Ezra Klein Gets it: Democrats Won Fiscal Cliff Debate

     A lot of liberals feel the Dems lost:

     "The frustration I’m hearing in the aftermath of the fiscal cliff deal is different. First, it’s less fury than disappointment. In the aftermath of these deals — with the possible exception of the 2011 debt-ceiling crisis — there’s usually a core group of liberal pragmatists who think the White House did indeed outfox the Republicans, even if much of the left is angry over the deal. This time, those sources seem to think the White House got outfoxed, that they traded a lot of leverage for a little revenue, and they’re depressed over it."

     "Second, the disappointment is more total than I can remember it being at any time since the debt-ceiling crisis. I literally have not had one conversation in the last 24 hours in which the person on the other side of the phone tilted positive on the deal."

     http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/01/02/calm-down-liberals-the-white-house-got-a-good-deal-on-the-fiscal-cliff/

     Klein's trouble is he hasn't talked to me. Anyone who has read me the last day can attest that I'm elated by the deal.

      http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-sweet-it-is-house-passes-fiscal.html

      http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-sweet-it-is-20.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DiaryOfARepublicanHater+%28Diary+of+a+Republican+Hater%29

      "All of which is leaving me a little unnerved. Because after diving deep into the arguments that Democrats and Republicans are using to justify this deal to their members, I actually think the White House got a pretty good outcome, and I think they’re well positioned going into the next negotiation."

      Yes, I've been of that opinion too.

       http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2013/01/no-gop-wont-get-spending-cuts-via-debt.html

       I think the GOP is under an illusion that they can use the debt ceiling to force through the things they ran on and lost. Americans rejected the Ryan budget. Now they think they can gut Medicare through the debt ceiling. What they are not considering is that they lack the political capital for this. The GOP brand took a huge hit in 2011 and they had some  political capital then coming off their big 2010 wins.

       Now they have none. Forcing default will be their own death warrant.