On the tax deal, under which the president agreed to extend all Bush-era tax cuts, Mr. Obama showed little patience with those who wanted him to hold out against extending those cuts for the wealthy, when he lacked the congressional votes to do that and continue middle-class cuts.

WSJ: Obama Lashes Out at Critics in His Base

It seems unlikely that small employers who want to provide comprehensive healthcare to their workforce will have much patience for the political wrangling with tax penalties.

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Muni bonds should have been downgraded a year ago by the credit agencies whose patience must give way to the arithmetic of declining tax receipts.

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