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Power Play 11/14/2012

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    The latest political news straight from the Beltway.

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Well I would refer you to the FBI.

They have as much as I understand it protocols in place for when they notify.

-- legislative and executive branches investigations.

And you know it is simply a fact.

-- -- In the White House was not aware.

Of how the situation regarding General Petraeus until Wednesday.

Well on the power play I am obviously not to -- one and only be super talented multi tasker.

Several claims -- and bring just keeping the seat warm today -- he is out.

Thank you so much for joining us it would love to hear from you that he wanted to sweet -- or face the guys.

You can find me -- -- and -- leave -- to you from you as the show goes on today.

You heard they -- White House spokesperson Jake party talking about all the questions now that are bubbling up.

About and -- me about General Petraeus about general -- so many things going on.

And here to help us break it all down under from The Washington Times great scene this morning -- you -- are like oh my pleasure RA.

Looks smells to you about.

This whole thing I mean we can go a million directions about the van Gundy situation itself General Petraeus whether there's any relationship between the two is it fair to ask -- Questions -- absolutely to me and one of the most curious things about all of it is that you know we've had we've had.

A testimony.

Previously from General Petraeus.

And and when he was giving that testimony all of this was sort of noon in certain quarters.

And and the question is whether or not the details of this and the fact that the investigation was going on the fact that Petraeus was.

In a very.

Compromised position whether that may have.

Colored his testimony or anything like that -- the doing down of the testimony he gave was.

I don't want to overstate it and say that it was.

You know there was intentionally false but it was clearly not right it was incorrect testimony.

And whether or not there -- that may have been the result of either.

You know a direct compromise.

Or a sort of -- more indirect compromise where he just was under enormous stress and gave.

Terrible testimony.

But it sounds like we will or at least the you know the Senate Intelligence Committee will get to two another crack at him.

And but then that raises a whole another question which is my goodness.

You know how how could this be secret how could this -- -- behind closed doors what is the justification for that and if something comes out where it's clear that.

He changes his testimony.

Move will will leave it will be lowly taxpayers be told about that but I certainly hope so but but -- -- -- -- within the no assurances that we will.

It's very interesting and now has given the fact that it seems like the more that we learn and I'm sure there's much more we're going to learn.

That for months there have been people within this administration at different levels who knew what was going on who knew about the FBI investigating the CA director which some people find it odd that somebody an executive branch wouldn't have been notified and -- -- did the attorney general Eric Holder know should have known.

Should some -- the told the president because the story is that he didn't find out until Election Day or later.

What do you make of that affected so many people so many levels knew something about this Petraeus investigation and affair and the White House says the president didn't know that's possible right.

It's possible but the but -- did but you know.

I would argue -- and it did that -- -- -- whatever there explanation for that.

It's it's not good because -- either.

The president and others in the administration were willfully sticking their.

The head in the sand so that they wouldn't know about it.

Or those around them were protecting them from knowing about do pretty crucial.

Crew from.

This is shockingly James Bond -- Crucial.

Developments going on within that are most important quarters of -- national security.

And that the president wouldn't know or that those around him would protect him from knowing and for that matter protecting.

Eric Holder or Robert Mueller.

Protecting people within the agent that you that the various divisions it's just shocking and and I don't and I don't.

If we learned last week that that American voters are up in arms over these guys they weren't as shocked as I would say I would -- -- Not a defense of the there watching because you're watching many things -- -- yeah.

I mean you have no idea about the guy it's like after -- -- -- -- -- going on for a year and a half of us talking from -- some of his coworkers and they had no idea noted.

I'm not that fast and furious with that.

-- I I get the feeling that for a lot of Americans -- -- is that right now absolute murder has been.

Absolutely and and made -- even though it is a burning hot issue for a lot of wind was for a lot of voters.

On this it it didn't meet the this standard of throwing them out over incompetence.

But I do think that that can change and I think that exactly some an issue like this is yeah.

Let's face it I mean the details in this case are so country for so salacious that you know I personally -- am you know.

It reading every -- detail but not equipment just because election politics but because I mean it's -- it's -- good tabloid.

It varies Margaret has this national enquirer and so hardball -- a lot of it is true from what we're finding out.

It's al-Qaeda everything all this stuff that we don't at least from the emails between Petraeus and and brought up -- It's it's just it's if it's the kind of thing that really does break out of far out of you know.

Political national security interests and that's exactly and I think it I think it brings a lot of people -- and then like as you said.

You know a lot of these people are going to be like -- open and what happened.

Right and what we hope.

NNN in a way.

This affair.

Is certainly shedding light on something in -- -- that the mainstream media and others are gonna pay attention to Ben Ghazi anyways they may not know people are gonna wanna know what's that side story out about it lets your thoughts of course is not a science really is like now is speaking of that General Petraeus we know was in Libya not too long ago.

We're told he was very.

Deeply interested in getting his own information getting his own -- he was there on what appears to be sort of investigative fact finding mission and that he had begun to compiled reports as he would from any trip like that.

That they were left and generally want completed in their officials format from what we're hearing.

-- which would suggest that maybe his resignation played -- little bit more abruptly -- even heat.

I really had thought if he had thought it was going down that path.

-- -- -- in the senate senator who chairs the Intel committee has told us today he is gonna testify at some point -- not likely in what they have scheduled for tomorrow.

Although -- possible she says she wants to see those reports she wants to know what he found out before he walked out the door and of course there -- the conspiracy theories out there and legitimate journalists who are asking the question.

Was he pushed out because possibly he was gonna tell a different story and then diocese then has been -- -- thus far.

Is that a little -- Nancy Drew isn't the realm of possibility.

I don't think it's.

I mean.

Going back passengers one of the reasons that that story with such a -- story tell.

Is that.

-- you knew someone would say.

Oh yeah we we we gave guns sold guns to drug runners and they took some of the border down in Mexico -- they do turnaround we're used to kill.

A border region and others you know Americans.

You're like -- That's -- that didn't happen that there's no way that happened it was it really just he was sounded so incredible he didn't believe it only -- partisan right wing.

Would have -- such a thing but it turns out that it is true so I think at this point and in this case as well.

I think that that I don't think anything is out of the room.

A possibility and and I think that that that it is curious how quickly.

I mean.

When we first learned about it with that 3 o'clock email from from clapper.

Up to General Petraeus had already resigned and President Obama had already accepted it.

And it was it was almost like they're saying -- -- -- -- -- is that good let's move along you know with the support behind us.

And it's so it did happen very quickly.

And this new question as to why it happened so quickly is I think very important and it's also an I think it's also actually that that clapper.

Told it as it turned up later that clapper told.

Petraeus three times that he should resign so it wasn't.

Quite the noble general falling -- the -- the way it sounded like we voted for plus.

Didn't learn more -- this entire day as we know you'll -- -- -- as -- well maybe -- don't think -- -- moment.

Are now stick around we -- going to have strategists from both sides Albert let's talk about they -- very important fiscal cliff that is looming.

Is there any middle ground with the -- -- by who is gonna step up and be the adult or adults.

Before we get to the precipice that we may not be able to turn back from -- -- power play that is.

Coming up next.

Amid all of the short term hurdles we face the greatest challenge of -- A massive -- that was smothering growth and exceeding the entire size of our economy.

Several -- manuals say that with the election ever we shouldn't -- him from.

The first of these challenges by simply lead in the top two tax rates expire.

And pushing the sequester -- to some other days.

-- have -- engaged in the same short term temporary policies that have helped put us into the -- All right we are definitely in a -- we are weeks away from.

A lot of consequences of the actions he's taken this bar.

We'll -- if congress gets its act together is there any real hopeful that -- is the common ground.

Let's break it down with a couple special folks who are joining us here on power play today and she can bring in for Chris -- all the pageantry comes former RNC national political director.

And also upping your joining us they have Julie against -- former Corzine's vacations director Amy Fox News contributor.

Welcome to you -- this -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- And from the house speaker do you think that there's been enough wiggle room between the two that there is some common ground -- these -- can actually.

You know be adults go to the table and negotiate adults in di -- Aaron accolades in LA and you know -- -- can't identify patterns.

-- -- this is they think very very typical.

DC thing and for those of us who worked on the hill this is sort of the thing you see over and over again we'll take you to the brink as they always do they did this sad time and time again.

Over the past few years but -- I'm hopeful that at the very end they'll come to some sort of accommodation.

-- -- both sides understand I think the voters are very clear that this is no way to run a government and both sides understand.

That at this point if they don't come to some sort of accommodation.

They argue the anger the voters will be taken out and then the next election vote for Obama went on your house to run for anything.

This is obviously much less of a risk and that is for the house Republicans but I think that at the house Republicans are serious.

About wanting to get their majority back not just keep their majority in the house the get -- back in the senate two years.

That they're gonna do something to prevent this whole situation spiraling more more out of control.

Right to -- I think it's really interesting that there was -- pew poll that came out yesterday that said.

Asking Americans we get to the fiscal -- and go over whose fault is it going to be 53% of the respondents that house Republicans it will be all their fault if this doesn't work now Republicans also have the pressure on them don't -- don't allow any taxes to be raised me from -- -- part of -- -- was saying you absolutely key compromise here.

They have to come to some kind of compromise and if -- don't.

-- decent pay the price even knows and it.

You know I was telling Democrats the White House obviously a democratic President Obama but 53%.

Of those surveyed said it's house Republicans -- -- this thing doesn't it well.

You know it's interesting if you look at exit polling from Election Day.

It's not just the Republican base is saying don't raise taxes.

By a very large margin the exit polling showed that the American people don't want to raise taxes even paid on the -- and so that's what's not just.

The Republican base I think it's the the electorate at large now Republicans out of branding problem I think -- -- whole variety of issues that led to some losses on Election Day but we didn't -- ideas.

I think Dixon -- was very clear about that and end with respect to do what's good for it's bad for between four to look.

The president is is leading the country the president has got to put a deal together here Republicans I think are willing to work with -- if there -- real spending cuts.

And traditionally speaking.

The party out of power you have a very good midterm cycle himself so that pressure doesn't just come from the Republican base that comes from the voters who really don't want to see massive tax increases here.

And I think Republicans will show fidelity to.

Sorry if you wanna win this conversation by the way you're watching us on -- -- Sweeney -- -- CNN marine we'd love to hear what you have to say about this -- also play inside out -- yesterday I get back to that.

When Aristide about who's going to be blamed for the this clip only 29%.

There's that they would lay the blame the President Obama and yet.

Republicans is especially house speaker John Boehner have very publicly said this is your moment.

This is your time for leadership we want to be led it's all about you you lead us on how get off the -- with only 29% of nothing gets done.

Well you know okay and John Boehner is serious about wanting to be -- I think Barack Obama would has a very specific ideas isn't as to what he'd like to do starting with.

Obviously raising taxes in the top.

Marginal tax rate but.

Now the prompt other Republicans as they want if you let it -- want to propose specific ideas they'll always shoot them down look I feel for John Boehner I understand where he's coming from.

He's got Eric Cantor Paul Ryan nipping at his heels.

He's got this Stephen pledge that most of his members of sign not to raise taxes under any circumstances.

Which gives -- zero wiggle room so for John Boehner to try to negotiate a deal he has a negotiated deal first with -- -- caucus and that's going to be harder than negotiating a deal.

What Barack Obama's -- John Boehner wants to put this on Obama it's purely because he himself.

Has no options at this point simply because again he's got a huge part of his caucus including members of his leadership.

-- absolutely.

Do not want to negotiate -- this president on anything under any circumstances they say they want to.

But -- -- the day when the president proposes ideas time and time again he will shoot them down they forgot.

That is the president won the election gentry our Harry's back that you talked about exit polling I frankly -- a polling that showed.

That people do you -- -- raise taxes on the top errors in this country overwhelmingly so.

But that's -- the Republican base simply can't afford to do because they have the -- complexities such a Grover Norquist.

-- others -- they're beholden to non elected officials and John Boehner has to contend with that.

-- excellent -- I make an exit polling -- know that there was a question should taxes be raised on.

Only -- those making about to have 2000 on every one or on no one.

And 47%.

Did say that they wanted to see the Texas race for two and it does -- -- of the 2000 and up.

But a plurality just -- one percentage point 48% also said he acted together the other two categories either raise the -- every won -- race -- no one to -- me.

And that's that's distributed raised taxes there was a separate question in the in Fox's exit polling.

This should we raise taxes regardless of your raising them on who should we raise taxes -- -- -- today and by teachers who -- march and the answer was no.

So if we're gonna raise taxes clearly the electorate wants the -- on on on upper -- murders.

But let's be honest President Obama has a plan does not do that.

At 250000 dollars or instant and young -- it came -- report today two out hit nearly a million small businesses that employ 55%.

All of the jobs in the country today and so.

That has -- -- the dramatic impact on our jobs in the economy which was beat number one issue regardless of the talk about whether we're raising taxes and up and -- on whom.

And Sosa that is the -- -- devastating consequence of the president's plan and I think that's the kind of thing the Republicans have to say -- to.

Will they come to the table and negotiate its president absolutely and I think the election results forced their hand with -- -- to those negotiations.

But there are certain red -- that I don't think they can -- But Julie's point what about this that a lot of outsiders looking -- say it doesn't let the Republicans have -- disagreement among themselves about some of these issues that they have to coalesce and get behind you know the leadership that Boehner and and there's always this talk about cancer and is -- friction between the two -- do you think that the GOP's united in what he will bring to the table below.

-- -- leadership election starting today and so I think the next several days wolf.

Will be very telling along those lines I expect that the -- the house Republicans will be unified by the time we ever voted to actually take.

-- -- quick final words you.

Well you know I hope you're right I hope the Republicans are unified is certainly more unified and Obama try to strike a grand bargain you had -- cancer and -- Ryan pull that rug from under John Boehner is.

Feet right before he was able to come and -- combination with the president I don't see anything changing now.

The problem that we have this has a lot more to do with gerrymandered districts anything else is that we've got.

Very very very solidly Republican districts where these people are so terrified of having a primary from the right that they have no room for negotiation -- side.

That happened Indiana with the senate race -- saw that happen -- Missouri with a senate race if you're Republicans today.

Is incredibly hard for you to have any room to negotiate because your deathly afraid you're gonna lose your seat.

And -- that's the case that I don't really see how John Boehner any member of his party can come to a true.

Negotiation with the president.

Because they're more worried about saving their own careers than saving the fiscal says sanity of this country and that's something it's gonna come back and bite them.

Once again I believe in two years so I think Bill Kristol is right.

I think Republicans are right in that sense of Republicans you have to start listening to the people and stop listening -- to your -- roster to be the minority forever.

All right we'll see if the adults show up to get us away from the fiscal -- Julie and everything to look very nice -- you.

-- coming up next on power play -- with one of the key members will be involved in all these discussions.

He is a Democrat from Kentucky congressman John -- joins us next on power play.

We'll talk with him about how we get back from the cliff is he willing to work on this what common ground SEC and -- putting the -- think it's -- -- be as best ally on the other side of the outlets -- That length of time it took.

For our new members to come onto this platform here it's music that to my ears and your -- as well in Lebanon.

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words.

Well the picture that you see before you is worth millions of votes.

Millions of aspirations and dreams of the American people.

And that is House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi former speaker of the house laying out her excitement about welcoming the new members -- -- and a freshman gather here.

In Washington get ready for a lot of work ahead of them and still a lot of work for the current congress to do.

So we're very thankful that congressman John -- from Kentucky Democrat there has taken time out of his schedule to look hopping on power play today a congress and thanks for your time.

Come -- -- -- going to be ready.

All right so you know what congress facing you've been there is this is played out as the sequestration issue which was voted on by eight votes -- both sides of the -- will make automatic domestic and defense cuts across the board.

We have tax cuts that are going to expire in some shape or form if something doesn't kick -- something is some action isn't taken.

How hopeful are you that there will be some being an in place and resolved before we get to that fiscal.

Left.

Well first most of them voted against the budget control access -- -- what he did that on the record and he was a good idea then I don't think it was a good it's a good idea now.

I'm not particularly hopeful I haven't given I'm not hopeless but I'm not particularly hopeful.

You know -- the interesting thing about this is.

Speaker Boehner -- talked on many occasions about finding common ground.

Well we do have common ground that neither Republicans or Democrats want this and sequestration that happened.

And we don't want taxes raised on 90% of the American people where the hang up his -- the last 2%.

And we're ready to act we're ready to deal with Republicans all speaker Boehner has to do to avert all of this problem.

Is to deliver about thirty votes from out of his 245.

That shouldn't be -- left.

For the speaker of the house to deliver total 18 of his this members were compromised deal and and so that poll that shows that more than half the people would blame Republicans in the house.

That's a pretty pretty perceptive majority I think.

Where is it that you think that those thirty voters could agree on what kind of issue do you think -- be able to.

Pull them over on.

That would it -- -- the speakers you know obviously responsibility to do that well what would you suggest would be a key thing that they can -- to so you can get those votes.

That would actually make a dent in what's coming.

You know -- I'm not exactly sure I just think there are people like for instance got a -- -- who's from Republican member from Virginia -- -- the Grover Norquist pledge.

People like Fred Upton and these are reasonable people who understand that revenues are gonna have to be raised and again I think we can get rid of all the angst and just those people love.

Bring a -- each of them bring it brings a few along with them shouldn't be that hard to do and I'm one of these people is not particularly its.

Adamant about the 250000.

Dollar number I think.

Half a million dollars would be finding even 380000.

Dollars which is -- separation more of them what top 1% of our income earners who earned 93% of all the income growth in the country in 2010.

I think we're negotiable on that I've -- the president doesn't sound negotiable but I suspect he would be.

But these numbers don't seem to make much difference when Republicans and that it just didn't seem to be much difference between June 5 2000 and even -- comes over a million dollars.

So again it's just gonna take up a few courageous Republicans to say we can deal with this very simply we can be aware that that we could deal with the right if we come back from Thanksgiving.

If speaker managers -- again just.

A couple dozen of his own members.

Our congress and media are very interactive here on -- and -- -- power play and so what -- read constantly having pain in my Twitter.

Not everybody chats so that we can get UTC answer at this comes from go cart world he says if raising taxes wasn't a good idea for years ago why is it a good idea now when the economy is just as -- This isn't a game as a small business owner myself I simply don't understand why Democrats would do this.

So congressman how would you answer him.

Well again this is all about trying to come up with a balanced approach.

It's clear that we have to do something about spending in the economy and we have to do that I think in a very careful -- so we don't -- the country back into recession.

But again the people who have done very well over the last ten years.

Are this top one or 2% of of Americans everybody else has seen their their income levels stagnate so.

In order to achieve a balance.

Approach to deficit reduction.

And we have to deal with the revenue side and we are actually taking in less revenue as the federal government now -- we were in 2008.

So we've got to deal with the revenue side.

And we had been the only place that I think it makes sense to look at the people whose whose lives and actually improved over the last ten years and then those are again the people at the very very top.

And any others I -- I was a small business person both my Brothers and build small businesses my sister's a small business -- Whether you raise taxes on them and -- me about 4%.

It's not gonna make one bit of difference is that how we approach our businesses and this I mean this is a myth and that too many Republicans have bought into.

Because if you talk to virtually any business person.

That's not going to change the way they make business decisions not going to 39 point 6% on -- only over 250000 dollars.

All right well I -- an earful from plenty of small business people.

Played it for -- they don't make it different but I know that there -- folks all of of the spectrum on this.

But congressman -- -- and a Democrat from Kentucky sir we thank you very much for your time and we wish you all the best in finding that compromise.

-- for the better of the country and hope that their allies on both sides of the aisle on this thank -- -- -- -- -- Think everybody is committed to making sure that this fiscal flip -- No.

I know too many Republicans on certainly we on the democratic side want to avoid that as well.

All right we send you -- -- best thank you thanks thanks and I think he's a much for joining us -- power -- dancing every been sitting important.

Hunts -- one and only on the -- he keeps you up to date with all the latest breaking nieces stick around for that on fox news live.

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