As a Deadline Looms, Paul Ryan Finds Himself in a Boehner-Like Spot

Remember that big budget deal hatched about a month ago, the one that was going to prevent all those recurring fiscal showdowns for the next two years? Well, it didn’t. Now the need to finish the job is putting the House speaker, Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, in a tight spot early in his tenure. With less than two weeks to go before yet another ominous deadline, Congress must still approve the myriad spending details for the overall numbers agreed to in late October. It is likely to get messy before it gets done — if it gets done before the Dec. 11 drop-dead date to avoid a government shutdown. Republican leaders are already talking about needing more time.