Kerry Bentivolio explanation on the Speaker Boehner Vote

[tsai3904]

it was being discussed everwhere. weak.

Trent Franks said he wasn't told about the plan until 15 min before. That shows that this was poorly planned and wasn't a serious attempt to remove Boehner. They didn't even nominate someone or request a secret ballot. This was a protest vote.

Edit: If they seriously wanted to remove him, they would have asked for a secret ballot because that for sure would have removed him.

 

[torchbearer]

Trent Franks said he wasn't told about the plan until 15 min before. That shows that this was poorly planned and wasn't a serious attempt to remove Boehner. They didn't even nominate someone or request a secret ballot. This was a protest vote.

Edit: If they seriously wanted to remove him, they would have asked for a secret ballot because that for sure would have removed him.

your excuse don't match his

Being his first day he was a bit unclear on the fact that he could vote for someone that hadn't been nominated (wraps back into the previous point), he expressed that he thought the only options were between Pelosi and Boehner and he certainly wasn't going for Pelosi.

he didn't even know there was a plan, though everyone in the media knew, everyone on this forum knew.
maybe kerry should hang out here so he can be prepared for his congressional sessions.
we will keep him informed on what he is voting for and what his choices are.

 

[Adrock]

Even though I am not the happiest with Kerry right now, I will consider this a Mulligan if he votes the right way in the future.

It is a good idea to contact him. I also like that he called back someone personally too.

 

[tsai3904]

your excuse don't match his

Why are you saying "my excuse"? I already said earlier that his excuse didn't make sense....

All I'm saying is that this vote means nothing.

 

[itshappening]

But just to show you how far the GOP caucus has gone, McMorris Rodgers from Washington State who spoke in favor of Boehner is the conference chairwoman and staunch Boehner ally. She won that "election" by a handful of votes. Boehner really wanted her in.

Scalise is also close to Boehner and is the new RSC chairman, beating a conservative in a close race. All the significant leadership in the House are staunch Boehner allies and owe their place in the leadership to him including all the committee chairmen especially the two most powerful, Appropriations where old Hal Rogers got a waiver to continue despite being term limited (therefore breaking his own rules once again, what happened to no votes before 3 days of reviewing legislation?) and Budget which Ryan chairs who also got a waiver from his patron despite being term limited.

He has total control over all the levers of the House. The 9 defections today are deeply embarrassing for him and shows you why he's been so obsessed to assert total control over the conference through his allies and committee' purges because he's worried that he's losing the newer members.

 

[Adrock]

Hopefully we can add some liberty representatives as "newer members" when seats become vacant.

Sanford is the next one on the radar.

 

[BSU kid]

I think Kerry is just going to need a little help getting used to Washington, he clearly got confused and that is to be expected from an ex-high school teacher with no political experience. Amash will help him figure it out as he goes.

 

[KingRobbStark]

Give the man a break you guys.

 

[NoOneButPaul]

Give the man a break you guys.

Jesus Christ, THIS^!

Some of you people are fucking RIDICULOUS! And need to get a FUCKING LIFE and actually try to go out there and make a difference instead of whining and pissing all the goddamn time.

 

[mz10]

I'm very glad to hear this. I still have some reservations about Kerry, but it's good that he openly addressed it instead of trying to slide under the radar. Glad to hear he's communicating with Amash, I think that's the best thing for him, especially with them being in the same delegation.

 

[sailingaway]

I think explanation #4 makes sense. Ron had the same explanation as to why he had to endorse all Texas incumbents and probably why he voted for every establishment GOP Speaker nominee during his career.

when was there a challenge? He DID help force Gingrich out.

He had a specific trade he told us about for not endorsing against Texas incumbents.

but I'll wait and see on Kerry. It was his first day.

 

[Brett85]

when was there a challenge? He DID help force Gingrich out.

No one stepped up to challenge Boehner either.

 

[sailingaway]

No one stepped up to challenge Boehner either.

Right. And here 14 did. When each had 13 others doing it. Ron fought a lot of battles, and this one in the circumstances he had he might have seen as grandstanding. He voted the sole vote against votes to be asked for his reason, to spread the message. A vote between Boehner and Cantor didn't give that. One reason I am waiting to see what Kerry does rather than get mad at him this time is because but for the fact that I felt Boehnor needed to be punished for the purge, I didn't like the other options much, either.

 

[tsai3904]

In '97, there were 9 Republicans who didn't vote for Newt. I see the '97 vote very similar to today's vote. Both had several GOPs not voting for the presumed Speaker and both ended up very close to knocking out the presumed Speaker.

 

[dbill27]

kerry sounds like he was lying about why he voted the way he did, I hope he doesn't turn out to be a flake but he's not off to a good start.

 

[compromise]

kerry sounds like he was lying about why he voted the way he did, I hope he doesn't turn out to be a flake but he's not off to a good start.

Why does everyone hate Flake round here?

 

[Spoa]

Why does everyone hate Flake round here?

I don't know who you mean by "everyone". I certainly like Senator Flake a lot. For some purists, they attack him for not voting with us on everything. But Senator Flake has fought hard for spending cuts and balanced budgets, and maybe with some rubbing off from Senators Paul and Lee, he'll be closer on our side on civil liberties. He already voiced anger over the Patriot Act (but in the end, gave in to leadership pressure) and has said that it may be time to think about ending the wars. He's very good on fiscal responsibility, but gives in sometimes on civil liberties.

But on civil liberties, he (Senator Flake) has made some good votes:
Voted NO on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. (Jun 2003)
Voted NO on more funding for Mexico to fight drugs. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism. (Sep 2001)
War on Drugs has abused Bill of Rights . (Dec 2000)
International Criminal Court decisions not valid for US. (Mar 2003)
Voted YES on reforming the UN by restricting US funding. (Jun 2005)
Voted NO on requiring FISA warrants for wiretaps in US, but not abroad. (Mar 2008)
Voted NO on Veto override: Congressional oversight of CIA interrogations. (Mar 2008)
Voted NO on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Apr 2003)
End draft registration; all-volunteer forces . (Dec 2000)

On the Issues States:

Jeff Flake is a Libertarian-Leaning Conservative.

http://www.ontheissues.org/house/jeff_flake.htm

 

[mz10]

I don't know who you mean by "everyone". I certainly like Senator Flake a lot. For some purists, they attack him for not voting with us on everything. But Senator Flake has fought hard for spending cuts and balanced budgets, and maybe with some rubbing off from Senators Paul and Lee, he'll be closer on our side on civil liberties. He already voiced anger over the Patriot Act (but in the end, gave in to leadership pressure) and has said that it may be time to think about ending the wars. He's very good on fiscal responsibility, but gives in sometimes on civil liberties.

But on civil liberties, he (Senator Flake) has made some good votes:
Voted NO on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. (Jun 2003)
Voted NO on more funding for Mexico to fight drugs. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism. (Sep 2001)
War on Drugs has abused Bill of Rights . (Dec 2000)
International Criminal Court decisions not valid for US. (Mar 2003)
Voted YES on reforming the UN by restricting US funding. (Jun 2005)
Voted NO on requiring FISA warrants for wiretaps in US, but not abroad. (Mar 2008)
Voted NO on Veto override: Congressional oversight of CIA interrogations. (Mar 2008)
Voted NO on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Apr 2003)
End draft registration; all-volunteer forces . (Dec 2000)

On the Issues States:

http://www.ontheissues.org/house/jeff_flake.htm

I think you missed the joke, everyone was saying Kerry was going to turn into a "flake."

But on that topic, yes Flake is going to be a very good Senator, hopefully another DeMint.

 

[erowe1]

3.) Being his first day he was a bit unclear on the fact that he could vote for someone that hadn't been nominated (wraps back into the previous point), he expressed that he thought the only options were between Pelosi and Boehner and he certainly wasn't going for Pelosi. When I tried to explain he could vote for anyone and that Pelosi needed a majority and not just a plurality so he would have been safe he said that he hadn't been clear on that.

This makes it look like he hadn't paid attention to anything over the past couple weeks.

 

[sailingaway]

In '97, there were 9 Republicans who didn't vote for Newt. I see the '97 vote very similar to today's vote. Both had several GOPs not voting for the presumed Speaker and both ended up very close to knocking out the presumed Speaker.

Yeah, and I didn't get very excited over this vote either, BUT FOR the fact that it was punishing someone for purging 'our guys'. Guys Ron endorsed and even campaigned for. Because of that, I think Ron would have been voting with Amash. Without that, I dunno.