Nope, think debt ceiling.
The debt ceiling is not a good bargaining chip. And there is no way that there will be enough Reps to vote against extending the debt ceiling. It is like holding a gun to your own head and threaten to shoot yourself.
Oh, for crying out loud!
Why would you think for a moment they are going to take a stand on the debt ceiling if they won't take a stand here!
That is how we got into this mess, in case you forgot.
This is like the Town Rummy promising that he will go straight after one more drink. Do the right thing. Cut him off. He'll be better off in the long run.
Because all of these talks are centered on how to protect well-padded Congressional Republican posteriors, and very little is about what is good for the country.
I say we vote for the good of the country, and take the Fiscal Cliff square on the bow. This manufactured crisis is just a miniature version of the inevitable default to come. Better to tackle it now than to kick the can down the road, yet again.