Will Howdy Doody Be The Scapegoat In The House?

This morning Roll Call was all atwitter about who the Republicans will blame-- or at least who would be the scapegoat-- for their expected catastrophe at the polls today. No one ever suggests looking to see how they've stratued so far from the mainstream into the bizarre extremism of radicals like Michele Bachmann, Mean Jean Schmidt, Dick Cheney and James Inhofe. Earlier today we touched on how no one expects the GOP to become more moderate in response to their repudiation by the public. And that extends to Republican congressmen left behind in the House.

As voters across the country head to the polls today, the expected Republican rout at the Congressional level appears almost certain to alter the makeup of House GOP leadership in coming days, with aides suggesting that no one’s job is safe and speculation swirling about possible challenges up and down the ladder.

However, no one has yet emerged as the consensus alternative to challenge Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) for the top job.

Chief Deputy Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) is widely viewed as likely to seek a promotion in the next Congress, but most observers see him as unlikely to challenge Boehner unless there is a groundswell of support to oust the leader after the results are in.
Several lawmakers, including Republican Study Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (Texas), are expected to consider running for the job of Conference chairman, a post currently held by Rep. Adam Putnam (Fla.).

According to a GOP aide on Monday, Hensarling already is calling Members to gauge support for a possible run for Putnam’s job.

These intra-party turf wars aren't really about ideology, just blind ambition. Putnam's a schnook with no base of support. Expect to never hear from him again even if he manages to fight off a challenge from Navy veteran Doug Tudor today.

And what a sadsack the poor--- actually he's rich-- little Howdy Doody-looking nimrod is! He's the most disposable sacrifice among the GOP leadership, the little creepy jerk no one gives a damn about.

Well, not no one. My friend David sent me a great headline a few days ago regarding Putnam:

Doody dumps Doofus for Dookie

That came after revelations that it was Putnam who paid for the Sarah Palin signs at last week's Polk City rally that mentioned only Palin and pointedly not poor old struggling McCranky. The body wasn't even cold and young Adam was already trying to ingratiate himself with the ascendent Know Nothing wing of the GOP. There was no sign of McCain's name at the rally-- just Palin's... and Putnam's. Hillsborough and Polk Counties Democrats in FL-12 have rallied enthusaistically behind Doug Tudor. Now Republicans who don't appreciate Putnam and Palin shoving McCain overboard so fast should do the same.