Only Her Hairdresser Knows for Sure

Is it real, or is it Clairol?
That was the question of the 60s - with regard to a woman's haircolor. Now does anyone care? I am the last un-highlighted head of hair in the cosmos, save for my kids who seem to appreciate the natural way of things as well.

The federal debt limit. Weeks ago I imagined it was just posturing. Poor lad Obama was the tragic Shakespearean character. Only I didn't have enough Shakespeare in my heart or head to map him onto any character. And other state dweebs in staff meetings were no help either. Not that they are philistines exactly, but, um, well..

Now we are at the 10th hour (not yet 11th, not yet 11 + 51 minutes, not yet 11 + 59 minutes, not yet 11 + 59 minutes + 58 seconds). I mean, we've seen this before, many times. We have heard the cry "wolf!" so many times that I think Obama's fate, Shakespeare or not, is to be the tragic character slain and eaten by the wolf. This time for real?

Today the debt limit debate talks apparently broke down. Senate Republican leader Boehner walked out. Obama was mad. Took Boehner all day to return a phone call from Obama. Obama, the leader of the free world. Maybe that is what democracy looks like. The President doesn't control all the strings.

But yet, I still wonder - stage right. stage left. They all play their parts very well. Obama, still wants it on his scorecard that he fought the good fight- a balanced approach to reduce the debt, raise taxes on those nasty rich people, those people with corporate jets, the symbol of an indecent spending of private dollars. Those dollars should be redistributed to welfare moms, don't they know that?

Meanwhile, the Republicans, holding fast to Grover Norquist's pledge. Though even he sounded a little bit like a grown up this week. Mr Norquist, kiddos, is infamous and famous too, for his "pledge". For 25 years he has been asking people to sign the pledge - no new taxes. Till this week, common interpretation was that even removing a tax credit (such as those Bush tax cuts) would have been considered a tax increase. This week he spoke about "well technically not *voting* on a tax increase and just letting those tax cuts expire is not a tax increase". Making the point that it is the voting record that counts. Political accountability and all that.

But the Republicans have out Norquisted Mr Norquist. They aren't falling for any technicality, its no taxes, no way, no how. It was Obama's message machine that tried to create the illusion of a deal. There was no deal, Boehner says.

Is it real? Is it Clairol? August 2 will let us know.