Before the twitterverse melts down, let's review the House Speaker election process...
The new House comes in tomorrow at Noon. There will be 234 Republicans and 201 Democrats.
An absolute majority (218) of members is required for election as Speaker.
Either Boehner has 218 committed votes among the Republicans or not (he can afford to lose 16). If he does, he will be elected Speaker. If he does NOT (there is ONE Republican who says he'll vote no; American Majority Action claims 20 will refuse), then nobody will be elected Speaker on the first vote. Democrats (with a few exceptions) will vote for Pelosi or abstain. There will be no Democratic/Moderate Republican alliance to challenge him (if there was you would have heard about it by now) and if it existed they wouldn't be supporting Pelosi. Hence, no candidate will get 218 votes.
If the Speaker vote requires a second vote, expect a recess while both sides caucus. It is at this point that Cantor or Ryan or someone else will make their play. Boehner may make an appeal for support but will be "damaged goods"; if he effectively loses a no confidence vote, far more likely that he'll step down from the contest, and Republicans will rally around Cantor.
If CANTOR can't muster 218 votes for the Speakership, then all bets are off, and we're in for a long afternoon.
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