What can be said about the 'fiscal cliff' deal?

Should we congratulate Congress for finally doing its job and avoiding the "fiscal cliff"? Absolutely not. The process has been so ugly, unnecessary and frustrating that it simply continues to demonstrate how dysfunctional our government has become. In fact, I was personally so disturbed by the determination of some during the day Monday to scuttle the deal that I broke my New Year's diet. I needed my comfort food to get through the day.