Meet The Press - February 10, 2012

Guests:

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Mayor Kasim Reed (D-Atlanta)

Michael Isikoff

Katty Kay

Michael Gerson

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Gregory: the sequester automatic

spending cuts could happen in a

few days and would cripple

Virginia's economy

Audience: yes Virginia there

is a Sequester Clause

Cantor: these are horrible

indiscriminate cuts I supported

Gregory: so why can't you make

a deal with Obama?

Cantor: because Obama wants to raise taxes

Gregory: so you can't compromise?

Cantor: no because Obama got his

tax hikes and took things from the rich

and now it's our turn to get what we want

Gregory: which is what?

Cantor: take things from the poor

and give them back to the rich

Gregory: but the sequester

would wreck the economy

Cantor: look we can't raise

taxes every 3 months

Gregory: or once every 20 years

Cantor: we actually have things

Obama supports in our plan

Gregory: well good

Cantor: but first he has to agree

not to raise taxes

Gregory: ok

Cantor: also this is all Obama's fault

Gregory: do you like sequester or not?

Cantor: it would be an epic disaster

but not as bad a raising taxes on

our precious job-creating billionaires

Gregory: you changed your

mind on immigration

Cantor: these illegal immigrants

came here as children through

no fault of their own

Gregory: would you support

the DREAM Act?

Cantor: no because it has Obama cooties on it

Gregory: what can you support?

Cantor: something exactly like it

Gregory: what would it take for

Republicans to support immigration reform?

Cantor: If Obama came out against it

Gregory: that would do it

Cantor: right

Gregory: how can you re-brand the

Republican party when people

don't like your central beliefs?

Cantor: we have to persuade people

that cutting taxes for very rich

people will make their lives better

Gregory: okay

Cantor: also school scholarships

seem to be popular

Gregory: wow

Cantor: we need to provide relief

to people who are suffering

Gregory: fine but your core beliefs

were rejected by the people

Cantor: we have to talk about helping people

Gregory: what about actually helping people

Cantor: if we have to

Gregory: what else?

Cantor: Obama doesn't care about

the debt and deficit and we do

Gregory: It's so sad

Cantor: but maybe we should

help sick kids while we're at it

Gregory: should Congress regulate

the President's power to kill?

Cantor: muslims want to kill Americans!

Gregory: okay

Cantor: American must continue

to kill all over the world if we

are to lead the world in peace and liberty

Gregory: thanks for coming

[break]

Gregory: my rich friends never use

the Post Office but I hear some

regular folks do

Audience: woot

[break]

Gregory: omg Obama is doubling-down

on his agenda

Murphy: I do not support this

Gregory: what a surprise

Murphy: Obama has to be like

Nixon in China and do all the things

Republicans wants – that would totally

undercut Republicans and be historic

Gregory: you are so awesome

Kay: Obama has to create jobs and

we live a world overrun by killer robots

Gerson: he should stop being mean

and polarizing and instead make

huge concessions to Republicans

Gregory: your insight is fascinating

Gregory: Senator what happens 

with sequester?

Durbin: sequester would ruin the

economy so the solution is to make 

cuts and raise taxes

Gregory: Isn't Obama an absurd

failure of a President?

Durbin: I heard you were a moron

Gregory: but Washington doesn't work

Durbin: look the sequester was designed

to be so terrible that it forced Washington

politicians act like rational adults

Gregory: but what does Obama

have to show for it besides

winning tax hikes?

Durbin: he won the Presidency jackass

Gregory: what else?

Durbin: Eric Cantor just endorsed

the DREAM Act on your show!

Gregory: okay but what else

Durbin: we've got Republicans

quoting Emma Lazarus!

Gregory: should we make 11 million

people go home first?

Durbin: our current immigration

policy is cruel and insane

Gregory: speaking of that - 

what about automatic spending cuts?

Durbin: they're bad

Gregory: doesn't Washington have

a spending problem?

Durbin: even if we did the sequester cuts

are demented – why would we cut

psychological help for veterans?

Gregory: yes but aren't Republicans

always right about everything?

Durbin: no this is cruel and destructive

Gregory: the Wall Street Journal is

very excited about Obama's hypocrisy

on killing terrorists

Durbin: Obama kept us safe, banned torture,

killed bin Laden and got us out of war

Gregory: what about targeted killing?

Durbin: the U.S. is in a raging war

on computer hackers!

Gregory: what about drone killing?

Durbin: we're at war!

Gregory: what war?

Durbin: we need a new Constitution

for an endless vague war on a tactic!

Gregory: what about Bob Menendez

Durbin: who among doesn't take

free flights to South America?

Gregory: shouldn't Chuck Hagel pull out?

Durbin: No that's ridiculous

Gregory: but Dick Cheney says

Obama's nominees are second-rate

Durbin: has that sociopath shot 

anyone in the face recently?

Reed: Obama spent four years

reaching out to Republicans and

they gave him the back of their hand

– he shouldn't make huge concessions

to Republicans they should make

huge concessions to him!

Gregory: Republicans are always

right but Obama won the election

Isikoff: technically that is true

Gerson: yes but there is literally

no Republican who can support

spending cuts with tax increases

Gregory: well that ends that discussion

Murphy: it's time for Obama to

become a Republican and adopt

all their ideas

Gregory: great idea but I wonder

if that is realistic Mike

Reed: we're rushing to adopt policies

which have destroyed Great Britain

Kay: America needs to increase

spending - not cut it!

Gregory: would Obama becoming

a Republican actually help him?

Gerson: of course – by being a

Democrat he is very divisive

Murphy: Obama should call up heroes

like Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush and

say what do you need and they

will say “you should just go away”

and then he should resign and let

the Bush family take over like nature intended

Gregory: what's the deal with the

President killing people?

Isikoff: the President can kill people

who pose an imminent threat or

are just generally really bad

Gregory: cool

Isikoff: also he can kill if capture 

is not feasible or Game of Thrones is on

Kay: it's not just the law –

drone attacks alienate moderates

all over the world

Gregory: moderates like John McCain?

Kay: no moderate muslims in Pakistan

Gregory: oh like in other countries

Gregory: should we use drones to

track murderers in America

Reed: President Bush kept up 

safe except for 9/11

Gregory: should Presidents have absolute power?

Isikoff: Obama killed as many

people as who were waterboarded

– his legacy is at stake

Gerson: Obama loves drones

because he is lazy

Gregory: all right enough about

whether the President has the right to kill

– Ashley Judd is cute and Chris Christie is fat!

Audience: yeah!

Gregory: I love Marco Rubio

Murphy: he's not ready to run

for President just yet

Gregory: Chris Christie ate a donut

on David Letterman

Kay: obesity is real problem in America

Gregory: Ashley Judd is very adorable

Murphy: don't bet against Turtle Man

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