Here's more on the budget debate, if you aren't tired of it yet:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/us/politics/senate-budget-battle.html

Sen. Cruz finally finished his marathon filibuster speech--with absolutely no end result. Check out the quote below.

"Mr. Cruz’s marathon session — which began Tuesday afternoon, went straight through the night and ended at a predetermined noon deadline — did not win over senators from either party, and in fact Mr. Cruz even voted to open debate. After the vote, Senate Mike Lee, Republican of Utah and a Cruz ally, said Mr. Cruz never intended to oppose the motion to take up the bill, a position contradicted by his words and procedural motions for days before the tally.

Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, greeted the conclusion of Mr. Cruz’s performance by declaring it “a big waste of time."" 

Does anyone think that Congress is still pursuing this debate because they believe in their position as a matter of fact, or is this just pure ideology/political hand-wringing?