The thought for this came to me last night, but as I Googled for the link to the video below, I found that I was hardly the first to make this connection: h/t Notes from a Boy @ The Window - o.h.
With respect to the rightwing's hilarious "fiscal cliff" framing of the current budget negotiations, President Obama and Congressional Democrats should take a cue from Mel Gibson's Det. Riggs in the original Lethal Weapon:
Det. Riggs: You know you're not the first guy to think of this, ya know. A lot of people've got problems especially during the silly season like now.
Suicidal jumper: You know shit.
Det. Riggs: No, you're wrong, pal, you're wrong.
Suicidal jumper: You don't know nothin’! Don't touch me!
. . .
Det. Riggs: [showing him a cigarette] Here, you want a cigarette? Come on, let's smoke, OK?
Suicidal jumper: Yeah.
Det. Riggs: Go on, take it - yeah. If we take our time we'll both die of cancer. [lights his own cigarette]
Det. Riggs: Here. [shows him the lighter but tricks him and cuffs the two of them together] Hate for ya to leave without me.
Suicidal jumper: Hey, what are you doing!?
Det. Riggs: See this key? Bye-bye. [tosses key off the ledge]
Suicidal jumper: You're crazy!
Det. Riggs: Now you can jump if you want to, but you'll be taking me with you and that makes you a murderer, okay?
Suicidal jumper: You bastard!
Det. Riggs: Yeah, you'd be killin' a cop -
Suicidal jumper: Yeah, I'd be killin' a psycho nut job!
Det. Riggs: Yeah, a psycho, but I'm still a cop. You comin' in? C'mon, I'm goin' in.
Suicidal jumper: Fuck you! I'm jumpin'!
Det. Riggs: [grabs the jumper, stares him crazily in the eyes] Do you really wanna jump? Do ya wanna? Well, then that's fine with me! C'mon, let's do it, asshole, let's do it! I wanna do it!
Suicidal jumper: Wait a minute - whaddaya mean -
[Riggs jumps, taking the jumper with him]
Republicans - do ya REALLY wanna jump? Then let's DO IT!!