Does Boehner Have A Mandate?

He thinks he does.  But he shouldn't.  After all, more votes were cast for Democratic House candidates than for their Republican counterparts.

So why is there a House majority?  This article and chart provide the answer, and it isn't pretty.  And it's not being overlooked, either (see here and here).

And this is why he's really Speaker Gerry Mander.

AND this is also why, if he pushes too hard and too far, he won't be Speaker much longer.  If he oversteps the will of the majority of voters by a significant enough margin, he'll provide opportunities for Democrats to find candidates for those districts who will know how to exploit that weakness.

Will he do it?  Will his members push him to do it?  Well, that leads to another question ...