Sources: Enough Republicans Willing to Unseat Speaker Boehner

[brooklynite]

Breitbart (yes, I know...)

American Majority Action spokesman Ron Meyer told Breitbart News late Tuesday that enough House Republicans have banded together in an effort to unseat House Speaker John Boehner from his position--they just need a leader to take up the mantle.

“At least 20 House Republican members have gotten together, discussed this and want to unseat Speaker Boehner--and are willing to do what it takes to do it,” Meyer said. “That’s more than enough to get the job done, but the one problem these guys face is they need a leader to coalesce behind.”

Meyer said the conservatives have considered House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) to take the helm after Boehner is knocked out. His opposition from the right to the Senate fiscal cliff deal that Vice President Joe Biden cut with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is a sign Cantor may try for the job.

Perhaps why Cantor was so public about his opposition to the Fiscal Cliff Bill yesterday?

[unblock]

1. 20 is "enough"?

[brooklynite]

4. House rules require an absolute majority (217) to elect a Speaker...

If even 1 Republican votes against him, and all Democrats vote for Pelosi, thy have to go into another round of voting, with Boehner then seen as "damaged goods".

[PoliticAverse]

19. Not true, there will be 233 Republicans in the next House meaning there is a 16 vote excess...

Since if 16 Republicans (233-217=16) don't vote for Boehner he will still have the 217 votes necessary.

If 17 or more Republicans vote against Boehner he won't have the 217 votes necessary.

(These numbers assume all 433 House members vote and no Democrat votes for a Republican as Speaker).

[ck4829]

12. Every single vote will count when looking for a Speaker

Just that 20 alone will put him under the majority he needs.

[PoliticAverse]

17. You need an absolute majority of votes cast to be elected Speaker.

There will be 433 members of the new House tomorrow (2 vacant seats)

An absolute majority (assuming all 433 show up and vote for a speaker) is 433/2 = 216.5 = 217.

There will be 233 Republicans and 200 Democrats in the new House.

Assuming none of the Democrats votes for a Republican speaker candidate there is a 233 - 217 = 16
margin of excess Republican votes, so if 17 Republicans don't vote for Boehner that would leave him with
only 216 votes, less than the 217 absolute majority of votes cast needed to be elected speaker.

[Berlum]

2. "Off with his head." - TeaWankers (R)

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Tomorrow's election will be epic

I suspect that Boehner will need DEMS to keep his seat...

[Tempest]

5. Minority party doesn't get to vote on the majority leader. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Here SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

Not majority leader

The House of Representatives elects the speaker of the house on the first day of every new Congress, and also in the event of the death or resignation of an incumbent Speaker. The incumbent Clerk of the House of Representatives requests nominations: there are normally two, one from each major party (each party will have previously met to decide on its nominee). The Clerk then calls the roll of the Representatives-elect, each Representative-elect indicating the surname of the candidate he or she is supporting. Representatives-elect are not restricted to voting for one of the nominated candidates: they may vote for any person, even for someone who is not a member (or member-elect) of the House at all. They may also abstain by voting "present".[3]

To be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of all votes cast for individuals (i.e. excluding Representatives who abstain or are absent). If no candidate wins such a majority, then the roll-call is repeated until a Speaker is elected. The last time repeated votes were required was in 1923, when the Speaker was elected on the ninth ballot.[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speaker_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives

If things are as bad as they look, this could go for several ballots

[Tempest]

9. You are correct. My mistake.

Cantor wants the job badly and I suspect he'll get it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. It will be the day of the long knives

[Tempest]

13. My thinking exactly

If I were Pelosi, I'd instruct Democrats to vote "present".

Let the cons eat themselves alive.

[brooklynite]

14. Not talking about Majority Leader; all Members vote for Speaker

Generally, members of each Party vote for their own candidate.

[Tempest]

18. It was cleared up 15 minutes ago. n/t

[ck4829]

7. Sit back and grab some popcorn!

[saidsimplesimon]

8. Mr. Bad to the Bone, Republican, is digging his grave.

[bunnies]

11. Awesome!

Theyll put a bagger in his place and drive themselves even further into obscurity. I love it.

[craigmatic]

15. I wish it were possible for democrats and northeast repubs to form a coalition in the house

[alcibiades_mystery]

16. If they go after Boehner and lose, things could get very interesting

The House is all about favors and long memories.

[brooklynite]

20. UPDATE: Steve Stockman (TX-9) voting against Boehner

daveweigel ‏@daveweigel
MT @cweiser: Rep.-elect Steve Stockman, R-Texas, says he'll vote against @SpeakerBoehner Thursday.

[DCBob]

21. Then it only takes the same number to block Cantor from getting it.

Why would all Republicans rally around Cantor? He's a radical and will do them more harm than good.