That’s fair. I don’t think of the judicial branch as being a part of the budget process either but technically people that say that are correct. I’m not a huge Boehner fan, I would have preferred one of the younger members be the speaker, but they aren’t. I’m just trying to decide in my own mind the best way to ultimately achieve what we all want, that being to cut spending in a permanent, responsible way. And in my mind the best way to do that is to win the senate and the white house in 2012 and I think the best way to do that is by taking what we can get now and after the elections of 2012 make the major changes we want. Others have different thoughts but all the threats of sitting out elections and name calling to me are not productive to our side in the long run. That’s just me.
Well there are two strategies the Republicans could follow.
1) They could play hardball, use their power to control the purse strings in the House, and rally the public now.
Or...
2) They could take a very weak deal now and plan on doing much more if they take control of the House, Senate and the Presidency in 2012.
The problem is that in order for strategy number 2 to work, Boehner and Republicans need to rally the Tea Party folks and they need to communicate the truth to the middle-of-the-road folks, so that the Republicans can do well in the next election cycle.
That's where I think Boehner isn't up to the task. He will anger the Tea Party folks and he will mislead the middle-of-the-road folks by not telling the truth about the deal.
The deal continues our countries march toward the cliff.