By the standards that prevail in Washington, that constitutes a breakthrough. It makes the House Republicans look even more ridiculous and isolated.

Reaching agreement on a sweeping plan like the one from the “Gang of Six” is virtually impossible before Aug. 2. But the White House, which approves of the plan’s overall goals, made an important concession on Wednesday by agreeing to consider a brief increase in the debt ceiling if all parties showed some willingness to compromise on a longer-term plan structured like that of the Gang of Six.