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Politics behind the fiscal cliff

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    Our Political Insiders explain

  • Duration 8:51
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-- concerns in Washington.

And you know we're talking about your talks to resolve the so called fiscal cliff.

They could be going nowhere fast listen to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner in house speaker John -- today on FOX News Sunday.

-- except in this town but this is a very carefully designed -- the reforms and if Republicans.

Would like to go beyond these reforms -- they wanna do it differently they should tell us how they wanna do it right now I would say we're nowhere.

Period we're nowhere.

Other ways put a serious offer on the table by putting revenues up there to try to get this question result.

-- but the White House has responded to virtually nothing they've actually asked for more revenue than -- -- -- asked him for the whole whole entire time.

Let's bring in our political insiders John would believe former Republican congressman for New -- back and -- Fox News contributor and former pollster for president Jimmy Carter don't show on.

That the GOP it are like the Washington generals.

And in case you don't know in baseball history that it is not good for the general us.

It's a win win for the president.

Well that's right and the reason I use the Washington generals analogies it's sort a lose lose for the Republicans and what -- mean by that great.

He's the president believes that if the Republicans cave to -- more revenue and more spending.

He's won a battle for the democratic.

Left and if he doesn't win if there's a stalemate that we go over the fiscal -- the president believes that not only will the Republicans be held.

Accountable which is what the polls show.

That bottom line the democratic left -- like.

The new revenue.

That the higher taxes provide that he'll preside over recession job which will ruining his second term and his legacy which some argue is the only thing he cares about now.

He believes that.

The Republicans will cave immediately after the first -- But it's a risk great he's willing to take our -- you told me during commercial break that the Republicans will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and everything -- yet.

Every kid but they've been given something this week but -- in -- don't they would -- different -- -- but.

The let me just say this idea about race in the -- you know I'm shocked like obamacare taxes.

All of a sudden -- shoot people really care about the president barricading himself demanding to be given all the power.

To raise -- depth -- abolish congress abolish congress by the way.

This is like the court packing plan 37 major differences Roosevelt was a guard with 61% of the vote in this man it's at 51 and we and he didn't get away we didn't -- because Democrats wouldn't supported it.

It's an -- -- Republicans have this weapon and from which is.

Which is this issue the president say they -- 56%.

Rating the Republicans need to change the game here.

In they have a weapon.

And they don't even talk about them.

You know congressman.

It in the law we often speak about the reasonable man standard McConnell.

Tried to portray himself as the reasonable man and he said let's hit the rich.

On higher taxes let's hit the rich.

On our higher premiums for Medicare sounds eminently well reasonable doesn't what he did more than that he talked about change -- the retirement age for social security and eligibility stuff for Medicare.

What what he did was what the Republicans do all the time he put not one foot.

Not two feet but his entire body in the whole GOP on the third rail.

Of American politics are with out getting anything in advance for -- we've given up the tax thing day by day immoral war grind house members are saying all blow off the Grover Norquist pledge and ugly and it held to a -- Republicans would set.

Well that's some of them are saying at the point is why give up something in -- negotiation until you get something back and that's aren't getting anything preemptive concession was a mistake.

Obviously any preemptive concessions on the senate get a Summers -- go to.

Warren but what we're missing from the Republicans -- Is a positive message of what therefore if as they did with Paul Ryan and they just say we want to take.

Medicare Social Security Medicaid they do the same thing that would McConnell was John said they don't have a pro growth.

Pro jobs future oriented -- -- -- team changed right you know right now in politics is things.

Blowing away from them.

In the decisive this weapon they -- -- and and and on the debts and we just say it is all about spending cuts is -- and the president proposes not cots and don't just sit and eat more stay with.

But here's the point if they Republicans said wait a minute we're gonna start right here on this constitutional question.

The make the Democrats in the senate how to -- You think -- -- drew and Mark -- gonna vote to give this president total power.

This is the Republican -- -- -- -- -- they -- -- changes debate and then so far they haven't got a clue Providence that would be.

A very Smart move Greg to call vote right now on the president's ability to take away from congress arrow will raise -- -- that's one.

And then on Doug's point about -- and constitutional right besides that.

And then on -- part about they need a positive pro growth agenda which sounds like what the three of us said do you every Sunday since March.

About the Romney campaign.

He never did it he lost the Republicans aren't doing it now.

The agenda is very clear it's outlined in the sense and -- debt reduction commission which the president appointed.

Ran away from.

It has all the elements here that work for growing the economy and reining in spending.

Where is a Republican talking about it is it a mistake for Republicans who say we will not.

Raise tax rates on the high income earners but we will allow you to tax those same people more.

By closing loopholes the net effect is -- saint.

Play for goodness you exactly great.

If they conceded that they're willing to do revenue.

Any way that gets a deal with the Democrats do what John and pat are talking about.

They would have a positive agenda to -- -- right now all they're doing.

He's taking away benefits and playing political games that is used to just make no sense that you remind people living in 2011.

And all of the Republicans got killed on this question during -- the whole thing on the bet -- -- You know who took the worst political -- with Barack Obama.

Lost that race and Turner's district in New York Democrat district lost in Nevada because you know -- the president's full read it they would do would -- it.

If -- it.

It -- -- take -- they would -- were forced sensible.

We will give the revenue but Mr.

President you read you tell us how to cut the budget we are not allowing the country to go all the clip.

They -- be -- the nurses -- Congressman why not just allow all of the president of the country to go off.

The cliff in the short term it will be economically damaging in the long term it may be economically healthy.

I would want to risk it myself why I because I don't I think we put it back and long term you're putting us back into recession is not a good thing and by the way -- the way the media works in this country.

The Republicans are gonna get 85 to 90% of the blame for going over the -- and which may -- here really.

Not because of the residents there -- not really get most and adding why -- my -- we're -- not this president with this media they rules say it's the stubborn ass.

Of McConnell and Boehner not give my -- said first lead to two step process first deputy.

Changed debate make this spread to understand people weren't what do you mean he -- to do this in the second thing is to develop the -- -- because he will not stop spending won't lead to -- -- -- one cases really frustrated.

We need to the president doesn't roll up his sleeves and actually sit down and do the actual hard work of of working out a deal.

He hits the road at least down those campaigning again see if the Republicans had a plan.

-- they would say Mr.

President let's talk today about our plan vs your plan were available any time.

But in the absence of a plan the president can go out and campaign.

And make political and not to just -- would your passion on the timing of exactly passed in other words all the three you seem to agree that the president's lot smarter on this note for you politically noted that Republicans are stupid -- there's a -- get into right but here's the deal have been Democrats.

Look they a lot of the woman -- off a cliff.

The congress they wanted to because they think politically -- help them I think you can turn that around but so far this is not responsible what the Democrats are doing.

It's effective not response and the president is playing politics.

A -- he's playing politics and -- political chicken.

With the country.

It's wrong but he's getting away --

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