Washington (CNN) – House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday he was confident the House would re-elect him speaker, but conceded a few fellow Republicans would likely vote against him.
Some conservative activists have called on the House to oust Boehner following the passage of a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff. The deal raised tax rates for American households earning more than $450,000 per year. While Boehner made a last-minute effort to include spending cuts in the deal, the measure passed without them.
Rep. Eric Cantor, the House Majority Leader, also expressed confidence Thursday that Boehner would be re-elected speaker, saying "absolutely" when asked whether his colleagues would support Boehner for another term in the top post.
Cantor voted "no" on the final fiscal cliff deal Tuesday night, breaking with Boehner, who cast a "yea" vote. A majority of House Republicans voted against the bill, though earlier Tuesday it passed with a large majority in the Senate.
When CNN asked Cantor if the speaker will be re-elected he replied "absolutely."
The speaker also confirmed that he's told his GOP colleagues that he's going to back off attempting one-on-one negotiations with President Barack Obama to pre-cook major deals, after the two men failed to reach an agreement averting the fiscal cliff. The deal that eventually passed was brokered by Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate.
"Regular order works best," Boehner said – meaning he'll follow normal legislative process in the future by introducing bills in the House that would eventually be sent to the president.
Boehner added that he's "always happy to talk to the president."
From CNN Politics
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Who else in their right mind would want that job? LOL. That said, he is the best man for the job, but he lost a lot of my respect after the F-Bomb. I guess he is a jerk after all. What a childish thing to say – twice. We need to just move the GOP to the sideline so we can continue building this country for the average American.
Ya know why not just put a velociraptor up for reeection and give him a nice suit and a tie! I feel like if our speaker was a velociraptor, we could at least keep the congressmen under control. I actually have two velociraptors that are definitely up for the job. One's name is Steven and the other is Tommy. Steven could kick boehner's butt in a campaign.
I have no genuine admiration for Boehner, and I'm appalled at the way he's handled his responsibility, both as a Congressman and as Speaker of the House. But if you look right behind him in just about every news photo, you'll see the face of someone even more disturbing who's probably next in line for the job, and that's Eric Cantor. Of the two, I'll take Boehner any day.
It would be great if Boehner keeps his job and PELOSI loses hers....could happen.
Oh please let me new years wish come true and get rid of him!!
I think he's doing exactly what he is supposed to do in his position. I'm definitely going to vote for him if he runs for reelection.
I wish I could vote him out!
Wish I had a vote to get him out the door.
Who would they replace him with? cantor should never be allowed to speak, let alone become speaker. I say they should roll with Crazy Eyes Bachmann. We haven't had a good laugh from her in a while.
John, please cry for the american people.
he should be run out of town on a rail, just like the good old days.
Is there anyone else that could possibly get any kind of consensus, no matter how marginal? Nope.
Put Nancy back in charge, She is a very effective Speaker and even-tempered.
Ahhhhhhh, it must be so nice and happy in his own private world. Sadly delusional, he made enemies EVERYWHERE. He cried when the gave him the gavel, what will he do when they take it away. The House and GOP should go with REAL leadership. NO Radicals need apply please. (on any side of the aisle)
After the F-Bomb incident he should have been FIRED on the spot.
Still had time to keep that golden tan through all this, made George Hamilton proud and Patricia Krentcil jealous.
I am with Don all the way. Anyone who wants the job is clearly not qualified to have the job (same goes for President)..pick someone who is smart enough to try and AVOID it.
If Boehner isn't re-elected speaker, watch for another Karl Rove meltdown on Fox, demanding a recount! But first, all of the Republcans will meet with their savior Grover Norquist and kneel to the Grand Master Lobbyist for guidance.
I am not sure about this. If Honey Boo Boo runs for the speaker slot, she just might give Boehner a run for his (contributed by wealthy Americans in an attempt to buy influence) money.
The majority of the republican in the congress along with Cantor and Boener should be voted out on the next election..just wait and you will know from us voters, you will received your final judgement when that day will come.most people of america know your true color now except those ignorant about your nonchalant actions...Boener should be out anytime soon , this cry baby has not shown any effort, he is useless and opposed everything for the betterment of american people..he is heartless and he didnt deserved any salary raise for nothing...
How typical. Boehner cannot even negotiate within his own caucus and bring a bill to the floor for vote. So, what does he do? He blames his failures to get deals, ones that he's worked out with the President, past his own caucus on President Obama.
Funny thing is, he is exactly RIGHT. Conservatives don't hold themselves accountable, just the 'other' guy.
As my wise old Irish grandmother used to say: "you're better with the devil you jnow than the one you don't". Given some of the vermin in the House, Boehner probably is the better choice, wounded or otherwise.
Slurpy the Wonderdrunk already has champagne chilling in his office.
Ordinary Average American
Surely voters in the State of Ohio won't reelect Boehner as their Senator . . . it's up to US, America, to throw these obstructionists out of office and end the b.s. in D.C.!
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Further proof how well the education system is doing since the federal government stuck their noses in it... even an Ordinary Average American doesn't know the difference between a senator and a representative.