Some examples of the backbone and courage that’s currently seated on the Republican side of Congress:

Politico: “The idea of allowing the country to default by refusing to increase the debt limit is getting more widespread and serious traction among House Republicans than people realize, though GOP leaders think shutting down the government is the much more likely outcome of the spending fights this winter. GOP officials said more than half of their members are prepared to allow default unless Obama agrees to dramatic cuts he has repeatedly said he opposes. Many more members, including some party leaders, are prepared to shut down the government to make their point.”

Think Progress: “Tea Party Congressman Steve King (R-IA) appeared on Fox News Tuesday morning to argue in favor of shutting down the federal government and breaching the debt ceiling if President Obama does not agree to drastic spending reductions. “We can start shutting down the appropriations. We can dig in,” King explained. “We must have cuts to go along with any debt increase. They must be substantial. There must be a line.” But when pressed for specific spending cuts the GOP could support by host Martha MacCallum, King demurred…” 

TPM: “House Republican leaders are weighing a proposal that would increase the debt limit for four years in exchange for substantial spending and entitlement cuts.”

Of course we already know the Republican / Teaparty House members won’t say what they want to cut, because it would have an effect all of their non-wealthy base-rubes.

• Social Security checks and veterans’ benefits will be delayed if congressional Republicans fail to increase the government’s borrowing authority. And there’s more…
• “We might not be able to pay our troops, or honor our contracts with small business owners,” Obama said during a press conference with reporters. “Food inspectors, air traffic controllers, specialists who track down loose nuclear material wouldn’t get their paychecks.”
• Treasury Secretary Geithner sent a letter to John Boehner yesterday, warning that House Republicans have only four to six weeks until default. It could happen by mid-February.

• Here’s why it doesn’t matter — at all — that Obama voted against raising the debt ceiling in 2006. Our media really sucks.

• President Obama’s acting budget director told agency heads Monday to step up their efforts to prepare for $85 billion in automatic spending cuts on March 1 by planning for furloughs, contract delays, hiring freezes, buyouts and other cost reductions.

From the budget director’s letter to agency heads: