Goose egg and a slim reed

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky stressed that under the deal, the budget cuts extracted in the 2011 fiscal showdown remained in place over the objections of some Democrats, a slim reed that not even he claimed as a significant victory … Instead of [other tactics], conservatives focused on a law they could never undo as long as Mr. Obama is president … “Goose egg, nothing, we got nothing,” said Representative Thomas H. Massie, Republican of Kentucky.