This Week with George Stephanopoulos – October 20, 2013

Host: Martha Raddatz

Guests:

Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL)

Jeb Bush

Jon Karl

Jeff Zeleny

Raddatz: OMG Hillary Clinton is running for President!

Karl: yes she is – I'm squeeing!

Raddatz: Obama says after shut down

there are no winners but aren't

the tea party losers?

Karl: Obama drew a red line and he

managed to break the tea party totally

Raddatz: so he won

Karl: no because Obama has been

President and has totally failed to

get a big piece of bipartisan legislation

Zeleny: Republicans know they lost

but they refuse to raise taxes

Karl: Democrats want to kick the GOP

while they are down which is very mean

[ break ]

Raddatz: Nancy I know you blame

Republicans but I speak for all the

American people and they are disgusted

and blame all sides so please tell me

how this is all the Democrats fault

Pelosi: the Senate and President all agreed

on a budget and Boehner wouldn't even

bring a bipartisan plan to the floor

Raddatz: you're not accepting blame

which you are required to do under

the rules of the Washington media

Pelosi: the GOP don't care about shutting down the government

Raddatz: but both sides are to blame

but mostly Democrats for not changing

the tone in Washington

Pelosi: the point is we're going to have

another crisis in January if we don't

reach an agreement

Raddatz: the Obamacare website

rollout has been a disaster

Pelosi: sure it's slow but the point

is people really want these changes

Raddatz: will the Republicans

use it as a weapon?

Pelosi: what a stupid horse-race question

Raddatz: doesn't Hillary have

to run for President?

Pelosi: she can do whatever

she wants

Raddatz: Tom Foley died

Pelosi: so did Bill Young you

annoying bint

[ break ]

Raddatz: there is a civil war in

the Republican Party!

Karl: that's right – the tea party 

vs. the moderates! Only one can survive!

[ break ]

Cruz: the shutdown was a great idea

to highlight the faults of Obamacare

Karl: this was a terrible unpopular

shutdown and it was all your fault

Cruz: no it was Obama's fault for

not repealing his signature law

Karl: that's crazy

Cruz: I'm sticking with it

Karl: you are despised in Washington DC

Cruz: I'd rather be beloved in Texas 

and hated in Washington

Karl: Texas newspapers are

retracting their endorsement of you

Cruz: they're just jealous of my awesomeness

Karl: you said Republicans bombed other Republicans

Cruz: we kept attacking each other

– it was terrible!

Karl: will you filibuster the budget again?

Cruz: I will do anything to stop Obamacare

Karl: good luck Tom

Cruz: Ted

Karl: whatever

[ break ]

Karl: did Republicans gain 

anything from the shutdown?

Bush: no

Karl: it seems like a problem

Bush: it was a huge tactical mistake

Karl: oops

Bush: it was a miscalculation to

threaten not to raise the debt ceiling

Karl: some Republicans say we

don't need to raise the debt ceiling

Bush: that's insane – the U.S. 

credit must be upheld!

Karl: you're bashing Republicans a lot

Bush: we need civility and to solve

problems and much of this is Obama's fault

Karl: maybe but Ted Cruz say he

would do all this over again

Bush: maybe we should have an

alternative to Obamacare

Karl: there's an idea

Karl: what would you say to Ted Cruz?

Bush: I would say to Ted Cruz –

show a little fucking self-restraint dude!

Karl: I don't see that happening

[ break ]

Raddatz: while “polls” show the 

American people hate Republicans 

and blame them for the shutdown 

 we went out to find a group of 

people who love the shutdown

Tea Party American: the government

needs to stop wasting money

Reporter: the shutdown lost $24 billion

Tea Party American: it's outrageous 

to close memorials!

Reporter: so the shutdown was bad?

Tea Party American: the shut down was

excellent until Obama came along

and closed a war memorial

Reporter: got it

Tea Party American: Obamacare is a disaster

Reporter: what do you think of Obama?

Tea Party American: I like Obama a lot and would like to play golf with him

Reporter: but you all seem mad

Tea Party American: because I love America!

Reporter: what did the shut down accomplish?

Tea Party American: we're on your tv show

Reporter: good point

[ break ]

Raddatz: aren't you ashamed – 

the American people look at all of 

Congress and are disgusted with all of you

Kinzinger: I'm excited to see Obama finally

forced to negotiate – this very 

high debt is unacceptable

Raddatz: when did you realize this?

Kinzinger: January of 2009

Meet The Press – October 13, 2013

Guests:

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH)

Leon Panetta

Christine Lagarde – IMF

Andrew Ross Sorkin

Judy Woodruff

Harold Ford

Kathleen Parker

Chuck Todd

Gregory: OMG America might default on Thursday!

Audience: oooh

Gregory: what the hell is going on

Durbin: we have finally agreed to relegate

to House Republicans to the kiddie table

and have an adult conversation

Gregory: what can't Congress do its job?

Portman: it's unbelievable – this is the first time

since 1776 that the President refused to

change laws in exchange for paying for

things Congress already bought

Gregory: whose fault is it?

Durbin: the Republicans refused

to go to budget conference

Portman: ummm.... both sides?

Gregory: you don't sound very convinced

Portman: all we want are concessions

in exchange for not crashing the economy

– is that too much to ask?

Gregory: can you get a deal?

Durbin: if so Democrats have to get something too

Portman: that seems wrong

Gregory: what about Obamacare?

Portman: forget that – we need to resolve

the debt America has built up over 200 years

Gregory: Republicans want to cut Social 

Security and Democrats want to raise taxes

Durbin: Simpson-Bowles got it right!

Gregory: I agree

Durbin: let's all agree to cut Social Security 

and close some of the worst tax loopholes

Gregory: Dr. Ben Carson say

Obamacare is slavery

Portman: trust him – he's a doctor

Gregory: is he right?

Portman: the website is down!

Durbin: because millions of Americans

are desperate for health insurance

Gregory: should Sibelius resign?

Portman: don't be silly Fluffy

Gregory: please continue

Portman: the economy is slow

is because we have a big debt

Gregory: thanks for coming guys

[ break ]

Gregory: isn't everything always both sides fault?

Panetta: no Fluffy

Gregory: that makes me sad

Panetta: the Republicans shut down

the government as part of a strategy

Gregory: maybe

Panetta: a small minority couldn't

get their way and hurt the American people

Gregory: Obama won't negotiate over

the debt ceiling – so isn't this all his fault?

Panetta: no – these crazy people

are weakening America

Gregory: didn't you exaggerate the

effects of the sequester on defense?

Panetta: no – if we needed to fight

four wars right now we couldn't do it

Gregory: but we caught a terrorist last week

Panetta: look I love SEALs but if we

had to wage war on Iran Syria

Russia and North Korea we'd lose

Gregory: thank for coming Leon

[ break ]

Gregory: America may default –

how scary is this?

Lagarde: it's freaking the world out!

Gregory: really?

Lagarde: the world economy was

finally recovering and now we find

out some nuts in America want to wreck it

Gregory: what would happen if the US defaults?

Lagarde: do you remember 2008

Gregory: vaguely

Lagarde: default would create shock waves

zat would make ze last recession look

like a St. Tropez street festival

Gregory: another recession?

Lagarde: correct Floofi

Gregory: some say default is no big deal

Lagarde: listen Davide – creative 

accounting is not ze solution

Gregory: shouldn't the U.S. slash

Medicare and Social Security

Lagarde: yes you must deal with

zeez problems but in a sensible way

Gregory: what is your general opinion of the U.S.?

Lagarde: you auto industry is doing well

but I am concerned that the quality

of your meth is has dropped

Gregory: we had a loss there

Lagarde: I see

Gregory: Janet Yellen is like yourself a woman

– are you a role model?

Lagarde: we're just trying to do our jobs

– but girls can do it!

Gregory: how do you break down barriers?

Lagarde: work hard, gain supporters

and have a sense of humor

Gregory: mercy boocoo

Lagarde: merci 

[ break ] 

Gregory: Andrew how is my stock portfolio doing?

Sorkin: David watch the bond markets

– we could be in for a ride!

Gregory: it costs billions of dollars

to keep the government shut down

Sorkin: the conservative shut down

increases the deficit and debt – good job guys

[ break ]

Gregory: 60% say they want to fire every member of Congress

Todd: we have peace and some prosperity

– so clearly people are angry how 

idiotic our politicians are

Gregory: why can't we agree to cut entitlements?

Woodruff: if people lose faith in

government that hurts Democrats

Parker: Boehner and Obama are tragic

figures because they are both driven by extremists

Gregory: I don't think people understand

what the hell is going on in Washington

Ford: some people want the government

to exist and some don't – surely there

is some compromise to be made there

Gregory: like what?

Ford: how about the government

exists six months of the year

Gregory: I like it

Ford: both sides are equally to blame –

conservatives and both liberals

need to compromise

Todd: this is insane – a six week deal

to fund government? Really?!?

Woodruff: Obama is ready to negotiate

but thinks a six week deal is stupid

Todd: I know we all love cutting entitlements

but let me tell you – the tea party won't accept it

Ford: that makes me so sad

Todd: On Wednesday Boehner is going

to punt and try to take those six weeks

to talk sense into the tea party

Gregory: Obamacare has a slow website!

Parker: at least Sibelius should have good answer

Gregory: a fisherman from “Deadliest Catch”

testified in Congress against the shut down

Woodruff: most of the country doesn't

care about the shutdown

Gregory: true

Woodruff: although people are not

getting medical treatment and

there is a big salmonella outbreak

Gregory: other than that - no big deal

Ford: I hope this doesn't discourage

young people from running for office

or being involved in politics because 

it's noble work

Gregory: you quit politics to work on Wall Street

Ford: who asked you Fluffy

Gregory: please bash Cory Booker for me

Todd: Booker is a loser because he's

not beating his tea party weirdo 

opponent by enough

Gregory: what else?

Todd: hatred of Ted Cruz shows how

divided the whole Republican party is

Gregory: fascinating - what else you got?

Todd: we did a comprehensive study of the 

American voter and found out where the center is

Gregory: what did you find?

Todd: the new American majority are

Social Security using, isolationist,

non-church going tolerant beer drinkers

Gregory: and that's another episode

of Meet The Press

This Week with George Stephanopoulos – October 13, 2013

Guests:

Jon Karl

Rebecca Jarvis

Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC)

Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID)

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)

David Plouffe

Paul Krugman

Peggy Noonan

Dan Senor

Stephanopoulos: OMG the government is

still shut down and we may default!

Karl: the tables have turned – the GOP

have surrendered and Democrats are

demanding more spending

Stephanopoulos: wow

Karl: Mitch McConnell is taking heat from

the tea party for admitting Obama still President

Stephanopoulos: Becky Wall Street jumped!

Jarvis: the markets like the idea of

America paying its debts

Stephanopoulos: do they really

Jarvis: October 17 is D-Day

Stephanopoulos: holy crap

[ break ]

Stephanopoulos: Lindsay is there

any possibility of a deal?

Graham: we need to save

John Boehner because the

alternative would be worse

Stephanopoulos: has the GOP

given up on Obamacare?

Labrador: we are willing to not

crash the economy

Stephanopoulos: how generous of you

Labrador: I thought so

Stephanopoulos: what else?

Labrador: Obama must negotiate with us

Ellison: re-open the government and

pay the bills – then we'll talk

Graham: Republicans are in a freefall but

Democrats are unpopular too

Stephanopoulos: true

Graham: my message to the GOP

is re-open the government and

keep fighting Obamacare

Stephanopoulos: sounds like a plan

Graham: Paul Ryan has a good idea

to permanently cut Social Security

Stephanopoulos: how about that Ralph?

Ellison: I have another idea –

re-open the damn government!

Stephanopoulos: if Boehner re-opens

the government is he finished as Speaker?

Labrador: no we love him –

he's so easy to manipulate

Stephanopoulos: all right then

Labrador: the Democrats are not fair

because they not willing to cut Social Security

unless we re-open the government but

then we lose our leverage

Ellison: how about we negotiate drug prices?

Labrador: if we lift the debt ceiling

you get everything you want

and we get nothing

Ellison: we want the government open

and America's bills paid!

Labrador: that is so selfish!

Graham: the best thing right now is we

can all agree to cut Social Security and

then we can focus on the flaws of Obamacare

[ break ]

Stephanopoulos: Peggy what is going on?

Noonan: it turns out people like

government – who knew?

Stephanopoulos: will we default?

Krugman: the problem now is

Democrats don't want to respond

to extortion and Republicans

have to be able to say we got

something for shutting down the government

Stephanopoulos: how about the Ryan plan?

Senor: all he's asking for is means-testing

in exchange or paying our debts

Plouffe: no President should have

to give stuff away just to avoid default

Noonan: Republicans made a mistake

– they had no strategy and picked a bad fight

Stephanopoulos: true

Noonan: but all Presidents must

negotiate over debt limits

Krugman: that isn't true

Noonan: he must make a deal

Stephanopoulos: the Republican party and

Congress are at all time lows in popularity

Senor: yes but all voters are stupid

Stephanopoulos: I've noticed that

Senor: Obamacare has failed!

Krugman: a year from now the

website should be working

Stephanopoulos: what if we have

a six month debt extension?

Plouffe: we are already at

Republicans budget levels!

Noonan: maybe [ drinks ]

Plouffe: Republicans are doomed

Noonan: Obamacare is a big suppurating wound

Krugman: it's a software glitch

Senor: it's a third-world experience!

Krugman: buying health insurance over

the internet is not a third-world experience

Senor: Jon Kasich and Scott Walker

are the future of the GOP

Stephanopoulos: will we default?

Krugman: we'll see what the markets say

Senor: Obamacare!

Meet The Press – October 6, 2013

Host: Savannah Guthrie

Guests:

Jack Lew – Sec. of Treasury

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)

Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH)

Steve Inskeep – NPR

Rich Lowry – National Review

Mike Murphy

Guthrie: Hi Jack – what's the threat level?

Lew: America only has $30 billion in cash

– that's dangerously low

Guthrie: could you find more cash somewhere?

Lew: we've gone through the White 

House couch cushions – 

we only found six billion dollars

Guthrie: could we default?

Lew: we might

Guthrie: is that bad

Lew: Reagan said it would terrible

to default on the US credit limit

Guthrie: would it be calamitous?

Lew: in 2011 even the threat of

default roiled the markets

Guthrie: you say there are all these

dire consequences but you won't negotiate

Lew: look in 2011 the Tea Party decided

they could get what they want by threatening

to wreck America – it's a terrible idea

Guthrie: so you must give in to their demands

Lew: it's Congress' job to pay our bills!

Guthrie: why should Republicans 

give up their leverage?

Lew: it's not a favor to Obama to

pay the bills Congress ran up

Guthrie: why won't Obama come to the table?

Lew: because he won't give in to 

their insane demands

Guthrie: the health care websites are down

Lew: because it's so popular

Guthrie: you should have planned better

Lew: sure – but it only proves how

necessary Obamacare is

Guthrie: thanks Jack

[ break ]

Guthrie: Rand you say don't

want the shut down

Paul: I hate it - I really do

Guthrie: if you want to end the

shut down so much why not

pass a clean budget bill?

Paul: we've passed clean bills all week long

Guthrie: no you haven't

Paul: we passed lots of them!

Guthrie: that's piecemeal

Paul: no it's not

Guthrie: yes it is

Paul: ok it is - but this is historically

how it's done

Guthrie: that isn't true either

Paul: this is all Harry Reid's fault

Guthrie: why did you shut the government

down over Obamacare?

Paul: we didn't want to shut the

government down – it just happened because

we insisted on Obamacare

Guthrie: that's silly

Paul: Obama wants 100% of what he wants

Guthrie: he wants to the law 

to stay the way it is

Paul: we have the power

of funding – its our right

Guthrie: why not use the normal

legislative process?

Paul: we've been offering lots of

compromises on Obamacare

Guthrie: what is your compromise?

Rand: Obama gives up something

while we give up nothing

Guthrie: which parts of Obamacare 

do you like?

Paul: none of it

Guthrie: ok

Paul: I was elected to fight Obamacare

Guthrie: Obamacare is a failure but

you shut down the government and

that's the big news story and 

that makes me sad

Paul: America is out of money

Guthrie: no it isn't

Paul: the big picture is America is bankrupt

Guthrie: both sides are being petty

and the American people are 

disgusted with you

Paul: we need to pass spending

bills one at a time

Guthrie: do you take any blame?

Paul: the Senate are supposed

to pass individual spending bills

Guthrie: I'm worried this is hurting

the Republican party

Paul: this is bad for the President –

he shut down the government

Guthrie: are you serious

Paul: the Democrats like the 

government closed because it 

makes Republicans look bad

Guthrie: so are you falling into his trap?

Paul: America is out of money!

Guthrie: will Republicans default?

Paul: its irresponsible for the

President to threat default

Guthrie: um ok

Paul: it's just like when Obama

closed the WWII memorial

Guthrie: you're completely cuckoo

Paul: our credit was downgraded in

2011 because our debt is really high

Guthrie: thanks for coming Rand

[ break ]

Guthrie: people can't get Obamacare!

Obamacare is terrible!

Costello: the website crashed

Guthrie: Republicans says it's so popular it

proves no one likes Obamacare

Costello: 8 million people visited the site

– but how many got insurance?

Guthrie: a pox on all your houses!

Fudge: we should not respond

to a ransom to do our job

Guthrie: voters don't agree with shutting

down the government even if they

don't like Obamacare

Murphy: can we talk about the

Obamacare website? [ laughs ]

Guthrie: ha

Murphy: I would not Congress'

popularity is 5% which ten times

lower than Obamacare

Guthrie: interesting point

Lowry: clearly the GOP is hostage 

to some nuts but Democrats are 

to blame for caving in to the nuts

Inskeep: it's unfair to blame Republicans

for the shut down – my friend

Grover Norquist says Democrats

might cave on the sequester

Guthrie: isn't Obama wrong to 

refuse to negotiate the full faith 

and credit of the U.S.?

Fudge: no because it's not negotiable

Murphy: it's Obama's job to save

America from crazy conservatives

Lowry: the Democrats want the NIH

defunded because they hate sick people

Guthrie: ha ha the Obamacare 

website is down!

Inskeep: the Republicans were right!

Guthrie: ha ha loser Democrats

Inskeep: dumb Obama!

Guthrie: damn if only Republican had

let Obamacare fail that would make me happy

Murphy: it was a mistake to take

attention away from Obama's failures

Lowry: no one will sign up for the exchanges

– the proof it all the traffic on the exchanges

Guthrie: thanks for coming everyone

[ break ]

Guthrie: didn't you fail on Syria?

Power: this is first time Syria even agreed

to give up chemical weapons

Guthrie: didn't you fail on Syria by

not arming the rebels in Syria?

Power: no

Guthrie: but if you had armed the

rebels it might be a peaceful paradise now

Power: some of those rebels al-qaeda

– and those are the reliable ones

Guthrie: Bibi says Obama is being

tricked by those wily Persians

Power: Obama is a pretty cagy

motherfucker himself

Guthrie: you called Hillary a monster

and got booted off the campaign

Power: I felt bad about that

Guthrie: I heard you cried

Power: I called her a rock star

Guthrie: you are not writing about problems

– you are in charge of these problems

Power: turns out it's easier to be a

pundit and activist than making decisions

Guthrie: but you can't compromise

– you're the agitator

Power: I am the danger!

Guthrie: has bureaucracy softened you

Power: I hope so?

Guthrie: oh noe

Power: but it's not easy –

I'm a loudmouth and Irish

Guthrie: ha

[ break ]

Guthrie: some say the name

Redskins may offend some people

Obama: if I owned the team

I would think about changing it

Snyder: I will never change the name!

Native American: it's denigrating

Player: I was proud to be called Redskins

Guthrie: lightning round – Redskins!

Inskeep: call them the Debt Ceilings

Murphy: the Vikings offends norsemen

Lowry: what about the Cowboys vs Redskins?

Fudge: change the name!

Guthrie: and that's another

episode of Meet The Press