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Is President Obama’s strategy with Congress working?

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    Mary Anne Marsh and Brad Dayspring lay out the plan going forward

  • Duration 7:39
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Brad let's go to -- -- domestic issues rather -- -- policy issues a little bit we getting movement now on up on the hill on gun control.

-- -- we have we've had movement on the on the deficit.

-- is it president Obama's -- -- action and pretty -- much I guess a challenge in his inaugural speech to get things done.

Is is it working -- him.

Well I -- in his inaugural speech President Obama had a call for liberal action.

-- I think Al lot's gonna come of -- I don't know it.

To for the kind of things he wants the kind of things he spoke about during the inaugural he's gonna have to rely and his friend Harry Reid in the senate to push a lot of that when it comes to gun control.

Look there are some common sense policies and some of the things the president prescribe -- there are other things that are the step too far.

But again what can get through the senate it's going to be up to senator Reid who's opposed to Barack Obama a lot of these issues to -- a lot of that.

And is -- where the majority lies in the senate so that'll be interest thing.

On the budget and on spending look I think there's an opportunity to find common ground there always is.

But again it's going to be interest -- -- -- the senate finally show their hand after three and a half years to say what they believe put it on the table to pass a budget.

I'm looking forward to that as I know a lot of people Washington or -- we gonna get a budget.

Well we aren't -- gonna get -- enemy in this post holiday season the Republicans in the house he did have an epiphany after they had their retreat.

And had their best pollsters layout.

The bleak landscape for them which finally said to them look if you keep doing the same thing you're doing.

You're gonna lose the house and I really think the Democrats have a great shot at winning the house back in fourteen.

So that's why all of these measures whether it's gun control the budget go down the list they're going to be votes on all of it and I think given the fact that you're looking at eighteen seats here.

The game plan for the the very administration is to try to get through everything they can these these first two years in a second term win back the house for the last two the President Obama and uses his presidency the way he began it with a democratic senate and a democratic house and I think a lot of people.

What you see what you saw that inaugural speech was the general blueprint.

Or overall.

Plan of what Obama's gonna pursue but you're gonna get the and the state of the union and I think that's -- as he very clearly that stark contrast.

And the Republicans are finally starting to cooperate after trying for four years -- them not cooperating it didn't work out well for them I think they're coming around.

Rather I give you say that white.

Actually I don't -- today it's -- -- President Obama in 2009 took office at 7% approval rating had a historic opportunity to be a post partisan type president the kind of guy he campaigned on 2008.

And he didn't do that and steady pursued an ideological agenda.

He didn't seek any cooperation on the stimulus he rammed it through got no bipartisan support -- you would include any Republican positions or any conservative positions.

And from there he abandoned his top priority which was the fix the economy create jobs.

And he went through an ideological push for health care and brought the country -- a year and a half tailspin to pursue an ideological liberal goal.

Instead of focusing on the economy.

And is that a learning from -- -- learning lesson and focus on what people care most about which is jobs and fixing this economy and economic growth.

-- starting off the second term the -- he started off the first pursuing ideological means whether it be on gun control whether it be on climate change.

Whether -- on gay marriage I mean these are all things that should come second should come second to fixing the economy which he campaigned on is -- top priority.

So I think that would be a huge mistake and and I would you say to -- and look.

The house is that is the house insurance Democrats have opportunities in the house but.

If the inaugural was -- preview of what the house to house Democrats are gonna campaign on importing fourteen Republicans are gonna gain seats not lose -- in the house.

Well so world set up for -- wonderful.

Two years of battling to them -- the in the mid terms I can hardly wait but.

Did it Brad took married and made the point that the Republicans are coming around because I haven't looked out for them just challenging the president saying -- -- a great deal.

Is that -- you think that's true and accurate.

Well look I think you always have to judge by the terrain later on in -- in what's recently happened the president push for tax hike the president won an election the president got -- tax hike.

Now it's time to turn the page and move on the whats next we have a budget disagreement that's going on we have a sequester -- schedules come on March 1.

These jurors were need to work together.

So now it comes time to say okay the president got -- tax hikes what's spending reductions that we need to make.

And most importantly of all let's be serious about entitlements the president has been saying for year and a half that health care entitlements for the driver for debt that Medicare is going to be insolvent in a few years.

I agree with them most Republicans agree with them and though he might not agree with Paul Ryan's plan.

There are other steps we can take and so what if we're gonna be serious let's have a serious discussion really fix the problem.

-- -- and -- digs that is that not a fair argument that everybody seems except that we have to at some point.

Look seriously -- entitlement spending.

The president did not seem to be in any.

Mood to -- to that in his inaugural speech at least.

Yeah I don't think mr.

I think you're gonna hear more about that again at the state of the union I you have to take those two speeches together to see exactly where that the the blueprint is spread of a second -- -- President Obama.

And the reality there is there will be some changes in entitlements but what he opposes and rightfully so is cutting benefits for people who were already on these programs or about to be on these programs if you're fifty and under.

I think they'll be some changes I think however that one of the dirty little secrets right now.

Is why so many Republicans are opposing -- -- -- is because cable knows how to cut the defense budget he knows how to cut the Pentagon.

And that's what's gonna happen here because when you look at our budget.

The engine enormous amount of money that's really being spent -- in two wars we should've never -- -- and everything at the Pentagon.

That's what we're gonna have cuts to so that's where everybody's gonna have to make some cuts make some sacrifices and make some changes.

Everything's on the table and the fact that the Republicans in the house.

Finally saw the wisdom of not but you know stopping the debt ceiling.

And letting us go through and pay the bills that they've already put on -- charge card.

-- signs that they're starting to realize that their political fate is tied to how they handle all these issues that they had to turn the economy around finish the job and finish putting everybody back to work.

Our -- what do you -- You know it's always interesting to -- Marianne and other liberals like her to come and say -- this is about paying the bills that Republicans -- racked up.

You know President Obama did a pretty good -- racking up the bill himself Nancy Pelosi did a heck of a job bracken at that the ourself we -- -- -- George Bush from.

We of course he did of course did it but I can admit that.

And so -- -- go back and forth instead of trying to throw -- -- at each other try to work together.

Yes there's there's parts of the defense budget that need to be -- and you know what we have to sequester coming in March 1 that's going to do that it unless we work together.

And do it in a pretty pretty serious why it was -- work together to alleviate that.

And number two look we all know that it's health care entitlements that are driving the deficit crisis in this country and that.

And until President Obama gets here guess he doesn't have to approve of Paul Ryan's plan but offer one of -- -- Offer one of -- -- solve the -- -- -- will be much more apt to work together and find a middle ground solution all right we got -- I -- error and will -- that.

I'd wish both of you two were elected politicians would have a lot lot of debate in Washington -- -- -- a case.

-- I don't a lot of people who might disagree with -- on top of a friendly entertaining if nothing out there and certainly -- and thank you for being entertaining for the -- Fifteen minutes or so Brad days for his senior advisor to the YG action -- from DC and Marianne -- former advisor to senator.

That's soon to be second of statement that John that carry joining us from Bob Boston thank you both have a great day.

Thank you guys have been.