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Ryan breaks from Boehner, votes ‘no’ — Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) split with his party's leadership and voted against the Senate fiscal agreement on Wednesday night. — In a statement, Ryan called the legislation to reopen the government and lift the debt ceiling “a missed opportunity” to reduce the federal debt.
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Politico, The Fix, NewsMax.com, Washington Post and The Reality-Based Community
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The Last Conference — At the last GOP conference meeting of the two-week government shutdown, no lawmakers went to the microphones to give their take. — Instead, after Speaker John Boehner told Republicans they had “fought the good fight,” they all rose up to offer a standing ovation.
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The Week, Vox Popoli, Ricochet Conversations Feed, The Lonely Conservative and The Gateway Pundit

GOP Congressman Rips Tea Party Colleagues: 'I'm Not Sure They're Republicans' — Intra-party tensions are running high as end to shutdown nears. — Boustany (right): The tea party's allegiance is to outside interest groups, not conservative values. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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Washington Examiner, Hot Air and Guardian


Obama signs bill ending partial shutdown, raising debt ceiling — President Obama early Thursday signed a short-term bill ending the partial government shutdown and raising the debt ceiling, capping one of the most bitter and brutal political fights in recent memory.
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Weasel Zippers, The Right Scoop and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Boehner Safe — Speaker John Boehner may be preparing to bring …
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The Hill, Mediaite, The Week, Hot Air, The Plum Line, FreedomWorks, The Federalist and Politico


John Boehner to Willie: 'We Just Didn't Win'
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Weasel Zippers, The Week, Roll Call and Talking Points Memo

GOP Rep. Mulvaney: Boehner ‘Hundred Percent Stronger’ Now
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Mediaite

Matt Drudge Predicts Pelosi Will Be Next Speaker
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The Hinterland Gazette, The Moderate Voice and The Raw Story

Boehner says House will take up Senate budget plan
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NBCNews, CNN, The PJ Tatler, The Gateway Pundit, American Spectator and The Right Scoop


Tea Party's Image Turns More Negative — Ted Cruz's Popularity Soars among Tea Party Republicans — The Tea Party is less popular than ever, with even many Republicans now viewing the movement negatively. Overall, nearly half of the public (49%) has an unfavorable opinion of the Tea Party, while 30% have a favorable opinion.
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Republicans Back Down, Ending Crisis Over Shutdown and Debt Limit — WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans conceded defeat on Wednesday in their bitter budget fight with President Obama over the new health care law as the House and Senate approved last-minute legislation ending a disruptive 16 …
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Senate Votes To Re-Open Government, Raise Debt Limit — In the first step of a two-step process, the Senate voted Wednesday night to re-open the federal government and raise the debt ceiling. — The bill passed 81-18. Among the senators who voted against the bill: Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn …
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his vorpal sword and The Raw Story


Hume: Tea Party pushed budget stand-off because GOP ‘utterly failed’ to restrain bloated gov't
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Ace of Spades HQ, Outside the Beltway, Mediaite, The Dish, Independent Journal Review, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and RedState

Cruz: It was a ‘remarkable victory’ until Senate Republicans caved on the shutdown
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Firedoglake

McConnell Deal Includes Kentucky Kickback — The Senate Conservatives Fund (SCF) criticized U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Wednesday for allowing a $2 billion Kentucky earmark to be added to the debt deal he negotiated with U.S. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV). SCF Executive Director Matt Hoskins made the following statement:
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Washington Post, Politico, The Hill, Independent Journal Review, Talking Points Memo, ThinkProgress, National Review and Liberaland
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McConnell-Reid Deal Includes $3 Billion Earmark for Kentucky Project — A proposal to end the government shutdown and avoid default orchestrated by Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Leader Harry Reid includes a nearly $3 billion earmark for a Kentucky project.

Winners and losers of the debt-limit fight — The 2013 fiscal showdown was ugly, especially for Republicans. — Both parties have scoffed that there are winners and losers in the debate. — Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) recently said, “This isn't a damn game!”


Shutdown Deal Includes Nearly $3 Billion For Kentucky Dam Project — “According to the Army Corps of Engineers, 160 million taxpayer dollars will be wasted because of canceled contracts if this language is not included,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, one of the authors of the language.
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The Week, The Daily Beast, National Review and Power Line


Cory Booker wins New Jersey Senate seat — Democrat Cory Booker won the special election for New Jersey's Senate seat on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported. The Newark mayor and heavy favorite in the race defeated Republican and former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan.
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Power Line, NewsBusters, Talking Points Memo and OpenSecrets.org
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House stenographer hauled from floor — A House floor stenographer was abruptly hauled out of the chamber after charging the dais and screaming during Wednesday's late night vote on raising the debt ceiling and funding the federal government. — As the bill sailed toward final passage …

S&P: Shutdown cost economy at least $24B — The government shutdown cost the nation's economy at least $24 billion and shaved 0.6 percent off the nation's economic growth, according to new analysis from Standard & Poor's. — With a deal seemingly headed for the finish line …
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Econbrowser, PoliticusUSA and The Hinterland Gazette
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S&P: The Shutdown Took $24 Billion Out Of The US Economy
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ThinkProgress, Talking Points Memo and Wonkblog


Shutdown deal averts catastrophe but leaves economy in peril — The deal reached by Congress on Wednesday to end the government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling averts a financial catastrophe but leaves the weakened U.S. economy facing new threats. — The agreement will send …
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Prairie Weather