The GOP’s biggest cave yet

[zipplewrath]

2. Retrograde motion

That's what the military calls a preplanned retreat. That's what the GOP basically is doing here, retreating to a new set of front lines. It is a good strategy, as far as it goes. But if they don't figure out why they have had to retreat twice in two months, they'll just have to do it again.

The economy is most likely going to start getting better. The president wants to avoid sequestration. Most of congress wants to avoid sequestration. They can get SOME cuts in spending, and some will have to come from the military. The president will probably agree to some FUTURE cuts in domestic programs, but he won't agree to cuts in current "social safety net" programs, nor in any of his "investments in the future". And he has the upper hand, because the longer this goes on, the better the economy gets, and the more insensitive he becomes to elements of sequestration actually taking effect. (Remember, they kick in over 10 years).

And all he needs is about 30 house republicans to vote with him. THEY need practically all of them.