Meet The Press – January 27, 2013

Guests:

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)

Jim DeMint

Ben Jealous

Bob Woodard

Andrea Mitchell

Ted Koppel

*******************************

Gregory: welcome to Meet The Press brought

to you by Boeing creator of the 787 the

Plane that Usually Flies Without a Fire

Ryan: thanks David and thank you Boeing

and your almost Flameless Planes

Gregory: you are very worried about the debt

Ryan: the Senate hasn't passed a 

budget in four years!

Gregory: are old people takers and not makers?

Ryan: not my mother – she worked hard!

Gregory: some say you would impose savage

cuts on poor children and victims of disaster

Ryan: no we really want a safety net but

in America we have a culture that saps Americans'

initiative and desire to work hard

Gregory: which part of the safety net

makes people lazy?

Ryan: food stamps – six months on those

and people forget how to work hard unlike

when I was young and on welfare and

was determined to better myself

Gregory: that makes perfect sense

Ryan: America is a great nation of 

moochers and lazy welfare cheats

Gregory: isn't the problem in Washington

that people just don't have enough beers together

Ryan: no – the problem is that

Barack Obama doesn't think that

the best way to help poor people

is to cut taxes for rich people

Gregory: Obama is plotting to destroy

Republicans just like they did to him four years ago

Ryan: the debt is going to wreck America!

Gregory: please continue Congressman

Ryan: we have to have an honest debate

about how Medicare is ruining Amierca

Gregory: what did you learn from the election?

Ryan: that the American people are wonderful

but chose a person who will destroy this country

Gregory: what did you learn from losing?

Ryan: we must persuade more poor people

deregulating corporations will help poor people

Gregory: what about immigration?

Ryan: immigration is a good thing!

We don't hate hispanics! I swear! Marco! Rubio!

Gregory: can immigration reform get done in 2013?

Ryan: yes if Obama loves immigrants 

as much as we do

Gregory: could ever vote for gun control?

Ryan: maybe we could have a background

checks all the time instead of just some

of the time

Gregory: that's a big concession

Ryan: but let's not just bring out political ideas

when the real problem is people suck

Gregory: you blame the President for

our terrible culture

Ryan: Obama is planning a Political Conquest!

Gregory: oh my

Ryan: the question is will Obamza

go along with Republicans or keep acting

as if he's President

Gregory: what is the Republican plan?

Ryan: if Erskine Bowles were President

the GOP would be very happy

Gregory: Paul will you for President in 2016?

Ryan: it's too early now to say how

delusional I will be in four years

Gregory: fair enough

[ break ]

Gregory: Obama offered a liberal vision –

he's the Reagan of the Left -

so says Charles Krauthammer!

Woodward: awesome

Gregory: Paul Ryan says Obama is only

interested in political conquest

Woodward: Paul Ryan is the Future of America

Gregory: I love him

Woodward: if the two sides just sit down

together we can finally cut entitlements!

Mitchell: all Obama said in his inaugural

speech was human rights and equality

under the law for women and others were important

Gregory: but we must cut spending!

Koppel: of course we must

Gregory: Jim DeMint how can we

finally enact a conservative agenda?

DeMint: the debt and spending became the

most important moral issue of our time since 2009

Gregory: the country just made a choice

and voted for Obama

DeMint: that doesn't matter

Gregory: it doesn't?

DeMint: the American people want us to

cut taxes for the rich and raise them on the poor

Gregory: they do?

DeMint: yes look at how horrible Europe is

Jealous: hey unemployment is still a big problem

Gregory: how can we persuade Obama to

propose big spending cuts for the good 

of the country?

Koppel: you have a mental illness Fluffy

Woodward: can't we please just have a

little entitlement cutting? Pleeease?!?

Woodward: if we cut the debt unemployment

will come down!

Gregory: exactly

Woodward: businesses need to see the

debt cut for their psychology before

they can hire more people

Gregory: how do we persuade the

President raise the retirement age?

Mitchell: the dirty liberals who got him

elected don't like that

Gregory: I hate those filthy hippies

and their luxious retirement!

Mitchell: they are so smelly

Gregory: Bobby Jindal said the GOP

has to stop being the stupid party

DeMint: the debt is a moral argument!

Gregory: did you hear what I said?

DeMint: our children will inherit a terrible debt!

Gregory: I think Jindal was talking about

offensive comments about

legitimate rape or the lazy 47%

DeMint: liberals hate minorities!

Gregory: okay then

DeMint: Democrats failed the negroes in

Detroit and Philadelphia

Jealous: good lord will you ever learn?

Gregory: Jim is talking about rape really smart?

DeMint: we know from science that rape victims

should be forced to have their babies

Gregory: I love how crazy you are

DeMint: Obama is not the President!

Gregory: Ted Iran scares me

Koppel: we are entering the most

dangerous time in American history

Gregory: sweet jesus

Koppel: Israel may bomb Iran in the spring

and then Iran would lauch a cyber war which

would be worse than WWII

Woodward: it's even worse than that

Gregory: how could it be worse?!?

Woodward: North Korea may bomb the Oscars

Gregory: egads

Gregory: Hillary Clinton says the world is unstable

Mitchell: she is warning Obama that we 

cannot retreat from the world

Gregory: interesting

Mitchell: also Obama is re-fueling French planes

in Mali which is troubling since they will

not accept cheddar only brie

Gregory: amazing

Mitchell: Mali is the most dangerous place on

earth except for Afghanistan or Pakistan

or North Korea or Florida

DeMint: Obama sends signals of weakness

which could invite a terror attack

Gregory: like Bush did before 9/11?

DeMint: no that didn't happen because

Bush was a tough cowboy

Jealous: oh my god I am losing IQ points

just listening to this conversation

Koppel: since 1945 we are using fewer tanks

and have more cyber war

Gregory: you sir are brilliant

Gregory: Obama is raising a lot of eyebrows

by praising his Secretary of State on television

Obama: Hillary was an awesome Secretatary of State

Clinton: of course I served in the cabinet

– what the hell else was I going to do?

Gregory: joe biden must be soooo mad hee hee hee

Mitchell: if Hillary runs in 2016 she clears the field!

Woodward: nobody puts Biden in a corner

Gregory: and that's another

episode of Meet The Press

***********************************

This Week – January 27, 2013

Host: Martha Raddatz

Guests:

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ)

Rep David Schweikert (R-AZ) 

Steve Inskeep 

George Will

Donna Brazile

Chris Hughes

**************************

Raddatz: Welcome Senator McCain –

what's the deal with immigration reform?

McCain: frankly we have some awesome ideas

Raddatz: good to know

McCain: honestly Republicans have finally

realized we will never win another election

if we don't stop alienating all those brown people

Raddatz: will the new law include 

a path to citizenship?

McCain: did you know most of the

 drugs in America come from Mexico?

Raddatz: even Viagra?

McCain: that's why we need reform!

Raddatz: you have flip-flopped on citizenship

McCain: we have armed guards in

the U.S. Senate while half of all the 

old people Arizona are killed 

by illegal Mexican terrorists

Raddatz: wow

McCain: but let's face it –

we need those spanish voters

Raddatz: Obama is the President –

how to you feel about that?

McCain: it makes my face explode

Raddatz: the most important thing

in the world is Benghazi

McCain: Obama ignored the warnings!

Raddatz: like all the warnings before 9/11?

McCain: 7 hours went by!

Raddatz: haven't most of those 

questions been answered?

McCain: it was the High Holy Day of 9/11!

Raddatz: fascinating

McCain: what was Obama doing while

our consulate being attacked? 

Playing golf? Watching movies? 

Remembering how he beat me in 2008?

Raddatz: could be all three – he is a multi-tasker

McCain: Africa is detoriating since we got Qaddafi!

Raddatz: you want to arm the rebels in Syria

McCain: yes – this time I promise

the middle east war will be fun

Raddatz: you trust the rebels?

McCain: yes – I've met them

Raddatz: well you also met Sarah Palin

McCain: that's a low blow Martha

Raddatz: will you vote for Obama's former

Republican defense secretary?

McCain: no he's too liberal

Raddatz: what makes you say that

McCain: he believes in evolution and

doesn't want to lauch a war with Iran

Raddatz: do you support women in combat

McCain: yes but they must have the

same mental competency as people like me

Raddatz: that's a high bar indeed

[ break ]

Raddatz: Senator you're hispanic –

what about immigration?

Menendez: it seems the GOP has

finally seen the light

Raddatz: what do you want from Obama?

Menendez: a pathway to citizenship 

and also a pardon

Raddatz: shouldn't the President

reach out more to Republicans?

Menendez: he tried that in his first term

Raddatz: but not this week

Menendez: he invited all the hispanics

in Congress to the White House

Raddatz: he could have tried to find at

least one Republican member of color

Menendez: like John Boehner?

Raddatz: isn't Benghazi a huge deal

Menendez: no it was always a fake scandal

Raddatz: do you supports Chuck Hagel?

Menendez: I am concerned he 

may not love Israel enough

Raddatz: will he be confirmed?

Menendez: probably

Raddatz: where do you come down  

on the Frank Lautenberg / Cory Booker feud?

Menendez: oh I'm not touching that one

Raddatz: do you think Booker was

disrespectful to that 89 year old crank?

Menendez: Martha if I've learned one

thing in Jersey politics it's when two friends

are fighting to get the hell out of the way

[ break ]

Raddatz: panel it looks like we may an

immigration agreement with a path to citizenship

Will: sure now that no one wants to

move to America anymore

Raddatz: ironic indeed

Will: to deport 11 million people would

require buses from San Diego to Alaska

so of course we need to build a human pipeline

Schweikert: People in my district live 

in fear of non-existent Mexicans

Raddatz: chris you were Mark Zuckerberg's 

freshman roommate and so bought 

The New Republic

Hughes: yes I was – can the President lead?

Brazile: Obama closed the borders!

Raddatz: Benghazi! Benghazi!

Will: I think we have wrung this issue dry

Inskeep: no one cares what is said 

on Sunday talk shows

Raddatz: except for this one!

Raddatz: should women serve in combat?

Will: only if they can carry a 265 lb. man 100 yards

Raddatz: George no dude can do that

Will: harrumph

Raddatz: thanks for coming

***************************************

Meet The Press – January 13, 2013

Guests:

Colin Powell

Mayor Cory Booker (D-NJ)

Haley Barbour

Andrea Mitchell

Mike Murphy

******************************

Gregory: good morning General Powell

Powell: hello David

Gregory: you think Chuck Hagel would

make a good Secretary of Defense

Powell: he volunteered for combat Vietnam

and was wounded then went to college

Gregory: very admirable

Powell: then he worked for Ronald Reagan

and quit after one year because they

didn't care about veterans

Gregory: wow

Powell: then he founded a cell phone company

Gregory: can you hear me now?!

Powell: and people in Nebraska love him

Gregory: that counts for something I guess

Powell: then he taught at Georgetown and

said a bunch of outrageous things about Israel

Gregory: he sounds ready for the Cabinet

Powell: oh he is

Gregory: Republicans says he is soft

on starting a war with Iran

Powell: he just wants to negotiate before

starting a useless and destructive war

Gregory: it a war with Iran feasible?

Powell: define 'feasible'

Gregory: 'fun'

Powell: well sure is war is great

fun for Beltway reporters

Gregory: he once used the term “Jewish lobby”

Powell: okay he should have used

the term “Israel lobby”

Gregory: yes but others have questioned

his loyalty to Israel and he once said

some nice things about Palestinians

Powell: oh noe

Gregory: does he believe that Israelis

and Palestinians are equal?

Powell: oh no of course not and

neither does Obama

Gregory: Hagel says Bush and Colin Powell

lied to the nation to start a war

Powell: that's not fair – the CIA told us to do that

Gregory: but what you said wasn't true and

thousands of people died for no reason

Powell: Chuck Hagel voted for that war

Gregory: because you told him it was necessary

Powell: we believed Iraq had weapons of

mass destruction and that Saddam would

give them to terrorists

Gregory: that sounded really stupid then

and totally ridiculous now

Powell: I admit also we completely

fucked up the invasion

Gregory: also back in the 1990s Hagel

didn't support gays

Powell: yes but that was before Will and Grace

Gregory: but can he reverse

Don't Ask Don't Tell?

Powell: he doesn't have to – it's been reversed!

Gregory: Hagel says the Pentagon

budget is bloated

Powell: you think?

Gregory: but you can't say that out loud

Powell: hell yes you can

Gregory: but will Chuck Hagel hollow

out the military?

Powell: criminy the people who say that

are the same Republicans who go

on your tv show and say

'we gotta cut spending!'

Gregory: yes but that's bad

spending for poor and old people

Powell: oh ok

Gregory: Obama didn't support Susan Rice

Powell: yeah that didn't go well

Gregory: Hillary Clinton was Secretary

of State when our consulate in

Benghazi was attacked

Powell: hey shit happens

Gregory: would Hillary Clinton

make a good President?

Powell: we've done worse

Gregory: By picking a distinguished

Republican Senator Obama is sending

a rebuke to Republicans

Powell: um I guess

Gregory: by nominating Hagel Obama

is sending a message that we should avoid

the stupid wars of the Bush administration

Powell: hey I was in that Administration

Gregory: oh right I forgot

Powell: look when Bush was President we

wanted to avoid war and believed that if we

must have war go in with overwhelming force

Gregory: how did that go?

Powell: not that great

Gregory: the neocons are jonesing for

another war in the middle east

Powell: they've lost two wars in a row

and should shut up and go away

Gregory: but they're so serious and grown-up

Powell: I'm a hawk who believes in deterrence

Gregory: are you still a Republican?

Powell: I am the Republican in the great

tradition of John Tower and Frank Carlucci

Gregory: excellent

Powell: Republicans seem to hate minorities

and anyone who is not rich

Gregory: I suppose

Powell: also there is a dark strain of

intolerance in the GOP

Gregory: that's a strong charge Colin

Powell: look at the Birther movement

– they're all racists

Gregory: some of them perhaps

Powell: also they seem only to care

about wealthy people

Gregory: what about Afghanistan?

Powell: it's up to the Afghan people to defend

themselves against the Taliban

Gregory: should we leave anyone there?

Powell: no – just advisors and military

assistance and SEALS and counter-terrorists

and also lots of soldiers

Gregory: Dick Cheney embraced the

Dark Side and said the United States

should be mean and nasty

Powell: I've known that guy for years and

I can honestly say he is a monster

Gregory: since torture works should we do it?

Powell: nations cannot be lawless or

violate the Constitution

Gregory: but the ends justifies the means!

Powell: no they don't Fluffy

Gregory: what is the solution to

preventing another Newton massacre?

Powell: no more violence on television

Gregory: what else?

Powell: make gun owners run through a screen

Gregory: okay

Powell: no one needs a personal machine gun

Gregory: thanks for coming General

[ break ]

Gregory: Colin Powell says the Republican

party are intolerant

Barbour: well we do have a problem

with those wacky minorities obviously

Booker: both sides we need to be pragmatic

and solve problems

Murphy: Colin Powell has been on a

Democratic bender and Republicans

need a man like Powell again

Gregory: can Hagel get confirmed?

Mitchell: it's up to Chuck Schumer

Gregory: amazing

Mitchell: Hagel also endorsed the President

which could hurt the President's nominee

Gregory: should Obama really have

nominated a Republican who doesn't

love Republicans enough?

Barbour: he's offending Republicans!

Murphy: nominating an old Republican

is very contentious!

Gregory: does Obama hates women

and black people?

Booker: ha ha oh my god

Mitchell: Jack Lew is a white man!

Murphy: ha ha just like Mitt Romney

Barbour: Obama is acting like he's

really President or something

Booker: this is ridiculous

Gregory: we have a lot of gun

massacres in this country

Barbour: yes but killing people is

already illegal

Gregory: but Connecticut rejected

a gun magazine ban

Barbour: if you outlaw guns then

only criminals will have guns and if we

outlaw drugs we will have successful

40 year war on drugs

Murphy: we need to lock up adolscent

males instead of 300 million guns

Gregory: works for me

Murphy: we need investigate people who

clearly have a mental illness

Gregory: how do we find these people?

Murphy: begin with disturbed lunatics

who liveblog the Sunday talk shows

Gregory: it's a start

Booker: we have a lot of gun murders in Newark

Gregory: we all know that

Booker: you can buy tons of guns in

America without a background check

even if you are a terrorist

Murphy: true but there are 100 million guns

Booker: I don't care about the guns in circulation

– I want to shut down the loophole market

Murhphy: but the guns are out there

Booker: it's not the guns - it's the people

Mitchell: frankly the Beltway media loves

the idea of Obama as a wimp but it

looks like he's ready for a fight

Gregory: Cory you are running for the Senate

Booker: that's true

Gregory: Lautenberg called you

self-abosbed and disresectful

Booker: ha ha I am a politician Fluffers

Gregory: Haley Barbour talk to me

about the Tour de France

Barbour: yall gotta play by the rules

Booker: all the kids are on steroids today

Mitchell: three cheers for the baseball writers

and the Hall of Fame – Mark McGuire disgraced

this otherwise unblemished pasttime

Gregory: America can never be whole until

Steve Garvey is properly honored

Mitchell: you have put it eloquently again as usual

Gregory: and that's another episode

of Meet The Press

******************************

This Week with Stephanopoulos – January 13, 2013

Guests:

Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)

Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN)

Richard Haas

Martha Raddatz

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV)

Jon Huntsman

******************************

Stephanopoulos: wow we're rushing out

of Afghanistan after only 11 years!

Raddatz: by the end of 2013 we could

have only have 30,000 troops there

Stephanopoulos: my good that's so few

Corker: 30,000 is fine but if Afghanistan is

going to be the 51^st state it has to be at least

as stable as Florida

Stephanopoulos: that's a lot to ask Bob

Reed: we finally trained the Afghans

to fight so now we're good to go

Stephanopoulos: Obama is says we have

achieved the goal of killing enough people

to prevent another 9/11

Haas: it was a mistake to try to fix

Afghanistan and now it's a total basket case

Stephanopoulos: what's the answer then?

Haas: make more friends with massive drone strikes

Stephanopoulos: Bob you used to love

Chuck Hagel – what changed?

Corker: unlike with past Presidents

we're going to hold real hearings

Stephanopoulos: wow

Corker: I'm concerned that he may not

love nuclear weapons and also

that he might be crazy

Stephanopoulos: crazier than the average Senator?

Corker: we need more nuclear bombs!

Stephanopoulos: Chuck Schumer is skeptical

Reed: well sure he wants to be

biggest Chuck in Washington

Stephanopoulos: good point

Reed: Hagel was once a combat soldier

Raddatz: our troops have more combat

experience than he does but he may be able

to relate to wounded soldiers coming home

Haas: it's stupid to ask if he's an anti-semite

the real question is does Chuck Hagel

want to attack Iran

Stephanopoulos: Hagel doesn't support

unilateral sanctions just because they don't work

Corker: I agree that multilateral sanctions

are better but Hagel may hate Israel

Stephanopoulos: will America start a

war with Iran this year?

Reed: let's wait until their elections in

June before we launch another useless

failed war in the middle east

Haas: The Supreme Leader is allowing

a debate to take place

Stephanopoulos: very generous of Obama

Haas: I was referring to the leader in Iran

Stephanopoulos: Martha can we

attack North Korea please

Raddatz: those people are crazy like

Wayne LaPierre at a Black Panther party

Stephanopoulos: wow

[ break ]

Stephanopoulos: No Labels are just like

the heroes who opposed slavery

Manchin: yes we are great men who just

want to solve problems

Stephanopoulos: yet you chickened

out on regulating guns

Huntsman: we also have No Opinions

Stephanopoulos: well then how do you

solve problems?

Huntsman: Put Country First

Stephanopoulos: what the hell

does that mean?

Manchin: everyone who proposes

anything is wrong

Stephanopoulos: so do you have 

solutions for anything?

Manchin: yes a blue ribbon commission

to look at violence with Joe Lieberman

and John McCain

Stephanopoulos: that sounds like the most

useless thing solution ever

Manchin: I am willing to guarantee that

there will never ever be regulation of

Second Amendment rights and also

we will protect video games

Stephanopoulos: Joe will you run for

Presidential on a third party

Huntsman: I've been shooting guns 

since I was 5 years old

Stephanopoulos: sounds perfect

Huntsman: are you mocking me?

Stephanopoulos: never

Huntsman: we need problem solvers!

Manchin: and common sense!

Stephanopoulos: good luck with that gentlemen

*******************************************

Meet The Press – January 6, 2013

Guests:

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Alan Simpson

Erskine Bowles

Sen. Angus King (I-ME)

Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA)

Newt Gingrich

E.J. Dionne

Carly Fiorina

******************************

Gregory: OMG it's the annual fight over the 

debt ceiling which first began a long time 

ago when a black guy became President!

Audience: ooh

Gregory: Republicans are vowing to threaten 

to default unless they get what they want 

but first happy new year Senator McConnell

Gregory: you compared the debt limit to

a hostage you ransom and must be willing to shoot

McConnell: ever since Obama became

President spending became a big problem

Gregory: amazing

McConnell: last week we amended the

Constitution forbidding taxes forever and ever

Gregory: I did not know that

McConnell: no one likes taking America's

credit hostage but we must do it to make

Obama cut spending

Gregory: would you really wreck

America's economy like that?

McConnell: unfortunately we have to since

a Democrat became President spending and

the debt suddenly became a really big problem

Gregory: but it's a threat to America's credit

McConnell: look we have to since do

this since we can't win through normal politics

Gregory: fair enough

McConnell: spending has exploded

the last four years!

Gregory: for four years you refused to 

work with Obama and tried to make 

him a one-term President

McConnell: he has to be dragged

kicking and screaming slashing into Social Security

and the time to do it is right now when

a Democrat is President and he will get blamed

Gregory: since the debt is so important

would you be willing to raise more taxes?

McConnell: oh hell no that's over

Gregory: that's your final answer?

McConnell: yes the biggest threat to

America's future is all the spending I

supported when Bush was President

Gregory: Obama proposed entitlement

cuts and you said no

McConnell: he never made those proposals –

if he had Mitt Romney would have run

against those cuts in the 2012 election

Gregory: what cuts would you support right now?

McConnell: raise the Medicare age and

also means-test Medicare

Gregory: I see

McConnell: Americans are living too long

and we must address that now!

Gregory: you're the man to do it

McConnell: we should not have to

drag the President to the table

Gregory: would you shut the government down?

McConnell: the single biggest threat to

America is past excessive spending –

where is Obama's time machine?!?!

Gregory: Conservatives say you totally

caved to Obama under the Fiscal Cliff deal

McConnell: I was very fiscally responsible

and prevented tax increaes for 99% of people

Gregory: most impressive

McConnell: this was not a tax increase!

Just ask Saint Grover Norquist!

Gregory: it seems like the GOP is in

total chaos right now

McConnell: not true – we all agree that

taxes should be cut for billionaires

Gregory: good point

McConnell: now the American people

want us to eliminate Medicare

Gregory: what is your number one goal now

that you have failed to defeat Obama?

McConnell: the massive massive debt

Gregory: you want to make it bigger?

McConnell: no!

Gregory: sorry honest mistkae

McConnell: I want to Obama to take the lead

on Republicans' unpopular ideas

Gregory: what about Chuck Hagel?

McConnell: I am worried he is not patriotic

Gregory: he served in Vietnam!

McConnell: I meant patriotic for Israel

Gregory: could you support any

limits on people buying guns?

McConnell: yes I think we should address

spending and the debt for first time 

in Clinton was President

[ break ]

Gregory: OMG OMG Alan Simpson is here!! 

I'm squeeeeing!!!

Audience: oh god

Gregory: The American debt is just like an

America's family's credit card debts!!

The debt is the most important thing ever!!!

Here are the greatest men alive! Eeeeek!

Simpson: calm down David

Gregory: I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!

Bowles: it's ok Fluffy, you're worthy

Gregory: meeeeeep

Bowles: we must cut Social Security

Simpson: did you know that we are awesome?

Gregory: yes I did! I did!

Simpson: the debt deficit and interest

are wrecking America!

Gregory: oh god you guys are the best

Bowles: yes we are

Gregory: Obama says he offered to cut

Social Security and Republicans said

no to any tax increases

Bowles: well he is right about that

but still Obama hasn't done enough

Gregory: what has he failed at?

Bowles: he's failed to make Republicans

make tough decisions

Gregory: I begged Obama to cut Medicare

and he got all huffy saying the program

was really important to poor old people

Bowles: I would cut half a trillion dollars

from Medicare through raising the eligibility age,

negotiating drug prices, and early end of life issues

Gregory: what about the debt ceiling?

Simpson: McConnell should work with

his colleagues instead of threatening America

Gregory: what breaks this impasse?

Simpson: cut spending

Gregory: what spending?

Simpson: greedy old people –

who's fucking kidding who?!?

[ break ]

Gregory: it seems like U.S. government is dysfunctional

King: yes that is why people despair of America

Gregory: it's so sad - how do you break the impasse

King: we should make decisions and solve problems

Gregory: fantastic

Gingrich: we lurch from crisis to crisis

and it makes people crazy

Gregory: yes it's terrible

Becerra: this is no way to run a government

Gregory: right

Becerra: we must lock ourselves in a room

and put our budget proposals around the necks

of two roosters and let the biggest cock win

Gregory: interesting approach

Dionne: hey we raised taxes –

now let's make a small deal to stabilize the debt

Becerra: too small – singles don't 

win baseball games

Dionne: yes they do – now let's address unemployment

Fiorina: I know I sound crazy

Gregory: yes you do but go on

Fiorina: Goldman Sachs says the

fiscal cliff deal is a bad idea

Gregory: well I'm convinced

Fiorina: Obama must lead America and

do whatever Goldman Sachs says

Gregory: but he needs the Republican

House to work with him

Fiorina: but Obama needs to treat Republicans

respect like not saying anything when they yell out “you lie”

Becerra: the House can't even agree on 

hurricane disaster relief!

Fiorina: that bill was larded with pork!

Gingrich: typical Democrats ruining America

Becerra: but Chris Christie supported

the funding bill and he is a Republican

Gingrich: when he said something nice

about Obama he lost his GOP privileges

Gingrich: Republicans have no obligation

to fund the government

Dionne: Gingrich is right when he says threatening

the debt ceiling is a terrible idea and dumb politics

King: the debt ceiling is already paying bills

for money you already spent

Gregory: Carly it does seem like a scary idea

Fiorina: sure it's stupid but having a

big debt also ruins our credit rating

Gregory: I see

Fiorina: Obama must cut the debt Bush ran up!

Gingrich: forget the debt ceiling –

just stop funding the government!

Gregory: Angus where's the beef?

King: as an independent I can send

messages to both sides like Switzerland

Gregory: ricoooolaaaa!!

King: we must raise taxes and make painful cuts

Gregory: excellent

King: Obama should call some people

I don't know and get his hands dirty and

lock them in Camp David and then flee

Becerra: we've had a trillion in spending cuts

and $700 billion in Medicare cuts

that Mitt Romney railed against

Fiorina: spending got out of control in 2009

Dionne: abandoning the debt ceiling threat

would boost the economy

Fiorina: Obama invented spending!

Gingrich: the media loves a fake crisis

Gregory: don't criticize the media!

Gingrich: we must cut spending now that 

Obama has been reelected

Gregory: what about Chuck Hagel?

King: you talk about reaching out to

Republicans and Obama nominates a

famous Republican to run Defense

and what happens – Republicans stage a total freak out

Gregory: and that's another 

episode of Meet The Press

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