If they tried the big stand now (debt for entitlement cuts) there is no doubt they would given in anyway (because they would get all the blame) and by then it would be total humilation and the same standard circular firing squad we saw after the tax deal. It would be Christmas again for Dems and civil war again for Rs.
If they pass the three month extension with any luck O will reject it, as he did the plan B,and the shorter term extension in 2011 , and then House Rs can make him defend that, make him argue that a 3 month is not big enough. That would be a tough sell now.
Rs have to try to win some.
One more thought on this,
what if Bohner cant get a three month passed because O demands more, so all Dems vote NO, and a bunch of House Rs vote no too? Kind of like what happened with plan B.
Just a thought.