said to me for months that they want a plan that materially addresses the problem. they wanted to know that we're all in it together and they want it to be bipartisan. and that's why i like this gang of six plan, because it meets those tests. >> you know, it was interesting to watch yesterday, gang of six comes out, previews it for you guys. i believe there were 49 of you getting a preview in the morning. i know one of your colleagues, clair mccaskill was tweeting minute by minute. there was a huge, almost pent-up frustration. have you known what's going on in the talks at the white house? >> not exactly but in general. it's been disappointing for me to see things slide back into a smaller plan. the argument i've been making to people around here is that if the credit rating downgrades our debt and interest rates spike for the american people and for the people that are borrowing -- are buying our debt, nobody is