Threats, leverage, and lack thereof

 If the majority of the Republican caucus in the House of Representatives wants to do something about the Freedom Caucus detractors, they have a problem.  Punishment requires a leadership team empowered to carry out that punishment.  A Speaker cannot be elected without the consent of those very same detractors.  Thus, no one can punish the Andy Biggs faction unless they allow themselves to be punished.  Nobody has any leverage with which to threaten the detractors because there is, quite literally, nobody in a position to have leverage.  That is exactly what is at the center of this fight.

So go ahead, Republicans.  Get mad at the Freedom Caucus.  What are you going to do?  That's right.  Nothing.  You cannot do anything unless they vote to allow you to punish them.

Conditional party government in action.  Eliminate any spaces you choose to eliminate.

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