Ezra Klein applauds Republicans for defying Grover Norquist:
[Norquist is] the guy who gets Republicans to pledge that they won't raise tax rates and won't get rid of tax breaks or close loopholes in a way that raises revenue (ending breaks or closing loopholes and using the money for tax cuts is, by contrast, fine and dandy). But yesterday, Republicans broke his pledge [by voting, unsuccessfully, to end ethanol subsides]
But Klein still thinks Norquist is winning the tax war:
Instead of revenues being an assumed part of a deficit deal, with the only question being how much of the deal they make up, the question has become whether Republicans will accept any revenues at all in the deficit deal.
Drum questions whether yesterday's vote means much:
The theory here is that having once voted to end a tax expenditure (the ethanol subsidy), Republicans will now be more willing to defy Norquist and vote to end other, bigger tax expenditures (mortgage interest, employer healthcare contributions). I have my doubts about that.
The Dish 