The Leadership Debate

I firmly support John Boehner for the leadership position for a number of reasons; but first and foremost, he is a fiscal conservative who has stuck to his guns. Secondly, and this is really something of a selfish reason for supporting him, but I think it is important for the Ohio Republican Party to have somebody important that they can point to and say, "He's one of ours." But, really, these are two seperate arguments...

Here is what Novak had to say over at TownHall:

The depleted House Republican caucus, a minority in the next Congress, convenes at 8 a.m. in the Capitol Friday on the brink of committing an act of supreme irrationality. The House members blame their leadership for tasting the bitter dregs of defeat. Yet, the consensus so far is that, in secret ballot, they will re-elect some or all of those leaders.

In private conversation, Republican members of Congress blame Majority Leader John Boehner and Majority Whip Roy Blunt in no small part for their midterm election debacle. Yet, either Boehner, Blunt or both are expected to be returned to their leadership posts Friday. For good reason, the GOP often is called "the stupid party."

If you want to blame Hastert and Blunt, I have no problem with that. But dragging Boehner in to it demonstrates a level of forgetfulness that usually can only be found in a Democrat. Boehner had the job for six months and in that time he performed admirably under difficult circumstances. The guy to blame is Tom DeLay. And if you are looking for somebody from Ohio to blame, feel free to pick on Bob Ney...I do.

Hastert wisely stepped aside and Blunt should have done the same. Throwing a good conservative like Boehner under the bus is not the answer. This comment from Novak is just absurd:

In fact, Boehner's ties to K Street are even stronger than Blunt's, and he seemed to lose interest in reform once he became majority leader.

Apparently, Novak needs to get put on the same email lists that I am because there was no stronger voice for reform than John Boehner.

At any rate, the other name being tossed about in the pundit class is Mike Pence. I would not be opposed to Pence, but I really don't think he's ready. The Republican Study Committee has a lot of work left to do and his leadership there is key. Moving him out of that role is, in my opinion, not in our best interests. But I understand the appeal that he has...

HT: BizzyBlog via email