house republicans may be willing to go along with the short-term increase in the debt ceiling to buy time to negotiate a package of reforms to address the debt and deficit. they were reacting to the president saying he would be open to that. to be clear, this is still a chicken or egg situation, which will come first? the president and congressional democrats are insisting they will not negotiate on anything until the debt ceiling is raised and the government is reopened. republicans are still saying they won t pass either, unless they are guaranteed the debt deficit is addressed. the mechanics have to be artfully and carefully worked out. how it would happen is a big question because they aren t talking at all behind the scenes, i m told nothing subtentative. this is going through us and other sources. that s fascinating. no conversations behind the scenes, each side negotiating through the media. i m told that substative direct conversation behind the