Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Where do 'fiscal cliff' negotiations stand?

Details

  • Description

    Assessing political implication of talks

  • Duration 3:46
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Happening Now

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

Well going over the fiscal cliff would affect every single American family and a decision in any form will come out of the political drama playing out in Washington.

Now leaders from both parties say they will reach an agreement but at the same time they seem to be digging in their heels over tax hikes and entitlements.

So which side will blink first.

Meantime the president keeping his powder dry during a trip to Asia.

Joining us now -- April the editor of campaigns and elections magazine.

You know they they both sound optimistic the democratic president and the Republicans in the house they say that they're willing to negotiate they're willing to compromise and yet.

Compromises -- -- name one side or both sides give up their.

Core principles right.

Why do you think there will absolutely have to be consent some concessions here John there's no doubt.

I think the one thing they truly could sort of stop this in its tracks.

I used eat one -- one or both sides sort of publicly drawing a line in the sand.

And that's what you have to be careful for looking out for over the next couple weeks if you go back to.

Did potential budget shut down at negotiations that day and it is the worst sort of -- ongoing.

You know a year ago.

There was the lines in the sand drawn by both sides of this and I think that that is what -- it.

I dragged it out so long and -- me you know brought us to to the potential brain and that's what you've got to be careful here they're gonna.

Have to be compromises from Democrats and Republicans for Republicans are gonna have to look at revenue Democrats are gonna have to look -- cuts are gonna have to look at except entitlement reform.

Otherwise we're not gonna see -- grand deal here from my stand.

Point is an outside observer it seems to me that the president really has the advantage here first volley doesn't have to run for reelection again he doesn't have to worry about angering one side or the other.

And he's got a more democratic senate that he had more he will have once the senate convenes in January.

More democratic support than he had before.

-- there's no doubt that conventional wisdom here in Washington is that President Obama is sort of in the driver seat.

I with these negotiations that being said.

I think -- -- city a good deal of pressure on both sides here.

I -- -- if indeed you would go over the fiscal cliff they are a number of things that Republicans are tremendously concerned about it not the least of which is.

The tax increases the expiration today at that payroll tax holiday.

A capital gains tax increase I say they are a number of things that are frightening Republicans right now there's a number of things that should truly be frightening Democrats.

-- not only that you mentioned John the fact that Democrats have a larger majority in the senate they control the White House.

There are certainly some onus on President Obama in the White House and is senate majority leader Harry Reid.

To show that the Democratic Party can govern.

In a moment of great fiscal crisis so I think there's a tremendous amount of pressure to go around here I do what the conventional wisdom is that the president is in the driver's seat.

I think that there's plenty -- leverage to be out on Capitol Hill and Republicans are not likely going to want to give a whole lot on tax increase.

Then there's no doubt I and that's what you sort of look for that.

Line in the sand and whether or not it's gonna be drawn on Capitol Hill.

It's not too early to think about 2014.

For senators who may be up for reelection 2014 and even for members of house it's never too early in Washington to think about your next election so.

I don't think there's any doubt that members of both parties are gonna potentially be looking over their shoulder -- potential primary challenges.

-- depending on which way to go here so the political implications are always there and since you edit campaigns and elections magazine I'm sure you're thinking about it every single day chain -- -- -- feet deep.

Thanks thanks --

Load More