You've heard this one before and you're about to hear it again. Congressional Republicans make a deal with President Obama that ostensibly cuts federal spending. That's what the headlines will proclaim. But in reality, the budget deal - which in this case looks to be in effect for two years - will raise spending in the short term and save all the supposed cuts for the "out years." Ever wonder when those "out years" are going to arrive? Ha! We'll have hoverboards first. Real ones. But for now we've got something that will allow John Boehner to get out of town while proudly declaring to the media that he avoided a debt ceiling showdown.
That's all this is good for, and that ain't much: