RobertCosta

Most of the conference is well aware of the consequences of default. In fact, over the past few years, the House GOP leadership has actually hosted private meetings for members about what default means and why it shouldn't happen. But, at the same time, Republicans are very eager to get some kind of 2011-esque concession from the White House and Senate Democrats on the budget, when they were able to pass legislation that led to sequestration. Of course, the political climate then was different, due to the GOP having recently won the House, but the GOP is hoping for a similar outcome this time, and you have leaders like Paul Ryan publicly talking about a larger agreement being possible. I'm still skeptical though, since most Republicans are unwilling, at all, to bend on taxes, and Democrats aren't exactly scrambling to cut a big deal with Boehner, who they think is in a weakened position.

It's not certain, but privately even conservative Republicans tell me they expect to give retroactive pay to federal workers. This shutdown (to most of them) has never been about causing problems for federal employees, but about putting political pressure on Reid and Obama.

I don't think it'd be so much about whether he'd resign, but whether he could convince his conference to go along with him as he attempts to craft a larger bargain with Democrats on the debt limit. As I wrote about last night, unity within the conference is Boehner's first and most important objective. Since the House GOP has such fragile internal politics, he spends a lot of time shoring that up. And because he knows he has a limited hand, I doubt he "cracks," but he's certainly try to navigate through this while 1) keeping GOP members together, and 2) making sure the GOP isn't totally blamed.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/360122/holding-firm-robert-costa

Fyi-I'm at the Capitol reporting, but I'll be diving in and out of this all day, so keep the questions coming. Thanks. -costa

And sometimes the goal of politicians is to stay in power within their own party, not just to ensure the party itself keeps its power.