A good article, but the author keeps trying to find truth in word and deed. There is none. The republicans are counting on not being able to cut anythng and blaming the deficit on the democrats. Tax cuts good, deficit bad. Stick to the message that big government causes all our ills, but not really tackle defense, medicare or social security cuts.
I am sure that all we will hear is rhetoric until after the 2012 elections, and then back to business as usual. The republicans have been so good at staying on message, while the democrats seem to be only a loosly connected band of independents.
IMHO the tea party is a direct result of the exceptional abilty of the reps ability to stay on short tag line messages.