Because long term planning met opportunity. When we let the DemocRATs have both houses (and the presidency) for two years they pushed everything they have wanted for 40 years down our throats.
The GOP had it all a few years back and pissed it all away with their weak weak leadership.
Proven once again, the Republicans are still as weak and wussified as they've always been during these debt talks.
We got our @$$e$ handed to us by the liberals. Some deal.