I think you and I (on another thread) agreed that although the pork in the Tax Deal makes the GOP leadership look dumb, or corrupt, or both, the Dem spending bill gave the GOP a chance for redemption.
Then Krauthammer said the GOP should stop the Obama tax deal (which would be good if they could pull it off without infuriating voters), and also said that they should not oppose the spending bill because that would lead to 1990s style government shutdown with the GOP getting the blame. We were right, and Krauthammer has not been so wrong since the start of the Tea Parties (which he predicted would not endure though the next election).
Short term this helps Obama as his approval numbers are rising because this irresponsible Santa bill is very popular. Republicans should have demanded what they are doing with the budget bill, extending both tax cuts and compensation a few months till next year.
I guess they figured Republican voters would think this is a HUGE victory as most drank the Koolaid “ Obama will never compromise or move to the center to get re-elected because of his ideological beliefs”. Rush was still saying that just before the election . If you believe that, then maybe a two year extension of all the Bush tax cuts looks a big victory. I thought Obama always wanted that anyway, unless there was an impressive jobs recovery by last August. Cutting a deal with Republicans helps him but makes progressive house Democrats look silly. And it will be their hero Pelosi that knife's them again.