Caving In

Last night House Republicans, who usually demonstrate steely resolve in opposing anything remotely advantageous to President Obama, caved on the extension of the payroll tax cut.

The Debt Ceiling Crisis

This is a manufactured crisis precipitated by a Republican Party and its leadership held hostage by eighty some House freshmen beholden to the lunatic Tea Party and held bent on sticking to principles even at the expense of national interests. The truth of the matter is that Speaker John Boehner cannot control his caucus and therefore whatever concessions and compromises he has been successfully wrung from the White House and Senate Democrats are never enough to placate or satisfy his membership. Just where all this ends up is anybody's guess but one thing is certain: serious harm has already been done to the reputation and standing of the United States in the international community.