Boehner’s decision means an opportunity lost - The Washington Post

Boehner’s decision means an opportunity lost - The Washington Post: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

A sad day for our country. It is seemingly more important to go into the election cycle with the nation's financial health at risk than it is to for a consensus that would have begun the move to a sustainable budget. I really believe that Speaker Boehner wanted to strike a deal but faced the radical elements of his party which have driven out the moderates and now form the majority of the Republican Party. It is a calculated risk to approach the election cycle with the onus of failing to make a reasonable deal squarely on the GOP's neck. The GOP is willing to risk that the American people are so against eliminating tax loopholes and allowing taxes on the rich to rise to recent levels that they will be able to carry the election in 2012.

The only way this will work, in my opinion, is if this tactic drives the nation's financial health to new lows. It is incredible that the GOP would spurn significant concessions from the Democratic Party just to maintain a spurious campaigning edge. I seriously doubt that reasonable people think we need to continue to keep the tax rates for millionaires at the lowest levels in history, that tax loopholes that benefit the rich and concessions to the large oil companies are in the best interests of the country.

A moment of hope lost.