Starting any conversation with "it's not ideal" is a lead-in as disingenuous as the breakup line "It's not you, it's me" -- both excuses are a pusillanimous way to look better by candy-coating the truth.  Yet that is exactly how Republicans in Congress -- save a gang of 21 Congressmen and one woman who refused to submit to the President's pressure -- verbalized the imperfections of a debt deal that they claim to have made for the benefit of the nation. After deciding to vote for a disappointing deal, riddled with guilt and refusing to make eye contact with the camera, Republicans explained the decision by commencing with rueful disclaimers.  From Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) to Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) and right on through to Eric Cantor (R-Virginia), each one halfheartedly defended a bill that raises the debt ceiling, authorizes trillions in new debt, and while lowering discretionary spending stands to potentially leave the government $20 trillion in debt by...(Read Full Post)