Still Think Obama Got Rolled? Budget Deal Was Smoke and Mirrors

Initial press reports that the Republicans and House Speaker John Boehner won a tactical victory in the shutdown showdown have proven to be wildly exaggerated.

An analysis of the $39 billion package of short-term budget cuts revealed Tuesday that $12 billion of those reductions had already been signed into law in previous continuing resolutions.

Can you say "accounting gimmick"?

Now the clock is ticking down to the next deadline. The House has until Thursday to pass the stopgap bill -- and House Republicans seem less than enthusiastic about the numbers that have surfaced. Could be another late night.