The Grand Exit

Rick Klein: “It makes for a grand exit, if not a grand bargain. The budget deal now being finalized between congressional leaders and the White House serves as a parting gift from House Speaker John Boehner to his all-but-certain successor, Paul Ryan. It buys Ryan and Republicans in Congress budget peace for the balance of the Obama administration – the period during which they are guaranteed to have a Democratic president. Barring a rebellion that could would harm Ryan even before he assumes the speakership, Boehner will be leaving Ryan with the kind of maneuvering room he knows he will need to succeed in his new role. Tea party forces will hate Boehner even more, if that’s possible.”

“But if Ryan is able to take advantage of what Boehner is handing off to him, it’s enough to prompt a reassessment of the Boehner era. He led by lightly leading at times, with a restive group of congressmen who didn’t always want a leader. But under the circumstances, between this budget deal and a permanent doc fix, he was able to get some things done that he wasn’t supposed to be able to do. It’s rarely been pretty. But this would be quite an ending for a man who always said – and meant – he came to get things done.”