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Played with patty murray and paul ryan, they basically said those are off the table. the best you're going to do is a small deal and it's not even clear to me that's something they want to. don't forget, the default is spending cuts with the sequester. >> no incentive for republicans to deal. >> not really. everybody tells me they want to stop the defense cuts. i believe that. >> some, not all. >> the problem with the sequester is it was supposed to be the worst possible alternative. it is except compared to everything else. that is compared to tax increases where medicare and social security ...

Cliff might impact the economy immediately. >> who is more likely to take the blame if we do go over this cliff? >> that's a lot of what we're seeing. that's why you see john boehner talk about how hope springs eternal and how the president always says, look, we can find something that gets done. this is all pr. so far the democrats have the advantage on this, if you look at polling, but, you know, everybody is going to get a share of the blame if something doesn't get done, and i think the president is -- is aware of that, but, you know, aides to the right and to the left, democrats and conse...

The president? >> i think he is right. whenever you had whether nancy pelosi with his caucus or speaker boehner you have a lot of cats to herd. on these issues you have cats going different ways. the speaker may say one thing publicly and every member of congress feels they have to make a comment on that. it is tough to get 218. he was in charge to get that a lot of times. you have to figure out what is the best deal for the country and sell that to your caucus. that is what being a leaderer is all about. >> one more question for you because speaker boehner has been getting beat up a little bi...

Has to take some sort of blame, as well. if you look at the great negotiations between presidents and speakers, even bill clinton and newt gingrich. they were coming together on a regular basis. they had a personal relationship. if ronald reagan had the upper hand saying mr. speaker i need you on this, what do i need to do for you to get a win? let's start there. obama says i don't have to negotiate with anybody. i won. that sp not the way to get a deal done. >> i seem to remember president george w. bush saying i have political capital and i intend to use it. >> bottom line is for two years i...

A good day. >> senate minority leader mitch mcconnell may be key to an agreement. texas senator tells the washington post, quote, will he pull a rabbit out of his hat? i don't know. i don't know. i would be grateful if he comes up with a way out of this other than going off the cliff." joining us is jamie harrison and republican strategist chip who is campaign manager of mike huckabee's president campaign. chip, let's start with you. are mitch mcconnell and senate republicans the last hope for getting a deal done? >> this close to christmas i will say yes. the democratics can't do it alone. re...