Page 2 - We Shouldnt Wait News Today

Question, if you know the contours of the debate here, are republicans going to deal on taxes? are democrats really going to cut spending on issues like medicare? where does the breakthrough come from? >> i think vice president biden is leading this bipartisan effort and progress is being made. thats a good thing. i hope they can reach an agreement, at least oi-o a short term budget agreement that leads to passing the debt ceiling ahead of time. we shouldnt wait until high noon to pass this debt...

Still far apart. senator durbin, the big question, if you know the contours of the debate here, are republicans going to deal on taxes? are democrats really going to cut spending on issues like medicare? where does the breakthrough come from? >> i think vice president biden is leading this bipartisan effort and progress is being made. thats a good thing. i hope they can reach an agreement, at least oi-o a short term budget agreement that leads to passing the debt ceiling ahead of time. we should...

With these issues in serious way. i hope we dont wait for a showdown. this issue is too important. ig agree with secretary geithner, this is an important issue. we shouldnt wait until the last minute to deal with it, but im telling him and you and everyone who is watching that if all we do is raise the debt limb and dont start dealing with our long-term debt problem, its going to be a catastrophe. >> and what about you making those points as a national candidate? >> well, im focused on my job in...

Its the president of the united states, why dont you be more specific? >> i can tell you, having worked on this issue for 30 years and having been one of the principal people involved, advising the speaker when he negotiated with a republican president, a democratic speaker, in negotiating with reagan, that got resolved because both parties came to the table and worked together. in that case, the intermediary commission. there are lots of ways to work together. ive sneefrn never seen a construct...

>> part of an effort to drop bombs on gadhafis compounds, it doesnt pass the straight face test, in my view, that were not in the midst of hostilities. >> so why shouldnt there be specific approval from congress to wage whatever were waging there, senator? senator graham, ill start with you. >> talking to me, david? >> yeah. >> well, you know, one, i would take the course that conservatives have taken for the last 30 years. the war powers act is unconstitutional, not worth the paper its written ...

Package that involved cuts to medicare benefits, if thats what was required for a grand bargain? >> i wouldnt go -- i certainly wouldnt go as far as house republican budget, which i think would eliminate medicare as we know it today. there are ways to make health savings in medicare. health savings that will mean it will be a solvent program for so much longer. we shouldnt, though, break the basic promise to the american people that medicare is going to protect them in their retirement. >> senat...

And so hes someone who can really speak to the democrats and say, guys, this is the best we can do. we shouldnt wait. we know you want to keep fighting, but weve got to compromise. theres no bipartisan agreement thats going to be perfect in the eye of bipartisans. >> next hour well talk with presidential biographer david maraniss. the american student convicted of a grisly murder is back in court making an emotional appeal. what amanda knox told the court in a live report from italy coming up....