[okie01]

I’m not sure why anyone believed that a smaller subset of the same dysfunctional body would come up with any less dysfunctional of a result.

It's rather obvious, isn't it? A SuperCommittee composed of seven Republicans and six Democrats would've returned a plan that reduced the debt by the requisite $1.2 trillion by cutting spending -- without raising any taxes.

On the other hand, a SuperCommittee composed of seven Democrats and six Republicans would've returned a plan that cut the deficit by the requisite $1.2 trillion solely by raising taxes -- without cutting spending.

A six-by-six construction ensured the eventual deadlock.

The Democrats and Republicans are what they are. Just like the Israelis and Palestinians are what they are. If the Palestinians laid down their guns, there would be peace. But, if the Israelis laid down their guns, there would be a slaughter.

In this particular struggle, the Republicans (and we conservatives) are the Israelis.

[dirtboy]

Maybe they thought they could mimic the base closings commission. But in this case, the end result is not closing someone's pet obsolete military base in their district. The end result instead gets to the underlying philosophical gaps between the two parties.

And I have an odd prediction - if there is a major market crash tomorrow, and the pundits blame the gridlock of the Super Committee, expect them to suddenly find middle ground and propose a dog's lunch to deal with the deficit. Kinda like TARP passing the second time around.