More on why I consider all of these poseurs to be clowns.

Consider Romney. He claims to be knowledgable about politics, policy, and taxes. He was a governor of a blue state - Mass. His dad was governor of a blue state - MI. He knows, or should know about compromise.

Yet, he goes along with the circus around him and doesn’t recognize just how bad the optic looks - not in the primary, but in a general election. As that same question in a general debate, and both Obama and Romney (if he wins the nomination) would willingly take the deal - albeit with whatever caveats you want to put in.

Instead, he shows no spine by saying that a 90/10 split is a huge win, and good governance. Absolutism wins the day, and therefore he beclowns himself.

That and he’s lying his ass off saying he wouldn’t take that deal. Of the rest, I suspect one or two might not accept any deal at all, but even then, they might find that Congress (and the House) would be willing to take that deal and override whatever veto - if they really were sticking to the no-tax pledge - were threatened or forthcoming.