Let’s keep it simple. If enough people understand these two points, I think the crisis can be resolved.
1. It’s not a crisis of the budget or the deficit. It’s a crisis about the debt ceiling. We may or may not need tax increases or spending cuts as a matter of economic health. We do NOT need either in order to resolve the debt ceiling crisis. All we need is for Congress to vote to raise (or better, eliminate) the debt ceiling. That would let the world go on while Congress and the President turn to a real debate about the budget and the economy.
2. The Tea Party is opposed to raising the debt ceiling. That means that they will vote against ANY solution. And THAT means that Speaker Boehner needs Democratic votes in order to pass a solution through the House. I think he knows that, but if he doesn’t we are really in trouble.