The year-end fiscal crisis is turning the political screws on John Boehner and the Republican Party.  Their challenge is twofold:  1. Convince voters and the President that raising tax rates exclusively on the wealthy will fall short of reducing the deficit while harming the economy and 2. Reveal how and when they’ll cut spending over the next decade. Boehner must appease colleagues who are eager to shrink the size of the federal government while not downsizing entitlement programs such as Medicare in a way that invites a voter backlash. This is the next critical phase in negotiations with President Obama ...