POLITICO: [President Barack] Obama had hoped the election would unclog the works in Washington. His aides often speculated that he’d be freer to negotiate because he didn’t have to run again — and Republicans didn’t have to run against him.
But Thursday’s revolt was a grim reminder of how closely Obama’s future is tethered to that of his political rivals.
If House Speaker John Boehner can’t muscle his own bill through the House, his power to persuade his colleagues to accept a deal with the White House appears greatly diminished. And that means it might be tough for Obama to forge any agreement with House Republicans to avert the fiscal cliff this year — or to push through his second-term agenda in the years to come… (more)
EDITOR: We may be heading for a climatic showdown in the Congressional election of 2014. Despite the Gerrymandering of districts to favor incumbents, voter dissatisfaction with right wing ideologues my break the back of the Tea Party and return the House to Democrat control.
I’m relieved to know that there are no left wing ideologues. As a fiscal conservative I don’t mind voters wanting more services. I do mind when voters don’t want to pay for it. We need to pay for the services we demand. Jumping off the fiscal cliff forces us to do that.