From Politico, the whole story (literally, as of 9:32 am Eastern):
Speaker John Boehner announced to House Republicans that he is retiring from Congress at the end of October, according to multiple sources in a closed party meeting.
The extremists finally wore him down, they finally got him.
Perhaps the pope's message got him as well: hanging with violently polarizing buffoons just isn't worth it. Seek peace — in a multimillion-dollar Florida condo.
Now that's not so hard, is it?
Let us move along. Let us now pray for a Gohmert boomlet.
***
I should think Boehner is now free to attempt the ramming of a Planned Parenthood-funded budget through the House, with of course the assistance of Democrats, with whom he can also negotiate a successor. The latter would be part of the deal.
Time to think on this, Steny. I'd much prefer allowing Republicans to destroy themselves, but Democrats usually bail them out.
***
Politico now adds to its story: "Boehner came into power on the momentum of the 2010 tea party wave, but it was that movement that gave him the most problems."
For more on this, see earlier post here.
Politico also confirms a portion of the above speculation: "Now that he doesn't have internal political considerations to weigh, Boehner is certain to push through a government-funding bill next week that funds Planned Parenthood, and keeps the government open." What it doesn't confirm is successorship-linkage. But that, it seems to me, is too much leverage for Boehner to squander; and, as noted, Democrats always seem willing to help.