Looks like there is a deal.

[Badger]

Well great. Take a poll as to which should be the top priority of Congress and the President for the next year: Cutting the debt or creating jobs and see how bad the former loses. Unfortunately Congress just chose to weaken the economy with budget cuts that will directly and indirectly (though just as definitely) cost jobs.

Obama may've forfieted his reelection. Forget beltway chatter over winners/losers/Obama's relevency, etc. The one thing that could defeat Obama next year is persistently high unemployment, and it appears he's signing on to the strongest possible steps to ensure that happens.

I'm not surprised the cutthroat cynics in the GOP signed on to the goal of making Obama a one term president by any means necessary--including lengthening the recession or forcing a national default--but Obama and the Democrats should know better.