Suicide Watch...

[exedir]

The clocks are ticking, those of the media and those interested in what is happening on Capitol Hill, which includes most of the world. What's at stake is not a matter of opinion, what is at stake is the full faith and credit of the United States. And that faith is based on the ability of the national legislative branch to govern the country, and its self. And yes, there are serious issue of ideology involved as to what and how a government should be constituted and operated on behalf of the interests of the people, however that is seen, defined and felt.

We have had this argument, this difference of opinion since before the founding of the country. We have had to fight wars over it, one of whether there are to be limits as to geography and self-defense, the French and Indian War of 1754-1783, one of independence from a colonial mother country's interference and domination, the Revolutionary War of 1775-1783, and then the war that resolved how the nation was to be governed as a federal republic, the Civil War of 1861-1865.

And no, the wars did not  settle all the issues involved, what they did do was settle the issue as to arms not all the issues of politics, that took years to resolve or at least transform the discussion as to place, how and who were involved in the debate and solutions provided, and yet some of those issues linger yet, such as the depth and breadth of government and government control and administration as compared to individual and the common interests of groups and communities.

In the next few days none of that will be resolved, though they may be discussed. What will be resolved, is most of what has been discussed will be postponed, as the crisis is avoided, or hopefully not made worse, because of what must be done. But it will not be finished, not complete as it has not in the past, not now and can only be done in the future, if there can be found a common well to do it, and only that can come from the people, if they want it, and are convinced that there is a way to obtain it, what was promised over two hundred years ago; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[exedir]

The clock has but a few ticks left, but only a few before, well, before the unknown occurs, either the end of times, or, the end of the beginning of the end of times, or not.

We have to assume most of the people have left he building in that few, very few, can follow what has happened or is happening now with a straight face, or anything like a straight anything as the twists and turns of this TV soap opera has continued to march across the screen. And yes, it is best to be cynical as how else can everything be viewed, that this was all staged and managed is how most probably will respond as to what has happened, just more political theater and a movie we have all seen before.

With the afternoon just beginning, and hours left there are fewer and fewer scenarios that can bring an end to this before the witching hour.

As a function of process, the Senate must act first. A Senate bill will be the face of what the Democrats will settle for as to a "deal" that the President can sign. The key to this step is not that it will pass, it is how many votes will be the total. And that number has to be approaching 70, which means, that the Senate Republicans are willing to go with the deal leaving the House to decide the issue.

And that decision is going to be only what the House Speaker decides as to whether the deal gets passed or not. Clearly, there will be opposition which the Speaker could bow to, or, the Speaker could void the Hastert Rule and put the Senate deal to a floor vote where passage will be likely and ending the crisis, for now.

The result of what happens today is enormous for the people and politics of this country and the entire financial system, both domestic and international. And this could be also enormous for the future of the speakership requiring a resignation much less a reassessment of how the House is to be organized and governing heading into the next phase of negotiations as next deadline clock will start to tick and the media orders up more popcorn.

[exedir]

Now the victory lab and then back to business at hand, who is to blame?  And, who won?  

A good question is won what?  But, that isn't the point as long as we have to keep score, but then again the game isn't over, until its over.

Next up, ObamaCare as we grind through until the holiday recess and the high drama of the special congressional budget committee negotiations while the rest of America shops, we hope.

And with the spotlight on the ObamaCare and the performance of the government and the exchanges there will be a lot to cover as the next important date looms, January 1 and the beginning of coverage.

As to where we are now, the whole thing is not been anything to recommend as having been the best of experiences.  And yes, fingers have to be pointed and will, if not waggled, as someone has to take the blame starting with Secretary Sebelius, who is not going to have a fun time explaining the roll out debacle of the federal developed and implemented health insurance exchanges.