<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><div><span><font size="2">http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-04/john-boehners-hapless-tea-party-opposition</font><br></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><h1 id="article_headline" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; font-family: BWHaasHead, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">John Boehner's Hapless Tea Party Opposition</h1><div class="author_and_social clearfix" style="margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: sans-serif;"><div class="attributor" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;
display: inline-block;">Posted by: <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/authors/2956-joshua-green" rel="author" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Joshua Green</a> on January 04, 2013</div> <ul class="social" data-headline="John Boehner's Hapless Tea Party Opposition" data-host="http://analytics.bloomberg.com/images/analytics-bw/dot1.gif" data-id="138e35fe-561d-11e2-b08a-d8d38560fdc0"
data-ping-uri="/,/politics-and-policy,/blogs/joshua-green-on-politics,/blogs/joshua-green-on-politics/congress,/politics-and-policy/congress,/blogs/joshua-green-on-politics/tag/fiscal-cliff,/blogs/joshua-green-on-politics/tag/house-of-representative,/blogs/joshua-green-on-politics/tag/john-boehner,/blogs/joshua-green-on-politics/tag/speaker-of-the-house,/blogs/joshua-green-on-politics/tag/tea-party,/blogs/joshua-green-on-politics/tag/three-stooges,/politics-and-policy/congress,/authors/2956-joshua-green" data-pub-date="2013-01-04 06:01:11 -0500" data-type="blog" data-uri="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-04/john-boehners-hapless-tea-party-opposition" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: middle; list-style: none; height: 18px; display: inline-block; float: none;"><li class="twitter ir" title="Share on Twitter"
style="margin: 0px 1px 0px 0px; padding: 1px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-indent: -119988px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; direction: ltr; list-style: none; height: 16px; float: left; width: 20px; cursor: pointer; background-image: url(http://static.btrd.net/assets/sprite-f492e277571daffdf785c5ada3bfce15.png); background-position: 0px -936px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">Tweet</li><li class="facebook ir" title="Share on Facebook" style="margin: 0px 1px 0px 0px; padding: 1px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-indent: -119988px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; direction: ltr; list-style: none; height: 16px; float: left; width: 20px; cursor: pointer; background-image: url(http://static.btrd.net/assets/sprite-f492e277571daffdf785c5ada3bfce15.png); background-position: 0px -965px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">Facebook</li><li class="linked_in ir" title="Share on LinkedIn" style="margin: 0px 1px 0px
0px; padding: 1px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-indent: -119988px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; direction: ltr; list-style: none; height: 16px; float: left; width: 20px; cursor: pointer; background-image: url(http://static.btrd.net/assets/sprite-f492e277571daffdf785c5ada3bfce15.png); background-position: 0px -993px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">LinkedIn</li><li class="plus ir" title="Share on Google Plus" style="margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 1px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-indent: -119988px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; direction: ltr; list-style: none; height: 16px; float: left; width: 20px; cursor: pointer; background-image: url(http://static.btrd.net/assets/sprite-f492e277571daffdf785c5ada3bfce15.png); background-position: 0px -1051px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">Google Plus</li><li class="comments" style="margin: 0px 1px; padding: 1px 1px 1px 9px; border-width: 0px 0px 0px
1px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; height: 16px; float: left; width: auto; cursor: pointer; background-image: url(http://static.btrd.net/assets/sprite-f492e277571daffdf785c5ada3bfce15.png); background-position: -80px -831px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-04/john-boehners-hapless-tea-party-opposition#disqus_thread" class="disqus-count-text" data-disqus-identifier="138e35fe-561d-11e2-b08a-d8d38560fdc0" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0); padding-left: 20px; padding-top: 4px;">26 Comments</a></li></ul><div class="module blog_keywords" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/blogs/joshua-green-on-politics/tag/Fiscal+Cliff" class="tags" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85);
text-decoration: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px; margin-bottom: 3px; display: inline-block; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Fiscal Cliff</a> <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/blogs/joshua-green-on-politics/tag/House+of+Representative" class="tags" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px; margin-bottom: 3px; display: inline-block; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">House of Representative</a> <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/blogs/joshua-green-on-politics/tag/John+Boehner" class="tags" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px; margin-bottom: 3px; display: inline-block; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">John Boehner</a> <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/blogs/joshua-green-on-politics/tag/Speaker+of+the+House"
class="tags" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px; margin-bottom: 3px; display: inline-block; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Speaker of the House</a> <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/blogs/joshua-green-on-politics/tag/Tea+Party" class="tags" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px; margin-bottom: 3px; display: inline-block; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Tea Party</a> <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/blogs/joshua-green-on-politics/tag/Three+Stooges" class="tags" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 2px 3px; margin-bottom: 3px; display: inline-block; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Three Stooges</a></div></div><div class="left_rail" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border:
0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 190px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><div class="module" id="related_stories" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h3 style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 5px 0px; border-width: 3px 0px 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 170, 173); font-family: BWHaasHead, Arial, sans-serif;">Related</h3><ul style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="clearfix video" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: baseline; display: block; zoom: 1; list-style: none;"><a
href="http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2013-01-03/boehner-keeps-his-gavel-says-wrong-to-pass-on-debt#r=lr-fst" class="thumbnail" title="Boehner Keeps His Gavel, Says Wrong to Pass on Debt" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0); display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="Boehner Keeps His Gavel, Says Wrong to Pass on Debt" height="105" src="http://cdn.videos.bloomberg.com/V4ZDYyODqlT5TWmOOOPRLzd7kkrAPcmy/3Gduepif0T1UGY8H4yMDoxOnU1O2I8jx" width="190" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 190px;"><span class="article_type" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; border: 0px; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; position: absolute; text-transform: uppercase; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); bottom: 4px; left: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial
initial;">VIDEO</span></a><h4 style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2013-01-03/boehner-keeps-his-gavel-says-wrong-to-pass-on-debt#r=lr-fs" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0); padding: 5px 0px; display: block;">Boehner Keeps His Gavel, Says Wrong to Pass on Debt</a></h4></li><li class="clearfix video" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: baseline; display: block; zoom: 1; list-style: none;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2013-01-03/the-white-houses-main-question-about-boehner#r=lr-fst" class="thumbnail" title="The White House's Main Question About Boehner" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255,
102, 0); display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="The White House's Main Question About Boehner" height="105" src="http://cdn.videos.bloomberg.com/ZtancxODo93iuTj5skjgEKHzOGKvZXBJ/3Gduepif0T1UGY8H4yMDoxOnU1O2I8jx" width="190" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 190px;"><span class="article_type" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; border: 0px; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; position: absolute; text-transform: uppercase; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); bottom: 4px; left: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">VIDEO</span></a><h4 style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2013-01-03/the-white-houses-main-question-about-boehner#r=lr-fs" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial;
-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0); padding: 5px 0px; display: block;">The White House's Main Question About Boehner</a></h4></li><li class="clearfix video" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: baseline; display: block; zoom: 1; list-style: none;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2013-01-03/who-voted-to-re-elect-boehner-as-house-speaker#r=lr-fst" class="thumbnail" title="Who Voted to Re-elect Boehner as House Speaker?" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0); display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="Who Voted to Re-elect Boehner as House Speaker?" height="105" src="http://cdn.videos.bloomberg.com/81ZXcxODqniDszdT99SY3SmhZ84AdmAC/3Gduepif0T1UGY8H4yMDoxOnU1O2I8jx" width="190" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; border-width: 0px;
vertical-align: baseline; width: 190px;"><span class="article_type" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; border: 0px; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; position: absolute; text-transform: uppercase; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); bottom: 4px; left: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">VIDEO</span></a><h4 style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2013-01-03/who-voted-to-re-elect-boehner-as-house-speaker#r=lr-fs" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0); padding: 5px 0px; display: block;">Who Voted to Re-elect Boehner as House Speaker?</a></h4></li><li class="clearfix video" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);
vertical-align: baseline; display: block; zoom: 1; list-style: none;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2013-01-03/obama-boehner-setting-up-for-debt-ceiling-battle#r=lr-fst" class="thumbnail" title="Obama, Boehner Setting Up for Debt Ceiling Battle" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0); display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="Obama, Boehner Setting Up for Debt Ceiling Battle" height="105" src="http://cdn.videos.bloomberg.com/IwbW4xODrys7pISMv5CBbSbm5Im2Cw0h/3Gduepif0T1UGY8H4yMDoxOnU1O2I8jx" width="190" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 190px;"><span class="article_type" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; border: 0px; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; position: absolute; text-transform: uppercase; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); bottom: 4px; left: 0px; background-position:
initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">VIDEO</span></a><h4 style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2013-01-03/obama-boehner-setting-up-for-debt-ceiling-battle#r=lr-fs" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0); padding: 5px 0px; display: block;">Obama, Boehner Setting Up for Debt Ceiling Battle</a></h4></li><li class="clearfix story" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: baseline; display: block; zoom: 1; list-style: none;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-03/fiscal-cliff-is-latest-disaster-for-sandy-victims#r=lr-fst" class="thumbnail" title="Fiscal Cliff Is Latest Disaster for Sandy Victims " style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85);
text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0); display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="Fiscal Cliff Is Latest Disaster for Sandy Victims " height="127" src="http://images.businessweek.com/cms/2013-01-03/0103-no-sandy-relief-190.jpg" width="190" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><h4 style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-03/fiscal-cliff-is-latest-disaster-for-sandy-victims#r=lr-fs" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0); padding: 5px 0px; display: block;">Fiscal Cliff Is Latest Disaster for Sandy Victims</a></h4></li><li class="clearfix story" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);
vertical-align: baseline; display: block; zoom: 1; list-style: none;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-02/the-fiscal-cliff-deal-and-the-damage-done#r=lr-fst" class="thumbnail" title="The Fiscal Cliff Deal and the Damage Done" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0); display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="The Fiscal Cliff Deal and the Damage Done" height="127" src="http://images.businessweek.com/cms/2013-01-02/openingremarks02__01__190x127.jpg" width="190" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><h4 style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-02/the-fiscal-cliff-deal-and-the-damage-done#r=lr-fs" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0); padding: 5px
0px; display: block;">The Fiscal Cliff Deal and the Damage Done</a></h4></li><li class="clearfix story" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: baseline; display: block; zoom: 1; list-style: none;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-02/the-fiscal-cliff-deal-and-taxes-well-all-pay-more#r=lr-fst" class="thumbnail" title="The Fiscal-Cliff Deal and Taxes: We'll All Pay More" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0); display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="The Fiscal-Cliff Deal and Taxes: We'll All Pay More" height="127" src="http://images.businessweek.com/cms/2013-01-02/0102-taxes-fiscal-cliff-190.jpg" width="190" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><h4 style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border:
0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-02/the-fiscal-cliff-deal-and-taxes-well-all-pay-more#r=lr-fs" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0); padding: 5px 0px; display: block;">The Fiscal-Cliff Deal and Taxes: We'll All Pay More</a></h4></li><li class="clearfix blog" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; zoom: 1; list-style: none;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-02/a-fiscal-cliff-deal-republicans-should-learn-to-love#r=lr-fst" class="thumbnail" title="A Fiscal Cliff Deal Republicans Should Learn to Love" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0); display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="A smiling Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) leaves the Senate floor on Dec. 31"
height="127" src="http://images.businessweek.com/cms/2013-01-02/0102_joshgreen_190x127.jpg" width="190" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><h4 style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-02/a-fiscal-cliff-deal-republicans-should-learn-to-love#r=lr-fs" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0); padding: 5px 0px; display: block;">A Fiscal Cliff Deal Republicans Should Learn to Love</a></h4></li></ul></div></div><div class="" id="middle_rail" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 1px; border-right-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: baseline; width: 426px; float: right; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: sans-serif;
line-height: 16px;"><div id="story_body" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><div class="paginated_content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="page current" id="_page1" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="" style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">(<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Updated to correct Steve Southerland.</em>)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Every few days, some <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Businessweek</em> editor suggests that I write a
post about why John Boehner would possibly want the job of House Speaker, to which he was <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-03/boehner-re-elected-speaker-as-10-protest-votes-are-lodged.html" style="color: rgb(0, 124, 213); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">reelected on Thursday</a>. I always decline, because I don’t have the foggiest idea why anyone would want the job. But I do know why he keeps it. He keeps it because the misfit band of Tea Partiers who tried, and failed, to dislodge him are utterly hapless. Not mildly or endearingly hapless like<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RTDBvY6gPME/TxYzGoRJVBI/AAAAAAAACL4/uY7kHUr9xbI/s1600/BettyWhite_GoldenGirls.jpg" style="color: rgb(0, 124, 213); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Betty White</a> on <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Golden Girls</em>, but
Three Stooges hapless.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Let’s review the evidence. Right-wing conservatives are furious at Boehner for agreeing to a deal raising taxes. Never mind that taxes were going up anyway—Boehner betrayed the Tea Party credo that saying no will eventually bring everybody else around. (It actually won’t.). So they decided to make an example of him by denying him the speakership.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">First step</strong>: Finding an alternative. As my editors would happily tell them, it’s a lousy job. Eric Cantor didn’t want it. Paul Ryan didn’t want it. But they decided not to let this
detail slow them down.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Next step</strong>: Plotting. This one didn’t go too well either. On Wednesday night, an amused Republican staffer called me to report that Representatives Jim Jordan, Paul Gosar, Raul Labrador, and Steve Southerland were gathered at <a href="http://www.princeofpetworth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_6072-e1297090190311.jpg" style="color: rgb(0, 124, 213); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Bullfeathers</a>, a Capitol Hill bar, openly plotting their coup. Not exactly the Roman Senate scheming to dispatch Caesar.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; color:
rgb(34, 34, 34);"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Final step</strong>: Pulling it off. Here’s where things went truly, hilariously awry. Any good coup depends on stealth. But on Thursday, an <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/conservatives-rebel-against-boehner-85749.html?ml=po_r" style="color: rgb(0, 124, 213); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">enterprising Politico photographer</a> snapped Representative Tim Huelskamp sitting in open session reading from his iPad—not making this up—<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the entire roster</em> of the plot against Boehner. Just so there was no mistaking that he was up to no good, the document was entitled “YOU WOULD BE FIRED IF THIS GOES OUT.” Not making that up either.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px;
font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Worse still, half the roster on Huelskamp’s iPad lost their nerve and bailed out. In the end, only nine Republicans broke ranks. Three cast votes for Cantor (who was visibly disgusted), two for recently ousted Representative Allen West, and one for a former U.S. comptroller general. Several of the plotters even voted for each other. Boehner was reelected Speaker.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Republican Representative Trent Franks probably <a href="http://www.rollcall.com/news/party_drama_dogs_boehner_into_113th-220548-1.html?zkMobileView=false" style="color: rgb(0, 124, 213); text-decoration: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">put it best</a> when he described the coup as “a ridiculous miscalculation on the
part of a sincere, but completely inept” group of colleagues. All in all, a tough loss. Presumably, the plotters have gained a newfound appreciation for Boehner’s skills and how difficult it is to wrangle votes.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>