Since there appears to be no significant House figure willing to run for Speaker, there’s a massive push to cajole and pressure Paul Ryan into running. It seems crystal clear that he really, really doesn’t want the job. But that doesn’t mean he won’t end up agreeing to take it. But here’s the thing. People are starting to seriously moot the idea of Boehner remaining on in a caretaker role through the 2016 election. He doesn’t need 218 votes. He’s already Speaker. He doesn’t need anything.
Now, it’s already clear that Boehner will remain in place until a new Speaker is elected – and that could be a while regardless. This caretaker idea through January 2017 plan seems far-fetched. But then, so did McCarthy being deposed before he even became Speaker.
But here’s something to consider on the off chance something like this did happen. It would be a pretty big transformation. Because Boehner 2.0 would be basically the Man of Steel and indestructible for almost 18 months.
The cudgel wielded by the ‘Freedom Caucus’ and the broader House GOP right would disappear?
Threaten to depose him? Right.
Say he’s not following the Hastert Rule? Right.
He would be indestructible. No one would have any real leverage over him. And remember, the Speakership is a constitutional office.
I’m pretty sure that won’t happen. But if it did happen it would mean the Freedom Caucus antics would backfire on them spectacularly.
