[Praxeologue]

The only ‘CLIFF’ here is the one our government will go over if the debt ceiling isn’t raised. It is the one trump card the Republicans hold, and they could get anything they want for it. But sadly, Boehner has already announced in advance that he will fold on that one as well.

The Democrats gave away all their leverage tonight for a comparative pittance. The real trump card the Republicans hold is to let the expense reduction portion of the sequester go over the cliff in March. That will save $3 trillion over ten years, compared to a revenue raise from what passed tonight of only $600 billion over ten years, a 5:1 ratio of cuts to tax increases. Emergency funds can later be voted for defense. I'm actually celebrating.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

"The Democrats gave away all their leverage tonight for a comparative pittance."

Glad to see at least one FReeper who can look beyond all the knee-jerks here to see the forest AND the trees.