What color is the smoke from the capital dome?
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) January 3, 2013
Sure got dicey there for a while! Boehner had some stiff competition — from Nancy Pelosi:
https://twitter.com/fran_chambers/status/286888106282586112
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 3, 2013
Making a mockery of America? Nancy Pelosi totally fits the bill!
Applause as Pelosi votes for herself.
— Jared Halpern (@JaredHalpern) January 3, 2013
https://twitter.com/viewofadam/status/286900623276916736
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 3, 2013
Who just voted for Colin Powell?
— Matt Exotic (@MattCover) January 3, 2013
Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., votes for Colin Powell.
— David Freddoso (@freddoso) January 3, 2013
Yes, that Colin Powell.
Um…TN Democrat Jim Cooper votes for…Colin Powell. Bleh
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) January 3, 2013
Good times.
Rep Jim Matheson D-UT votes for Rep John Dingell D-MI instead of Pelosi
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 3, 2013
Lipinski – Dem – voted for TN's Dem Jim Cooper
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) January 3, 2013
John Barrow votes for John Lewis rather than Nancy Pelosi as Speaker.
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) January 3, 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 3, 2013
Boehner didn’t exactly get unanimous support from his party, either:
Calling roll. Amash votes for Labrador.
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) January 3, 2013
Freshman Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) votes for Cantor for Speaker
— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) January 3, 2013
Freshman Jim Bridenstine votes for Cantor over Boehner. Audible gasp in chamber. Audacious move for freshman.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 3, 2013
My former congressman, Paul Broun, voted for Allen West for Speaker of The House.
— Demetrius Minor (@dminor85) January 3, 2013
Gohmert votes for Allen West.
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) January 3, 2013
RT @jamiedupree: Rep Walter Jones R-NC votes for former GAO head David Walker; that's 6 'not' for Boehner
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) January 3, 2013
RT @jamiedupree: Rep Steve Pearce R-NM votes for Rep Eric Cantor instead of Boehner
— Allie Gravitt (@alliegravitt) January 3, 2013
Rep Thomas Massie R-KY votes for Rep Justin Amash R-MI instead of Boehner; that's 7
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 3, 2013
Yoho in the house, yo….and he votes for Cantor.
— Dina Fraioli (@DinaFraioli) January 3, 2013
Yo Ho Ho and a bottle of Cantor.
— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) January 3, 2013
But those weren’t enough to keep him down.
https://twitter.com/jeffemanuel/statuses/286891607901491203
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 3, 2013
Chaffetz…for Boehner.
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) January 3, 2013
*head*hit*desk*head*hit*desk*head*hit*desk* RT @michellemalkin: Issa….Issa…votes for……..Boehner
— TheRealMirCat (@TRMirCat) January 3, 2013
Cantor votes for Boehner. #ZOMG
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) January 3, 2013
There was a time, yes.
Price for Boehner…one of those discussed as a possible alternative.
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) January 3, 2013
Boehner. Boehner. Boehner. Boehner. Boehner. Boehner. Boehner. Boehner. PELOSI. Heh. Boehner.
— Allie Gravitt (@alliegravitt) January 3, 2013
Shocking no one….Ryan votes for Boehner.
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) January 3, 2013
Schweikert voted for Boehner
— Robert Costa (@costareports) January 3, 2013
Scheikert votes for Boehner. A little surprised at that.
— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) January 3, 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 (@costareports) January 3, 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 (@costareports) January 3, 2013
RT @robertcostaNRO: Breaking: Bachmann votes for Boehner
— Philip Klein (@philipaklein) January 3, 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 (@costareports) January 3, 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 (@costareports) January 3, 2013
Confirmed: Nine Republicans voted against Boehner w/ another name: 3 Cantor, 2 West, 1 Labrador, 1 Jordan, 1 Walker, 1 Amash
— Robert Costa (@costareports) January 3, 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 3, 2013
GOP Rep. Mick Mulvaney remained silent:
Mulvaney…Mulvaney…Mulvaney….Bueller???
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) January 3, 2013
https://twitter.com/steveegg/status/286907997022728193
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 (@EricCantor) January 3, 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.
— John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) January 3, 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 3, 2013
Ha! RT @keder: Congratulations to @SpeakerBoehner. You get to keep the world's crappiest job.
— Mary #FlyTheW (@mchastain81) January 3, 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 3, 2013
https://twitter.com/ellencarmichael/status/286899878871834624
Looks like he’ll be sticking around for a while.
https://twitter.com/EWErickson/status/286899482333954048
Join the conversation as a VIP Member