Blame it on Norquist?

Opinion Journal:

So it's all Grover Norquist's fault. Democrats and the media are singing in unison that the reason Congress's antideficit super committee has failed is because of the conservative activist's magical antitax spell over Republicans.

Not to enhance this Beltway fable, but thank you, Mr. Norquist. By reminding Republicans of their antitax promises, he has helped to expose the real reason for the super committee's failure: the two parties disagree profoundly on a vision of government.

Democrats don't believe they need to do more than tinker around the edges of the entitlement state while raising taxes on the rich. Republicans think the growth of government is unsustainable and can't be financed no matter how much taxes are raised.

Sounds like we need an election.

... 

There is much more.

I think there is some agreement that it will take an election to break the impasse.  One thing is clear is that there is no upside for Republicans in voting for a tax increase.  It is not just Norquist who opposes them.  Twenty years ago the Republicans and then President bush fell for the Democrats tax trap and the so called "balanced" approach to deficit reduction and it was a disaster in the 1992 elections.  On top of that, the democrats did not keep their work about deficit reductions.  It took a new GOP congressional majority in 1994 to do that.  that is what it is going to take this time too.  And, that is the message the Republicans should take to the voters in 2012.

One thing should be clear.  Obama is not serious about reducing the deficit.

Neal Boortz also explains why the Democrats killed any deal.