MICKEY KAUS: The Power of Surrender. “In the debt ceiling debate of last year, Obama would have been wise to find a way to accede to GOP demands for a deal that was all cuts and no tax increases. He would have stolen the issue (leaner government) from the opposition at an acceptable price. Instead he held out for something unpopular he couldn’t get (tax increases) and looked impotent, ultimately agreeing to a deal without revenue increases in any case. Now the situation is reversed.”