That 0.352 number is based on already appropriated spending, while much of the claimed 38 billion number is a cut in spending authority. Now before people fly off the handle, I think that is still important, in previous years, this administration has exceeded spending authority, and is refusing to remit unspent (but authorized) spending (tarp anyone?)..that spending still counts on the debt and deficit because it CAN be spent, so cutting authorized spending is still important.
Additionally, while I'm not sure who would have come out on top in the advent of a shutdown (we will find out though, I can pretty much guarantee we will see one for either the debt limit or 2012 budgets), I think the GOP did make a valiant try (with the exception of going all the way to a shutdown) to do what they had hoped given the one half of one third argument and the intransignence of the senate and executive leaders. Why waste the big hole card (shutdown) on a measly 0.352/38/60/100 billion when there are bigger fish to fry in the very near future. Let's say they had gone all the way, and got 60 or 100... How do you think it would play negotiating multiple trillion differences for 2012 budge? Hint soundbite "the republicans shutdown the goby and got what they wanted for 2011, and now refuse to negotiate in good faith on this, looks like they are going to shut it down again"...true, it's total bs, but it would play poorly for 2012 elections, which is what the party in control is aiming for. Soundbite plus incumbency = tough challenge given the general level of idiocy in people.
