Good in-depth article from Reuters on the position the Republicans now find themselves in: beholden to the Tea Party for electoral victories this past November yet constrained by the realities Washington politics and economic principles.

Not raising America’s debt ceiling has now taken on even greater importance for Tea Party groups.

The April 25 meeting with Boehner and inside accounts of others between House Republicans and Tea Partiers in their districts hint at a party trying to manage expectations ahead of the real debt limit debate. The trouble is while compromise is a trademark of Washington politics, to many Tea Partiers it is a dirty word.

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