For a month I’ve been telling people not to expect a deal over the Fiscal Cliff. A grandiose president like Obama can’t tolerate oppositon, but it’s more than that. If he cuts a deal he takes part ownership of the economy. If he doesn’t he gets to blame the Republicans. And the blame will stick. Of course the economy will go south, but it’ll go south in any event, and the important thing for him is the blame game, for which the press will be willing allies.
Plus he gets more spending money if there is no deal.
That has to look like a no-brainer for him. And his supporters? They’ll have bought poverty with vice.
