12 billion dollars for one week? Including fully funding the Pentagon might be a wise move, politically. The Democrats would be stupid to accept that, since it opens the door to the Republicans only keeping the parts of the government they like working (thus lessening the pressure on them to avoid a shutdown), but the Republicans could easily demagogue the issue if they say that.
It's clear that Obama is eager to avoid a government shutdown. He wouldn't have accepted the first, unreasonable stop-gap measure that included cuts proportionate to what the Republicans ultimately wanted to keep talking. Ultimately he should find a way to offer the Republicans the number they want on his terms. If they refuse, he'll be in a much better position to paint them as lunatics in hock to the Tea Party hellbent on shutting down the government.
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