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Much time on what's happening on the left in terms of what the democrats will stomach in terms of entitlement reform if any at all. do you think there is a wing of the party that believes that this process can happen without reform on entitlements? >> no. i don't think anybody who's seriously in the game thinks that. i think the question is, how much do you have to give up, is it reasonable? what are you getting in return as michael said on the other side in terms of tax revenues. so, you know, i think there is a consensus that there has to be a balanced approach and that's what we're going to...

Do you think he's an effective ambassador and as luke says, would that suggestion that congress relying distinguish power over the debt ceiling be even more unpalatable had it been jack lew presenting it? >> i think that would have been unpalatable no matter what. that came out of left field and everybody was surprised, republicans were surprised. on the other hand what the president was trying do is avoid everything we went through last summer which was terrible and as bad as this is, you know, we actually have less time this time around. that was really damaging. and, you know, and geithner ...

Dangerous gamble. >> republicans are at risk in my view now of looking like they're defending, keeping the current tax rates for the wealthy. end of the day president obama is selling a simple message, i want to keep taxes low for middle-class americans and republicans look like -- i'm worried are in the position offiof ing -- looking as fe the don't care about middle class. >> joining us is the sage of capitol hill, boat shoe enthusiast and celebrity doppelganger, nbc's luke russert. >> good day. happy monday. >> thank you, luke. it's an exciting time on capitol hill my friend. i want to focu...

Worlds. they get the tax position that they want, they get spending cuts that they can basically live with, and obama is capable of managing the economic fallout of it. that's another reason why i think it's important that geithner is the front man here, that geithner is the type of guy who can talk to the street in a way that's very assuring. >> the street, not the streets. >> yeah. >> also if they -- if we go over the cliff, i mean, the republicans then look like they let it happen all for the 2% as michael was saying because that's what this becomes about. that's not something they want. it...