The Mini-Me Budget Deal

++President Obama called the budget conference's budget a "good first step". The $85 billion deal will fund the government until January 15th. 

++The deal hammered out by Patty Murray and Paul Ryan escapes anything about Social Security and Medicare and does have any new taxes. Both House and Senate Republicans are protested that it doesn't represent what "mainstream Republicans" want. The House threatens to kill it.

++The mini-budget deal was to be a confidence building measure to avoid another government shutdown. If the GOP wants to get out of town early like they planned,they should take it.

++It really doesn't solve anything. Sequestration cuts and lessened by equally applying cuts to domestic and defense spending. The larger budget being negotiated is about $25 billion more than the House budget, and $25billion less than the Senate budget. But we are still in austerity policies.

++Meanwhile in the Senate, Mel Watt was been confirmed 57 to 41 for the housing post.

++Janet Yellin's confirmation is scheduled for early next week.

++Best line on Fox News was when they led with the story about Raul Castro and President Obama shaking hands. "Are you keeping? Do you think Obama is going to catch Communism from a handshake?"