These so-called negotiations were over when the Reps announced from the very beginning that they did not want to shut down the government. Once you announce to the enemy that you will not use your most potent weapon, you have lost the war. We will be faced with the same decision on the 2012 budget. I doubt the GOP establishment will have the guts to pull the trigger then or ever.
How is it, then, that the Republicans went into the negotiations looking for $61 billion in cuts...and got $78.5 billion?
And they came out of them without the onus of "wanting to shut down the government"?
Newt lost the battle in 1995 because he went into the negotiations with a chip on his shoulder -- vocally wanting to shut down the government. He lost. He got no spending cuts. And he pissed away the conservative momentum.
Boehner got what he wanted...a little bit more even. And he didn't damage the Republican brand in the process.
Isn't winning what the game is about?