News of the day: Republicans have to learn what "compromise" means

What a title for Lisa Mascaro and Kathleen Hennessey's article today in the LA Times: House Republicans brace for compromise on debt. Do you suppose that Speaker Boehner finally came to understand what the word means?

From the LA Times article:

Republican leaders in the House have begun to prepare their troops for politically painful votes to raise the nation's debt limit, offering warnings and concessions to move the hard-line majority toward a compromise that would avert a federal default.

For weeks, GOP conservatives, particularly in the House, have issued demands about what they would require in exchange for their votes to increase the debt limit. In negotiations with the White House, Republican leaders have found those demands were unattainable. Unwilling to risk the economic and political consequences of a federal default, which could come as early as Aug. 2, they have started the difficult process of standing down.

At a closed-door meeting Friday morning, GOP leaders turned to their most trusted budget expert, Rep. Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, to explain to rank-and-file members what many others have come to understand: A fiscal meltdown could occur if Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling.

House Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio underscored the point to dispel the notion that failure to allow more borrowing is an option.

"He said if we pass Aug. 2, it would be like 'Star Wars,'" said Rep. Scott DesJarlais, a freshman from Tennessee. "I don't think the people who are railing against raising the debt ceiling fully understand that."

The warnings appeared to have softened the views of at least some House members who, until now, were inclined to dismiss statements by administration officials, business leaders and outside economists that the economic impact would be dire if the federal government were suddenly unable to pay its bills.

As BooMan notes, the Speaker has his work cut out for him. If he can't convince enough Republicans, he'll have to negotiate a deal with Nancy Pelosi for Democratic votes.

Now basic reality kicks in, and Boehner needs to explain to his caucus that if he has to rely on Pelosi for votes, he's going to have to give on taxes, too, making it that much more painful for Republicans to walk the plank.

If he has any trouble with that, I'm sure Nancy would be willing to pick up that gavel again and get the job done!