There’s broad agreement that the debt ceiling deal just brokered will do little to fix our long-term fiscal issues. In fact it seems likely to make our short-term economic prospects even worse.

So what, if anything, did it accomplish with certitude?

Apparently, for the GOP, proof of the efficacy of legislative hostage-taking.

Want to know how seriously next week’s recall elections in Wisconsin are being contested?

It’s easy. Just look at the money.