The Tea Party Routed; the Next Crisis Set for December

Posted by Robert Borosage

Republicans finally caved. In the third week of the government shutdown, on the eve of an unimaginable default on U.S. debts, the craven Republican leadership, for months cowed by Tea Party zealots, finally ended its destructive folly. Majorities in both the Senate and House – which were in place months ago – were finally allowed to vote on a measure to reopen the government and avoid default, at least for a couple of months. Five takeaways from this utterly contrived crisis.