Cliff Notes (Mark Halperin)

[brooklynite]

Time:

The most ominous moment of the day so far just might have been when Republican Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito on CNBC this morning basically said she didn’t give a tinker’s darn about the President’s adamant position that he won’t negotiate over raising the debt ceiling. The Gentlelady from West Virginia also suggested that she thought Tim Geithner had effectively started the clock on the debt limit countdown in the last few days not on the merits and facts but to help the White House gain political advantage.

Why are these comments, to the extent they are representative of the House conference overall (which I think they are), so dangerous? First, because they suggest (as if more proof were needed…) that relations between the administration and House Republicans are as poisonous as ever. Second, because it means that even if there is a mini-deal in the next few days, the road ahead in the next few weeks and months will be equally — or more — gruesome.

Happy New Year, same as the old year, when it comes to fiscal matters.