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Subscribe to RSSNBC’s Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro discuss Speaker Boehner’s influence within his own caucus and whether or not he can corral enough GOP House members to reach a deal on the fiscal cliff.
Thanks to Jody, Iowa for the question!
Edited by NBC's Jay Rankin.
TRANSCRIPT:
MURRAY: Welcome to another Inside the Boiler Room, I'm Mark Murray joined by Domenico Montanaro. Domenico, we actually have a question from Jody in Iowa who asks, "Do you think that Speaker Boehner will be able to corral enough of the Republican caucus to pass a bill to extend only the tax cuts for 98% of the people?" What do you think Domenico?
MONTANARO: I don't know. I mean--if I knew that I would be getting paid a lot more than I am getting paid. I don;t know I mean I think that is the million dollar question. The trillion dollar question if you will. I don't -- I just -- it is very difficult to see how it gets done, it is also difficult to see how it doesn't get done.
MURRAY: It is interesting how it splices up in a couple different scenarios. On the one hand there is always this kind of unwritten rule that Republicans would only pass legislation that is supported by a majority of Republicans. If you are actually looking for what a majority of the caucus could support, well that becomes kind of dicey. But all of the sudden if you are talking and you only need a minority of Republicans, say getting fifty, sixty, seventy and with the Democrats signing on to the rest maybe that is kind of doable. We have already heard from a lot of lame duck members of Congress who have either lost or are retiring and people saying, 'Look, I could actually sign on.'
Domenico, I know you actually have done research on this, looking at these groups of people that aren't coming back to the next Congress and they might be able to make a deal.
MONTANARO: Yeah, I meant there is about seventy people who have either lost races in the primary, lost for the general election or have -- were in 55 or under races. Not all of those people are going to be people you can get to because some of them include people like Rep. Allen West, Rep. Michele Bachmann, Rep. Paul Ryan was at 55. So, maybe the number is closer to forty or fifty who you can really get to. But, there is at least a chunk of people who you know, Democrats and maybe Speaker Boehner would want to go to try and get things done. I do think it depends on how much John Boehner wants to remain speaker, how long he wants to continue to do that.
MURRAY: And there is one magic number -- 218. That is what would be needed to pass legislation in the House, that seems to be the most difficult hurdle.
MONTANARO: Sure is. I'm Domenico Montanaro --
MURRAY: -- and I'm Mark Murray. Thanks Jody!
Leave a Comment:
Speaker Boner...need to reach out and touch yourself...but don't touch Social Security and Medicare...regular retirees don't have much. It's best if you can also touch your rich doners.
Gee, not doners, it's donors...Speaker Boner has compromised finally...compromised my spelling.
Boehner has come up with at least a couple good deals, but the question remains whether or not he can get a majority of Republicans in the House to pass any of the deals Boeher makes.
American Girl...
I agree. Speaker is elected by his colleagues...he has to have leadership skills...right? It's time to use such skills. Why is it so hard for the right-leaning party to do the right thing??
Congratualtions to Jody for having your question picked.
I don't have sound on my work computer (that would be akward) so I am sitting here watching Luke Russert (isn't he cute?!) interviewing regular people, and I imagine he is asking them what they think of Congress, and they are saying it's the WORST CONGRESS EVER.
I oink My Congrats to Jody, too.
Hi, Jody! Good question! So glad it was answered.
Surprise! Thanks, Mark and Domenico for answering my question.
Dear Jody, congratulations on this question as it's an important one.
I am normally in agreement of your comments Pigotry, well maybe not your misspelling of names. All our leaders deserve our respect, even if we totally disagree with them. I feel strongly that all Americans benefit from Government, we can't do without it. Let us all be willing to make some sacrifice now for the future of this great Country.
TO: PeterPaul23 who wrote:
That's why you're guy couldn't get into the White House, too much wrongheaded thinking.
If you think that money won't pay the bills, what are going to use instead because China doesn't accept "spending cuts" in place of cash.
If billions of dollars in tax revenue from oil companies isn't enough, then why do you think Food Stamps from poor children and elderly American's retirement checks will help?
Either the GOP changes to adapt...or the voters will deliver more losses to the GOP...starting with midterm 2014.
.
Do or die...so suspenseful.
Super majority of the people want some compromises...the GOP can ignore the poll. But ignoring it won't make it go away...it's going to come back and bite the GOP.
I am not going down the road of calling Boehner an idiot ... he inherited a House full of newly elected idiots. He has my condolences.
LOL..
U R funny...meow
TO: blackcatwhitecat who wrote:
No, and I think Boehner and the President like each other.
It's not a matter of Boehner not being able to make a deal with the President, the problem is the Teagaggers and Eric Cantor don't mind making the Speaker look bad.
Every time the Speaker makes a deal with the President and goes back to the House to get the votes, Cantor and the Teagaggers are just waiting to club Boehner over the head for being "Diplomatic" with the President of the United States.
I have had the sense that Boehner and the President both understand that it is a matter of what Boehner can sell to his Tea Party wing, as American Girl suggests. If it were just the 2 of them to get the deal done, I think it would have been done already.
I was frustrated with the fiscal cliff last week, and bored as well, but after the events of Friday in Ct., it seems so wrong to me that time and energy is wasted on this posturing when there are serious, life-threatening issues we could be addressing.
American Girl-724855
Agreed, they both appear to be likable.
Congrats Jody for having your question selected. Now if we can convince Boehner Eau De Tang is not a scent that wins friends and influences people, but rather it takes expert negotiating skills (aka win-win ideology), perhaps we could get some compromise out of the House, avoid the "cliff", and finally move onto other the other hundred or so bills that need immediate attention, like, oh, I don't know, the Farm Bill package, Women's Protection package, etc....
Ditto RedDevPS....Congrats to Jody!
Poor Weeper of the House.....It's crying time.
YAY to Jody our Iowa "Ace" for having her excellent question selected!
The Weeper of the House is folding faster than a cheap suit! lol
Off topic but heartwarming. Relatives of one of the children to be buried today in Connecticut could not get to thefuneral (in another state) but wrote letters and had a gift they wanted buried with him. They got everything together yesterday so couldn't get it there by Fed Ex. They called a number of airlines and JetBlue reached out and took the items so they would get to the funeral in time.
I'll definitely look at flying JetBlue next time I travel.
SeekingSanity: If I fly, prefer the trains, I will fly JetBlue. Hummm, wonder why I will not shop Walmart.
Dang it SS - every time I think I have myself under full control, I see that kind of story of random acts of kindness and my eyes get all weepy. I can't look at the NBC home page today because they keep scrolling the pictures of the kids and it is just sensory overload for this poster.
Ah Iowa ... "the "Food Capital of the World" centered in the "American Heartland" What's cooking Jody?
RedDev - I'm with you. Every angelic little face brings tears to my eyes. And, the adults who gave their lives trying to save the children make me realize who true heros are.
BCWC, how about some Christmas treats such as pecan puffs, chocolate treasures, fudge layer bars, cranberry/orange cookies, sugar cookies, pumpkin gingerbread, buckeyes and fudge?!!
Mmmmm pumpkin gingerbread ... buckeyes and fudge? I am off to google that one.
Blackcat---while everything on Jody's menu sounds great, buckeyes are the BEST EVER!! Not sure what chocolate treasures are but if they have "chocolate" in the name, it is always a good start!!
Jody,
You are such a devil ... buckeyes and fudge is a porn site.
BCWC - what about whiskers on kittens .. oops, that isn't Christmas or porno, sorry, too many sugar plumbs dancing in my head.
Speaker Boehner is between a rock and a hard place. The hard place is the clear November direction from the voters. The rock is one of many inside the skulls of the Grover-pledging, self-serving tea party boys who hijacked his party. So, Speaker Boehner will it be compromise and progress? Or kamikaze politics? Let's see what you're made of.
Boehner is a bonehead and has been since he was elected. As a Republican I can't figure how he got the job..maybe seniority and if its bad for unions its bad for congress.. I wrote my congressman (R) 2 years ago and told him to fire the guy.. He and guys like McCain, McConnel, Rush, Romney, Palin, Trump, and Rove are the problem and not part of any solution. I was a delegate but stopped voting Rrepublican 4 years ago. What a mess the party is in.. I see the Democtats taking control of the house in 2 years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjt_gV050ek
the truth hurts
Your guy needs to gain weight ... I do believe some extra fat between his ears is in order.
Fat hurts more than the truth and it kills. Is fat boston boy still alive?
I think the problem is growing due to a number of issues of which the need for new gun control laws are only a small part of the solution.I personally don't see the need for a "sportsman" to have an assault rifle or a Glock, and these gun owners aren't the problem.This is my opinion and I realize that many will disagree. My father who passed away at age 86 told me about going to school when kids would bring their guns to school and set them in the coat room because they needed them to check their traps on the way home after school. Almost every boy carried a pocket knife to whittle sticks at recess. There was no thought of these being weapons to use against other kids. What has changed?We are constantly bombarded with the newest video game for X-Box and similar systems that present war and violence as a "game". Ask a returning soldier from Afghanistan if war and killing is a game! We are de-sensitizing our society in regards to the frailty and value of human life. Probably 75% of our movies are glamorizing violence. We are feeding our society with this and then wondering why people think and act like they do! There are more areas that contribute such as the removal of God from our schools. We don't want Him as part of our lives but ask for His strength in healing us after an event such as Sandy Hook. There - I've said it so now you can unload on me with all the arguments and name calling, but it is what it is!
This is simple. Ban all assault weapons. There is absolutely no reason I can fathom for a private citizen to own assault weapons. None. Zero. End of debate. But Republicans are gutless on this issue. Democrats not much better. Unless people in this country demand action nothing will happen. But, I repeat there is no sane reason for any individual to own assault weapons. And, those who believe there is....I would not want them living in my neighborhood.
JL, some neighborhoods are plenty safe and you should not have a need of a gun to protect yourself. Some neighborhoods are so dangerous that it would likely take a tank to protect you. My question is that if you are a retired single lady that is 5'2" and 120 lbs, how would you recommend one protect themselves in an area of "average" break ins? I don't think that my mom's dog would do anything but lick an intruder to death and she isn't strong enough to swing a baseball bat or Samuri sword!
Hey Concernedamerica - I have three dogs - when people come to the door (stupidly I have a clear cut glass window) the dogs are jumping all over the place - I usually tell whoever is out there that I just can't control them. Usually works. I also have a wooden baseball bat by my bed - but the metal ones are pretty light weight and could do some damage - I am 5'3" and 103 lbs. I also have pepper spray in several places within my house. My husband travels a lot.
jody Iowa-
Good Question!
Good Treats!
Off Subject --
I Was Just A Few Miles Away From That Tragic Scene In Newtown Ct -- When It Happened -- Thank God My Friend Who Lives Near There And His Two Little Ones Were Out Of Harms Way! It Would Have Ripped Him Beyond Repair! The Lifes Of Children Versus Guns? -- WOW -- What Values We Have -- As Human Beings!
I will believe it when it happens. Boehner has brought things to the TPers before and went back hat- in- hand with a completely different view. all of a sudden. Speaking of dogs. I have one big and ugly one. Basically a sweet dog unless we or the property is threatened then she is not to be messed with.
Of course GOP is silent on gun control Why the F would they ever come down on the correct side of an issue. If you are stupid enough to think it cant work just look at the murder rate of other "civilized" countries. Idiots!
He is a loser and has no control over the party. I wrote my Republlican congressman 2 years ago and told him to fire that bonehead. He and others like Romney, McCain, Palin, Ryan, Rush, McConnel and Trump are not part of a solution..they are the problem.
Just what is going through that simple minded bohner head,,losers
Well it has to be we lost,but bye how much,,,loser
The GOP will always lose as long as they are on the wrong side of the people
Vital
The moderates have left the partie,not good.The extreem types will be out in 2020
I left the GOP in 2002 and the NRA,in 2004.
The moderates ae gone.