Weigel

If you want to maintain a childlike faith in your Congress, please don't watch the Budget Committee mark up the Path to Prosperity. The process, which could go on past midnight, is functioning as a way for Democrats to introduce doomed amendments and get accused of politicking.

"I understand the role of the minority is to establish great talking points for press conferences," said freshman Rep. James Lankford, R-Okla.

Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, introduced an amendment that would codify a Democratic promise -- no tax hikes on people making less than $250,000 per year. Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., got exasperated and pointed out that Ryan was just saying what candidate Obama said in 2008.

"You broke that promise," said Mulvaney. "We're going to pay more attention to what we do than what we say."