Most of us on the progressive side have relied on a strategy for dealing with this Teahadist putsch, this use of the debt ceiling as a veto point, that involves painting that as horribly irresponsible, playing with fire, because the consequences of failing to raise the ceiling would be horrific, an apocalyptic default. If anyone in the debate has questioned that idea that default would follow a failure to raise the ceiling, it has tended to be Teahad apologists and excuse-makers.
Well, our sides's strategy has failed. They did their blackmail thing, and it's worked. They got the D leadership to agree to sell the farm by threatening to blow up the farm.