House Speaker John Boehner told me this morning he and his members will oppose the Senate-passed bill that would extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits until February. "Two months is just kickin' the can down the road. And the American people are tired of that," the Speaker told me.
However, he did maintain a bit of optimism about reaching an agreement for a longer deal. When I asked if there would be a compromise before Christmas, the Speaker simply responded, "How about tomorrow?"
Decision 2012 was also a major focus for us as Mitt Romney picked up two big endorsements over the weekend: Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) and the influential Iowa newspaper The Des Moines Register.
Governor Haley made her inaugural Meet The Press appearance this morning to lay out her case for why she endorsed Mitt Romney.
Governor Haley told me she didn't want the Republican candidate to be, "associated with Washington."
She said of Mitt Romney, "This is a man who knows how he's gonna lead in the first 30 days. He knows what he wants to accomplish in the first six months."
I also spoke with presidential candidate Michele Bachmann who levied a few attacks on frontrunner Newt Gingrich. When discussing a heated exchange between the two of them, Bachmann said he was "condescending".
"It sounded like he was talking down to me as though I was one of his students. I'm not one of his students. As I said, I am a serious candidate for the presidency," the Minnesota congresswoman said. She also called Gingrich "memory challenged."
You can watch our entire show on our website, including our political roundtable on the state of the race with GOP strategist Mike Murphy and Washington Post columnist EJ Dionne.
We'll be back next week on Christmas Day. If it's Sunday, it's Meet The Press.
Leave a Comment:
Boehner denied GOP obstructionism against Obama in spite of numerous times they have said they will do anything to keep him from being elected. The man doesn't know how to tell the truth, therefore, I distrust ANY thing he says.
The most interesting thing about the Boehner interview was the number of times that he told us that his job is to make Congress work, to get the different caucases to cooperate or compromise enough to get things done for the benefit of the American people. The obvious follow-up question was never asked or answered: "If that's your job, Mr. Boehner, why are you so terrible at it?" I know Mr. Gregory could never state it so bluntly, but isn't that what it comes down to?
I was very disappointed with David Gregory's questioning of John Boehner on today's program. As usual Boehner got his way with his totally partisan responses to Gregory's softball type questions with little if any substantive follow-up questioning. Boehner's responses to Gregory's questions were the same old same old. I simply do not understand why with the research resources available to NBC, the questions and follow-up questions cannot be more substantive in nature. Today's interview with one of the most partisan House Speakers in our history was totally ludicrous and an insult to your viewers' intelligence.
You are right that Gregory didn't have any good questions. Why Didn't Gregory ever mentioned that Bone-head wanted to pay the Tax Cut on the backs of Govt employees. Gregory should be replaced - start using various replacements because the show is getting worse with him.
Boehner is stuck between the right and the extreme right the republicans and the tea party. I wish someone would stick there neck out in the house and try to get a majority of republicans and democrats to run the House. some where in the middle more like the country not one side of the country
Boehner is a joke. I agree with other comments that have been made. He just doesn't get it, and he wonders why the American people don't trust him.
Pressing Bachmann on accuracy of statements gave me hope for a probing interview. Once again, however, Mr. Gregory fell short, allowing Bachmann to get her way, even apologing to her for appearing to be interruptive. If Mr. Gregory has his facts substantiated, then he should demonstrate a commitment to stay on course with his questions and not be outmaneuvered by the person being interviewed.
Maybe they wouldn't be able to get anyone on the show, if they really pinned them to the wall. Politicians, like Boehner and Bachmann, are masters at interfering with communication between the interviewer and the interviewee. Seems everywhere today one can't express what they think in an effort to be diplomatic or politically correct. Interviews like Boehner's mostly nothing gets imparted to the viewers, got wonder why we watch. It would be good to have more real people in Washington, DC, and civilized productive conversations could take place. Got say, sometimes I wonder if more women would create a more civilized approach to the way forward. Me thinks there is too much holding on to the past ways of, business as usual. Change is an ongoing phenomenon.
Referring to President Obama, Rep Boehner said "...after his election." Does
he know something we don't ???
Can Mr. Boehner do anything but regurgitate talking points and buzzwords? It is a proven lie that ending corporate welfare and raising taxes on the obscenely wealthy stifles job growth, but that's the pol's story, and he's sticking to it, continuing to dance with those that brung him, namely corporations supping at the public trough and the obscenely wealthy. Mr. Gregory should have called him on it. An interview consisting of the same old tired talking points serves little purpose.
Pee Pot republicans are completely crazy, and are a real and present danger to National Security, and a threat to the fabric of our Democracy, and are enemies the nation itself. There is no legislative scope, congressional prerogative, or basis in law for their irrational criminal malfeasance.
Corporate prostitutes are in charge of the conservative party. They don't hardly try to hide it anymore.
Um, isn't this the party that fought to Retain the Bush tax cuts for billionaires? How can they now be against a minor tax cut for the middle class that actually builds and runs the nation that the rich use to get rich, but don't want to pay for?
And oh, the party of Reagan and Bush, who created massive deficits, is suddenly all for fiscal probity. Sure they are.
I can't even think of a word for this level of hypocrisy. It needs a new word. meta-hypocrisy? insane-o-pocrisy? evilpocrisy? stupidpocrisy? traitorpocrisy? destructivepocrisy?
There is just no word for the middle-class hating rottenness of this party. They should all be put in jail. They are doing a thousand times more damage to this country than Manning, who is being punished while they will get fat, lifetime pensions and free medical care.
As for "job creators" it is proven economic history that higher marginal rates for the wealthy go hand-in-hand with a more vibrant economy and better lives for the middle class. This bunk that they destroy jobs is a LIE. It is not proven in the historical record.
The truth is, when the wealthy pay more tax for living in a land that was created by the middle class, so they can get rich, but actually pay for the privilege of living here like we do, rather than duck out with tax trix, they actually invest more and create more jobs. Why? To offset the taxes. Higher taxes for the rich create a better economy. It's fact. Just look at the historical record. Although you won't find the Koch Party (tea party) or the media mentioning this.
Gregory's worst interview. Never questioned why Keystone was attached to the bill. Then Boehner was allowed to state all of the bogus employment numbers and benefits as told to him by TransCanada. Most independent, unbiassed studies prove these employment numbers and proposed benefits Boehner so proudly spits out are outrageous and inaccurate. Studies also show that much of the tar sands oil will be refined into Diesel fuel and then exported. I live near the Kalamazoo River, the site of a recent oil spill involving millions of gallons of tar sands oil. The company responsible was Enbridge, a subsidiary of TransCanada...Thousands of oil pipeline spills occur each year in this US each year! Why should this one be any different?
We can create millions of permanent jobs by producing proven, renewable, affordable, clean energy. President Obama has a plan, we need to all get off of our hands and start supporting our President and his intelligent ideas and common sense approach to fixing our economy. It's time to start subsidizing and investing in these industries. Does anyone on the right believe for one second that the governments of powerful competitors such as Germany, Japan, China, S. Korea, India etc., aren't supporting and providing stimulus for the new industries and technologies of the future?
Mr. Gregory, there's nothing wrong with being the "Liberal Media" if you can back it up and make sense. Don't be timid, own up to it. Stop letting the Republicans try to DUMB us down.