If troubles in Europe and falling markets are giving you a sense of deja vu, things are about to get really weird. House Speaker John Boehner is making noise about reviving last summer's infamous debt ceiling debate prior to November elections.

Before cursing Boehner or blaming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, avowed Republican John Mauldin has an anecdote you should hear. In the attached clip Mauldin says he had dinner with Boehner during which, as presumably often happens at Republican dinners, Senator Reid was blamed for last summer's deadlock.

Mauldin says Speaker Boehner was quick to rush to Reid's defense. "Harry?" Mauldin says, in what is presumably his best Boehner impression, "Hell, Harry isn't the problem. If it was me and Harry we'd get it done tomorrow night. It's Obama! He can't make a decision!"

All of the above is obviously hearsay as reported by a sworn Republican "talking his book,". But Mauldin's point is that there's room on the Left and the Right to make a deal on the deficit; it's simply a matter of getting everyone lined up in just the right way.