John Boehner is doing his best, but it is hard to fault the House Republicans for refusing to go along. Boehner is playing tactics, while many House Republicans think it is too late for tactics. They are probably both right.
Boehner tried to push the ball back into the President's court, since the President has been unwilling to bend on anything. It is not unreasonable for those among Republican ranks to ask why they should vote to raise taxes on some folks absent any offer of spending cuts at all from the White House. This is especially the case given that Senate leader Harry Reid said that the Boehner plan was dead on arrival and Obama promised to veto it. Why capitulate pre-emptorily when there is nothing forthcoming from the other side?
Not that any of this matters much as long as entitlements are "off the table." No deal is of any significance without entitlement reform. Obama is perfectly willing to let the country go over the cliff and proceed on its way to Greece. Boehner is doing his best, but Obama and the Democrats are determined to continue the march to insolvency.
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