The New York Times finds that some Republicans wanted to vote "yes." They're called the Vote No/Hope Yes group. No kidding. They really exist. Talk about screwed up...
These are the small but significant number of Republican representatives who, on the recent legislation to head off the broad tax increases and spending cuts mandated by the so-called fiscal cliff, voted no while privately hoping — and at times even lobbying — in favor of the bill’s passage, given the potential harmful economic consequences otherwise. ...NYT
The VN/HY disease has hit some of the leadership, too.
The Republican leadership itself seemed to reflect the ambivalence of their membership; Speaker John A. Boehner voted in favor of the legislation, while Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the majority leader, voted no. Even Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the No. 3 Republican charged with securing votes for bills, voted against the deal. (Ultimately, 85 Republicans joined with 172 Democrats to pass it.) ...NYT
Some blame the primaries. But in the end, it's Republicans and their followers who have to take responsibility for probably the most irresponsible House of Representatives since forever. The leadership says it's not their fault: it's the fault of the "followership"!
At the two-day retreat, aides said, Republican leaders are expected to emphasize that a united conference going forward will offer House Republicans the strongest negotiating stance on crucial coming issues like the debt ceiling limit and spending cuts. Conservative rank-and-file members, meanwhile, plan to express their frustration at feeling largely cut out of the deal-making process, and to request more chances to offer input. ...NYT
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