"The Blackmail Caucus, a.k.a. the Republican Party"

[bobabode]

"John Boehner was a terrible, very bad, no good speaker of the House. Under his leadership, Republicans pursued an unprecedented strategy of scorched-earth obstructionism, which did immense damage to the economy and undermined America’s credibility around the world."

"Still, things could have been worse. And under his successor they almost surely will be worse. Bad as Mr. Boehner was, he was just a symptom of the underlying malady, the madness that has consumed his party." NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/28/op...e=article&_r=0

Great commentary from Paul Krugman

[Boreas]

I completely agree. As bad as Boehner was as Speaker, I'm pretty sure his replacement will be worse and that the Tea Party Caucus will be running the show instead of simply stopping it.

[icenine]

Defaulting on the debt and failure to bring up the bi-partisan Senate immigration reform bill are two epic failures.

[Rajoo]

How can a group numbering around 60 members out of 247 wield such influence or blackmail.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by BeamOn

How can a group numbering around 60 members out of 247 wield such influence or blackmail.

Two words, the unofficial 'Hastert Rule'.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by icenine

Defaulting on the debt and failure to bring up the bi-partisan Senate immigration reform bill are two epic failures.

Mark your calendar, Dec. 11th is when the blackmailers will have another shot at downgrading the country's credit rating over the debt ceiling.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by BeamOn

How can a group numbering around 60 members out of 247 wield such influence or blackmail.

Originally Posted by bobabode

Two words, the unofficial 'Hastert Rule'.

Yep, and I believe that the Bagger caucus is only ~40 members. Most of the rest are running scared of being primaried.

[icenine]

Originally Posted by bobabode

Mark your calendar, Dec. 11th is when the blackmailers will have another shot at downgrading the country's credit rating over the debt ceiling.

Obama should declare that the debt obligation cannot be revoked because of the 14th Amendment if that happens.

[Tom Joad]

Boehner is a right wing extremist.

And he has been run out of the Republican Party for being a RINO.

That should give you some indication of just how far down the rabbit hole the Republican Party has gone.

[Rajoo]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Yep, and I believe that the Bagger caucus is only ~40 members. Most of the rest are running scared of being primaried.

I quoted the figure 60 since it seems a 'conservative wing' of current congress comprising of these sixty members have formed a collective bargaining group to influence the selection of a new speaker. Influence may be a mild word, strong arming may be more apt.