Does anyone know the proposed cuts that the Democrats and/or Obama have actually proposed?

I think the Republicans would accept any evenly-based cuts? The Democrats just will not cut.

What obvious baloney. The republican spiel is sickening............when are they going to get real and start working rather than stalling?

Why didn't Gregory challenge Newt on that 31% pork crap. That is a lie and it only sereves to hurt the people of the northeast.

Forget about Newt, he needs to go somewhere and retire and get our of the Political spot light. We can not have a government shut down and it just blows my mind that they are even talking about it. FIX OUR SPENDING PROBLEM IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY UNCLE SAM! WE ARE PAYING YOU GUYS AVERAGE $150,000 to do a job, not stop fighting like little kids and get to work.

Isn't it interesting that two weeks after the mass killings it's off the press item of interest. Nothing and no one calling to do something. I don't care about the spending crap for them to fix as they will eventually kick the can down the road. I want something on jobs, guns,. Don't do immigration as they will not fix it. Hell make them citizens and get on with it. After that protect the Border. ranchers have thousands coming through their property in AZ every day! Obama does nothing. Barbed wire fences to keep them out OMG put up barriers and this would stop. Anyone with drugs just ship to an island and don't;t let them off

This Country is headed for another downgrade! I thought that with 100 women in Congress with logical minds they would be a factor to move the Country but they just sit back and let the men rule them and do nothing for helping the Country. Please exert yourself. Gifford one of the few who did!

We can solve the majority of our problems!! By just using math, looking at ALL aspects of every government program and agency/department, removing duplicates and recognize what works around the world.

Why do corporations try to grow? Scale of Economy. Apply this concept to health care. Apply controlling costs before cutting payments to subscribers and you will see that the costs per subscriber WILL go down!!!! Control the cost of medicines, medical devices, diagnostic and surgical procedures. That is what all the other countries that have universal health care have done. And don't refer to universal health care as 'socialism' thinking that you are completely defining health care. Remember that the world's largest government health care system is Medicare. You also have to ask yourself, who would have your best interest in mind, the government of 'for-profit' health insurance companies?? Health insurance companies want to keep your money and not pay for the services that you need. It may appear that the government wants to limit your access to health care, when that is actually not true. If we limit the prices for medicines, devices, procedures, etc, still allowing for a fair 15% margin, all of our health care costs go down, and if the profit from insurance premiums is eliminated, then health care services to all will be available and improved. We set up a database of protocols for all known health issues, sicknesses, diseases, injuries, etc., as a guideline for all doctors, and tracking how each doctor prescribed medicines, procedures, diagnostics, etc, their results, then we can deal with the doctors who have the worst results and correct. You will find that people get or stay healthy, and our health care results improve. We can utilize all ideas and procedures that work around the world, develop or improve what is still needed or is lacking, and we will have the best healthcare system in the world. The simple fact is that a single payer, universal healthcare system works best and has the lowest cost per capita, so why aren't we already doing it?

For the budget, eliminate all duplicate government departments and agencies, regulations and laws. Also eliminate all but the essential deductions that benefit the poorest in our country the most, lower the tax rates to the point that we still take in more revenue than our current system that favors the most affluent people. It would be a fairer tax system, a stepped flat tax system with essential deductions. Combine this with a universal health care system, and our country would have the ability to grow economically, have the money to pay back the debt, and the essential services get delivered to those who need it.

We must also eliminate the vast majority of subsidies, such as to the mega-corporate farm subsidies, oil and gas subsidies and all subsidies that go to large corporations. Write the laws for subsidies to only help family owned farms, for example, start up businesses and small businesses defined by gross revenue of less than $500K, for example.

When you talk about facts and details, solutions arise. When you stick to one political stance, you prevent solutions that work!!!

Only 38 comments on the Gregory questions. America is not interested! Think they need a new Host!

Just watched Mitch McConnell and as usual he didn't answer the first question. I truly hope Ashely Jude runs against him in 2014, I will quit my job to move to Kentucky to politic for her to get him out of office. He is a dinosaur of a politician and Washington needs young blood in Congress, we have it in the White House, now the other houses need it so as to put America on a progressive track. Had our forefathers been conservatives we would still be bowing to the Queen! A country can not succeed by doing the same things that got it in the pickle it's in now. Obama has put it on a course forward even against all odds. God Bless America!

Think that Kelly will leave ND and go to the Arizona Cardinals. Once you win a National title, as he will tomorrow night, nothing else to go after.

Two months after election and you ask who the hell was Romney and the 47% McCain and Palin..Boehner, Cantor, McConnell,. Aren't you Republicans just so sad at the ignorance you brought forward to represent you. did I mention Cain, 9,9,9 Bachman, Gingrich..Yawn Republicans!

Republican - Democrats - Hatfields - McCoy's....ring a bell. Fighting, finger pointing and killing just because of a pork...hmmmm....those that do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

Well there goes Social Security, Medicare! And just who will it hurt? The poor and the elderly.

No mention of job growth, or bringing jobs back from China! The only agenda on that is turning states into right to work states to keep wages low. That is so they can keep better control of the people. Our future is under their thumb! They want you to work until you drop, with an empty hand!
And if you fall for the lie, that this is for future beneficiaries, than the American people are dumber than they think we are. Any cuts in these programs will start now, accross the board!

Why do they keep saying, "Out of control spending"? What is out of control? Let's talk tax cuts. Historically, when businesses were taxed more, more jobs were created, why, because the businesses needed the tax deduction for the employees.

Now McConnell was on the right road as far as Social Security when he mentioned the wealthiest and their SSA's, the thing he didn't mention is the cap on social security, why do people making millions a year only pay the same as the guy making 50 grand a year. Why not have them pay a percentage that corresponds to the amount of money they make. If you want to limit anything, limit how much they get paid upon retirement and you know they take that check, they are so greedy they want every penny they can put in their dirty little hands whether they need it or not. Maybe it helps put gas in their Rolls?

fiscal cliff in much better perspective:
u.s tax rev $2,170,000,000,000
fed budget $3,820,000,000,000
new debt $ 1,650,000,000,000
Nat'l debt $14,271,000,000,000
recent budget 38,500,000,000
now remove 8 zeros and pretend its a household budget
annual family income $21,700
Money family spent $38,200
new debt on crdit card $16,500
outstanding balance on credit card $142,710
total budget cut so far is $38.50
heres another way to look at debt ceiling you come home from work to find out you had sewer backup to your ceiling...should you raise ceiling or remove sewage?

Unbelievable actions by congress this week on the Fiscal Cliff. McConnel asked to work with the VP so they could agree on items. All the Republicans did was Give away their bargaining power of trading tax cuts for spending cuts. Instead of demanding spending cuts as part of the bill they agree to $74 BILLION in pork added to the tax cut bill.

What negotiation was their on the part of the Republicans? They lost all leverage. Typical congressional action to include Pork that they know wouldn't pass on its own in an important bill that they know will pass.

All of congress must have known that this excessive pork would have been added to the tax cut bill for the wording to be drawn up and included, or buried, in the bill as presented. Where was the news media reporting on the excessive Pork instead of just going along with the president saying it was all tax cuts or the Republicans just providing lip service by asking for spending cuts, not demanding them.

I also fault David Gregory for not bring up the subject of the $74 Billion in Pork and asking why it was agreed to by the Republicans in including it in the bill.

Hope this is fixed

I am wondering why I have to watch and listen to Carly Fiorina, as a representative of women business leaders, talk about financial issues and congressional budget negotiations. She makes no sense when she talks, plus She has such an awful trak record here in Colorado as former head of HP. It is almost an insult to those women who are successful and those of us affected by her terrible almost Bain Capitol like decisions with the growth? of HP.

Can you not make a better choice of a woman who is smarter and a better role model? These choices make MTP like a side show and not a serious discussion.

About six months ago, the following circulated around Facebook. The goal is straightforward. Create an oversimplified example lacking necessary context to try and get people to either support or not support certain politicians. The problem with this approach is that it only "kind of" identifies the problem. I've added the necessary context to really paint an accurate picture. Now, does the reader not only see the problem, but actually sees how the money is being spent and then has to make some choices.

Here's what was originally written:

Federal Debt put in much better perspective.

Lesson #1
*U.S. Tax revenue $2,170,000,000,000

*Fed budget: $3,820,000,000,000

*New debt: $1,650,000,000,000

*National debt: $14,271,000,000,000

*Recent budget cuts: $38,500,000,000

Let's now remove 8 zeros and pretend it's a household budget:
*Annual family income: $21,700

*Money the family spent: $38,200

*New debt on the credit card: $16,500

*Outstanding balance on the credit card: $142,710

*Total budget cuts so far: $38.50

Got it ??

Now, time for a little more context.

Here's on what this fictional household spent its money.

1) 8,273.65 for cops to arrest criminals, judges to have trials, and prisons to keep bad people in prison and people to stand guard and keep others off your property.
2) $1,306.99 in tuition for your kids to go to school
3) $3,755 in healthcare costs for you and your family
4) $3,725 in healthcare costs for your parents whether they can still work or not
5) $6,290 in payments to your parents because they are retired
6) $5,973.52 in food, shelter, and sundry items for your unemployed spouse and kids
7) $1,271.89 in payments to the guy down the street who is disabled because you told him to go start a war in Iraq
8) $121.74 Gasoline for your car
9) $454.70 Trash Collection
10) $929.65 in street building and maintenance
11) $238.16 in membership dues
12) $206.61 in food
13) $255.07 paid to have a local government that enforces zoning and property laws
14) $2,300 paid in interest for money already borrowed.

Now, the difference between what you made and what you spent was $16,500. If you decide that you don't want to use gasoline, let your trash build up in your back yard, let the streets go back to dirt paths, quit every single group to which you belong, don't eat, and decide to go without a local government, you cut your annual spending $2,205.93. So you are still spending roughly $14,295 more than you take in.

Of course, you could cut some spending and then get a better job that increases your revenue and close the gap that way. So, where do you want to cut and who do you want to go to work to help you make more money?

Next time when you put the "family" budget up on the screen, how about actually talking about what the family is spending its money on so the viewer actually has to decide what it is going to do without instead of simply sinking to the lowest common denominator of we spend too much but don't make people decided on what they will no longer spend.

Now Now David , Mitch said it was his job not "His Political Job" . First empressions are what i take. So don't let him out of what he said .

I think that the Republicans will have to relent and cut spending as well as increase revenue from cutting the rich loopholes

Why does MTP insist on spending so much of their time talking to old fart, out-of-touch GOP'ers?

David Gregory breaks the law and gets away with it. When Gregory held up a 30 round ammunition clip for an assault rifle he was breaking the law and he as well as NBC knew it.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/11/no-charges-for-nbc-host-for-on-air-ammunition-clip/

How amazing! If I lived there and had a clip I would have been arrested on the spot!