What are the chances that they can come up with a real bipartisan deal?

[andym]

None. Because the parties, especially represented by the Tea pary consevatives and the progressives in the House fundamentally do not agree about what to do.

In the end, what do you think the chances are that any agreement will actually pass the House?
My guess is less than 50:50.

Therefore, President Obama will have to use the 14th amendment as a gamble, which might be the best outcome anyway, since any bipartisan deal is going to be conservative enough to do real harm to the US.

[mmonk]

1. He is against that.

He wants to prove his budget cutting bonafides and give another promise about raising billioniare's taxes.

[andym]

2. Doesn't matter if there is no deal that passes the House.

He will be forced to do something and the 14th amendment is his only real option.