It took House Republicans less than a day to meltdown, as America’s most dysfunctional political disgrace has collapsed under weight of their own fighting after John Boehner is seeking revenge on those who voted against him to be Speaker of the House.
The rebellion against Boehner grew overnight, and an election, which the Republican leader thought he had in the bag, became a close contest. Boehner could afford to lose the votes of 29 Republicans, but a higher than expected 25 Republicans voted against him. The twenty-five Republicans who voted against Boehner were Justin Amash (MI), Brian Babin (TX), Rod Blum (IA), Dave Brat (VA), Jim Bridenstine (OK), Curt Clawson (FL), Scott DesJarlais (TN), Jeff Duncan (SC), Louie Gohmert (TX), Paul Gosar (AZ), Chris Gibson (NY), Scott Garrett (NJ), Tim Huelskamp (KS), Walter Jones (NC), Steve King (IA), Thomas Massie (KY), Mark Meadows (NC), Rich Nugent (FL), Gary Palmer (AL), Bill Posey (FL), Scott Rigell (VA), Marlin Stutzman (IN), Randy Weber (TX), Daniel Webster (FL) and Ted Yoho (FL).
Speaker Boehner didn’t waste time getting revenge on those who tried to throw him out of the speakership. Politico reported, “After he secured his third term as speaker Tuesday afternoon, losing 25 votes on the House floor to some relative-unknown members of the House Republican Conference, Boehner moved swiftly to boot Florida Reps. Daniel Webster and Rich Nugent from the influential Rules Committee. The reason was simple: Webster ran against Boehner for speaker, distributing fliers outlining his candidacy and talking about how he would better adhere to the House rules than the Ohio Republican.”
Boehner’s allies are suggesting that this was only the beginning of the revenge campaign that Republican leaders have planned for those who tried to oust Boehner.
All of the talk of a more unified group of House Republicans that was circulating right after the elections in November quickly evaporated after the Speaker of the House vote. Deep divides remain within in the Republican caucus, and the record number of defections from Boehner could be the first sign that the House Republican caucus will spend the next two years teetering on the brink of collapse.
The big takeaway from the first day of the 114th Congress is how little things have changed. This group of fractured and divided Republicans stands no chance against an increasingly popular and powerful president who has the economic winds at his back and a Democratic congressional minority at his side.
Republicans wanted this congressional majority, and it took them less than a day to show the American people why giving it to them may turn out to be an error that they will regret.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
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