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Word from The Hill as the fiscal cliff looms near

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    Bob Cusack discusses possible outcomes of the Boehner/Reid fiscal meeting

  • Duration 7:33
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This transcript is automatically generated

Time to check in for all weekly audience.

With -- -- -- managing editor of the hill one of our favorite political publications online and -- -- great to -- -- Great seeing -- happen so I just told our view is that if anybody in Washington knows what happened between speaker Boehner.

And President Obama over the weekend -- you walk a -- tea leaves you reading here.

Well John opinion both sides not revealing any details.

On that conversation and I think that's progress what we have not seen really any progress it was just on Friday.

Where speaker Boehner said there's been no progress and he was really pushing for for the president to do something offer proposal or have a meeting.

And it's interesting like in 2011 when Boehner and Obama.

Almost reach a grand bargain it was -- who didn't really like meeting with the president because he felt like that a lot of those meetings where we're meaningless but.

But now he wants to get in the room I think there's there's.

Both sides really haven't sent -- to strike a deal.

But but I say you know -- I can see a deal today or tomorrow but but the fact that they're talking is is a good sign for for people wanna deal.

Wouldn't want what does it look like it's shaping up -- is it possible to read.

The beginnings of what might be the -- deal ultimately.

Well I think they'll be small the ill in December whether that's December 24 or December 31 that I do you think they're gonna get some type of an agreement.

But -- Boehner needs to go back to his House Republican Conference and say listen guys.

I got this -- were raising tax rates or raising taxes whether that's deductions.

And -- rates but he's gonna get something he's got to get something -- entitlements whether that's a means testing Medicare raising the age.

Eligibility age for for Medicare.

He's got to go back to his guys and say OK I got something so that you should be able to vote for this and that the big tax reform -- entitlement reform.

That's not gonna happen until 2013.

But they have to decide on this defense requested it obviously got to decide on.

On the tax rates -- loss they all go up and a lot of people in a lot of liberals are really want.

That go over the cliff because that all the tax rates expire.

So what else does that.

Do -- -- if we go over.

If we go over the fiscal clips of these these tax deductions.

Under the -- -- W bush brought in.

Go away so we'll stop paying -- -- what else -- would actually happen.

Happen.

Well -- that the fear is is that that would really that would sink us into a recession because.

The payroll tax would be gone the bush tax rates as you said would expire so.

Basically -- dealing with less money people's pockets that's less spending.

And it's not like the economy is is thriving now it's very fragile so.

There is a lot of concern even you know Bowles Simpson who want them -- and they've both Bowles and Simpson wanna make some major cuts.

But they don't wanna make these type -- cuts that it these cuts would be bad and then you had to cuts in defense spending people say.

A -- especially the Pentagon say that would hurt our national security so.

There is a fear there but but some say we'll listen -- it -- not going to be the end of the world if we don't have -- deal right so did and then.

Liberals -- up -- fill some liberals some on the liberal side on Capitol Hill.

Perfectly willing to go down that costs and say all right call -- -- Yet and those -- those Democrats say it's not at -- that's just the slope it's not a big deal.

Remember that -- a present Obama.

Does not support raising taxes on families who earn less than 250000.

Dollars.

But -- -- fair amount of Democrats.

Who don't like -- the bush tax rates and would like them to be expired and they also point out.

That would help -- deficit situation so.

In -- Obama's gonna have to make the case to those liberals listen whatever deal he strikes with Boehner.

Is actually better than going off the cliff and that's going to be to some of them it's going to be a hard sell.

Is certain.

It's sort of any way neat ball too -- of the general public for those of us watching all of this go on in Washington.

To -- who is actually.

Telling the truth when they say well we're waiting for the other side did tell us veggie -- were waiting to that side that side the other side -- it is really waiting.

Well it's it is challenging reporting there's no doubt I mean 2011 I've been awash -- since 1995 the summer of 2011.

We had all -- behind a closed door meetings between Boehner and Obama I've never seen so much lying.

In the nation's capital while is that summer and then that's it that was reflected in in both the president's dipping approval rating and congress is I think they've both learned -- that situation.

But a lot of this now it is posturing but the fact that.

That decides now Obama and Boehner the two players are are that are in the room or Nancy -- is not in the room Harry Reid is not in the room.

These two guys are not pointing fingers at the moment and that is a good -- It's not not all of this seems to be doing speak of Mano a whole lot of good among some in his own -- Bob how much pressure is -- -- All tremendous he's got the toughest job.

In Washington and he knows it and he's also trying to instill as he's trying to reach an agreement with with Obama he's also trying to.

Tighten his grip on his caucus because he wasn't able to control -- the last couple years so he's bounced four members off committees because.

They had been critical of other Republicans in the press they have not voted with leadership so on one hand.

He's trying to get a deal and the other he's trying to send a signal to it to his guys listen you gotta be a team player.

And -- if your Miley you know you elect me as -- -- I strike the deal you should support me.

When I have a deal you need to know with me that's very difficult and a delicate balance because also he's going up against both Obama.

And in the senate the senate democratic leaders Harry Reid and so it's a tough job -- is hoping to have more company to have majority leader Mitch McConnell and Romney.

In the White House he has neither.

What's the likelihood ball -- that he gets there's a real challenge to speaker -- for the speakership.

I think there is there's a chance that someone could step forward and challenge him I do I think that.

He he would be ousted.

Now I think he he's been around a long time and he was basically fired in 1998 when.

Republicans -- his leadership post it wasn't the speakership it was a number four ranking post.

When Republicans did poorly at the polls in 1998 he's been around he knows what's gonna get him in trouble with his good guys and he knows.

That he has most of their support either going to be some people.

That -- a new leader that from the outside especially trying to urge some conservative.

To run against and yes but do I think that anyone can actually get more votes and then then Boehner come January know what.

I think -- -- -- stands up.

To the that's sort of -- those more on the right of his party.

If he he he holds on to the speakership as you say he probably well.

Does this sort of new -- the Tea Party wing of the Republican was a great deal.

You know it does I think and that's what Republicans see no -- -- saying listen you know we need.

The tea party's great for energy enthusiasm.

At the polls but for governing.

Not so great and that's when they've been frustrated trying to round up votes on high profile bill's controversial bills the Tea Party hasn't helped them.

And in some ways of course the Republicans also point out the Tea Party candidates haven't been.

Great in general election so there is there's definitely tension between the establishment Republicans in Washington and the Tea Party but these -- Republicans feel like.

That they have a little bit of of the upper hand on now.

All right Bob -- always great to get your views on such a range of subjects.

On the hill -- thank you very much ball of course managing editor all the hill act on the hill dot com great to see is there.

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