The republicans caved years ago when they allowed this battle to be deferred. It was all part of their plan to NOT GET BLAMED. What is more amazing than Obama’s reelection is that a majority of republicans were re elected.
Bush II, the last moderate democrat, gave us new beauracracies, more entitlements and deficit spending. The Repubs in Congress at the time sold the base out with these legislations and Bush II signed them into law. The repub base got disgusted and did not show up in 2006. Well duh? BTW, one name always left out is Denny Hastert.
The Tea Parties pushed the Repubs to the right again, but the GOPe is pushing back.