Even More Good News For Shadegg
Written by YellowJacket on January 24th, 2006Today, Reps. Jeff Flake (Ariz.) and Charles Bass (NH) officially endorsed Rep. John Shadegg for House Majority Leader. CNN has the story. Though Flake was already in the bag, having these two declare endorsement together is significant considering that Flake is conservative while Bass is moderate, and these are the same two legislators who pushed for new leadership elections earlier this month.
Concerning Rep. Blunt’s attempt to claim victory:
“The numbers don’t add up,” Flake said. “This is very much still a contested race. Anybody who goes into a situation with a secret ballot, who claims to have it wrapped up, ought to hear footsteps.”
Seems to me that those footsteps are getting louder. John Boehner, of course, couldn’t help but attempt to direct some of their thunder to his own camp:
Boehner said he agrees with Bass and Flake that the contest should focus on reform.
“As a legislator who has never asked for a single pork-barrel project for his congressional district, I look forward to working with them as majority leader on earmark and budget reforms so we can change the way Congress does business,” Boehner said.
Though Boehner may have more public endorsements than Shadegg, his comments seem more and more desperate as Shadegg bags key legislators’ endorsements. He is tripping over himself trying to constantly be supportive of Shadegg’s entrance into the race, yet at the same time attempts to (nervously) promote himself. Could he drop out and endorse Shadegg? Some of his comments, plus the increasing momentum that Shadegg is gathering that Boehner lacks, seem to indicate that possibility.
Remember to call your representatives.
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Boehner’s column in Townhall is designed to court conservatives and may be a last ditch effort to to stem the tide of the rising Shedegg.
Check it out
http://www.townhall.com/opinion/column/JohnBoehner/2006/01/24/183528.html
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Hoekstra and Wolf joining Team Shadegg have added increased legitimacy for Shadegg. All-in-all they will probably force a second ballot together, and then Boehner will go to the second ballot and pick up Shadegg’s support, in exchange Shadegg will get an increased role in the leadership, and will be in line to become Majority Leader if Boehner ascends to the Speakership in ‘08.
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reat article with some interestiing insights.Hope it tunrs out for all Republicans in the end.
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Don’t know who signed as “Langley”…. wasn’t me.
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Ok, now I know… it was my father, Langley Sr.