills, in the House of Reps that republicans controlled. So this time, they are really going to kill the hostage and not cave? I don’t think so. The profit gods are not in favor of such things.
Mustang Bobby
To quote E.K. Hornbeck from the film version of Inherit the Wind: “He has no enemies. Only his friends hate him.”
pat
Just read in TPM that the rethugs will not, repeat WILL NOT allow the debt ceiling to go up without serious spending cuts that must be proposed by the Democrats. This circus ain’t over.
Bubblegum Tate
@gene108:
I have been informed by wingnuts that in all actuality, it is liberals who are anti-Semites because the goddamn Democrats don’t even want to pre-emptively nuke Iran on behalf of Israel.
wasabi gasp
Congratulations, Neon Carrot.
Nil Karaibrahimgil – XL
Corner Stone
@geg6:
It is the absolute height of hilarity that a simpleton blowhard like yourself accuses Hill Dweller, of all commenters, as a dread pirate firebagger.
Too funny for words.
danielx
I’m still up for that Free Republic idea about Louie Gohmert for Speaker…why not the craziest?
quannlace
You wonder, why does he do it? All the aggravation, frustration. He doesn’t need the money. He’s got health care for life. And don’t make me laugh by saying he feels a deep need to serve his country. Is it just plain inertia? Stubborness? The same God-know-why-Romney-insisted-on-another-pointless-run?
General Stuck
@pat:
Read that. If they really mean it, and by ‘spending cuts’ they only mean dismantling the New Deal, then we are closer to civil war than was thought. They are not only demanding surrender, but that dems write their own epitaph by proposing the demise of entitlements themselves. It is insane talk, and if they force a default, it would be no different imo, than sending a cannon ball to Ft Sumter, all over again.
dr. bloor
@pat:
I’m going to guess that this ain’t exactly taking Harry Reid or President Obama by surprise.
The only curious thing about it is that McConnell started mouthing off before Senate rules on filibustering have been settled.
Hungry Joe
@Judas Escargot, Bringer of Loaves and Fish Sandwiches: Followed, of course, by “He thinks too much; such men are dangerous.”
Cantor, not so much.
Corner Stone
I’m not sure why you keep repeating the fiction that Cantor wanted the Speaker’s job at this time.
Violet
@Hungry Joe:
I always thought Cantor looked like a wide-eyed mouth breather who should still be in the kiddie pool. He just looks kind of dumb.
Hungry Joe
@Violet:
Let’s compromise: Lean, hungry, and dumb.
Which means I get to be the first one to say that Lean, Hungry, and Dumb would be a good name for a band.
Morzer
I note that Michelle The Pop-Eyed Lunatic Bachmann has just introduced a bill to repeal Obamacare.
Still, I suppose it’s one way of keeping her away from America’s children…
Emma
@Citizen Alan: This. I don’t understand why is the Orangeman clinging to this position so desperately. I mean, really, he’s like a ping-pong ball being batted between Cantor and Obama.
burnspbesq
@geg6:
You may want to wait and see how the debt ceiling negotiations turn out before you get all huffy and dismissive. Your position is roughly equivalent to doing a victory dance at halftime.
The Other Chuck
@Hungry Joe:
I don’t know about that, but it’d make an awesome tagline for this blog.
SteveinSC
Making sure to tend its base, the AP hardly noticed that Boner barely got re-elected. Why the Huffpo is involved with this republican porte-parole news “service” I don’t know. Oh yes, I know, they have Howard Fineman as editorial poo-bah.
Lee
My takeaway from this is that Nancy came within 22 votes of being speaker
Thoughtful David
@quannlace:
This. Imagine the ego strokes. Boehner is thinking “In 100 years no one will remember what a bozo and loser I was as Speaker, but my name will still be there in the books, as two heartbeats away from the Presidency.”
He’s thinking long-term.
Woodrowfan
@Thatgaljill: not to mention that he’s a mentally ill war criminal…
Pococurante
It would have been best for the world had Cantor won.
Then Cantor/The Tea Party couldn’t hide behind The Man.
dr. bloor
@Thoughtful David:
I suspect being three sheets to the wind his every waking moment has something to do with it as well.
Omnes Omnibus
@dr. bloor:Every waking moment? I doubt it. There has to be a short span time after he wakes up and before the first bourbon kicks in where he is only two sheets to the wind. Just sayin’.
xian
@burnspbesq: here’s my prediction, based on the evolving patterns so far.
obama demands a clean raise (maximalist position)
boehner demands vague cuts equal to the amount of raise
actual negotiation:
obama says any deficit reduction must be balanced. 1/2 revenue. 1/2 cuts.
obama proposed the revenue he wants. something popular.
obama challenges republicans to name cuts they want.
game on.