Courtesy of MSNBC: Ohio Rep. John Boehner, R, won a second term as speaker of the House on Thursday over the dissent of a handful of House conservatives.
Following a bruising first two years as speaker and leader of House Republicans, 10 conservative lawmakers cast votes for someone other than Boehner during a roll call vote in the first hours of the new Congress. Several other conservative Republicans abstained from voting. Boehner received 220 votes of a total of 426 cast.
While Boehner won re-election to the speakership with the overwhelming support of the GOP, he also narrowly avoided the 16 total defections from fellow Republicans that would have triggered a second ballot of House lawmakers on electing a speaker. That would have been the first time a second ballot was needed since 1923, and a mild embarrassment for Boehner.
In remarks after the vote, a characteristically emotional Boehner urged members to resist pursuing "political victory" in lieu of leadership.
"If you've come here to see your name in the lights or to pass off political victory as some accomplishment, you've come to the wrong place. The door's right behind you," he said. "If you have come here humbled by the opportunity to serve, if you've come here to be the determined voice of the people, if you've come here to carry the standard of leadership demanded not by our constituents but by the times, then you've come to the right place. "
Boehner cited the federal deficit as the overwhelming problem to be addressed by lawmakers, alluding to the need for serious negotiations to solve it.
"As Speaker, I pledge to listen and to do all I can to help all of you carry out the oath of office that we are all about to take," he said. "Because in our hearts, we know it's wrong to pass this debt on to our kids and grandkids, now we have to be willing - truly willing - to make this problem right."
Gee John Boehner retains the job that nobody really wants him to have but apparently nobody else is stupid enough to take. Just imagine how proud he must feel.
If the guy had ANY sense he would have resigned and then let some other poor schmuck deal with the dysfunctional Republican party.
As it was he only retained his job with 220 votes, and with 10 Republicans voting against him. Hell Nancy Pelosi was right behind him with a 192 votes. Wouldn't THAT have been a hoot if SHE had won?
Did you hear during the count that two House member actually voted for outgoing Congressman Allen West? Could you freaking imagine? That would be right up there with having Sarah Palin take the job.
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