Nichols writes: "Most members of Congress were pleased with themselves Thursday. They agreed to agree - crossing lines of partisanship and ideology - on an austerity budget that, as Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio has noted, 'won't create jobs, get the economy back on track, or meaningfully cut the deficit.' That's not the worst of it."

Pam Washington pickets against proposed cuts in the federal budget outside the local offices of House Speaker John Boehner in West Chester, Ohio. (photo: Al Behrman/AP)