think about it, confirming a new treasury secretary would be painful and difficult. it would serve to relitigate the economic policy at a time that the republican presidential campaign is getting started. and it also could serve as a signal, we're told a lot of cabinet secretaries were given a window to leave, none of them are expected to leave now until november of 2012. at this point geithner doing this would be a real bombshell to the west wing. with budget negotiations still deadlocked, lay makers have ramped up the posturing in an effort to score points with the public, democrats and republicans are blaming each other for blocking a budget deal. kelly o'donnell, ain't no recess next week, huh? >> they claim they are going to work. let's see how much they get done. they are gone today and they'll be gone through the holiday and back here to try to show that they are concerned and willing to work on this debt issue.