The front wheels may go over the cliff, but this is a rear-drive car. We will put it in reverse and back out "just in time".

It will be a maneuver designed to save Republican "face". After all, they forced this sequestration scheme on us, and they have more to lose than the Dems if it goes through. By waiting a few days, and then quickly passing a compromise, they can go back to their Tea Party constituencies and tell them " we did our best, but we had to save the country". And the tax hike will be disguised to follow the letter of the Norquist Pledge, if not the spirit. Barry will give them an out, but I'm sure they'll pay a price for it. And I'm sure they can afford it.

They have no one to blame but themselves, when they came up with this scheme, they thought President Romney, and perhaps even a GOP Senate majority would be headed to Washington. Instead, they have lost Senate seats, Obama's firmly in the saddle, and he was elected by a majority that he told up front what he was going to do.

The Republicans should have accepted Obama's first offer, months ago. He's going into the negotiation now with a (dare I say it?) mandate, a lame duck immunity, his lefty constituency just spoiling for a fight, and nothing to lose. He has raised the stakes, too, so he has a lot of wiggle room for trading, the GOP has overreached and shot its wad.

Of course, this all assumes everybody reacts logically, not emotionally, something the Tea Party is not necessarily known for.

As the Fat Man says:

"That's an attitude, sir, that calls for the most delicate judgement on both sides. Because, as you know, in the heat of action... ...men are likely to forget where their best interests lie... ...and let their emotions carry them away."