I thought I was dreaming when I heard the news. John Boehner is going to retire at the end of October. Maybe that’s why he was crying as the Pope spoke. Boehner knew his days were numbered.

It couldn’t come at a better time. With Boehner gone, the Democrats won’t have an advocate and Obama might get somebody on the GOP who will fight for constitutional principles.

Don’t put it past the GOP establishment — with the help of the Democrats — to block a conservative replacement.

The following is from Politico:

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Embattled Speaker John Boehner, who rose from bartender’s son to the most powerful man in Congress, will retire at the end of October, ending a tumultuous five-year tenure atop the House of Representatives.

Boehner, 65, planned to leave Congress at the end of 2014, one of his aides said Friday morning, but returned because of the unexpected defeat of Eric Cantor.

In the coming weeks, Boehner expected conservatives to try to strip him of his speakership — a vote he felt he could win, but one he and his allies thought would do serious harm to the institution.

Boehner was visibly emotional as he exited a meeting with Republicans surrounded by security guards. He declined to answers questions but said “thank you” when a reporter congratulated him on his retirement.

“This is a wonderful day,” said the Ohio Republican, who canceled a scheduled news conference.

“The Speaker believes putting members through prolonged leadership turmoil would do irreparable damage to the institution,” a Boehner aide said. “He is proud of what this majority has accomplished, and his speakership, but for the good of the Republican Conference and the institution, he will resign the Speakership and his seat in Congress, effective October 30.”

On Thursday evening as he left the Capitol, Boehner told two reporters — one from POLITICO and another from the Washington Post — that he had nothing left to accomplish after he brought Pope Francis to the Capitol. When asked if he was resigning, Boehner laughed before exiting into an awaiting SUV with his Capitol Police detail.

Read the rest of the article at Politico.