Looks like a House GOP power struggle for the speakership is in the making between Paul Ryan, John Boehner, and Eric Cantor.

"House GOP sources said that Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), a leader of the conservative wing and a potential threat to House Speaker John Boehner, is expected to vote against the Senate deal if it comes to the floor, breaking the leadership unity that existed around Boehner's "Plan B." And Republicans leaving the meeting said that Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), Boehner's leading rival, spoke against the bill, BuzzFeed's John Stanton reported.

"Leadership is currently listening to the members so as to figure out the best path forward," Cantor spokesman Doug Heye said.

Cantor told CNN's Deirdre Walsh flatly, "I do not support the bill," and said no decisions have been made on how to proceed.

Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) told the National Review's Robert Costa that there are "real divisions" between Boehner and Cantor, and that Cantor was vociferous in his opposition, with the upcoming leadership elections hanging over the meeting. He said that conservatives were heartened to see Cantor take on Boehner in front of the entire conference."

Update on the House vote for the compromise

A House GOP leadership aide mapped out House Speaker John Boehner's plan forward: See if the 218 votes are there to amend the Senate-passed bill to add in spending cuts, and if the answer is no, hold an up-or-down vote on the Senate-passed bill.

From the aide:

"The Speaker presented his members two options. The first would be to make an amendment to the Senate bill that would add a package of spending cuts. The Whip will do a whip check on this spending cuts amendment after the meeting. If we can get the commitment of 218 votes on this amendment, we will bring it to the floor and send it to the Senate. The Speaker and the Leader both cautioned members about the risk in such a strategy. They told them there is no guarantee the Senate would act on it. If we cannot get the commitment of 218 votes tonight, we will bring up the Senate-passed measure for an up-or-down vote in the House. "

The Senate has already skipped town

The Senate adjourned until noon on Wednesday, which means if the House does alter the fiscal cliff deal, there is no chance the Senate would follow suit today.In any case, Democrats there say they wouldn't take it up anyway.

No offense to Mr. Krugman, but those paragraphs lean on whineyness based solely on stylistic satisfaction over, you know, substance. He admits as much. They want to bash that Republican's head in, as if to be relieved of decades of self-perceived impotence or something.

I'm actually kinda surprised by the split in the House GOP leadership between Boehner and Cantor today. I've referenced Cantor allegedly gunning for his boss's job and cracked jokes about it, but I'm still surprised he publicly undercut him like that in their caucus today.

What will happen tonight?

Given how things have turned out, I would be shocked to see Boehner retain his speakership. Cantor will take over with the backing of either Ryan, McConnell, or both IMO. I would expect the Heritage foundation to support Cantor in this ouster of Boehner.

I'm hearing the House GOP will attempt to amend the package compromise with $300 billion in spending cuts.

Things are going to get much more interesting.

Here's the Dems plan going forward, not much surprise:

Some Democrats were already thinking out loud about what will follow the collapse of the Senate deal, which they now expect.

If Republicans attempt to offer amendments -- as is expected -- Democrats will oppose a rule to allow that to happen procedurally.

If the GOP then tries to pass an amended bill, "they will have to do it with their own votes," said Rep. James Clyburn, (D- S.C.), a member of the leadership. Either scenario would kill the deal.

If the GOP doesn't offer an up or down vote on the Senate deal, well, that would kill the deal, too.

And then what? "Well, I say that then we wait for the new Congress to come in on Thursday. We'll have better numbers, more members on our side," said Clyburn. "Then we offer a new bill that they will like even less. They didn't like the 450 (thousand dollar in household income) floor on the tax increase? Let's see how much they like it when we push it back down to 250 (thousand)!"

I could actually see Ryan be the next Speaker if your scenario actually comes into play, but we'll see.

They're gonna vote up and down on this sunumbitch tonight.

I do wonder how the right-wing blogs and media will react? Krauthammer on FNC called the compromise a complete rout for Dems and a total "surrender" by the GOP.

Meanwhile Newt Gingrich on Twitter told the GOP to not "cave in" tonight. I almost fear visiting Red State tonight.

I already saw some of the spin on CNN earlier, Norquist considered this a victory for the GOP and a big rout for Obama as the GOP got to preserve tax cuts for Americans which Obama and the Dems wanted to get rid of for many years.

Spin for a guy who in a few weeks his invincibility has been broken. No raising taxes at all costs!

Now the House GOP, a good minority of them is expected to do just that, in spite of the hard pressing from the interest groups.

Republicans voting for reasonable tax increases. Will pigs fly tomorrow?

Still voting, but the 217 vote threshold has been reached. It has passed.

Amazing how the same left-wing goofball blogs which blasted Obama for caving-in are now enjoying the right-wing doing the same to Boehner.

Or "Amazingly free of irony" is how I should've started that sentence.

Debt ceiling/fiscal cliff who comes up with those names?

Fuckin' amazing that a chamber of government could have a thumb up their ass all day yesterday on a bi-partisan Compromise supported/voted on by the President, and the Speaker of the House/Senate Minority Leader from the other party, but the House couldn't get this done.

House adjourns, shelves Hurricane Sandy aid relief bill



http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/house-pulls-plug-on-sandy-aid-bill-85661.html

Was this retribution? Laziness? Has anyone said. why? Were they to busy scheming behind closed doors for thier pay raise?

Real news or wishful speculation?

(At least) 20 House GOPers band together to try to unseat Boehner

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/...ner-on-Thursday

Anyone listening to Chris Christie's comments now on CNN? Man is he pissed (rightfully so IMHO) at Congress (Boehner) about Sandy relief.



TIS

Peter King, a right wing blowhard I usually loathe, was rightly livid earlier today.

Christie blamed Boehner personally. Christie doesn't just slay buffets, he slays Republicans.

In an unguarded moment, Christie was overheard to say "I'm so mad, I think I'll go jump on him."

RR, I'm with you on Peter King.

He said he called Boehner 4 times and never got a call back. Then in Bohner's defense, I hear he didn't call the President back either.


TIS

I just heard that Boehner will resign as Speaker at 5:00.

Dunno how true this is.

Would Cantor take over? Didnt they split over this deal?

I heard that just now on MSNBC too. I can't say I know who the guy reporting it was, and I doubt it's true.

I know they will vote either today or tomorrow and speculation was, in spite of everything, Boehner would easily win. But IF he resigns???? Don't know. What's even worse is I hear Cantor would take over.

BTW if this is suppose to happen at 5:00 (EST) we should know in about 10 minutes.


TIS

http://www.businessinsider.com/report-jo...ff-fight-2013-1


And here I thought we were bad!

Yea, I've been hearing that. Not only did he say it, when Reid asked "what are you talking about", Boenher repeated..."Go F**k yourself." Think things might be a tad tense?

Then, watch, they'll both come out and say "oh we are all great friends." I don't buy it.




TIS

John Bohener and a lot of those older white men are racist yet Obama does give out to much free shit and enough inviting cracks dealers like Jay Z too the white house

Good insight, however it's not free. Us people who work pay for it! What is more appalling is the people who work hard and still advocate for helping the people who never have worked or even tried! I.E. blue collar Democrat!

Jay Z has more than enough money, so I'm pretty sure he's not dealing crack. And remember when the White House made Elvis their Drug Czar??

Nothing for nothing. Only the government would use the title "czar" for ANYTHING

Just so everybody knows (if they dont already), for a person to receive welfare/food stamps they either have to be working/low-income, if unemployed, you have to be in school/job program, or if your just unemployed then to receive your benefits you have to work a certain number of hrs a wk for the govt at an assigned location (cleaning the park, subway stations, public housing grounds, etc). Obcourse you are excused if you have a disability, etc. And it goes without saying that there are some people who free-ride of others who receive benefits so they themselves dont have to comfort to any of the rules/regulations of these benefit programs.

Absolutely, DD. We have a cleaning lady in our office (I work at a non-profit) who is working without pay at our office as part of her benefits.

Exactly.

Not being a smart ass, I really don't think that rule book got to my neighborhood! These people do nothing! And I can tell you they still get that check. SSI they all call it?