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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy Boehner doesn’t just ditch the hard right
Robert Costa is the National Review's Washington editor and one of the best-sourced reporters among House Republicans. Like many others, I've relied on his reporting in recent days about how House Republicans are strategizing around the government shutdown. But it left me with some questions, particularly around Speaker John Boehner's strategy. We spoke by phone this afternoon, and a lightly edited transcript follows.
Ezra Klein: Walk me through the math of the House GOP a bit. Most people seem to think Boehner has around 100 members who largely back him and don't want a shutdown, and its a much smaller group, a few dozen or so, who want to take this to the brink. So why doesnt Boehner, after trying to do it the conservatives way as he has been in recent weeks, just say, we're voting on a clean CR now, as thats what the majority of the House Republican majority wants?
Robert Costa: Ever since Plan B failed on the fiscal cliff in January and you saw Boehner in near tears in front of his conference, hes been crippled. Hes been facing the consequences of that throughout the year. Everything from [the Violence Against Women Act] to the farm bill to the shutdown. The Boehner coup was unsuccessful but there were two dozen members talking about getting rid of him. Thats enough to cause problems. Boehners got the veterans and the committee chairs behind him, but the class of 2010 and 2012 doesnt have much allegiance to him.
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EK: But why isnt it an option? A few dozen unhappy members is an annoyance, but how is it a threat? Wouldn't Boehner be better off just facing them down and then moving on with his speakership?
RC: So there are 30 to 40 true hardliners. But theres another group of maybe 50 to 60 members who are very much pressured by the hardliners. So he may have the votes on paper. But he'd create chaos. It'd be like fiscal cliff level chaos. You could make the argument that if he brought a clean CR to the floor he might have 100-plus with him on the idea. But could they stand firm when pressured by the 30 or 40 hardliners and the outside groups?
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/01/why-boehner-doesnt-just-ditch-the-right/
GeorgeGist
(25,321 posts)AND ditch the Hassert edict.
Boehners 100-plus + the Democrats. Problem solved.
steve2470
(37,457 posts)47of74
(18,470 posts)Maybe then we could impeach him.
Barack_America
(28,876 posts)Talk about complete douchebag moves. C'mon, Orangina, have some integrity. This behavior is frankly treasonous.