The TP would rather the country go into default than compromise their ideological “purity.”
Boehner wants a two-phase deal so he can use the six months to drum up support for more cuts. Obama is hoping that Boehner can’t deliver now, so the House will accept the Senate bill, which is (barely) less onerous. Problem is, there’s every probability that the regular GOP, which is dedicated to giving Obama nothing, will reject it, Tea Party or no.
This whole mess is a terrible, terrible commentary on government dysfunction. Looks bad to all the world, and especially to the American people. I bet a lot of Americans will sit out the 2012 election. That’ll mean the big business lobbyists, religious nuts and ideologues will have the Congress to themselves.