Will Homeland Security crisis lead Democrats to vote to help Boehner to keep his speakership?

Great Debates
1

After tonight’s debacle, there are rumors that conservative Republicans may launch a coup and vote Boehner out as speaker:

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/john-boehner-republicans-homeland-security-funding-115588.html?hp=t1_r

There may be a scenario where Democrats help Boehner keep the gavel.

Democrats and moderate Republican could conspire to keep him as Speaker on their terms. Say Boehner puts the Senate bill with no riders on the floor. Republicans defect in droves, and Democrats vote as a block, with enough moderate Republicans to pass it.

Tea Party & other conservative Republicans are so enraged that they launch a coup and call for a vote for a new speaker. So they nominate someone like Rep Jordan.

Couldn’t the Democrats go to Boehner, tell him that they will vote for him en mass. They would need only 30 Republicans to join him. They offer this to him on condition that he would allow votes on some of their bills - like comprehensive immigration reform. Boehner sees this as a way to stick it to the tea party wing that has vexed his speakership. The 30 moderate Republicans see it as a way to allow the house to govern responsibly - not crisis to crisis.

Parlimentary democracies form coalition governments all of the time. John Boehner could then go on to preside over the most bi-partisan house in history. Things like budgets, debt ceiling, immigration would get passed with no drama. Boehner would be vilified by the right wing press - but respected by most people for ending the gridlock. Sure he would get primaried by a right winger, but would his district vote out one of the bravest politicians in the nation? Plus, they have the friggin’ Speaker of the House as their representative. That clout would be hard to give up.

Yes, Democrats have to vote for a Republican as Speaker. But they don’t have the numbers to get Pelosi the gavel. May as well keep Boehner - but on their terms. The Moderate Republicans that vote to keep Boehner would take a lot of heat. But they can allow themselves to appear “above” partisan politics. Plus they would realize that it would only help the party in the future to show that they can actually govern.

And Boehner - he would come out the real winner. Not only would he be able to keep his power - but he would go down in history as the most savvy and consequential Speaker ever.

Could this happen? Or would this be better as a plotline on House of Cards?

2

Sounds like this could be very helpful for the Republicans to improve their image, with obvious benefits for them in 2016.

Why, then, would Democrats be in favor of this?

3

What has John Boehner ever done to suggest that he disagrees with the batshit elements of his party? What’s he ever done that would suggest he’d be a trustworthy ally? He’s spent years refusing to budge an inch on working with Obama. Hell, he doesn’t even want to reach out to work with Mitch McConnell.

Boehner doesn’t work with people. That’s why he keeps trying this hostage-taking stuff. That’s why he invited Bibi over without talking to anyone. Republicans have been stonewalling everyone for years and Boehner’s the point man.

To hell with John Boehner. If the Republicans are in turmoil maybe it will limit the damage they do for a bit.