More inside baseball, this time about Boehner/Ryan ....
"... But when it comes to the fiscal cliff, he’s not trying to be the star, and he isn’t looking to fight with Boehner.”
Ryan’s low-key presence has several political implications. First and foremost, it boosts Speaker Boehner. As a popular former vice-presidential nominee,
Ryan could have easily asserted himself as a leading player. Because Ryan hasn’t done that, Boehner has been, without question, the chief negotiator and spokesman for House Republicans. Ryan’s reluctance to enter the fray also means any conservative rebellion will almost certainly lack his blessing."
Apparently, there was "a deal" .....
"Since the election, Boehner has made several overtures, looking to sustain his helpful bond with Ryan. For example, he won Ryan’s appreciation last month when
he granted Ryan a waiver to keep his chairmanship. Other chairmen lost their gavel, due to conference rules, which limit committee chairmen to six-year terms. Ryan, however, was able to hold on to his post. Ryan’s colleagues say that gesture solidified Ryan’s relationship with the speaker.
Boehner also invited Ryan to sit in on the fiscal-cliff strategy sessions. Ryan has participated in nearly every meeting with the House Republican leadership and has been urged to give his candid take on Boehner’s playbook. Even though he’s not a member of the elected leadership team, the elected members view him as an equal."
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/335423/inside-boehner-ryan-alliance-robert-costa?pg=1You can read the rest; there are two pages.
I don't know much about the author, Robert Costa, and if he's fulla or not, but he names very few sources, as usual these days.