Boehner takes revenge: boots 2 congressmen from committees, more on the way

[Adam Griffin]

Even if he is a horrible, it's nice to see he's finally growing a pair. Maybe (?) it means that he's ready to be an actual leader.

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Read: Boehner Takes Revenge

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

It means Obama is holding Boehner's by a vice grip.

[Murica!]

Obama and Boehner are actually growing pairs, together! Maybe this will be a productive Congress after all...

Hahahhahhahaha... You still don't get it do you?

[Murica!]

Obama and Boehner are actually growing pairs, together! Maybe this will be a productive Congress after all...

Hahahhahhahaha... You still don't get it do you?

What's wrong with being optimistic? Obama and Boehner have a personal relationship, Boehner has probably learned his lesson after the 112th Congress damaged Romney in the run-up to the 2012 election, and with the 2016 election approaching he, McConnell, and Obama all will want something to show between now and 2016 to help their parties.

The same problem with being pessimistic, it just isn't realistic.

[Maistre]

It's coming from the right flank too:

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http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/gop-tensions-escalate-after-speaker-vote-20150107

[pbrower2a]

This is just a power play with the Speaker developing dictatorial powers within the House of Representatives. This could be little more than a display of vindictiveness among rivals within an authoritarian organization, to wit the Republican Party.

President Obama does not need Speaker Boehner, and Speaker Boehner does not need the President. 

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Just 2 got booted.  Very restrained.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

This is just a power play with the Speaker developing dictatorial powers within the House of Representatives. This could be little more than a display of vindictiveness among rivals within an authoritarian organization, to wit the Republican Party.

President Obama does not need Speaker Boehner, and Speaker Boehner does not need the President. 

Of course it's a power play. How on earth is that mutually exclusive with Boehner having every right to do it, or with it being a good thing that he is?

[Maistre]

Just 2 got booted.  Very restrained.

Boehner's closer allies want much more, but there's no way the rank and file would tolerate such an action.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Didn't he do something like this with even more members last time? 

[SPC]

Didn't he do something like this with even more members last time? 

That was before the Speaker vote, just because Amash, Jones, Huelskamp, and Schweikert were frequent thorns in his side.

[DrScholl]

That's not really being tough, that's just being petty. You never saw Nancy Pelosi boot members off of committees, because they didn't vote for her as Speaker. Of course, she never had so many members vote against her, but the point still stands.

[pbrower2a]

This is just a power play with the Speaker developing dictatorial powers within the House of Representatives. This could be little more than a display of vindictiveness among rivals within an authoritarian organization, to wit the Republican Party.

President Obama does not need Speaker Boehner, and Speaker Boehner does not need the President. 

Of course it's a power play. How on earth is that mutually exclusive with Boehner having every right to do it, or with it being a good thing that he is?

Having the right to do something and the wisdom of doing so are two different matters. 

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

This is just a power play with the Speaker developing dictatorial powers within the House of Representatives. This could be little more than a display of vindictiveness among rivals within an authoritarian organization, to wit the Republican Party.

President Obama does not need Speaker Boehner, and Speaker Boehner does not need the President. 

Of course it's a power play. How on earth is that mutually exclusive with Boehner having every right to do it, or with it being a good thing that he is?

Having the right to do something and the wisdom of doing so are two different matters. 

I don't understand why you think this is unwise.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

This is just a power play with the Speaker developing dictatorial powers within the House of Representatives. This could be little more than a display of vindictiveness among rivals within an authoritarian organization, to wit the Republican Party.

President Obama does not need Speaker Boehner, and Speaker Boehner does not need the President. 

Of course it's a power play. How on earth is that mutually exclusive with Boehner having every right to do it, or with it being a good thing that he is?

Having the right to do something and the wisdom of doing so are two different matters. 

I don't understand why you think this is unwise.

how well has this sort of thing been working for him?  It just makes him enemies and come across as an unresponsive establishment figure.

[Brittain33]

The Rules Committee is central to how the Speaker runs the House and gets things done. This seems incredibly justifiable. It's not quite like booting them off the Appropriations or Ways and Means committees, which would be justifiable but more about dividing up spoils.

[Miles]

Didn't he do something like this with even more members last time? 

That was before the Speaker vote, just because Amash, Jones, Huelskamp, and Schweikert were frequent thorns in his side.

I'm still ticked that Boehner gave Jones the shaft. Awful.

[muon2]

The Speaker is the leader of the entire House and controls the Capitol building as well. Certain committee chairmanships and seats are how the Speaker exerts that leadership. If a member doesn't back that leader, they can't expect to hold a post that the leader needs to exercise control.

[pbrower2a]

It helps... Democrats in 2016.

[politicallefty]

The Speaker is the leader of the entire House and controls the Capitol building as well. Certain committee chairmanships and seats are how the Speaker exerts that leadership. If a member doesn't back that leader, they can't expect to hold a post that the leader needs to exercise control.

I completely agree. If John Boehner is to be respected as Speaker (and a leader), he must exercise control as he, and indeed far more than he has. He should be exerting his authority to all those who voted against him in his own party. In our current system, it is the functional equivalent to a vote of confidence.

To those that mention Pelosi, she did not have a single defection during either of her elections as Speaker. Even Gene Taylor voted for her in both 2007 and 2009. She had absolutely no defections when Democrats controlled the House. Nancy Pelosi was one of the powerful Speakers we've ever had and she had solid control over her majority.

[SPC]

The Speaker is the leader of the entire House and controls the Capitol building as well. Certain committee chairmanships and seats are how the Speaker exerts that leadership. If a member doesn't back that leader, they can't expect to hold a post that the leader needs to exercise control.

I completely agree. If John Boehner is to be respected as Speaker (and a leader), he must exercise control as he, and indeed far more than he has. He should be exerting his authority to all those who voted against him in his own party. In our current system, it is the functional equivalent to a vote of confidence.

To those that mention Pelosi, she did not have a single defection during either of her elections as Speaker. Even Gene Taylor voted for her in both 2007 and 2009. She had absolutely no defections when Democrats controlled the House. Nancy Pelosi was one of the powerful Speakers we've ever had and she had solid control over her majority.

So much so that she currently is farther away from a majority than any Democratic congressional leader since John Nance Garner.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

The Speaker is the leader of the entire House and controls the Capitol building as well. Certain committee chairmanships and seats are how the Speaker exerts that leadership. If a member doesn't back that leader, they can't expect to hold a post that the leader needs to exercise control.

I completely agree. If John Boehner is to be respected as Speaker (and a leader), he must exercise control as he, and indeed far more than he has. He should be exerting his authority to all those who voted against him in his own party. In our current system, it is the functional equivalent to a vote of confidence.

To those that mention Pelosi, she did not have a single defection during either of her elections as Speaker. Even Gene Taylor voted for her in both 2007 and 2009. She had absolutely no defections when Democrats controlled the House. Nancy Pelosi was one of the powerful Speakers we've ever had and she had solid control over her majority.

So much so that she currently is farther away from a majority than any Democratic congressional leader since John Nance Garner.

Sadly, Pelosi's indeed very solid and effective control over her majority did not translate well to influence over the Senate or on public opinion.