Story highlights The partial government shutdown and debt ceiling crisis shook Washington, the U.S.

After a deal was reached to end the shutdown, certain lawmakers came out on top

Despite the deal, Congress may be back in this same position a few months from now

The government is open. The debt limit is lifted. The fight is over.

But in every fight, there are winners and losers, and this fight is no exception.

From Sen. Ted Cruz, architect of the failed Republican strategy, to Hillary Clinton, who in her silence may have boosted her 2016 presidential prospects, here's a look at who won and who lost during the shutdown/debt ceiling crisis:

President Obama vs. House Speaker John Boehner

WINNER: Obama

From the beginning, Obama refused to negotiate. He held firm, and nothing significant was changed to his health care law. And, according to public opinion polls, Obama is receiving the least amount of blame for Washington's dysfunction.

Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has quickly made a name for himself. Since taking office in 2012, the Texas Republican has solidified his brand as a conservative firebrand willing to take on establishment members of the GOP. Hide Caption 1 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Cruz speaks during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, in August 2012. Hide Caption 2 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Vice President Joe Biden administers the Senate oath to Cruz during a mock swearing-in ceremony in January 2013. Cruz was accompanied by his wife, Heidi Nelson, and his two daughters, Caroline and Catherine. Hide Caption 3 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz During a news conference in March 2013, Cruz announces a plan to defund the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Hide Caption 4 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Cruz heads to the weekly Senate Republicans policy luncheon in Washington in March 2013. Hide Caption 5 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Cruz speaks during the National Rifle Association's Annual Meeting and Exhibits in May 2013. Hide Caption 6 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Cruz speaks during the "Exempt America from Obamacare" rally in Washington in September 2013. Hide Caption 7 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Cruz emerges from the Senate chamber after spending more than 21 hours railing against Obamacare in September 2013. Hide Caption 8 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Cruz speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in October 2013. Hide Caption 9 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz From left, U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham, John McCain and Cruz listen as President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address in January 2014. Hide Caption 10 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Cruz leaves a briefing at the U.S. Capitol in June. The briefing was about the prisoner exchange that freed Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from the Taliban. Hide Caption 11 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz From left, Cruz attends a Capitol Hill news conference with U.S. Reps. Marsha Blackburn, John Carter and Lamar Smith in September. Cruz discussed immigration reform at the news conference. Hide Caption 12 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, center, is joined by Cruz and former Sen. Tom Coburn at a rally in WIchita, Kansas, in October. Hide Caption 13 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Cruz poses for a selfie following his February speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. Hide Caption 14 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz A woman piles up Cruz stickers during the Conservative Political Action Conference. Hide Caption 15 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Cruz speaks Tuesday, March 10, during the Alfred K. Whitehead Legislative Conference and Presidential Forum in Washington. Prospective presidential candidates from both political parties participated in the forum. Hide Caption 16 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz "Late Night" host Seth Meyers interviews Cruz on Monday, March 16. Hide Caption 17 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Cruz brings his daughters Caroline, left, and Catherine on stage during a walk-through Sunday, March 22, at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Hide Caption 18 of 19 Photos: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz On that same stage, Cruz officially announces his campaign for the presidency on Monday, March 23. Hide Caption 19 of 19

LOSER: Boehner

Boehner just can't catch a break. He might have one of the least-wanted jobs in the nation. He tried to appease House conservatives by demanding the president's health care law be defunded. All he got in return was a government shutdown for which the country largely blames him.

LOSERS: Obama and Boehner

Once again, the President and Boehner were unable to usher negotiations through the finish line. They have a pathetic record in solving government budget battles. Ultimately, other key players had to finalize a deal once again.

Sen. Ted Cruz vs. Rep. Paul Ryan

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WINNER AND LOSER: Cruz

The Texas Republican's 21-hour talk-a-thon on the Senate floor, days before the shutdown began, had little practical impact on getting rid of Obamacare. While it did excite conservatives, it hurt his standing among his Senate colleagues. If Cruz wants to be an effective senator, that will hurt him. If he wants to win the 2016 Republican nomination, that could help him among the most conservative wing of the party. Evidence of that came at the annual : CruzThe Texas Republican's 21-hour talk-a-thon on the Senate floor, days before the shutdown began, had little practical impact on getting rid of Obamacare. While it did excite conservatives, it hurt his standing among his Senate colleagues. If Cruz wants to be an effective senator, that will hurt him. If he wants to win the 2016 Republican nomination, that could help him among the most conservative wing of the party. Evidence of that came at the annual Values Voter Summit in Washington. Cruz easily won a straw poll surveying the activists' preferences for a 2016 presidential run.

WINNER: Ryan

The head of the House Budget Committee swept in and changed the tenor of the debate. He simultaneously opened the negotiating door with the President and effectively brought House Republicans closer to a unified position. But conservative activists were not pleased. Ryan, who was once a conservative hero as recently as one year ago, : RyanThe head of the House Budget Committee swept in and changed the tenor of the debate. He simultaneously opened the negotiating door with the President and effectively brought House Republicans closer to a unified position. But conservative activists were not pleased. Ryan, who was once a conservative hero as recently as one year ago, finished dead last in the Values Voter Summit straw poll.

Sen. Harry Reid vs. Sen. Mitch McConnell

WINNER: Reid

The Senate majority leader didn't blink. He engaged in high-stakes negotiations and refused to accept a deal that would cut government spending or dissect Obamacare. Ultimately, the negotiations took place on his terms.

LOSER: McConnell

While the Senate minority leader helped to pull the country back from the brink, it might have hurt his standing with the tea party, which has always been skeptical of him. He is also embroiled in a re-election bid in Kentucky, where he has a primary challenger who is billing himself as a true conservative and a Democratic challenger who is labeling him as too extreme.

Tea party vs. Republicans v s . Democrats

WINNER: Democrats

When the focus is on their politically fractured Republican rivals, it's easy to appear united and (mostly) innocent. But Democrats didn't come out of this scot-free. A : DemocratsWhen the focus is on their politically fractured Republican rivals, it's easy to appear united and (mostly) innocent. But Democrats didn't come out of this scot-free. A CNN/ORC poll earlier this month found that 57% of respondents were angry at Democrats for the way they were handling the shutdown.

LOSER: Tea party

One of the tea party's main priorities is to dismantle the President's health care law. : Tea partyOne of the tea party's main priorities is to dismantle the President's health care law. Their demands led to the shutdown of the government , yet the final deal barely touched the health care law. Public opinion of the grass-roots movement continues to fall.

LOSER: Establishment Republicans

Republicans appear as fractured as ever. In a meeting with House Republicans on Wednesday evening, leadership implored their members to stay united. It was a unifying moment for the GOP, but the question is how long it will last. As for public perception, the Republicans are taking most of the blame, with 63% of respondents in the : Establishment RepublicansRepublicans appear as fractured as ever. In a meeting with House Republicans on Wednesday evening, leadership implored their members to stay united. It was a unifying moment for the GOP, but the question is how long it will last. As for public perception, the Republicans are taking most of the blame, with 63% of respondents in the CNN/ORC poll saying they were angry at the Republicans for the way they had handled the shutdown.

2016: Chris Christie vs. Hillary Clinton vs. Joe Biden

WINNER: Christie

In the middle of a re-election campaign, and perhaps considering a presidential run, the New Jersey governor has positioned himself above the fray. In a meeting with the Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board, Christie said, : ChristieIn the middle of a re-election campaign, and perhaps considering a presidential run, the New Jersey governor has positioned himself above the fray. In a meeting with the Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board, Christie said, "If I was in the Senate right now, I'd kill myself."

WINNER: Clinton

Clinton largely stayed silent throughout this debate. Why say a word when it could come back to haunt her in an election, especially when she doesn't have a direct role in the outcome?

LOSER: Biden

For the Vice President, it's a different story. It appeared as if he was nowhere near the negotiating table, but he's an active member of the government. It's also a stark contrast to where he sat during the last major budget battles, when he and McConnell brought the deals past the finish line. This time, he didn't say a word.

United State s vs. the world

LOSER: The United States

While the United States has spent the past four years lecturing European nations about their economic state, its government has shown that it should not point fingers.

WINNER: China

Leaders of the fastest-growing economy have sounded the alarm over the U.S. government's ineptitude. But with repeat government breakdowns, international investors might begin to : China China owns $1.4 trillion worth of U.S. debt. Leaders of the fastest-growing economy have sounded the alarm over the U.S. government's ineptitude. But with repeat government breakdowns, international investors might begin to rethink placing so much currency -- literally and figuratively -- in the United States.

A league of her own

WINNER: Sen. Susan Collins

The moderate Maine Republican refused to wait for political leaders to announce a deal, and she began talking to senators on both sides of the aisle. Although her talks didn't result in the final agreement, it precipitated talks between Senate leaders after Boehner and Obama's efforts hit a brick wall.