During George W. Bush, Republicans raised the debt limit 19 times to nearly $4 trillion but now they're willing to let the US default even though they admit it would be a financial disaster. This isn't a new kind of crazy. They've been crazy for years but the pundit class has always acted as if the both parties are equally responsible for the debt when in fact Bush squandered the Clinton surplus, cut taxes without paying for them, passed a prescription drug program for seniors without paying for it and fought two wars without paying for them.
Krugman in "Wake up and smell the crazy" writes, "anyone surprised by the extremism and irresponsibility now on display either hasn't been paying attention, or has been deliberately turning a blind eye." http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2015624991_krugman17.html The debt ceiling debate is a fraud video: http://rootsaction.org/news-a-views/166-debt-ceiling-debate-fraud
