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Former Verizon Wireless CEO Denny Strigl and former Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush Brad Blakeman on efforts to avoid the fiscal cliff.
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Joining us now former president and CEO of Verizon Wireless industry -- good to have you with -- with the former deputy assistant to president George W.
Bush Brad what -- -- Great to see you look I assume that -- -- -- in our Washington DC.
Brad what is your sense of what we're watching and particular.
That Geithner.
A little basket of goodies he took the speaker Boehner today.
Well look -- what comes around goes around in this president of 2012 the president 2009 remember he lectured.
Both McCain and Boehner and other leadership McConnell.
In 2009 these elections have consequences.
And basically.
I told them that they would have to be forced fed.
Health care.
And of course we fought back against health -- the same as we're gonna fight back.
Against no spending cuts and no real entitlement reform which is the root of our economic woes as opposed to the president.
I'm not putting a plan on the table expecting Republicans to do whatever he says.
This president is doesn't like the art of the deal he doesn't like working congress -- much rather campaign and that's we seem doing now he thinks she's gonna win the battle on the road.
But he's gonna win the battle if the battle is to -- to be one on Capitol Hill.
You heard on bread is exactly right the issue that we have Hulu is we have no leadership in the White House today.
The -- this idea of going out talking to union leaders CEOs small businesses grandstanding around the company -- country is getting us nowhere.
What we need is someone who can put -- deal together and get it through congress.
Why doesn't I don't know we're not there.
Does -- occur.
That to to anyone that this president doesn't wanna deal.
The fact is nothing he is doing to this point is designed to lead to a successful negotiation.
And therefore I have to say you gentlemen.
I don't think he's negotiating -- and I think he's making a declaration isn't that unfortunate in the business world.
He would -- and analysts have but he's not in the business world.
He's saying he's got CEOs -- in there like train don't -- I mean it looks like paying.
It just seems like parade of of just absurd possibilities being raised.
As if this is a negotiation you don't have a negotiation -- we're talking until the negotiations framed is that right Brad.
You're you're actually right and the president has the power to halt people up to.
The White House the president has the ability get -- -- go up to Capitol Hill he can work the deal if he wants to and I -- agree with you -- I think he he feels that the political people the White House.
-- -- has convinced him.
That that the people will blame the Republicans have a deal is not made and we go off the cliff and the president is willing to fight another day in January.
When he can talk -- spending cuts if at all.
Or entitled reform on his own timetable the only problem is the next quarter we have another battle looming and that is raising the debt ceiling so the president is is putting us in -- the crisis after crisis.
Let me suggest.
And I -- -- what you think on this thing these timetables are are are off.
And they're off by by months.
The fact is the time that the timetable begins tomorrow in overnight in markets we're gonna start seeing investors reacted.
In the equity markets in the debt markets in the currency markets.
To what is transpiring and this is a major potentially a major disaster I don't think.
People realize how serious this is because I think what people believe is that there will be a solution of some kind reached.
Personally what I believe we will do.
He has kicked the can down the road.
Will will make some minimal concessions here between now and year end and fact of the matter is we'll be dealing with us again in six months a year or whatever.
In the mean time.
The markets will freeze.
-- -- and any struggle thank you both for being here thank you pleasure.
