I had a colleague/friend/adversary (in that order) when I was back in the labor movement who was very good at solving problems for me. So good, in fact, that when I didn’t have any problems he would create one and then offer to solve it for me.
The Tea Party operates much along the same lines. We didn’t have a problem with raising the debt limit until they turned it into a massive crisis, diverting the nation from the real problem, the deficit. But now they have “solved” it for us, forcing the President and the (sane part of) the Congress to finally get their act together and get it done.
My theory on the climate was correct: no sooner did the Hot Air around the Capitol Dome begin to dissipate, than the merciless heat wave that has held us hostage for four long weeks has begun to slacken. Speaking of hostages. Apparently, deprived of the ability to create another crisis around the debt ceiling until after the election (Obama’s sole ‘victory’), the Tea Party has announced that, failing the ability of the bipartisan committee to come up with further budget cuts, they will take Sasha and Malia hostage until Obama gives the OK to the Dems to cave again. Asked how he would respond to such an action, Obama said he would not have the Tea Party arrested as it was ‘not my style’.
Oh, well. Let’s return to our lives, the things we do control. Our ‘leaders’, flush with the success of their Grand Compromise (which everyone from Wall Street to Beijing is hailing as a total flop as a solution to the deficit) have already promised not to move one inch from their entrenched positions: No Taxes for the Republicans, No Cuts to Entitlements for the Democrats.
Forgive me if I don’t watch this time.

Rupert