You're watching...
“Hopelessly Divided” author Doug Schoen on increased partisanship in Washington over the budget, increased spending and taxes.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Immediately.
My next guest says government's inability to -- to -- address our problems a failure of our system.
And the principal reasons are many believe we are facing a prolonged period.
Of decline joining me now former Clinton pollster Fox News political analyst Doug shown -- new book.
Is entitled.
Hopelessly.
Divided the new crisis in American politics.
What it means for 2012 and beyond great to have you -- thank you and congratulations on the I appreciated.
Op I'm not as worried about the beyond as I am up -- 2000 of all right.
The fact that we hand.
A -- that's from sequestration.
That will result -- in half trillion dollars.
Spending cuts might want seemingly.
Both parties are now out of trying to wrangle out of it the bush tax cuts so call.
Will.
Evaporate at the end of the year.
What what is going on here.
We we ours I say in the book hopelessly divided were -- -- the Democrats refuse to compromise.
On entitlement reform and irrational.
By the Republicans refuse to contemplate any increases in revenue or in cutting done non defense discretionary.
Expenditures and defense in ways that -- rational logical there's no cooperation.
In the system ultimately works to -- rather than unite.
And interestingly we have the Congressional Budget Office -- nonpartisan.
Agency.
Projecting what will happen if these folks don't act.
-- I I don't even understand the role of the CBO any longer I thought the role of the CBO was to score legislation how much it was gonna cost.
Rather then to make projections about the economy what we've gotten to the point where everything is so politicized.
There's no cooperation.
And everybody's perceived to have a political.
Angle when.
They shouldn't exist.
-- -- the matter.
To me great great if you even more.
Is a great divide that is also an out -- between Capitol Hill and 16100 Pennsylvania.
We have democratic.
Senate leaders saying they haven't even heard from the president and months.
Lou this is a huge problem we have polarization.
Between the parties which we understand there's always -- it's gotten worse.
-- we have a president who's not talking to his own congressional leaders much less the leaders of the other party.
And as I see it it further exacerbates the cynicism the electorate has two -- process in Washington it's out of control.
Out of control and in some and I have to tell your candidly and I will admit this and from god and everybody.
I'm not entirely sure that I want this congress to be any more effective I don't sure I want this president to be any more effective.
Because I don't think we've got such great ideas.
And I don't know that they've demonstrated sure brilliant competency.
The carry out program -- on your last point I think it's.
Indisputable that there's been no competence and your first point I wish I could cite evidence of brilliant plans that they put forward.
That have been voted down -- rejected.
But bottom line other than Bowles Simpson which I think is a basis to try to solve our budget problems there's been a singular unwillingness and inability.
To deal rationally with our fiscal problems.
And you have the American people continue to a -- incumbents.
By a massive majority of 96%.
And incumbents -- win re election.
Are we gonna see any difference in outcome this year well I think we may I think -- number has been.
Trending down from 90000 into right and you know I think the real issues we -- We're gonna see probably fewer because of redistricting but ultimately it's -- partisan process.
That does not give every voter an equal chance so it skews the election results.
We're going to be happy you're on now from -- that we are going the saddest thing to -- Lou is we were all Democrats Republicans.
Happy.
Enthused optimistic when President Obama was elected that's gone.
I hope that we have an uplifting campaign about the issues I fear that that's not gonna happen.
I'm Sean thanks so much hopelessly divided his new book by its -- -- dobbs dot com as well.
