While I'm glad to see more mainstream media hosting opinion like this article posted on CNN by David Rothkopf, the CEO of Foreign Policy Magazine, there needs to be a deeper uncovering by the mainstream media of the underlying strategy at work. Yes, it's a terrible budget, and yes it's a strawman neither side expects to put into action, thanks to Mr. Rothkopf for at least putting that much reality into the public view. But I would urge him, and others like him to keep digging further.
Grover Norquist was quoted as saying:
“We will make it so that a Democrat cannot govern as a Democrat.”
-- Washington Post, June 30, 2011
That's an extremely telling statement. It tells us this budget's main purpose is to be a distraction. It keeps the media buzzing about it, instead of paying attention to stories that matter more. It eats the bandwidth of the White House and Democrats so they are not spending their time doing the work of governing.
If they cannot win elections, the GOP will keep the government from working until such time they come to power again. They are ruthless enough to stall out the clock without heed to those who suffer while waiting.