A real force to be reckoned with

The 11th-hour US compromise deal satisfied few people fully and saw a vital vote on a $60bn aid package for Sandy victims delayed, giving an outraged Governor Chris Christie a chance to take centre stage, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

We have been treated to a Christmas smorgasbord of mixed metaphors by US commentators, appalled at the inability of the legislators to reach an agreement on tax and spending matters designed to prevent a series of tax increases and spending cuts automatically kicking in, thereby plunging the country and by extension much of the world, back into recession.

Commentators and fretful financial market participants — fond of a bit of drama — warned that in the absence of agreement, we would “go over the cliff”, adding that the politicians were engaging in a “game of chicken”, conjuring up images of James-Dean style hotheads in fast cars hurtling towards each other.