# Can 20 GOP moderate Reps switch Party to avert Tea Party looming catastrophe **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 3, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228 "2013-10-03T00:13:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/21 "2013-10-03T20:21:42Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > …But here’s the reality check - there was a vote and their side lost. Obama was elected by a majority and Obamacare was enacted by a majority. So now these guys need to put on their big boy pants and move on. Actually, there were 435 people VOTED IN as members of the U.S. House and Republicans won control of the U.S. House. There are 100 ELECTED members of the U.S. Senate, which is controlled by the Democrats. You’re just going to have to come to terms with how Congress and the Presidency actually interact. Obama was only elected as President. Did you think Obama was elected as king? Obama was elected POTUS so no other ELECTED representative gets to speak their mind or support the will of their constituents? You need to study up on the hows and whys of elections and responsibilities of the different branches of federal government. LOL - Obama was elected President so now he controls Congress. You’re a hoot. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/22 "2013-10-03T20:26:20Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Are you saying that the Republicans are so incompetent that they can’t clean up their own mess, and that Democrats must save them from themselves? > > I don’t believe you. Hahahaha. No, I didn’t say that. You just did. Which sounds a lot like you don’t believe yourself. No negotiations = no possible settlement. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/23 "2013-10-03T20:35:21Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > No negotiations = no possible settlement. Here is a partial list of people that do not need to be at the negotiations in which the lunatics running the Republican asylum are put back in their cells: -The Miami Heat -Boutros Boutros Ghali -Penn and Teller -Shub Niggurath, the Beast with a Thousand Spawn -Emily Dickinson -Democrats Here is who needs to be at that negotiation: -The Republican leadership THIS IS AN INTERNAL REPUBLICAN PROBLEM. They need to fix it themselves. Once they’ve fixed it, they can come back to the table, where Democrats will be waiting for them. But until they fix it, they’re not competent to engage in negotiations. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/24 "2013-10-03T23:23:20Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Actually, there were 435 people VOTED IN as members of the U.S. House and Republicans won control of the U.S. House. There are 100 ELECTED members of the U.S. Senate, which is controlled by the Democrats. You’re just going to have to come to terms with how Congress and the Presidency actually interact. > > Obama was only elected as President. > > Did you think Obama was elected as king? Obama was elected POTUS so no other ELECTED representative gets to speak their mind or support the will of their constituents? You need to study up on the hows and whys of elections and responsibilities of the different branches of federal government. > > LOL - Obama was elected President so now he controls Congress. You’re a hoot. So, you’re saying that we elected the House as Supreme Arbiter of All That Is Acceptable? The fact that Democratic House candidates received MORE votes than Republican ones doesn’t matter? It doesn’t matter that the Democrats won a majority of votes cast for every single elected branch of the Federal government just doesn’t matter. Right? I mean, the Republicans control 1/2 of 1/3 of the Federal Government and therefore have a blank check. That’s what you’re saying. Sure you want to live up to that? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/25 "2013-10-03T23:28:53Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > No negotiations = no possible settlement. Sure there is. Utter capitulation by John Boehner, when he throws the Tea Party under the bus, and calls for a vote on a clean CR. Mark my words. ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/26 "2013-10-04T10:56:45Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’m not entirely sure about that. The Tea Partiers probably thought the threat of a government shutdown would get them what they wanted. We seem to have entered an era when those sorts of bluffs get called. No this threat would be internal to the Teapublican Party. It threatens their control of the House. Boehner would have to decide to return the House To Democrat control or just allow a vote on the floor where 200 Dems and 17 Republicans can vote to end the shut down. Yesterday there was a report that Boehner blinked on using the debt ceiling as ransom. That is a bit of good news if true. Now he needs to let democracy have a chance to work and drop the Hastert Rule and twenty minutes later Obama signs a clean CR and the government opens up again. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/27 "2013-10-04T11:41:02Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Hahahaha… > No negotiations = no possible settlement. [Here’s _The Shutdown explained in 10 Infuriating Sentences_](http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/10/shutdown-debt-ceiling-explained), Mr. Hinge. Please fight your ignorance. (I’d quote it to save you a click, but that would violate Board rules as the “10 Infuriating Sentences” constitute 10/13 of the entire article.) ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/28 "2013-10-04T15:47:49Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > [Here’s _The Shutdown explained in 10 Infuriating Sentences_](http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/10/shutdown-debt-ceiling-explained), Mr. Hinge. Please fight your ignorance. > (I’d quote it to save you a click, but that would violate Board rules as the “10 Infuriating Sentences” constitute 10/13 of the entire article.) HAHAHAHA. First off, it’s “door” to my friends. You can refer to me as “ **doorhinge** ” or not at all. I’m sure Mother Jones’s Kevin Drum’s opinion is greatly admired by those who value Drum’s opinions. I said, “No negotiations = no possible settlement.” Which part of my statement don’t you understand? The two sides will have to have meet for serious talks eventually. Until then, no negotiations = no possible settlement. Capiche? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/29 "2013-10-04T15:53:05Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > So, you’re saying that we elected the House as Supreme Arbiter of All That Is Acceptable? The fact that Democratic House candidates received MORE votes than Republican ones doesn’t matter? It doesn’t matter that the Democrats won a majority of votes cast for every single elected branch of the Federal government just doesn’t matter. Right? I mean, the Republicans control 1/2 of 1/3 of the Federal Government and therefore have a blank check. That’s what you’re saying. Sure you want to live up to that? Why would I want to live up to SOMETHING YOU SAID? You can live up to what YOU SAID, if’n you want to. I don’t mind. Really. I don’t mind at all. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/30 "2013-10-04T17:06:39Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Why would I want to live up to SOMETHING YOU SAID? You can live up to what YOU SAID, if’n you want to. I don’t mind. Really. I don’t mind at all. Oh sorry. When you made such a big deal out of the fact that there are 435 Reps, 100 Senators, but “Obama was only elected as President.” I thought you were implying that Congress’ opinion should outweigh the President’s and that the House’s should outweigh the Senate’s. My sincere apology for you not being clear in what point you were trying to make. I eagerly await your second (hopefully more understandable) attempt. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/31 "2013-10-04T20:18:33Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > They won’t caucus with the Democrats because that would mean the Democrats would gain control of all of the committees (and I am not overly familiar with the rules of the House, but it could even result in Pelosi becoming Speaker again), and there’s no way any of them wouldn’t have a majority of existing Democrats (just in case one of the “turncoats” “comes to his senses”) as a result. The Tea Party types know this. What are the House rules on replacing a Speaker?Can it only be done at the beginning of a session? That seems a possible rule, although in a closely divided House, the replacement of a member or two could potentially swing the majority to the other party, so maybe the rules allow for a vote on Speaker at any time. Does anyone know? I can’t imagine the 20 R’s in favor of a clean CR would actually vote for Pelosi as speaker, but I’m wondering if it is even actually a possibility mid-session. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/32 "2013-10-04T20:32:04Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I said, “No negotiations = no possible settlement.” Which part of my statement don’t you understand? The two sides will have to have meet for serious talks eventually. Until then, no negotiations = no possible settlement. Capiche? We understand your statement fine; we just think it’s dumb. We settle with the Tea Party the same way we settle with any other hostage taker: they need to come out with their hands up. This can be resolved by the simple measure of House Republicans repudiating the zealots in their midst, grabbing the steering wheel back from them. Democrats have no place in the necessary negotiations, since it stems from an intraparty illness. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/33 "2013-10-04T20:47:00Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > No negotiations = no possible settlement. No negotiations are required. There’s already a way to settle this – it’s called a vote. If one is called, everyone will get to represent their constituents, and the outcome will reflect the will of the people (or at least their elected representatives). Nobody’s talking about preventing the Tea Partiers from voting however they want to. Not actually HAVING the vote because they don’t like how it’ll come out – that’s hostage-taking, and it’s not a bipartisan problem. And it’s happening not because there’s no negotiation; it’s happening because a small minority of folks don’t like what the negotiation produced. Seriously, if this is allowed to happen, we’ll never get governing done again. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/34 "2013-10-04T21:10:34Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I can’t imagine the 20 R’s in favor of a clean CR would actually vote for Pelosi as speaker, but I’m wondering if it is even actually a possibility mid-session. Who is the most centrist or blue-dog Dem Rep around? Put them up as a possible SotH replacement and you might get a conversation started. Actually it’s more likely to get a moderate Pub to lead a coup and have the Dems vote for them. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/35 "2013-10-04T21:56:46Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I can’t imagine the 20 R’s in favor of a clean CR would actually vote for Pelosi as speaker, but I’m wondering if it is even actually a possibility mid-session. Who is the most centrist or blue-dog Dem Rep around? Put them up as a possible SotH replacement and you might get a conversation started. Actually it’s more likely to get a moderate Pub to lead a coup and have the Dems vote for them. ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/36 "2013-10-04T22:44:59Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > A majority of the House can bring a vote to the floor without the consent of the Speaker, so your scenario doesn’t really make sense. 20 GOP House members could join with the Dems to bring a clean CR to the floor without going to the extremes of unseating Boehner and leaving their caucus. That process takes 30 days from the date a bill is introduced. I’d like to see the government opened up sooner than that. > [@](#): > > If all 200 Democrats sign the petition, 18 Republicans would have to join them in order to hit 218 signatures, the magic number needed to move forward with the petition. Democrats already know there are at least 21 Republicans who would support a “clean” government funding bill, with no strings attached. But declaring support for such a bill and signing a petition to force it to the House floor, against the will of House GOP leaders, are two entirely different things. > > [House Democrats Unveil Discharge Petition To Force End To Shutdown | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/04/discharge-petition-government-shutdown_n_4044967.html) The Dems have a plan to use an Republican passed bill that moves the vote date up to October 14. This will show the world that it is in fact Republicans shutting down the government and causing all the hardship to try to destroy Obamacare. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/37 "2013-10-05T02:57:33Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > We understand your statement fine; we just think it’s dumb. We settle with the Tea Party the same way we settle with any other hostage taker: they need to come out with their hands up. > > This can be resolved by the simple measure of House Republicans repudiating the zealots in their midst, grabbing the steering wheel back from them. Democrats have no place in the necessary negotiations, since it stems from an intraparty illness. “We”? Who is this “we” that you speak of? Who do you represent? A mob? The DNC? People with internet access? (An inquiring mind wants to know who he’s talking to.) Bottomline - Negotiations are still going to be required before this come to an end. Unless you’re planning a coup? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/38 "2013-10-05T03:35:52Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > “We”? Who is this “we” that you speak of? Who do you represent? A mob? The DNC? People with internet access? (An inquiring mind wants to know who he’s talking to.) > > Bottomline - Negotiations are still going to be required before this come to an end. Unless you’re planning a coup? I don’t think you understand how negotiations work. GOP: Give us what we want, or we’ll damaging the country. Dems: Please stop damaging the country. Who is the one causing the above situation? What you don’t understand, is that the Republicans aren’t offering anything. They’re just damaging the country until they get what they want. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/39 "2013-10-05T11:16:39Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > “We”? Who is this “we” that you speak of? Who do you represent? A mob? The DNC? People with internet access? (An inquiring mind wants to know who he’s talking to.) You make it clearer and clearer that you’re not serious. > [@](#): > > Bottomline - Negotiations are still going to be required before this come to an end. Nuh uh. I mean, if you’re just going to continue repeating this moronic line no matter what we say there’s no point in just repeating the reasons that it’s wrong. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228/40 "2013-10-05T16:06:40Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > You make it clearer and clearer that you’re not serious. > > Nuh uh. > > I mean, if you’re just going to continue repeating this moronic line no matter what we say there’s no point in just repeating the reasons that it’s wrong. “What ‘we’ say?” How many people do you represent? It “normally” takes at least two personalities to negotiate a settlement. Negotiations are still going to be required before this come to an end. If you know of some magical way for two groups (Democrats vs Republicans or U.S. House vs U.S. Senate or demons vs Demons) to reach a conclusion w/o (aka without) negotiating, I’d like one of your “people” to explain it to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228.md?page=3)