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Is Capitol Hill on a collision course?

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    Liz Peek and Jehmu Greene weigh in on Congressional negotiations

  • Duration 9:38
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It's noon on the East Coast 9 AM out west -- it is already December 21 in New -- the world.

Has not ended.

You're welcome.

But it may be ending very soon here as we -- off the fiscal cliff.

We seem to be it one more stalemate and once again between Republicans and Democrats on -- how to fix.

All off financial issues that are coming home to roost.

We also had a busy day -- hearings on Capitol Hill on the attack on our consulate.

Invading Gaza will check in without chief intelligence correspondent Catherine -- on what -- I have heard and expect to -- -- -- those hearings we'll also talk gun control.

The first -- -- let's get to the -- in the studio with me here.

For fiscal cliff today Liz peek.

Columnist with foxnews.com and the fiscal times good to see list.

And -- green Fox News contributor good to see you to -- -- -- let me start with you in fact.

We will we Hollywood when we spoke this time last week when -- went -- -- -- and really can we not get anything done it appeared we will moving forward a little bit.

And that was -- to -- back square one.

We were moving forward and there were some productive conversations that the president had directly with speaker Boehner.

And then the Republicans decided that they were in -- -- going to just blow up the entire negotiations and now this plan B approach which to me.

There is a really -- for a number of reasons but what is really striking is.

How quickly they thought they could put together something that affects millions of Americans in this so important -- our economy.

That they just kind of put something together their claim the approach overnight -- -- really irresponsible way but.

I'm not necessarily surprised Jonathan did we expect more from speaker Boehner and the Republicans -- how far they have been willing.

To destroy our economy for ideology that doesn't even sit with -- the American people are.

And where many of their own constituents as Republican voters side.

If they could find a way to have a balanced plan in the way that the president has the present who was coming under extreme pressure from the left.

For putting Social Security cuts on the table you know he's got.

Emails going now -- move on -- -- -- faces that are up in arms.

This is someone who was at the table -- ready to compromise he spoke about come out.

-- hate seeing this.

Really really good about our time you.

-- -- on the okay let's talk first thought about the last minute -- we've known this was approaching this deadline is approaching -- here.

The Democrats have done nothing to -- it up until now all right so let's not talk about last minute night as the entire team on both sides has exhibited.

No sense of urgency about addressing the issues that were after all put in place in August more than a year ago.

And secondly in terms of the president's willingness to compromise -- -- and I've seen.

Is first -- -- a presentation of a proposal from the president.

It was less than one to one spending vs tax cut spending reductions vs tax hikes whereas even the Simpson Bowles commission his own commission.

Recommended 31 and -- I think.

You know when we talk about balance we really just aren't even close to being very yet -- I agree he did wobble a little on Social Security I thought that was very positive.

You know I really don't think anyone who can do simple math really argues the fact that Social Security which was established -- that time.

When the average life expectancy was like one or two years more than.

The age of retirement that is it was meant to cover really last couple of years of their life and now it's covering up almost thirty years.

Social Security is antiquated and it needs to be revised so.

There was a little movement yes and yes the left how -- But guess what Republicans have the right howling every time they try to raise taxes so you know this is -- -- to -- -- that.

I'd I was sitting there before -- sister in the really discouraging thing to me is every time the economy.

Begins to get a little steam under it now we have -- real estate market coming back -- -- we have some political.

-- -- -- I have to a lot of money I -- we have the Obama care fight.

Right at a time when we had green shoots and there was a comeback.

Stifle the recovery we had the debt ceiling free for all the same thing and now look what's happening at retail sales from -- we're gonna have.

You know another crummy you -- through these retail sales isn't good it.

Great concern that wall.

The middle class send it pretty much everybody in this country.

Deal -- way they still stuttering economy an economy that could go into reverse according to a lot of experts would -- politicians whichever side -- -- wrong with.

Just fiddle while the country -- It's it is appalling and I think what we have seen though coming out as speaker Boehner in the last couple of days is.

He is looking at this more as a more as a way of trying to position blame him and didn't you -- usually meant that they.

Well I think it's been clear that the American public.

Will blame Republicans because they've assessed not just through this couple of months with the fiscal cliff situation.

But over the last two years really since the Tea Party came -- And -- even their leadership's hands.

But they've assessed by watching that you're responsible actions of the most conservative members on the hill they've they've laid blame with the Republicans so.

Plan B is about trying to not deal with.

These issues that are absolutely -- and absolutely important to the middle class and how they're going to be able to even finish celebrating this holiday season going into the next year with so much uncertainty.

About their taxes.

This plan B is all about.

Laying blame when you hear speaker Boehner say.

President Obama's going to preside over the largest tax increase in US history.

That's a talking point that he wants to come out of this that they will keep reinforcing but guess what this is not all blame this is about paying your bills.

Be able to celebrate the holidays with your family in the most meaningful way possible.

You -- it either way -- just seeing the lights go out behind.

To move the on the -- fabulous graphics just disappeared.

This is just my loss -- -- -- -- this -- -- but I don't think we were supposed to take -- -- quite yet so.

Patrick is sailors you know -- world is -- AV OK I have a very good point about illness and added.

Canoeing is on drugs that you -- -- yeah I think I think of -- it situations actually quite interesting because.

Yes the Republicans are you know when when they -- in a certain way.

It's all about the Republicans but don't let us forget that Obama's worst personal ratings.

We're right after and during the debt ceiling talks in August 2011 he.

He's the president he is meant to make things happen he has a democratic majority in the senate.

A very solid majority I don't think there I don't think the American people that -- totally blame Republicans of things -- -- our here he's gonna tarnish his.

Legacy which he is extremely concerned about -- -- a lot of stuff he wants to get them presumably and I think one of the interesting things now is.

If if we roll most of the major issues which is almost surely gonna happen -- 2013.

Such as any sort of reasonable.

Growing up tax reform -- they've got that going on.

Now we have gun control legislation which arguably is -- -- most contentious things you're in American politics.

And thirty he still is talking about for at least most people think immigration reform is on the table so.

Boy is it going to be a busy time and there's a chance that nothing gets done you.

-- until we have nothing getting done and I wanna read you this email we got today from child program who is on CN.

Capitol Hill producer knows more about the way things look alleges that legislatively.

Speaking than almost anybody in Washington.

Was telling us that he has is gonna vote on two bills essentially in three sets today.

And I just -- -- you want chat -- if you want to understand how ridiculous is always there are two bills -- tax cuts for those making less than a million dollars.

The second turns off the sequestered for one -- replaces it with tax cuts.

So first of all that around 12:31 -- -- -- the -- begin to debate.

The rule.

All that -- -- set the guidelines the debate on the two bills and are actually considering those bills yet.

That considering the issues but nor -- the bills so debate over the role.

Chad says generally feisty and should be entertaining for -- then they'll get around to voting on the rules between -- city and 3 eastern this afternoon.

Then they'll begin debate on the two fiscal cliff -- in the late afternoon early evening probably 54506.

According to -- estimate.

I've expected to -- debate he says on his militants have that he -- -- late I think -- -- series.

I'd imagine everything will be wrapped up here by 84519.

But it could slide and then Chad says in language -- only chat program news.

This is fungible.

So.

Obama got -- according to majority leader Harry capital they've got the votes in the -- a dozen senate does sentiment and -- once again back at -- one fact.

-- Washington.

Yes we have got Clinton -- these jokers I mean.

I don't want it be to just.

You end of the world thinking but I do have a strong belief that the more women that we elect an office is so this is -- long term strategy.

-- at least likely we would be getting into situations where we have.

People playing games just for -- -- it's really that there is doing so.

If there's anything we can agree on list that would be lets -- -- editorials as grownups.

The economy added move on that.

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