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FNC Digital Politics Editor Chris Stirewalt and Democratic Strategist Hank Sheinkopf on the fiscal cliff negotiations.
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House correspondent.
Joining us now with more on this battle over taxes spending cuts and whether there's any political leadership locked and our nation's capital.
Political strategist pollster Hank shine cough also joining us Fox News digital politics editor Chris firewall gentlemen thanks for being here.
Chris are.
Our colleague -- just reporting Ed Henry that.
One possible.
Outcome is that the Republicans -- -- -- we'll we'll protect the middle class from tax.
Bikes and go away for Christmas and New Year's -- come back to talk spending cuts.
How how would you rate that in order of probability.
Well it's getting increasingly probable -- it's pretty simple reason why the Republicans know as the president said when he started Barbara Walters.
Earlier this week he said look.
Rates are going up the only question is how are they going to go up.
The president the reason the president's willing to talk at all right now is because of these across the board increases in the across the board cuts but at the same time his best political leverage and all of this is the looming increase for the majority of federal income taxpayers.
The thinking among some Republicans as by taking that out of the equation and just going ahead and extending them.
They can have a different discussion and they can have the president stopped the smacking them around in public.
It's in it -- -- All deference here are.
-- -- it needs some relief from the spanking.
Aaron slapping around that is getting here.
It seems like what he did today is the is the -- appropriate reproach he said this is the law of the land.
If you wanna change the law of the land the -- have to deal with the issue that is as he demonstrated -- clearly I don't know why it took so long to put that chart up.
But he did so.
It's a spending problem it's irresponsible to talk about taxes it's ideologically.
Significant for the president but it is absolutely meaningless in terms.
Of dealing substantively.
And meaningfully with these spending problem that is utterly.
Are bankrupting the country.
Well it's about time he said that it's about time is -- -- clear -- and frankly.
If you think of the people that are attacking -- well they ought to be ought to pay them to do it because you sound more rational than the rest of those Republicans were some of them -- just crazy about it.
Of those who would like to.
Play the role if you will of Eric Cantor -- 2000 allotment.
Everybody got a lesson during the Tea Party years -- this the speaker even though there is much discussion in the national media.
The speaker seems to have the -- of his party he seems to have the support of his party.
And those who are in opposition listening to be utterly on the French.
The name of the game in politics is always is and we talk about this all the time -- Is managing expectations.
And Boehner has been held by the president tremendously in keeping his caucus together.
Because the president has been so on standing in his attacks on the Republicans and unyielding.
On this question of taxes so Boehner is very able to go back to his caucus say.
Fellows gals we've got real problem with this -- this is an ideological -- fight that he wants to have.
And if we start breaking apart here we're going to be in big trouble very quickly.
It looks like that trouble has receded certainly.
And with the newest Wall Street Journal NBC poll -- it it looks like.
If he -- that the polling years improved -- they started talking to rational people.
Who seem to see this is also both Republicans that the Democrats if they don't reach some sort of intelligent resolution what's great news that people are not being ideological about both parties failing a political leadership -- -- supposed to do.
But the -- -- -- is Lou.
That and now the presence probably confronted with a strong opponent it's always tougher to negotiate with a strong opponent to develop -- -- conclusion.
And and Boehner you do agree Chris is that stronger of.
On it now.
A lot of people going all the way back to Newt Gingrich have gone bust betting against John Boehner he's to seemingly strong a lot of these points and -- great strength that banner has.
Is he does -- make a much a sudden moves he's not prone to erratic behavior he's very steady.
And he's seeing this through and the president now believes -- the most important thing the -- has done is convince President Obama.
That these Republicans have had it with him and they don't trust him to do the bigger deal.
And if the president doesn't come to the table with some actual cuts that there's no way that anything's gonna happen.
And again that.
There that receiving support as well in the latest polling -- -- fox and the Wall Street Journal.
Senator Durbin coming out saying he wants to take.
Higher.
Higher age.
-- wants to -- -- -- for qualification for -- -- -- -- completely off the table.
Just as we thought that the president put it on the table.
It looks as though they functional organization.
Is taking place within the Democratic Party.
Not the republic -- when in doubt -- populism that always works and never said the senior citizens and any constituencies you again.
That's the -- approach is that going to work well the president can't go along with that everything is on the table or John Boehner will continue to be strengthened and -- -- the president won't want.
We're gonna have a deal Chris are all.
It looks a lot more likely now than it did two days ago and the president certainly I think has to understand.
That if he does play this brinksmanship game and take it up to the end.
It's not just what happens on the other side of the -- it's the deepening anxiety.
Among consumers and among businesses leading up to this moment the does the real damage and.
Could trigger the recession.
Exactly right I couldn't agree more that's exactly on the mark all right -- -- thanks very much for star will always on the mark good to have you thank you sir we also Arafat.
