to balance the budget within ten years. i don't believe that is a criminal gesture, which will require far greater cost cutting than just the sequester. the president goes, why don't we just delay a little bit? i'll cut some farm subsidies and we'll do it again in two months we know that does nothing for the certainty we need in the economy. in terms of the height and danger, i think charles krauthammer put it best. >> this is the most ridiculously hyped armageddon since the mayan calendar. in fact, it looks worse than a mayan disaster. look, this, as you say, can be solved in a day, in an hour, by allowing a transfer of funds. it's incredibly soluble, easily soluble. the president is the one who wanted to propose it. he won't, of course, 'cause he is look for a fight and not a solution. >> steve: and ultimately he wants to make the republicans look bad and he wants to retake the house in 2014. that is his political end game.