Speaker Tom Price? (Almost) certainly not

tomprice

House Speaker Tom Price, R-Ga.?

Heaven help us, and the Republican Party, should that come to pass. Such a development would produce a mess that would make Congress of the last two years seem like a smoothly functioning machine by comparison.

Yet according to Robert Costa, writing in National Review:

“Should a debt deal go sour, the buzz is that Tom Price, a 58-year-old physician from Georgia, may challenge John Boehner for the speaker’s gavel.

“Price is the person we’re all watching,” says an aide close to House leadership. “We know he’s frustrated, but we don’t know much else.”

Would Price really make a bid to unseat Boehner? And if so, could he win? (In response to the Costa piece, Price’s spokesperson now says the congressman “is not running for speaker,” which is interesting for a couple of reasons. One is its use of present tense rather than future tense; i.e. “is not running” vs. “will not run.” Nobody suggested that he “is” running. And in an interview with Costa earlier, Price himself had apparently refused to confirm or deny a possible challenge. That would have been the time to stop the rumor dead, had he wanted to do so.)

As I noted in my previous post, former Speaker Newt Gingrich estimates that a budget deal will require 120-140 Democratic votes to pass the House. In other words, Gingrich believes that more than half the Republicans will buck their leadership and refuse to vote for a final deal, which strikes me as a pretty accurate assessment.

The question is, will that be enough? Will conservative congressional Republicans be satisfied by casting personal votes of “no” against tax hikes, even as the hikes themselves go on to become law with the help of GOP leadership? Or, driven by an apoplectic right-wing blogosphere and a media-entertainment industry that thrives on conflict, will they whip themselves into such a frenzy that they demand the head of the man who cut the deal? In this kind of environment, talk of a challenge to Boehner was inevitable, if for no other reason than to keep the speaker on a short leash.

It also makes sense that the talk would center around Price, a conservative who represents the same congressional district once represented by Gingrich. Last month, Price was defeated in his bid for a House leadership post, losing narrowly to a more moderate candidate tacitly backed by Boehner. But he remains ambitious, and is also eying a potential primary challenge to U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss in 2014.

Even if Price lost a challenge to Boehner, the effort itself would establish his conservative credentials to a larger audience and increase his stature for a run against Chambliss. In fact, with the impending departure of Jim DeMint from the Senate, challenging and losing to Boehner over an issue of principle might make Price the leading congressional champion of the Tea Party wing of the GOP. If conservative anger at Boehner gets strong enough, it’s hard to see a downside for Price trying to unseat him.

And if Price won? It would be almost suicidal for the Republicans. Throwing Boehner overboard would cement the party’s reputation as radical and uncompromising. The base might like that fine; the mainstream voter would not. In addition, Price is a pretty grim and confrontational personality, the sort that would not wear well in the public spotlight. If Boehner’s grip on power were seriously endangered, you would probably see Price nudged aside in favor of someone like Paul Ryan.

So yes, a challenge to Boehner by Price is feasible, depending on circumstances. A successful challenge by Price is much less feasible. And a challenge to Chambliss is the most feasible of all. Because clearly, this is a congressman who sees himself going places.

– Jay Bookman

534 comments Add your comment

josef

December 10th, 2012
5:53 pm

barking frog

December 10th, 2012
5:53 pm

getalife
and they will scream when that gets cut off..the president has
tricked them into cutting their constituents unless they compromise…

Nero

December 10th, 2012
5:55 pm

I get red carded because of crying to Bookman, and I come back to a mini butt hurt insurrection. This is great! :)

TM

December 10th, 2012
5:56 pm

Get- according to the AJC citing the NY Times, Obama care will cost me $6000 next year and now he wants me to pay more

getalife

December 10th, 2012
5:56 pm

“Betting against the house is for suckers. Slot machines are rigged.” Ya think.

Vegas was built by suckers.

getalife

December 10th, 2012
5:58 pm

TM,

Sounds like bs.

Got a link?

Morality?

December 10th, 2012
5:59 pm

- Jay says Obama ain’t got no plan to save America…….no, that was Sam L. Jackson in Ebony magazine. Obama ain’t God. He’s a politician….. they save themselves – not America. And don’t be calling me a con ’cause I am not a Repub……. but you are maybe a Dem? Obama is a FISCAL liberal and if you voted Obama you voted for the FISCAL cliff.

josef

December 10th, 2012
6:01 pm

NERO

You got red carded? Do tell.

josef

December 10th, 2012
6:02 pm

getalife

Remind me FNM this week that I found one just for you…

getalife

December 10th, 2012
6:03 pm

morality?No,

The “fiscal cliff” was created by the gop silly.

Do you keep up with politics or just run your mouth?

The Oddball

December 10th, 2012
6:03 pm

The Oddball lives in Dr. Price’s district and would dearly love to see him going places.
Specifically, back to his medical practice.

Morality?

December 10th, 2012
6:03 pm

Look on the bright side .. the price of gas will eventually go below $1.00 a gallon when we go over the fiscal cliff and Obama can take the credit for low gas prices. Of course your won’t have a car any more – but heh.

TM

December 10th, 2012
6:04 pm

Get= You have such a short memory remember when all of you said the it won’t hurt the “rich” to pay for medical coverage for everyone?? Now we have an additional payroll tax and tax on sale of investments. How quickly those without money forget they take the my money

barking frog

December 10th, 2012
6:06 pm

getalife
actually vegas was paid for by suckers..it was built by teamster
pension money..best investment they ever made..

indigo

December 10th, 2012
6:06 pm

Morality – 5:48

You are, of course correct.

However, it’s, for me anyways, much easier said than done.

josef

December 10th, 2012
6:06 pm

ODDBALL
“Specifically, back to his medical practice.”

Well, all’s I can say is you’re plumb heartless…wishing that on anybody…

getalife

December 10th, 2012
6:07 pm

“Remind me FNM this week that I found one just for you…”

Will do…

no morals,

“the price of gas will eventually go below $1.00 a gallon ”

Wow.

Morality?

December 10th, 2012
6:08 pm

Well maybe the Repubs came up with the term “fiscal cliff” but it’s reality – whatever you wish to call it. I call it a footnote to a great depression. 2013 will be a very unlucky number. You voted for more gub’ment – you got what you vote for.

getalife

December 10th, 2012
6:08 pm

TM,

Prove it.

indigo

December 10th, 2012
6:09 pm

Doggone/GA – 5:33

I just momentarily forgot what a fine job you do here representing the peanut gallery.

barking frog

December 10th, 2012
6:10 pm

“the price of gas will eventually go below $1.00 a gallon ”
………………………………………………….
that’s a long drop from the $6.00 it was this summer…

josef

December 10th, 2012
6:11 pm

Where’s Fred?

A

December 10th, 2012
6:11 pm

Price needs to be ousted once and for all in 2014. He may represent the views of the part of his district that’s in Cherokee County but certainly not the views of Dunwoody/Sandy Springs. This man has got to go.

getalife

December 10th, 2012
6:11 pm

no morals,

You are thinking of the EU and their gop austerity plan.

No collapses, no scandals, no new wars and no attacks in our country under President Obama.

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
6:13 pm

josef

Where’s Fred?
————————————

Wilma called, he needed to take Dino for a walk and play with Bam Bam :-)

josef

December 10th, 2012
6:13 pm

indigo

Some of us actually prefer the seats in the peanut gallery…lot more fun…

TM

December 10th, 2012
6:13 pm

Get_ here your proof I take it you forgot–read the NY Time
WASHINGTON — For more than a year, politicians have been fighting over whether to raise taxes on high-income people. They rarely mention that affluent Americans will soon be hit with new taxes adopted as part of the 2010 health care law.
Related

Times Topic: Health Care Reform and the Supreme Court (Affordable Care Act)

The new levies, which take effect in January, include an increase in the payroll tax on wages and a tax on investment income, including interest, dividends and capital gains. The Obama administration proposed rules to enforce both last week.

Affluent people are much more likely than low-income people to have health insurance, and now they will, in effect, help pay for coverage for many lower-income families. Among the most affluent fifth of households, those affected will see tax increases averaging $6,000 next year, economists estimate.

To help finance Medicare, employees and employers each now pay a hospital insurance tax equal to 1.45 percent on all wages. Starting in January, the health care law will require workers to pay an additional tax equal to 0.9 percent of any wages over $200,000 for single taxpayers and $250,000 for married couples filing jointly.

The new taxes on wages and investment income are expected to raise $318 billion over 10 years, or about half of all the new revenue collected under the health care law.

Ruth M. Wimer, a tax lawyer at McDermott Will & Emery, said the taxes came with “a shockingly inequitable marriage penalty.” If a single man and a single woman each earn $200,000, she said, neither would owe any additional Medicare payroll tax. But, she said, if they are married, they would owe $1,350. The extra tax is 0.9 percent of their earnings over the $250,000 threshold.

Since the creation of Social Security in the 1930s, payroll taxes have been levied on the wages of each worker as an individual. The new Medicare payroll is different. It will be imposed on the combined earnings of a married couple.

Employers are required to withhold Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes from wages paid to employees. But employers do not necessarily know how much a worker’s spouse earns and may not withhold enough to cover a couple’s Medicare tax liability. Indeed, the new rules say employers may disregard a spouse’s earnings in calculating how much to withhold.

Workers may thus owe more than the amounts withheld by their employers and may have to make up the difference when they file tax returns in April 2014. If they expect to owe additional tax, the government says, they should make estimated tax payments, starting in April 2013, or ask their employers to increase the amount withheld from each paycheck.

In the Affordable Care Act, the new tax on investment income is called an “unearned income Medicare contribution.” However, the law does not provide for the money to be deposited in a specific trust fund. It is added to the government’s general tax revenues and can be used for education, law enforcement, farm subsidies or other purposes.

Donald B. Marron Jr., the director of the Tax Policy Center, a joint venture of the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution, said the burden of this tax would be borne by the most affluent taxpayers, with about 85 percent of the revenue coming from 1 percent of taxpayers. By contrast, the biggest potential beneficiaries of the law include people with modest incomes who will receive Medicaid coverage or federal subsidies to buy private insurance.

Wealthy people and their tax advisers are already looking for ways to minimize the impact of the investment tax — for example, by selling stocks and bonds this year to avoid the higher tax rates in 2013.

The new 3.8 percent tax applies to the net investment income of certain high-income taxpayers, those with modified adjusted gross incomes above $200,000 for single taxpayers and $250,000 for couples filing jointly.

David J. Kautter, the director of the Kogod Tax Center at American University, offered this example. In 2013, John earns $160,000, and his wife, Jane, earns $200,000. They have some investments, earn $5,000 in dividends and sell some long-held stock for a gain of $40,000, so their investment income is $45,000. They owe 3.8 percent of that amount, or $1,710, in the new investment tax. And they owe $990 in additional payroll tax.

The new tax on unearned income would come on top of other tax increases that might occur automatically next year if President Obama and Congress cannot reach an agreement in talks on the federal deficit and debt. If Congress does nothing, the tax rate on long-term capital gains, now 15 percent, will rise to 20 percent in January. Dividends will be treated as ordinary income and taxed at a maximum rate of 39.6 percent, up from the current 15 percent rate for most dividends.

Under another provision of the health care law, consumers may find it more difficult to obtain a tax break for medical expenses.

Taxpayers now can take an itemized deduction for unreimbursed medical expenses, to the extent that they exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income. The health care law will increase the threshold for most taxpayers to 10 percent next year. The increase is delayed to 2017 for people 65 and older.

In addition, workers face a new $2,500 limit on the amount they can contribute to flexible spending accounts used to pay medical expenses. Such accounts can benefit workers by allowing them to pay out-of-pocket expenses with pretax money.

Taken together, this provision and the change in the medical expense deduction are expected to raise more than $40 billion of revenue over 10 years.

Morality?

December 10th, 2012
6:14 pm

What’s gas worth when you can’t pay for it…… supply and demand. Jammy Codder said back in the 70’s that the oil supply would so run out. Think he gave it 10 years. What’s gas worth if you have vehicle and no use for it? However – the not so good news – there will be inflation for the things still in demand – things we can’t do without – like food. Got to eat. Bottled designer water – now that will be a hard sell.

josef

December 10th, 2012
6:15 pm

Nero

December 10th, 2012
6:15 pm

josef,

Certain suck-ups whined to Bookman about being called out for statements they refused to defend. So I got a sit-down in the double standard penalty box. Nothing others here haven’t experienced before.

getalife

December 10th, 2012
6:17 pm

indigo,

Don’t dish it out if you can’t take it.

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
6:17 pm

josef

Quittin time.

:-)

Doggone/GA

December 10th, 2012
6:17 pm

“I just momentarily forgot what a fine job you do here representing the peanut gallery.”

Beats doing a fine job of representing the sewer crowd ANY day. I concede that to YOU

Jay

December 10th, 2012
6:17 pm

““Indigo, it appears that you and Fred are in a contest of sorts to see who can portray himself as the blog’s biggest victim of injustice.”

Note the use of the word “portray,” Josef. Others may pretend to the title, but … :>)

getalife

December 10th, 2012
6:18 pm

nero,

I think you owe me an apology.

Morality?

December 10th, 2012
6:18 pm

Indigo – sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. Do not respond to hateful remarks in kind and you will be better off in this world. Now that doesn’t mean to bow down to the enemy – just use different tactics – they use hate – you use intelligent thought.

Morality?

December 10th, 2012
6:19 pm

I know – deep in his heart – somewhere real deep in his heart – he has kind thoughts for me. Therefore I will sleep well tonight.

TM

December 10th, 2012
6:20 pm

get- think you owe me one

Morality?

December 10th, 2012
6:21 pm

Is it just me or does Jay look like that guy that wrote “Tambourine Man” ? What’s his name – you know.

josef

December 10th, 2012
6:22 pm

al Shariff Big Daddy

Whew…thanks…I can relax, you had me worried there for a minute!

Nero

December 10th, 2012
6:22 pm

getalife,

You owe this blog an apology for your statements. We both know neither will happen. So go back to lecturing people about dishing it out. You’ve found your talent.

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
6:22 pm

Jay owes me an apology. He calls me by my first name but he calls STUPID LIBERALS by his last

:-)

josef

December 10th, 2012
6:23 pm

COMMON SENSE

This is the Liberal Plantation here, I says when it’s quittin’ time… :-)

Jay

December 10th, 2012
6:24 pm

No, Nero.

As I told you earlier, nobody complained. I merely responded to what I saw on the blog, and then to your refusal to heed a clear warning. Josef, you seem to have a whole passel of would-be Anastasias out tonight.

josef

December 10th, 2012
6:26 pm

Owing apologies on this blog? Whoo-whee, the debts there would make the national one pale in comparison… :-)

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
6:26 pm

Nero

December 10th, 2012
6:29 pm

Jay,

Funny how you respond to me calling out somebody on a plainly bigoted statement, yet you choose to ignore said statement. Your blog, your rules. My eyes are wide open to now. I’ll adjust accordingly.

Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)

December 10th, 2012
6:29 pm

Josef, you seem to have a whole passel of would-be Anastasias out tonight.

Well, if he’s got to be put in time-out I’ll support you, Bookman. You got the right to run your own outfit. After all this is Free Innerprize, not Communism. Besides, some of us could do without him for a few months or years.

F. Sinkwich

December 10th, 2012
6:30 pm

“Congressional Democrats on Monday pleaded with Gov. Rick Snyder (R) to veto legislation that would make Michigan a right-to-work state.”

Take a hike, losers. Michigan is a basket case because of union thug-dom. Snyder is just trying to resurrect some economic activity in his dead state.

Lib ilks fear politicians like Snyder and Price because they speak truth to moonbats.

josef

December 10th, 2012
6:31 pm

Imam

Does appear that way. :-)

getalife

December 10th, 2012
6:31 pm

TM,

“They rarely mention that affluent Americans will soon be hit with new taxes adopted as part of the 2010 health care law.”

No wonder the gop hates it.

The wealthy will be fine TM.

josef

December 10th, 2012
6:34 pm

COMMON SENSE

Heh, heh! Me? I got me some of them legal drugs…”as needed for pain!” :-)

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
6:35 pm

josef

But I got Christmas Ale and Troegs for what ails me

:-)

getalife

December 10th, 2012
6:36 pm

nero,

I forgot, what did you call me again?

“get- think you owe me one”

I am sorry you don’t know how to post a link to back it up.

The cons tend to lie about everything .

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
6:38 pm

Get

I think the problem was the term leech was in EVERY post for a while

:-)

barking frog

December 10th, 2012
6:39 pm

getalife
is nero Jm’s stand in ?

getalife

December 10th, 2012
6:39 pm

” I got me some of them legal drugs…”as needed for pain!” :-)

Welcome to the club :)

getalife

December 10th, 2012
6:40 pm

frog,

Probably.

TM

December 10th, 2012
6:40 pm

Get -I pay for your heath care, I pay for your deficits, you pay nothing. Look up the definition of moocher,

getalife

December 10th, 2012
6:41 pm

Common,

“I think the problem was the term leech was in EVERY post for a while”

At least I got him or her to stop that:)

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
6:42 pm

I thought Jm was gonna self deport to Singapore?

:-)

getalife

December 10th, 2012
6:43 pm

TM,

If you are wealthy, you had a decade of mooching off of government.

About time you pay.

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
6:43 pm

get

I noticed that. I was probably gonna get a red card if he kept that crap up.

:-)

barking frog

December 10th, 2012
6:44 pm

common
or Hong Kong..

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
6:45 pm

Maybe Jm is vacationing in Havana or Somalia :-)

Nero

December 10th, 2012
6:45 pm

Anything else you want to whine to Jay about getalife?

Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes

December 10th, 2012
6:47 pm

is nero Jm’s stand in ?

Doubtful, as Jay has the bloomberg troll on permanent ignore.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

But I got Christmas Ale and Troegs for what ails me

Is that Corsendonk Christmas Ale?

And I gotta start lookin’ for Troegs, but it seems to be a microbrew.

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
6:48 pm

TM

December 10th, 2012
6:48 pm

Get= this is too easy= the government has not given me anything other than the right to keep and spend my money–I have been contributing to the fund that pays close to 50% of the federal income taxes to fund the local state and federal programs.. It is so easy for those without to spend what they don;t have.

Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes

December 10th, 2012
6:49 pm

Maybe Jm is vacationing in Havana or Somalia

Nah, he’s here posting as oops.

Nero

December 10th, 2012
6:49 pm

Common,

Nah, no red cards for you. You fall on Bookman’s nice list.

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
6:50 pm

Kam

Great Lakes Christmas Ale is sold up here in the frozen tundra LOL

Troegs is from Pa.

I am trying to hook up with Bro to send a care package of both to him.

:-)

Both great beers with a kickass flavor

josef

December 10th, 2012
6:52 pm

getalife

Had the new device put in today…so mine are for “a limited time only!” Had to be there at 5 a.m. Got tomorrow off to “recuperate” though…

Brosephus™

December 10th, 2012
6:52 pm

I thought Jm was gonna self deport to Singapore?

You talking about Singapore, FL? That’s already been accomplished.

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
6:55 pm

Nero

I don’t think that’s it I think it’s because I don’t act like an punda kofia

Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes

December 10th, 2012
6:56 pm

Common Sense isn’t very Common

The local Ingle’s carries some great stuff from the Highlands Brewery in Asheville, R J Rockers in Spartanburg and Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo.

If you haven’t tried Corsendonk Christmas Ale from Belgium, do so. You’ll thank me for it.

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
6:56 pm

josef

That new device. Does it come with an on/off switch?

:-)

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
6:57 pm

Kam

When I head back to NC for Christmas I will try to find it.

josef

December 10th, 2012
6:59 pm

COMMON

That was Unmentionable’s question! :-)

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
7:01 pm

josef

I would make sure the batteries are fully charged before I let him anywhere near you LOL

Nero

December 10th, 2012
7:01 pm

Common,

You’re right. Just mostly punda. How common of you.

Nero

December 10th, 2012
7:04 pm

Any other creative name calling that skirts Fred’s Rule? I can’t wait. :)

josef

December 10th, 2012
7:07 pm

NERO

The current favorite…

אַסשאַט

TaxPayer

December 10th, 2012
7:08 pm

Some of the cons on here seem to have a serious case of the wah wah’s tonight. Then again, ever since the 2012 election of northern aggression…

josef

December 10th, 2012
7:12 pm

TAXI

“…election of northern aggression…”

I’m sooooo stealing that! :-)

indigo

December 10th, 2012
7:12 pm

I saw on TV where ‘The Voice’ conststant Trevin Hunte visited his school in Lithonia for a big homecomming.

All the students seemed to be black.

Looks like integration in Lithonia is “gone with the wind”.

It also seems that all that busing years ago for “the purpose of achieving racial balance” was a huge waste of time and money.

JamVet

December 10th, 2012
7:14 pm

With lots of holiday parties coming up, I’d like to warn my fellow bloggers to be smart about drinking and driving…

I would like to share a personal experience with my closest friends
about drinking and driving.

As you well know, some of us have been known to have had brushes with the
authorities on our way home from an occasional social session over the years.

A couple of nights ago, I was out for an evening with friends and had a
couple of beers and several shots.

Knowing full well I may have been way over the limit, I did something
I’ve never done before ~ I took a cab home. Sure enough, I passed a police
road block but, since it was a cab, they waved it past.

I arrived home safely without incident, which was a real surprise; as I have
never driven a cab before and am not sure where I got it or what to do
with it now that it’s in my garage.

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
7:15 pm

josef

How would UnMentionable say it?

:-)

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
7:16 pm

Jam

:-) :-)

sell it for scrap LOL

indigo

December 10th, 2012
7:18 pm

getalife – 6:17

I can take it. It’s just that Jay won’t let me dish it out like I want to.

Doggone/GA

December 10th, 2012
7:18 pm

“sell it for scrap LOL”

Quick!

Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes

December 10th, 2012
7:21 pm

Looks like integration in Lithonia is “gone with the wind”.

There’s your sign.

Brosephus™

December 10th, 2012
7:21 pm

Nero

December 10th, 2012
7:24 pm

idigo,

Maybe one day after you have kissed the ring long enough, you can dish it out like getalife is allowed. :)

http://youtu.be/fFyHTU8tg_0

Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes

December 10th, 2012
7:30 pm

Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea. Leech, Hirudinea.

^^^^^^^^ an example of a leech filled rant ^^^^^^^^^^^

josef

December 10th, 2012
7:31 pm

COMMON

A-li-s-que-tu-wo na-s-gi-na-i U-ka!

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 10th, 2012
7:33 pm

josef

That is being saved LOL

josef

December 10th, 2012
7:41 pm

COMMON

I’ll try to get it put in the syllabry for you…it’ll take some time and I’m not sure if I can get it to post properly or not…the syllabry has been adapted to the computer, BTW..

getalife

December 10th, 2012
7:44 pm

Jay has warned me a couple of times indigo.

stands for decibels

December 10th, 2012
7:44 pm

Late to that party, but “Speaker Tom Price” would be music to my ears.