Tonight, there are signs that maybe, some responsible adult became may prevail. Joining me now, what is the latest what are you hearing . They are a long way from a deal. They did speak to each other on the phone. This is the first time they talked in a week. Im told though, that there is no Real Progress in the negotiations. As you know, president obama insi insists there is no deal to present on the top 2 of earners. It doesnt involve the rates going up on the top 2 . All of those americans too get a tax cut on that finramework. In some sense it is a tax cut for all americans. Bottom line, we are talking today but we are still at stalemate. A phone call is big news between these two. We are hearing about Senate Republicans, what are you hearing, how significant is it. It is significant for a couple of reasons. These three republicans in different ways suggested that they would be okay with what most republicans are saying that they are not okay with. Raising tax rates for the wealthy. He is the most conservative not just fiscally. The way these things tend to go, is that there is a little bit of a crack and that tends to send the other cracks into what is now a solid opposition and we will see how that goes. We are talking about Senate Republicans and the key thing that we have to watch is house republicans. If something cant get through the house, then it cant get through congress. David, what do you make of this situation . Do you you think we are closer to a deal . Listen, the political theater suggests we are a long, long way from there. When democrats say we are willing to go over the cliff, you have to think wow, this isnt going to happen. John boehner has said we are putting the 800 billion on the table but we are going to aim it at the rich. Yesterday the president offered the outlines of a deal that might work with the republicans. And that is raise the rates now and engage in the conversations next year on Tax Deductions and loop holes. And that is called base broadening. And that has been attached to lowering the rates. So what the president is saying, there is a way that we could raise the rates, we could lower them back down again next year. Do you think they are over playing their hand here . I think that there are people around the president who are more interested or have a strong interest in using this as a way to humiliate republicans and pushing them to the brink. Well have to wait and see how it plays out. There is a danger in second term of excessive pride. Lets see this play out more. I believe they have enough to go into privategotiationnegotiatio. He is the leader of the people. They need to get off of that and sit down and get something worked out. I guess they feel they were burned before and they are trying a different strategy. You remember the president was accused of putting his position on the table first of selling out democrats of negotiating against himself and he is doing the opposite this time doing what he was criticized for not doing last time. And they are asking if they are engaging in overreach. One of the reasons they say they are not negotiating on the issues. They say it is because Everything Else is easy. They have gone through this during the talk discussions. It can be done quickly. Tax rates, they say if the republicans break on that, then Everything Else gets done quickly. The republicans see it differently. The white house came out today saying point blank, they do want a two step process for tax reform and raise the rates to the clinton levels now and let next year be a time for negotiating rates for the feature and then maybe everyone can lower the rates at that time. It does seem like there is a lot of that going on. I think that the difference between what we are seeing now and in the past like this is you have the public posturing and by all accounts that is not happening right now. The fact that it is news, the president and the speciaker is amazing and it speaks to the conversations going on behind the scenes. Democrats were saying for months and months, they realize that they have the leverage because at the end of the day, old tax rates are going to go up. They believe that republicans were going to say that they understand that they are losing the message war on this. He made a point to say it is not that they are not for raising tax rates on the wealthy. I spoke with George Mitchell last night and i was about to say, in talking to them, it is like talking to adults, they are talking to people five or six years ago they had meetings with each other and knew each other and kind of disappear to opposite corners and fly away to home districts. It is amazing to me how much things have changed in the last couple of years. And i think there is a lot of blame. There was a sense in the senate, but even in the house that the purpose of being there was to make progress for the country. And yes you made your arguments loud and clear. But at the end of the day you sat it out. All this week, we have been focusing on what it is about this administration that makes it seem like compromise seems like a dirty word. We have been talking with past leaders who sat down at the tab table. Listen to him. Senator mitchell who we spoke with yesterday on the program, you said one solution was for congress to Start Holding routine committee hearings, i think most americans would be surprised to hear that, that is their job. Most of us would assume isnt that their job description, they have slowly slipped away from that. The senate hasnt passed a budget resolution. They dont do the bills before the end of the fiscal year. They havent had a traditional conference in a year. That sounds crazy to me. It does to me too. It is one of the simple things that they can do and i think if they would go back to the old way of getting things done, it would be good. Here we are at the edge of a fiscal cliff and congress is taking three day weekends and planning on a holiday break. I did an interview last night and he asked me if you could recommend one thing what would it be . And my recommendation would be, quit campaigning and having press conferences and sit down at a round table and talk about a deal. It was tough then too. We got a done. We quit running around and talking at each other and sat down and talked with each other. Washington lost its love of the deal. That compromise dosnt seem like that is happening at all. I was a conservative republican and i had strong believes about things that we should or should not do. When you are dealing with 100 United States senators you are not going to get it the way that you want it. The leaders in the congress have to step up. It is kind of dangerous, because the extremes in both parties, they are looking for a win on their point of view. But you have to be prepared to give some and prepared to push to get something done. If you do that, if you make up your mind im going to get this done. You will. You spoke to senator dash el. Sometimes there are staff people, i had a red phone. It rang on his desk. I knew i was talking to him. Not his staff or my staff. I remember one time i called him and stepped down and said tom, you know i need to do this. You got to do that every now and then. It is called leadership. What for you was the moment that this changed . Democrats point to the tea party and say on the right that is it. And republicans say on the left there are extremes as well. I was accused of being a dealmaker. I didnt know those were dirty words. It has been an evolutionary thing. Tom daschle says the biggest problem is the airplane. They dont bring the families up here anymore. So we spent time together and knew each other and spent time together. Members run away for now. 24 7 news you make a mistake in this city and you are toast for days. And so, it is all of the above. But it can change. Anderson, once people make up their mind we are going to start doing things differently. We are going to go back and do some of the thing that is worked. I wouldnt sell yourself short. It is good to have people there who know how to get things done. It is good to talk to you. Appreciate it. What do you think about this. Im tweeting about this tonight. And a startling report from nbc tonight. That is the concern from u. S. Officials. We will talk it over with Fran Townsend next. Like a lot of things, trying to find a better job can be frustrating. 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But proven technologies allow natural Gas Producers to supply affordable, cleaner energy, while protecting our environment. Across america, these technologies protect air by monitoring air quality and reducing emissions. Protect water through conservation and selfcontained recycling systems. And protect land by reducing our footprint and respecting wildlife. Americas natural gas. Domestic, abundant, clean energy to power our lives. Thats smarter power today. Welcome back. Nbc news has been reporting that forces are awaiting final order to use loaded missiles against syrias own people. This video which has been posted line, this is a sobering development, seems to be getting worse by the day. Barbara starr joins me now. On the phone, cnn contributor barbara townsend. How much would this development change the situation . Right now, if this turns out to be true, the u. S. Military, the cia in a full blown effort to collect the intelligence and develop a targeting strategy, they have to put together targeting options for the president. That involves the latest intell jengs. What would you do to attack them . Do you know where they are . How will you get that past syrian air defenses . There is a lot we know, there is growing concern by the hour in the region. Because, if the syrians use these kinds of weapons on their own people, catastrophic. But the plume clouds can cross borders. Terrorists can get ahold of this material. And it just doesnt get more serious than this. Bob, you have been looking to how catastrophic these weapons can be. Anderson, look at it this way. A 122 mm artillery round landing in the city will kill 18 to 20,000 people. One round . One round. You could take out a city a third of the city in the first couple of hours. This is a highly toxic liquid. It is a persistent a gent and completely deadly. If in fact they mixed the agent, it doesnt do you good to bomb these sites. If they are sitting in cities or near cities, it will have the same amount of damage. If you take the rounds and put it on the arartillery, you can fire it into anywhere that you want. There are all sorts of disaster situations. They are remote, but still a possibility. We dont want to speculate too much. This is an nbc report. We havent been able to confirm it. Fran, what kind of planning goes on with a plan like this . And to dobbobs point, if you strike the targets from the air, it doesnt help. Senior military officers have confirmed to me, what they have told us months ago. Planning for how do you secure what may be as many as four dozen chemical weapon sites . What does that take . And what about the neighbors and what will they contribute. There has been a good deal of military training and coordination over the last six to 12 months for this. That is all in preparation for what barbara and bob are telling us now. Now you have to understand given the current intelligence. To understand now how do you take those plans that have been working and address the threat and that is the challenge. And you get it. The president s military advisers along with staff are working to present the options. I think back to the Political Science classes in college. Assuming that he is a rational actor and even if he thinks he may lose and need a place to go like russia and live in exile somewhere. It would not make sense for him to use these weapons would it . We have to look at the generals around him. He is not alone in this. There are a group of generals and they are from his own promotion. They are not being offered a way out. You know, and the way that they look at it. I have spent a lot of time with these people. They are a cult. They think their survival is at stake. Even if the United States is to enter. That would be a better option for them than to losing to the rebels who they consider terrorists and their chances are dimming by the day and they are the closed mentalities. And to bobs earlier point, if the chemicals are mixed and loaded into delivery devices that is a concern. There are groups on the ground and if the control over the weapons is lost who knows where they could end up. What is the u. S. Military posture in the region in terms of the ability for the u. S. To project power in them . The u. S. Has an Aircraft Carrier in the red sea. They could move north and there are aircraft throughout the region. Fighters and bombers and Aircraft Carriers in the sea on station. All of these things could be brought to bear. But i think what the u. S. Is hoping is that rapidly somehow they can mobilize support to get assaad to back away from this. But bobs point is absolutely key. If he goes into asylum tomorrow the crisis would not end. The day after assaad leaves this problem perhaps problems even more dire. It is sobering stuff. The power of one shell in a city like holmes. Bob, i appreciate you being on. Fran will continue to follow it as well. Up next, they managed to find time to vote on a treaty that would have protect ee eed disab people around the world. 38 senators blocked it with their votes. Americans believe they should be in charge of their own future. How theyll live tomorrow. For more than 116 years, Ameriprise Financial has worked for their clients futures. Helping millions of americans retire on their terms. When they want. Where they want. Doing what they want. Ameriprise. The strength of a leader in retirement planning. The heart of 10,000 advisors working with you onetoone. Together for your future. [ male announcer ] everyone deserves the gift of all day pain relief. This season, discover aleve. All day pain relief with just two pills. Im foe going to talk to anr man. You will hear why coming up. Evee just right. Perfection is in the details. Get to holiday fun faster with pillsbury cookie dough. Our focus tonight is reporting. Yesterday the senate blocked a treaty aimed at preventing the rights of people with disabil y disabilities around the world. Not even a rare visit by former republican senator bob dole made it. He came to the chamber to show his support for the treaty. He led the charge against the treaty. He warned that it would jeopardize personal sovereignty and freedoms. There is a provision in this law which we would be adopting if the Senate Ratifies this. Which puts the state in the division of the child. Ji cannot support the treaty to raise their children with the constant threat of state interference. The treaty could interfere for parents to decide what action is in the best interest of their children. That is not true. But it doesnt and i repeat does not require any changes to existing state and federal laws. Dick thornburg testified saying that the treatys provisions recognize the prevention as a non discrimination instrument similar to our own americans with disabilities act. That fact didnt stop Rick Santorum from twisting the facts along the way. This is a direct assault on us and to our family to hand over to the state to make medical determinations and see what is in the best interest of the child and not look at what the gift every child is. John kerry said this is one of the saddest days that i have seen in the 28 days ive been in the senate. Today he addressed mr. Santorums claims. I have Great Respect rick and karen and their daughter and family. He is a Strong Family man. But, he either simply hasnt read the treaty or doesnt understand it or was not factual in what he said. The United Nations has zero ability to order or to tell or to even, they can suggest but they have no legal capacity to tell the United States to do anything under this treaty. Nothing. Tonight many Disability Advocates rights say that the treaty trumps rights everywhere. He is the first quadrapalegic senator to serve in the house. You voted for this. Why do you think it is so important . First of all, thank you for having me on the program. Thank you for paying attention to this important issue. This is important for people here and for people around the world who dont yet enjoy the protections that people here enjoy in the United States. That law has transformed the lives of people with disabilities and i can speak to that first hand. I was injured in 1980 and i became paralyzed after a gun accident. I know what the world was like both before and after the ada. It is remarkably different. It is a shame that the senate couldnt pass that act yesterday. But i want to thank them for their leadership. The bipartisan support of the 61 senators who did vote for it. Some look at the ada for the americans with disabilities act. Why do we need a treaty for the un . Because we are in many ways endorsing the work of the un in trying to spread that message of equality and protection of the rights of people with disabilities around the world. If we are not willing to join with other nations around the world who have supported this treaty. And for those who say this violates u. S. Sovereignty. Is that possible . I dont see how that is possible. Not each possible. In fact, the senate, advice and consent made it clear, that it does not trump u