Morning Briefing For January 3, 2013 1.  Have Republicans Boxed Themselves Into a Government Shutdown? First of all, I hope so. But have they boxed themselves in? Consider that the fiscal cliff deal is playing badly with lots of folks, not just partisan Republicans and partisan Democrats. Congress playing brinksmanship with nothing to show for it really is aggravating the American public. If both sides are going to play at brinksmanship, at some point the base of the parties and the American public are going to expect more than last minute can kicking and f-bombs. More importantly, the Republican base feels very slighted by its leadership. Mitch McConnell played lead negotiator to a tax hike that, ironically, raises taxes least on people making $200,000.00 to $400,000.00. The middle class, because of the payroll tax kicking back in, will feel a bigger tax increase according to the left and it looks like they are right. Saying it wasn’t a tax increase because the vote happened on January 1st is not going to cut it with middle class Americans who are going to see their taxes go up. Additionally, there are a number of Republicans who can expect primary challenges.  . . . please click here for the rest of the post → >> Today's Sponsor 2. Silver Linings in the Fiscal Cliff Deal I will not try to convince any conservative that the final fiscal cliff deal that passed the Senate with only a few dissenting votes and needed Democratic votes to pass the House with a divided GOP caucus is a good deal, nor that it is the best deal available under the circumstances. It is, however, important to remember that this was a deal negotiated under just about the worst possible conditions: the president freshly re-elected, the largest tax hike in American history set to trigger automatically in the absence of a deal, the GOP leadership divided among itself and estranged from its grassroots/activist base, which itself was divided on how best to proceed. Republicans have illustrated dramatically why poker is not a team sport. For all of that, there is some good news here for Republicans and conservatives if we know how to use it. . . . please click here for the rest of the post → 3.  The Cult of Paul Ryan Paul Ryan was a great pick for Mitt Romney’s Vice President. He’s a young, articulate guy the left has tried and failed repeatedly to paint as some sort of heartless monster. His “Ryan Plan” has some great points in it, though it is not as bold as the left would have you believe or as Ryan’s acolytes would have you believe. But this fiscal cliff vote gives me some ground to make a point again that I have made repeatedly. The right, like the left, puts its faith in men, not policies. It is human nature to build a cult of personality and there is one around Paul Ryan. . . . please click here for the rest of the post → 4.  ‘House GOP in Disarray’ Isn’t Just Liberal Media Spin Many Republicans are trying ton convince themselves that they will make up ground on the spending side of the equation come the debt ceiling fight. Mr. Obama says he will not negotiate, but he is going to have to. The problem for the GOP is that its House leadership is working at cross purposes and really is in the disarray the “liberal media” keeps saying. Look no further than Eric Cantor and Kevin McCarthy voting no on the plan. They should not be commended for voting no. This is a sign of disarray. . . . please click here for the rest of the post → 5.  It is Time for Some Honesty. In a turn of events that should be a surprise only if you’ve never heard of Mitch McConnell before, the Senate — with one heck of a lot of Senate Republicans, including nominal conservatives, agreeing — just decided to hike taxes on small businesses and skip any spending cuts of any kind, and over a third of the Republican caucus including the Speaker agreed. Indeed, if the CBO is to be believed, the party managed a feat of foot-shooting of which even most Republicans never dare dream, and managed to increase spending instead. . . . please click here for the rest of the post → >> Today's Sponsor Sincerely yours, Erick Erickson Editor-in-Chief, RedState