Imus in the morning good morning, everyone. Happy hanukkah, Merry Christmas, we are in the holiday spirit. Nothing, but goodwill and good feeling today. For example, the Washington Post is celebrating the Record Number of women elected to the senate. Women may help break the gridlock, women are kland here another reason to cheer. Gas prices keep falling, more than a penny a day. When you say fill her up, its 15 less. Were not forgetting obamacare, trillion dollar deficit. No, no, its the time for family faith and joy and thats what Varney Company is about. Its friday, december 14th, here we go. Joe woods first day of. And his new boss told him twongs cook what you love, and save your money. Joe doesnt know it yet, but hell wk his way up from busser to waiter to chef before opening a restaurant specializing in fish and me from the great northwest. Hell start investing eay, hell find some good people to help guide him, nd hell set mey aside from his first day of work to his last, which isnt rocket science. Its just common sense. From td ameritrade. Can i still ship a gift in time r christmas . Yeah, sure you can. Great. Wheres your gift . Uh. Whew. [ male announcer ] break from the holiday stress. Ship Fedex Express by december 22nd for christmas delivery. When the senate gets back in session next year, 20 women will be taking their seats and maybe that signals a positive shift in washingtons deadlocked and harshly divided politics. Thats what the Washington Post is taking from it, here is the quote. Some are wondering whether the record breaking women mean less women than more. And however, maybe the author forgot this. You know, do me a favor could you say senator instead of maam . I worked so hard to get that title. Well, senator barbara boxer, okay, maybe that was one isolated incident. Oh, wait. Theres also this. There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own, nobody. You built a factory out there, good for you, but i want to be clear, you moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for. Stuart that was now senator elect elizabeth warren. Question, can 20 women in the senate help solve the contentious issues of the day, taxes spending and entitlement reform and the fiscal cliff . Well find out soon. More women in the senate. Does that mean a greater willingness to compromise . Nicole petallides, let me ask you . Yes, women are collaborative, they are tough and theyre going to work together. I like the idea. I think its going to be great. Stuart im glad youre on board with a positive approach to the news this friday. Thanks, nicole. Back to you in a second. And we have apple losing its cool while rim has the blackberry, one last shot. News on two smart phone makers in desperate need of a jolt. That and the opening bell next. 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Exclusively at one of our 400 sleep Number Stores nationwide. Sleep number. Comfort individualized. This holiday season, give the gift thats magical the innovative airfit adjustable pillow at special 30 savings. We are determined to stay positive this friday morning so i have a positive news item for you as a back drop to todays stock market trading. Hear this. The Consumer Price index, down. If you take out the food and energy youre left with a mere. 1 gain for Consumer Prices in the month of november. Here is the positive news, there aint no inflation, is there . At the consumer level. Whether it comes or not with the money printing by ben, i dont know. As of now, no inflation there. And time for the market. Precisely at 9 30 eastern time. So, where are we in the very early going . And i say this every day. Broken record. Dead flat. With that fiscal cliff looming and the holidays upon us, theres not much stock trading and a pretty flat market as we get on the friday morning. Yesterday we talked to laptop magazine about apple losing its cool in the u. S. It looks like thats true in china. The iphone 5 at a very chilly reception for its beijing launch overtight. So, nicole, i think that apple is down again. It is, again, down over this, 3 right now. Youre talking the 514 range. Aen what happened to the 700 range and thats ubs this morning, they kept their buy rating, but reduced their target from 700 to 780 talking about china being one of the issues and not being able to build there. Stuart and the iphone 5 in beijing, there was a snowstorm, okay, a mild snowstorm, there were only two people in line to get those first iphone 5s in china. Thats it. Only two people. I think thats got something to do with the apple decline this morning. You know what, if you really want something, wild horses and snowstorms wont keep you away. Stuart so, i think we can conclude that maybe apples losing a little of its shine, a little of its cool. Maybe, i dont want to be too pejorative here, just maybe. Nicole, thank you, down 10 in the early going. I want to take a look at rim, research in motion, the blackberry people and its fate resteded on the new blackberry that comes out next month. And market share in half, from last year to this year, down to 5 market share. In 2009, rim, the blackberry had 50 of the smart phone market. So 50 all the way down to five. Look at that charge and the stock started to go up the day after we put it on death watch. This morning, close to what 14 a share well keep on that one for you. Ive got good news for your wallet this friday morning in keeping with the trends this friday morning, good news, prices are falling. The national gallon of regular, 3. 28. On april fifth and 6th. The National Average hit a record high of 393 this year. St. Louis, still the standout major city and the average price there, regular under 3, 298 to be precise. Ive got two headlines for you on obamacare, number one, the chief executive at aetna says Health Insurance premiums for some businesses and individuals may double when obamacare arrives. And item two, some ceos are warning of layoffs when that new medical device tax hits on january the 1st. Joining the company now is ed connor, the author of unintended consequences and formerly worked at bain with mitt romney. Thank you for having me. Stuart this medical device tax, 2. 3 , thats not a heavy duty tax. It arrives on january the 1st and these people are talking about layoffs . I think thats a little bit overdone. What say you . Well, i would agree with you. Keep in mind. The Company Earns 10 on sales and a 25 reduction in profits and impact on the market value of the company. Theyre going to be very, very cautious, i think thisll be reluctant to pass the prices through, in the short run i think theyll im surprised to hear you say that. You kicked capitalists, if you had a new tax you would have stuck it to the consumers. The problem if the competitors dont do it and you do do it, its difficult to get that share back so youll move slowly when you raise prices. Stuart you can understand this, if you cant pass it along, you could understand a pullback. Thats understandable to a guy like you. I wouldnt say lay them off. Retiring traffic and retraining staff. I would be moving cautiously if i thought it was headed to a reduction in profit. Stuart this taxes for medical devices, grannys hip, going to skyrocket. Im not buying that. It seems overblown. Ill agree with that. Stuart lets move on to barack obama, the president. And get na facial expression, i know youre disappointed. I dont think hes changed one bit. There has been absolutely no correction of any kind in his policy. What say you . I would agree with you, i think he has had a negotiating strategy which is to push off the negotiation and the cost and tax increases and until after he gets an increase in the taxes on people earning over 250,000. I think that this is a negotiating strategy before the election and its a negotiating strategy today. And hes looking for two bites at the apple. You dont think hell budge on 250,000 and more, you pay a higher tax rate. You dont think he budges . I dont see why he would. If you let it expire, the republicans arent going to reduce the taxes i think they have to and if they dont i think they will he be blamed for having gone over the fiscal cliff and could lose the house as a result and i think the president needs enormous tax increases to fund this spending and i think hed love to go off the cliff and blame it on the republicans. You think so . Blame it on the republicans and you think that nobody wants to go over the cliff, but two shirts of voters say that they would blame republicans if we dont reach an agreement here so i think the republicans are under enormous pressure and i think the president s negotiating strategy to get a bite at the apple and increase taxes and when you have the real negotiation hell look for a second bite. I was determined to stay away from fiscal cliff this friday and no, weve got to discuss it, i think, is there a Silver Lining here . That would be. No. [laughter] im trying,ed, im trying. Suppose there was a deal, okay, last minute, new years avenue, theres a deal and that could be a plus for the economy, couldnt it . Couldnt that give a shot in the arm to Small Business and business generally which turns around and says, maybe we know whats coming now. We take the uncertainty off the table . If that may be a Silver Lining . I think there would probably be a little benefit from that, but i think that the uncertainty masks an ugly truth. 90 billion dollars, and not have the debt grow to percent of gdp. Anybody in the future recognizes enormous tax increases and cost reductions coming even if we dont implement it in january. Its coming down the road and quickly. Stuart youre negative generally on the economy for 2013. I like to be an optimistic guy, but what looms in front of us, an increase in Government Spending is very expensive for the economy. Stuart do you have any opinion on the Washington Posts opinion that 20 women in the senate, a Record Number, is a plus for more civility, more compromise . Well, i think women are more civil and willing to compromise so maybe, but i think when you get into those positions youre a politician first and foremost more than a man or woman. Stuart do you remember margaret thatch thatcher. Of course. Stuart do you think she was in a mood to compromise. She was a negotiator. Stuart we hear the story every year, atheists suing to take down christmas displays because they say theyre so offensive. Take a look at this. This is an antichristmas billboard now on display in mid tourn manhattan. It says keep the murrayry, dump the myth. And mark lanier is it here and would he sue the atheists over the billboard . Back to nicole, best buy, why is it a loser today . Best buy moves on every headline and todays headline is that the founder, looking to maybe make a buyout offer. Well, his deadline has been extended. You can do Due Diligence and get full year, rather than on china and making a crazy offer today. With the extension, it means, hey, the offer is not coming and the deal is not getting done today. So, yesterdays gain of 16 is now being given back, almost a majority, and down over 12 now. Stuart its called a day traders paradise i would guess. And nicole, thank you very much indeed. The Dow Jones Industrial average is up three points after this. Time is money, 30 seconds, here is what else we have for you this friday morning. Union thugs caught on camera punching people and will they be charged criminally . Not one, but two lawyers join us on that. Well talk to the mayor of a city, unemployment is 3 , what are they doing right . Here is a hint, energy. Theres a huge demand for gold coins and why the increase . And why isnt the price of gold soaring on that story . Remember, we want to hear from you as well. Send your emails right away, please, varney foxbusiness. Com and well read some of them live on the air this morning. Friday morning, seven early movers, here we go. The struggling temple com alcatellucent gets a life line from goldman and credit suisse. And quicksilver, its down. Adobe gave a weak forecast, but roths were indeed better than expected and the stock is up. Electronics Payments Company gave a disappointing forecast, the market doesnt like that, its down 7 , web security provider, abg technologies, reached a search and Distribution Agreement with yahoo and its up. Sprint nextel, 2 billion dollar offer to buy out clearwire, getting pushed back from some shareholders and clearwire is down just a little. Apple releasing the iphone 5 in china today. Ive got to say its a luke warm reception and down it goes. 5 14 is the apple price today. Well keep a watch on that all day long. Star nfl quarterback Robert Griffin facing criticism. Why, you ask . One sports journalist says he isnt black enough and he might be a republican. Oh, dear. Former baseball player cliff floyd is here, well talk bla blackness, taxes and investments after this. 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Zero heartbur cliff floyd played Major League Baseball for seven season and earned 15 million in salary during that time and now hes retired living off the income of his investments and could be subject to much higher taxes next year. Cliff floyd joins us now. Before we get to that. Yeah. Stuart youre ready for this. Yesterday on espn. Yeah. Stuart i think it was rob parker, he criticized the redskins quarterback, Robert Griffin iii basically said hes not black enough because hes engaged to a white woman and might be a republican. Go on, react. You know, it took me back because i think that you know, Robert Griffin iii is doing his thing and not just playing football, but doing it for society and africanamericans looking up to him and for rob to go out there thats whats wrong out there. Youre judging somebody because of your own opinion, not just about what hes doing for himself. Hes saying what, as long as hes comfortable in his skin im totally fine with it. Stuart why does Robert Griffin have to conform to what somebody else thinks an africanamerican should be like, i dont get it. Do what you do, and hes a role model for so many different athletes growing up. We have so much going on in our communities where you look up to rg 3 and go, this guy right here, this is who i want my kid to look up to as he grows. Stuart lets talk taxes. Dont look like that. Come january the 1st, 2013, you are probably facing a nasty increase in your tax bite, how do you feel about it. You went through it and you prepare for it, anticipate whats going on and you try to do Different Things to allow yourself not to get hit. I have deferred payments coming from the mets and when you do look for the rainy day, youre not making that income. Going from 300,000 checks every two weeks to making zero and finding your next niche. Thats how it basically boils down and as you get the payments and theyre over the 250,000, and now youre taxed on the money after. Go from 35 to 37, 39 , eightit big hit. Stuart do you object . Of course i do. I dont mind paying the taxes i want the money being used the right way. You dont mind paying the taxes, not a little of cliff floyd, hey i punch the while every once in a while. Stuart thats what i wondered. And you move around and ask questions, but when you think about it, you know what, you keep moving and living. Stuart what do you make of hamilton, the baseball player goes from texas to southern cal, okay, making 25 Million Dollars a year, he goes from no state income tax to 13. 3 income tax, what do you make of that. I guarantee he talked about that in his negotiation, five years, 125 Million Dollars, maybe overpaid for his careers and his injuries, a guy thats been through a lot in his career and what hes able to accomplish thus far, but i think you put that into the thought when you get the contract. Stuart if he would have been moved from a texas team to a florida team, it wouldnt be it goes out you understand the state tax. Stuart almost out of time, but youre wearing an awful lot of what im told of course bling, diamonds here and diamonds around your neck and a fancy watch there. I bought this early on in life. Stuart did you call me varney . My name is stuart. Stuart. And you called me lloyd before and. [laughter] are you at least i have it. Thats the one thing. Stuart thats true. Now what and talk about this necklace here, i love my wife and one day i get ready to get something nice for her, dont have to buy it, here you go. Stuart ive got tears