I just watch Rep Tim Huelskamp (R) on Morning Joe. He seemed like the most intransigent politician I have ever seen in the face of total economic chaos. What he basically said that Washington has a spending problem and there is no way he will EVER vote for a tax hike, no matter the consequences. So, how can they compromise and solve the fiscal cliff dilemma without voting for tax increases?
The answer is to let December 31st, 2012 come and go and let taxes go up automatically on everyone. Then on January 1, 2013, negotiate on only cuts – cuts to entitlements, cuts to defense and CUTS TO TAXES. What this means is that the President needs to focus on post fiscal cliff and work on just cuts. They can actually start this negotiation now.