Here's the reality. The Tea Party extremists that control the Republican Party made one point clear from the start: There would be no compromise. They made it clear they were shutting down the United States government's ability to pay it's bills and other obligations. They would do this unless the President and Democrats in Congress gave them what they wanted or a no turning back way to trigger a plan that would avoid a traditional Congressional review of their draconian cuts in the social safety net.
This was their rock solid threat. The never once hinted that any compromise was in their game plan.
What did Obama do? He repeatedly advertised his biggest weakness: He repeatedly told us the ability of the government to continue issuing debt and to pay it's bills must not be disrupted. Default must be avoided at all cost. In other words, he told the Tea Party you can "hold me hostage and in the end I will fold. I will fold because my ultimate goal in this charade is to avoid default."
From this day forward, I am sorry to say, it's every man, woman, and child for themselves. You're on your own. Thank you President Barack Obama. Thank you for nothing.