The talks are at a stand still. The cliff looms ominous, unintended consequences swim the murky waters that is our economy. If you have listened at all beyond the left or right media darlings you would have heard all the ramifications possible for going over the cliff. the GOP feel letting the deadline pass and letting the tax rates for all go up gives them the opportunity to "cut" taxes and avoid the dreaded pledge issue. Dems feel the GOP would have to agree to a raise of rates on the wealthy in order to pass cuts for the vast majority in the middle and lower end of the income scale.
What is not considered is what happens to the global economy? We see Wall Street daily losing substancial ground - this is our pension funds and personal retirement investments. Have we all lost sight of what happened to those who had their life savings in mutual funds at the end of 2008? And we are one of the few economies that is in growth mode. That won't be the case if we cliff dive according to most economist. Unintended consequences will bite us in the collective ass as sure as I sit here.
Boehner is toast in his own party. I am sure he is smart enough to read the writing on the wall, he is outta there as soon as the dust settles and the the new congress selects a Speaker. With that said is it unrealistic for Boenher to screw up some courage and make a deal with Obama that could pass the House? It would have to have some moderate Republicans and all the Democrats to pass. The gamesmanship has the country circling the drain, it is time for a heroic act.
Boehner will have a place in the history books, however his legacy is not yet determined. He could be remembered as the failed Speaker of the House that helped propel the country to another Great Depression or he could be remembered for acting with courage and doing the right thing by working for the best interest of the nation he swore to love and protect. By genuinely working with the President and moderates from his Party the cliff can be avoided and the unintended consequences would be ... of no consequence actually.
Boenher will make the history books, it is up to him as to what story is told.