The faux tension of the Speaker vote is killing me.
—
Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) January 03, 2013What color is the smoke from the capital dome?—
Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) January 03, 2013
Sure got dicey there for a while! Boehner had some stiff competition — from Nancy Pelosi:
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Ca) just nominated Nancy Pelosi for speaker.—
Francesca Chambers (@fran_chambers) January 03, 2013
I don't understand how anyone can nominate Pelosi for Speaker. Oh yes I can…it's people who enjoy making a mockery out of America.—
Demetrius Minor (@dminor85) January 03, 2013
Making a mockery of America? Nancy Pelosi totally fits the bill!
Applause as Pelosi votes for herself.—
(@JaredHalpern) January 03, 2013
A confident move. RT @ricandersen: Boehner abstains from voting for Speaker. Pelosi voted for herself.—
Adam Henry (@viewofadam) January 03, 2013
But not all Dems thought Nancy was fit for the job:
Wow…RT @jamiedupree: Rep John Barrow D-GA votes for Rep John Lewis D-GA instead of Nancy Pelosi—
Demetrius Minor (@dminor85) January 03, 2013
Who just voted for Colin Powell?—
Matt Cover (@MattCover) January 03, 2013
Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., votes for Colin Powell.—
David Freddoso (@freddoso) January 03, 2013
Yes, that Colin Powell.
Um…TN Democrat Jim Cooper votes for…Colin Powell. Bleh—
Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) January 03, 2013
Good times.
Rep Jim Matheson D-UT votes for Rep John Dingell D-MI instead of Pelosi—
Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 03, 2013
Lipinski – Dem – voted for TN's Dem Jim Cooper—
Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) January 03, 2013
John Barrow votes for John Lewis rather than Nancy Pelosi as Speaker.—
The Fix (@TheFix) January 03, 2013
Rep Mike McIntyre (D-NC) voted for fellow Blue Dog Rep Jim Cooper (D-TN) for Speaker, not Pelosi #NCPOL #NC07—
Jonathan Kappler (@jonathankappler) January 03, 2013
Boehner didn’t exactly get unanimous support from his party, either:
Calling roll. Amash votes for Labrador.—
Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) January 03, 2013
Freshman Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) votes for Cantor for Speaker—
Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) January 03, 2013
Freshman Jim Bridenstine votes for Cantor over Boehner. Audible gasp in chamber. Audacious move for freshman.—
Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 03, 2013
My former congressman, Paul Broun, voted for Allen West for Speaker of The House.—
Demetrius Minor (@dminor85) January 03, 2013
Gohmert votes for Allen West.—
Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) January 03, 2013
RT @jamiedupree: Rep Walter Jones R-NC votes for former GAO head David Walker; that's 6 'not' for Boehner—
Matthew Keys (@TheMatthewKeys) January 03, 2013
RT @jamiedupree: Rep Steve Pearce R-NM votes for Rep Eric Cantor instead of Boehner—
Tabitha Hale (@TabithaHale) January 03, 2013
Rep Thomas Massie R-KY votes for Rep Justin Amash R-MI instead of Boehner; that's 7—
Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 03, 2013
Yoho in the house, yo….and he votes for Cantor.—
Dina Fraioli (@DinaFraioli) January 03, 2013
Yo Ho Ho and a bottle of Cantor.—
Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) January 03, 2013
But those weren’t enough to keep him down.
Votes for Labrador, Cantor, and West mean there's no unification behind any Boehner opponent.—
Jeff Emanuel (@jeffemanuel) January 03, 2013
Indeed. Surprising few people, Boehner pulled off the win:
Cantor voted for…Boehner. (What did I say a few minutes ago? To-may-to, To-mah-to.)—
Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) January 03, 2013
Chaffetz…for Boehner.—
Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) January 03, 2013
*head*hit*desk*head*hit*desk*head*hit*desk* RT @michellemalkin: Issa….Issa…votes for……..Boehner—
MirCat (@TRMirCat) January 03, 2013
Cantor votes for Boehner. #ZOMG—
Guy Benson (@guypbenson) January 03, 2013
There was a time, yes.
Price for Boehner…one of those discussed as a possible alternative.—
Guy Benson (@guypbenson) January 03, 2013
Boehner. Boehner. Boehner. Boehner. Boehner. Boehner. Boehner. Boehner. PELOSI. Heh. Boehner.—
Tabitha Hale (@TabithaHale) January 03, 2013
Shocking no one….Ryan votes for Boehner.—
DrewM (@DrewMTips) January 03, 2013
Schweikert voted for Boehner—
Robert Costa (@robertcostaNRO) January 03, 2013
Scheikert votes for Boehner. A little surprised at that.—
(@EdMorrissey) January 03, 2013
As were many others. Schweikert was purged from the Financial Services Committee last month.
I got 16 against Boehner: 2 West, 2 Cantor, 1 Lab, 1 Jordan, 1 Walker, 1 Amash = 8, plus eight GOP abstains = 16—
Robert Costa (@robertcostaNRO) January 03, 2013
Some Republicans who initially abstained or weren’t present wound up casting their vote for Boehner during clean-up:
Blackburn just voted for Boehner—
Robert Costa (@robertcostaNRO) January 03, 2013
RT @robertcostaNRO: Breaking: Bachmann votes for Boehner—
Philip Klein (@philipaklein) January 03, 2013
What drama: Bachmann, Garrett, Blackburn wait till LAST MIN to cast vote for Boehner, bring the vote from 17 defections down at final second—
Robert Costa (@robertcostaNRO) January 03, 2013
So: In short, we were over 17 for a minute, looking at 2nd ballot, when the conservatives come to floor, save Boehner from 2nd ballot—
Robert Costa (@robertcostaNRO) January 03, 2013
Confirmed: Nine Republicans voted against Boehner w/ another name: 3 Cantor, 2 West, 1 Labrador, 1 Jordan, 1 Walker, 1 Amash—
Robert Costa (@robertcostaNRO) January 03, 2013
And the field: MT @ricandersen: Labrador 1, Lewis 1, Cantor 3, West 2, Powell 1, Jordan 1, Walker 1, Cooper 2, Amash 1, Dingell 1.—
David Freddoso (@freddoso) January 03, 2013
GOP Rep. Mick Mulvaney remained silent:
Mulvaney…Mulvaney…Mulvaney….Bueller???—
Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) January 03, 2013
RT @BenHowe: Wonder why @RepMickMulvaney didn't vote? | It didn't matter – Boehner got to the absolute majority of 217 before him.—
Steve Eggleston (@steveegg) January 03, 2013
Despite the supposed bad blood between them, Eric Cantor congratulated Boehner on his win:
It is an honor to serve with @SpeakerBoehner. I look forward to continue working with my friend to help all Americans.—
Eric Cantor (@GOPLeader) January 03, 2013
Boehner expressed his gratitude for the victory:
Honored to have been elected by my colleagues to continue serving as Speaker of the House for the 113th Congress.—
Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) January 03, 2013
But some wondered if he was really all that grateful:
you gotta figure at some point john boehner had the thought these last few days: do me a favor and give the job to someone else. #onlyhuman—
Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) January 03, 2013
Ha! RT @keder: Congratulations to @SpeakerBoehner. You get to keep the world's crappiest job.—
Redness (@maryclimer) January 03, 2013
In any event, now that he’s won, despite their beefs with him, many conservatives are offering Boehner their support:
Boehner is Speaker. Let's bring an end to the infighting and focus on what we should've been doing from the start: Obama's agenda.—
Demetrius Minor (@dminor85) January 03, 2013
Best wishes to our Speaker, @SpeakerBoehner, as he leads us in the 113th Congress!—
Ellen Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) January 03, 2013
Looks like he’ll be sticking around for a while.
Thus ends the "Boehner is over" hype.—
Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) January 03, 2013