This Week with George Stephanopoulos – March 10, 2013

Guests:
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
Paul Krugman
George Will
Julianna Goldman
*********************************
Stephanopoulos: Senator Johnson how
was dinner with the President? 

Johnson: it was nice – we had a beet and

argula salad, pasta with vegetables, 

veal with mushrooms, and we also 

agreed to cut Medicare

Stephanopoulos: can you reach an angreement?

Johnson: yes were willing to work with the

President to get what we want

Stephanopoulos: will the GOP really raise taxes?

Will: no because Obama has said Republicans

are bad people and you don't undo those

hurt feelings just because of one admittedly delicious meal

Johnson: don't underestimate Barack –

he's one charming dude

Schultz: the problem is the tea party is

full of crazy people who won't 

ever make a deal

Krugman: indeed – the problem is that

one side wants to shred the social safety net

and privatize Social Security and the other

might event want to expand it

Goldman: if Obama hits beneficiaries on

Medicare and goes out and sells the Republican

agenda to give them cover you might possibly

get some Republicans to go along with that

Will: would Democrats ever consider

raising the Medicare age?

Schultz: we supported 1 trillion dollars

in spending cuts!

Krugman: oh by the way raising the

Medicare age is a terrible horrible idea

Johnson: Social Security is bankrupt!

Stephanopoulos: what about means-testing

in exchange for higher taxes?

Johnson: we already had a trillion dollars tax

increases and if you want jobs and more

revenue you just have to cut taxes

Schultz: there's no rush on Social Security –

and no I'm sorry but we're not done 

with tax increases

Krugman: let's have some facts

Johnson: I have some facts

Krugman: but your facts are false

Johnson: well they're my facts and I love them

Krugman: Social security has a dedicated

source of revenue unlike defense 

or corporate welfare

Johnson: there is no such thing as

the Social Security trust fund – it's a lie!

Krugman: well then it's part of the budget

and ergo there's no more problem 

with Social Security than with 

aircraft carriers or fighter jets

Johnson: [ head explodes ]

Stephanopoulos: damm that's icky

Karl: Paul Ryan wants to balance the

budget by getting rid of all spending

Audience: wow

Karl: and the Senate might even pass a budget

Audience: holy cow

Stephanopoulos: the economy is doing well

Goldman: battle lines are being drawn

Stephanopoulos: Nobody's right if 

everybody's wrong

Goldman: President Obama must be very

respectful and civil and not hurt

Paul Ryan's feelings

Stephanopoulos: America will run

out of money in the summer

Will: Republicans love the sequester

Krugman: wait until Americans experience 

air traffic delays

Johnson: American is bankrupt!

Krugman: half the deficit is due to the 

Bush Recession

Schultz: the sequester will cost us 

750,000 jobs – it's insane!

Audience: ooh

Schultz: but I would be willing to

support entitlement cuts

Goldman: the sequester is bad for everybody

Will: that's why I like it so much

Krugman: we should try to avoid

crushing the economy if possible

Johnson: at one point do we restrain

the evil government??

Will: I don't care what you say -

unemployment is actually getting higher

Stephanopoulos: mostly because we

cut government jobs like you wanted

Johnson: Obama did not recover from

the Bush Recession fast enough!

Schultz: we have 37 straight months

of jobs growth you moron

Johnson: Saint Reagan was a saint!

Schultz: there is a trust deficit between the

parties and we have to sit down and

talk with each other

Johnson: only when you admit that Obama

caused the recession in 2007

Stephanopoulos: thanks for coming everyone

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

Meet The Press - March 3, 2013

Guests:

House Speaker John Boehner – (R-OH)

Gene Sperling – White House economic advisor

Rep. Paul Labrador – (R-ID)

Tom Brokaw

Joy Reid

Kathleen Parker
Chuck Todd

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

Gregory: Welcome Speaker Boehner-

what happened when you met 

with the President to discuss the 

disastrous sequester you both agreed to?

Boehner: I asked him to give

me a plan and he didn't have one

Gregory: he does have a balanced plan

– I saw it on the Internet

Boehner: if he had a plan why

wouldn't the Senate pass it

Gregory: why not agree to get rid 
of some tax loopholes like 

you said you wanted?

Boehner: I want tax reform –

by which I mean more tax cuts 

for rich people

Gregory: now we're getting somewhere

Boehner: Americans expect Washington

to cut spending since a Democrat

was elected President

Gregory: the President says you won't 

accept any deal no matter how good 

or fair or popular if it includes higher taxes

Boehner: that's right - Obama got his

higher taxes so that discussion is over

Gregory: you got 99% of the Bush tax cuts extended

Boehner: Obama got his tax hikes and

it's time for spending cuts

Gregory: Obama has proposed 

a lot of spending cuts

Boehner: look I've been here 20 years and

now is the time to cut entitlements and

never raise taxes ever again

Gregory: would you ever ever raise taxes

even if it was used to cut the deficit

Boehner: no we must never ever raise taxes

– however I would be willing to cut taxes

for rich people to create jobs

Gregory: there's no evidence that

cutting taxes create jobs

Boehner: yes there is - when 

Ronald Reagan cut taxes in 1981

Gregory: he also raised taxes and 

exploded the deficit

Boehner: that's not how I remember it

Gregory: Obama has also proposed chained CPI

Boehner: it's time for the Senate to pass a bill

with chained CPI in regular order

while the House talks about bills

we passed in a whole other Congress

Gregory: Congress left town – is that helpful?

Boehner: in my experience it can be

Gregory: so you will only accept 

spending cuts and no taxes 

Boehner: Obamacare raised taxes! 

We just raised taxes! Every American 

has to tighten their belts!

Gregory: you said the House should

not have to pass bills until the

Senate gets off their ass

Boehner: Obama created the 

sequester all by himself

Gregory: Republicans voted for it

Boehner: Obama demanded the sequester

in response to Republicans hostage-taking

so it's all his fault

Gregory: you budget plan repeals 

Obamacare and Dodd-Frank – 

is that realistic?

Boehner: here's the process – the House passes

a bill and then it expires and then we have a 

whole new Congress and then the House 

demands the Senate and President pass 

a bill while the House whines about the old bills

Gregory: That's not how it was on  

Schoolhouse Rock

Boehner: go buy the new unskewed version

Gregory: will the sequester hurt the economy?

Boehner: I have no idea what am I - an expert?

Gregory: is Obama exagerrating

the effect of the sequester?

Boehner: of course he is – I assume

Gregory: you called sequester dangerous

and said it would hurt national security

Boehner: why didn't Obama pass a bill in Congress?

Gregory: um - because he's not in Congress?

Boehner: that's a very poor excuse

Gregory: what about Bob Woordward?

Boehner: he proved Obama invented the sequester

Gregory: people think you are terrified 

of the tea party

Boehner: I am here to cut spending 

and taxes on rich people

Gregory: will Republicans shut

down the government?

Boehner: no – that's not going to happen

Gregory: so what happens next?

Boehner: cut spending!

Gregory: is any of this your fault?

Boehner: we've have tried really really

hard to get the President to do everything

we want and he just won't just because

he won an election and stuff

Gregory: will there be a vote on gun control?

Boehner: if the Senate acts first

Gregory: that sounds like a cop out

Boehner: the real problem is not guns

– it's mentally ill people with guns

Gregory: is the Voting Rights Act too

racial to be left to Congress?

Boehner: hey Congress is still relevant!

Gregory: you seem to hate your job

Boehner: it's not easy to cut spending

because people like spending but spending

became the greatest threat to America

when a Democrat got elected in 2008

[ break ]

Gregory: Gene why didn't Democrats

pass Obama's plan in the Senate?

Sperling: Democrats don't control the Senate

Gregory: even so

Sperling: the President cut spending and

cut the deficit and has a balanced plan out there

Gregory: but you know Republicans

can never accept higher taxes

Sperling: They've said they will

Gregory: well trust me they don't and won't

Sperling: Boehner put a trillion dollars

on the table and now he won't consider anything

Gregory: you should've taken that deal

Sperling: meanwhile Obama has

suggested tough things like chained CPI

Gregory: but the Senate didn't vote on that

Sperling: so Obama is the only adult in the room

Gregory: Obama said sequester would

hurt the military and cost jobs and now

he's says it's just dumb but not apocalyptic

Sperling: hey Fluffy it will cost 750,000

jobs and hurt small businesses

Gregory: Arne Duncan said teachers

will be fired and he exagerrated

Sperling: even Boehner said it would be

devastating and he's right – you can't just

cut $42 billion from defense and

not expect some impact

Gregory: a deep impact?

Sperling: Republicans will see job

losses in their districts

Gregory: Obama proposed the sequester

Sperling: Obama was threatened by Republicans

who demanded big cuts or they would

ruin America's credit rating

Gregory: you threatened to kill 

Bob Woodward's children

Sperling: no I threatened to choke his chicken

Gregory: you scared Woodward by politely

telling him he would regret saying sequester

was all Obama's fault

Sperling: I was very cordial with 
that whiny bastard

Gregory: does Obama support threatening reporters

by saying they will regret inacurrate reporting

Sperling: oh for god's sake Fluffy

Gregory: will there be a government shut down?

Sperling: not if the Republicans keep their word

Gregory: that doesn't sound like a 

strong commitment

Sperling: we shall see

[ break ]

Gregory: give us your wisdom Tom Brokaw

Brokaw: both sides are trying to win elections

Gregory: I am in awe

Brokaw: there is politics involed here

Gregory: you are a genius

Labrador: families have to cut spending

so of course the government should too

Gregory: makes sense

Labrador: Obama is going to inflict pain

on Republican districts because

Obama's real goal is to raise taxes

Gregory: the sequester is really 

great Tea Party victory isn't it?

Reid: this is why Republican want credit

for spending cuts while blaming the

President for the spending cuts

Parker: this is all good news for Republicans

Todd: Obama doesn't understand that

John Cornyn will lose his job if Obama

doesn't do what Republicans want

Gregory: that is so sad it makes me want to cry

Todd: maybe both sides secretly

like these sequester cuts - Democrats 

get big cuts to aircraft carriers 

and Republicans get to throw 

lazy kids off Head Start

Labrador: but Boehner increased taxes

and Obama moved the goalposts

Todd: you cut taxes on 99% of the people

Labrador: Obama keeps cheating by being popular

Gregory: is Gene Sperling really that scary?

Brokaw: journalists have become 
hyper-sensitive and the irony is my 
old friend Bob he does regret blowing this up

Gregory: do liberals have to accept 

cuts in Medicare?

Reid: maybe but luckily Washington

can't make a deal anyway

Gregory: why didn't the election solve this problem?

Parker: because Obama insists on an

unbalanced plan of higher taxes and spending cuts

instead of spending cuts and lower taxes

Gregory: I see

Parker: Republicans can't accept higher taxes at all

– they just can't -- it would permanently damage

their brand as intransigent ideologues who insist

on everything being exactly they want it

or they will smash things

Gregory: Scalia said the Voting Rights Act

is a perpetuation of racial entitlement and

that democracy cannot be trusted to voters

Reid: it was very nice to hear from

the 19^th century in our highest court

Labrador: hey I'm hispanic and I'm 

from freaking Idaho

Brokaw: I think we should expand

voting rights and let people vote on Saturday

Gregory: the sabbath?!

Brokaw: racial entitlement is pretty

coded phrase but Democrats limit voting too

Parker: it's not fair to treat different 

states differently

Gregory: tune in tomorrow to The

Today Show when Dennis Rodman

will give his insights on North Korea

Brokaw: you know I used to 

host the Today Show

Gregory: I know – I danced Gangnam

style in the 30 Rock plaza!

Brokaw: excuse I just remembered

I have to go kil myself

Gregory: and that's another

episode of Meet The Press

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

Virtually Speaking Sundays - 6:00 p.m. Pacific|9:00 p.m. Eastern - Listen live and later:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/virtuallyspeaking/2013/03/04/dave-johnson-stuart-zechman-virtually-speaking-sundays

Dave Johnson & Stuart Zechman discuss trends and current developments, countering the narratives of the traditional media, highlighting issues neglected or misrepresented or otherwise messed with on the Sunday morning broadcasts. Culture of Truth provides the most ridiculous moment from the Sunday morning legacy media.

This Week with George Stephanopoulos - March 3, 2013

Guests:

Gene Sperling – White House economic advisor

Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)

Dennis Rodman

Shane Smith

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

Stephanopoulos: OMG the Sequester Has Landed!

Sperling: the President and Congress

signed these cuts into law that were

considered so awfully terrible no one

could ever possibly consider them

Stephanopoulos: that's crazy

Sperling: if Republicans hate immigrats

they should oppose these cuts because

we have to fire border patrol agents and

let lots of Mexicans into America

Stephanopoulos: Republicans say

Obama can make sequester less painful

Sperling: what if someone threatens

to cut off three fingers but you get

to choose which ones - how is that good?

Stephanopoulos: if they were someone 

else's fingers

Sperling: Republicans said they

wanted to close tax loopholes and

now they won't do it

Stephanopoulos: Mayor Bloomberg 

says Obama is just posturing

Sperling: so is he

Stephanopoulos: janitors won't actually

get less pay – isn't Obama hyping the threat?

Sperling: no it will cost 750,000 jobs

and wreck the economy

Stephanopoulos: did you really threaten

to break Bob Woodward's kneecaps?

Sperling: yes but only as a friend

and he thanked me later

Stephanopoulos: he seemed very scared

Sperling: I've know Bob for 20 years

and he's always been a weasel

Stephanopoulos: but you said he

would regret saying something stupid

which is threatening

Sperling: we both care about policy and

he also cares about playing a big

victim on Fox News

Stephanopoulos: Welcome Kelly Ayotte –

what about the sequester – is it hype or real?

Ayotte: it's real – our troops are threatened

– the rest is fake

Stephanopoulos: wow

Ayotte: the sequester was all Obama's idea!

Stephanopoulos: but it was in response

to GOP debt ceiling demands

Ayotte: Ronald Reagan would never

accept these cuts in doubled defense spending

Stephanopoulos: true

Ayotte: we could protect our high defense spending

Stephanopoulos: how?

Ayotte: let's freeze pay for all federal

employees and cut food stamps

Stephanopoulos: Linsday Graham is

willing to raise taxes in exchange

for cutting Social Security – how about that?

Ayotte: I would be willing to cut Social 

Security in exchange for lowering taxes

Stephanopoulos: so you would be willing

cut Medicare in exchange for more revenue

Ayotte: yes in exchange for lower taxes

and also lower spending and cuts in

Medicare and Medicaid

Stephanopoulos: sounds like the

makings of deal – up next Dennis Rodman!

[ break ]

Stephanopoulos: OMG Dennis Rodman

stroked the dolphin with the vicious

dictator of North Korea

Rodman: it was great experience George

Stephanopoulos: you said you loved him -

but he threatens America

Rodman: he's a good friend and 

lovely human being

Stephanopoulos: did you prop up his horrible regime?

Rodman: people in that country respect

Kim Jong-Un and love him

Stephanopoulos: aren't the people there

forced to love him or be tortued and killed?

Rodman: not that I saw - they just 

spontaneously burst into songs 

about him when he walks by

Stephanopoulos: what does he want from America?

Rodman: he just wants Obama to call him

Stephanopoulos: why doesn't he call Obama?

Rodman: he tried but Obama unfriended

him on Facebook and blocked him Twitter

Stephanopoulos: what purpose did your trip serve?

Rodman: Kim loves basketball! 

Obama loves basketball! There's your 

peace agreement right there!

Stephanopoulos: does he wants to nuke

an American city?

Rodman: no he wants just wants peace

love and absolute utter worship

Stephanopoulos: he said he wants to

destory America

Rodman: oh that's just his Dad talking

Stephanopoulos: so you think he's not

so bad for a vicious dictator

Rodman: no no - he's really a great guy!

Stephanopoulos: he put 200,000 

people in prison camps

Rodman: oh yeah maybe - but we have 

that in America too

Stephanopoulos: we do not have

massive prison camps here Dennis

Rodman: he doesn't really want to

kill his own people – he loves them –

he's just under a lot of pressure!

Stephanopoulos: he's a reluctant murderer?

Rodman: exactly - he's my bro and

bros gotta stick together

Stephanopoulos: he's an evil man

Rodman: you don't abandon a friend

just because of a little genocide –

after all Bill Clinton had sex with an intern

Stephanopoulos: that's hardly a good comparison

Rodman: it's the Guy Code dude

Stephanopoulos: will you go back?

Rodman: absolutely – I love my new psychotic friend

[ break ]

Stephanopoulos: could this help

prop up Kim Jong Un

Smith: not really because people

there know he's insane

Stephanopoulos: could the trip help with diplomacy?

Smith: it might – look we need

to talk to him even if he is a dictator

Stephanopoulos: thanks for the insight

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

Meet The Press - February 24, 2013

Guests:

Sec. of Transportation Ray LaHood

Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA)

Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA)

Harold Ford

Peggy Noonan

Maria Bartiromo

Jim Cramer

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

Gregory: OMG the sequester 

Blame Game has begun!

Audience: I'll take Rhyme Time for $1,000

Gregory: Ray will it still be safe to fly?

LaHood: yes but every other plane

will have a student-pilot in charge

Gregory: wow

LaHood: Congress could fix this 

problem by Friday!

Gregory: will the flying public suffer aggravation?

LaHood: flying willl be an even more 

soul-crushing experience than it was before

Gregory: will security be affected?

LaHood: no but beginning next week

all passengers will have to fly nude

Gregory: it's only a 2% cut in spending

- suck it up!

LaHood: it's a billion dollars and the law

doesn't allow us to shift funds around

Gregory: oh too bad

LaHood: Congress used to compromise

and now they're just insane

Gregory: Republicans say the cuts are no

big deal and the FAA has plenty of money

LaHood: they're idiots

Gregory: the American people want you

to tighten up and fly ship shape

LaHood: we're not making this crisis up Fluffy

Gregory: you said Obama is just

like Abraham Lincoln

LaHood: yes – he has assembled a team of weevils

Gregory: Obama is cheating by being popular

LaHood: go see the movie Fluffnuts

Gregory: I did – there were no

town cars in it at all – so misleading

LaHood: hey Congress – pull your

heads out of your assess!

Gregory: even if Obama is right

isn't this all his fault?

LaHood: he tried to fix it!

Gregory: what about meaningful debt reduction?!?

LaHood: oh do shut up Fluffy

[ break ]

Gregory: welcome Bayou Gilligan

Jindal: thanks David

Gregory: Bobby will the sequester

budget cuts hurt Louisana?

Jindal: these cuts are no big deal although

if they are terrible they're Obama's fault

even though they are very small cuts but

Obama needs to step up because no one

wants these terrible but very mild cuts

Gregory: what's the answer?

Jindal: repeal Obamacare

Patrick: Obama already cut $2.5 trillion

and anyway we need more spending

to create more jobs

Gregory: Obama says he won the

Presidential election so he should

get what he wants which is

a functioning government

Jindal: I love America but not

the American government

Gregory: fair enough

Jindal: Obama promised to slash spending

with very small but terrible cuts 
which are really not a big deal

Gregory: well put

Jindal: now is the time to reapeal these mild

but terrible cuts and replace them with drastic

but not-so-bad spending cuts

Patrick: I'm sorry but I don't speak gibberish

Gregory: what should Obama do?

Jindal: Obama must stop betraying

democracy by reaching out to the people

Patrick: criminy

Gregory: what else?

Jindal: cut taxes for rich people

Gregory: Peggy Noonan says Republicans

keep obstructing Obama which makes it all his fault

Patrick: no one turns a phrase like that loony

Gregory: I love her

Patrick: the Republicans' number one goal

was to make Obama a one-term President

and now their new goal is to make

themselves look foolish

Gregory: Bobby you are rejecting Obamacare?

Jindal: it would cost Lousiana

taxpayers $1 billion over 10 years

Patrick: that's all – in Massachusetts we

spend a billion dollars over 10 years

polishing the Kennedy teeth!

Jindal: I offered to meet with the President

and take over for him if he resigned

and surprisingly he said no

Patrick: in Massachusetts universal

health care is very popular

Gregory: what if patients brought

a gun to their doctor?

Jindal: that's a great idea – but first

let's keep a record of every person

with mental health problems

Gregory: what could go wrong?

Jindal: but yet again we see Obama

cheating by being popular

Patrick: that is so sad for you

Gregory: where would you rather live

– Massachusetts or Louisana?

Jindal: we lead America in jobs

cleaning up disastrous oil spills

Patrick: I'm so jealous [ rolls eyes ]

Jindal: we're creating more jobs

that Chris Christie

Gregory: how nice for you

Jindal: in Louisiana we're cutting taxes 
so we're going to turn the corner any day now

Patrick: in Massachusetts we have more 
brainy graduate students and lead 
the nation in Ben Affleck film locales

Gregory: can you be elected President when

your ideas are so right-wing?

Jindal: we must shrink government 
and raise taxes on the poor and  
cut them for the rich –  if that's right-wing 
then I'm guilty!

Gregory: I like it

Jindal: also Obama caused the recession

Patrick: oh dear [ sighs ]

Gregory: if you are for small government

then why not allow gay marriage?

Jindal: we lost in 2012 because we

failed to persuade people Obama caused

the recession – but we must not give up!

Gregory: good luck with that

[ break ]

Gregory: Ron Fournier says Obama

is CEO of America Inc. therefore 
everything is his fault even if he is right

Noonan: Obama has failed to lead

Republicans to sanity again

Gregory: right

Noonan: Obama says Republicans only

care about the rich which is true but mean

Gregory: Obama did win the election

Bartiromo: I am in touch with the

American public and they all think

Obama failed to lead

Gregory: the stock market must be

freaking out over Obama's terrible sequester

Bartiromo: no actually the market is

at an all time high

Gregory: wow not so bad then

Bartiromo: anyway Obama's sequester

threatens national security

Inskeep: Obama is a big old drama queen

– but also he is right

Gregory: Bob Woodward complains that

Obama is right but whines that Obama's

alternative to the sequester is different

from the sequester

Noonan: I bet Harold Ford disagrees

with my blaming Obama

Ford: surprisingly I agree with Peggy

that Obama is all wrong

Gregory: wow what a shock

Ford: also Maria Bartiromo is right –

also let's approve the Keystone pipeline,

drill for gas and repeal broadband regulations

Noonan: oh my [ swoons ]

Ford: also I agree with Peggy that

Obama is a very disappointing leader

Noonan: you're a nice young man 

and handsome too

Ford: I should have been the first black President!!!

[ sobs ]

Noonan: there there – have a drink Harold

[ drinks martini ]

Ford: cheers Peggers

[ drinks bourbon ]

Bartiromo: [ coughing fit ]

Cramer: the market which is full of

geniuses thinks the sequester won't happen

[ swallows pills ]

Gregory: we must have Medicare reform!!

Noonan: everyone in D.C. is so childish

but the four of us wise people

Inskeep: Republicans are very reasonable

as long as they can raise taxes without

calling it a tax hike

Ford: Obama won't lead on carried interest!

Cramer: we should have no more taxes ever

– except for the carried interest loophole -

that is outrageous

Bartiromo: interest rates will skyrocket someday!!

Gregory: people like you have been warning

about this forever and have always been wrong

Bartiromo: as soon as the unwashed figure it out –

interest rates will go high – I promise!!

Gregory: Steve Case who merged  
Time Warner and AOL says 
Washington should do good stuff

Inskeep: it's true Boehner sounds like a

crazy person but in private I can assure 
he's nice but a little stupid

Gregory: Obama must cut Medicare!

Inskeep: Republicans are willing to do the

right thing as long as their base doesn't

find out about it

[ break ]

Gregory: I want to discuss dancing

Betsy: negative David!

Gregory: ok ok - can Chris Christie 

beat Hillary Clinton?

Ford: I like Bobby Jindal and not Palin

Gregory: you are so wise Harold

Noonan: a great politician emulate Reagan 
and just run offering big spending 
and tax cuts – people like that

Gregory: Peggy tell me your predictions on the Pope

Noonan: this is unknown territory –

I think Daniel Day Lewis has the inside track

Gregory: wow

Noonan: also we should try not have

a Pope involved in a worldwide

child rape conspiracy

Gregory: Oscar picks!

Bartiromo: don't forget Les Miz!

Inskeep: I like Abraham Lincoln so what the hell

Gregory: Americans learn their history from movies

like Lincoln, Argo, Zero Dark Thirty and The Help

Cramer: my ticket to Silver Linings Playbook

was covered by my mental health plan

Gregory: wow that's generous

Cramer: have you seen my show –

I need platinum coverage for the mentally disturbed

Gregory: good point Jim –

and that's another episode of

Meet The Press

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