mcconnell and joe biden.e's an indication of how things are going. >> you wrote that democrats are hesitant to put a deal on the senate floor with no republican backing, because it just offers them a chance to score political points when public opinion does seem to be favoring the democrats. democrats don't have an incentive to waste a show of support for something that can't pass, right? >> that's exactly where democrats are. they feel like they want to get a deal with republican backing, if they can. but remember on friday, the president kind of put republicans in a box. he said either cut a deal in the senate and push it through, or i'm going to ask harry reid to put my scaled back plan on the senate floor. and remember that scaled back plan has tax increases for everybody who makes over $250,000, which republicans don't love at all. i'll have harry reid put that on the floor and you'll have to block it. and you will have to then take responsibility for not pushing it through. so republicans are a little b

you have worked with vice president biden. as you know, he's been called on by mitch mcconnell to help with these last-minute talks. what do you think his role is now with so little time left? >> well, the vice president goes way back with senator mcconnell, and i've been in the room when they have talked, and it doesn't sound like two partisans separated by deep ideology. it sounds like guys who know how to bang out a deal. that said, if that were up to them perhaps they could get somewhere, but there are so many other forces swirling around this right now. i'm kind of in the same camp as kristen and the other political analysts we just heard from. if we are starting to hear things getting further apart rather than closer apart at this late date, i don't know that a decades old friendship between a couple of senators -- former senator and current one are going to make that much difference at this point. >> paul, let me play for you what senator lindsey graham said this morning on "fox news sunday" about the chances of a small

>> bill: who is in charge of that. >> joe biden. would appoint someone. >> bill: appoint someone. >> i don't have a name in my head you want me to nominate someone right here? 5 point plan? >> bill: i wanted one and i got someone. >> brand new gallup poll released today the majority of the american people want more police in schools. they want more mental health screenings and intervention and they want to look at the violence in the culture. way down the list was an assault weapons ban. >> bill: thanks very much. directly ahead the killer in the new town massacre was obsessed with violent video games. no surprise. we'll take a look at that culture. then, some scenes from the new tom cruise action movie having to be recut because of the massacre. those reports after these messages. >> bill: factor follow up segment tonight. as i said adam lanza to ho killed last week was angry alien nighted guy and he may have been addict to the video games. how did i know that? one look at the guy. cnn reporting that people who knew lanza say he wa

so he reached out to vice president biden. biden engaged. and what looked like a stalemate yesterday really has begun to move forward overnight, the two on the phone late into the evening until midnight i am told working out the details of a compromise. their staffers on the phone into the early morning hours. folks here at the white house up quite late as well. so it looks like some type of compromise is starting to form that would include increasing taxes on those making $450,000 or less. remember president obama wanted that threshold at 250,000. house speaker john boehner wanted it much higher at about a million dollars. this is somewhere in between. also, an extension of the unemployment insurance benefits. they're still hashing out some of the final details but it does appear as though the vice president was key in helping these negotiations to move forward. >> the negotiations go on there, kristen, we are watching the senate floor as they discuss the very details of that and debate it. keith, to you on this. political pointing out, bid

called in a senate colleague vice president joe biden. >> willing to work with whoev er can help. it remain as possible sticking point. appears to be a willingness and interest or the courage to close the deal. >> top on the republican side sound hopeful because they believe vice president biden can cut a deal but it may not be tonight. >> president obama putting pressure on lawmakers to reach a deal. mr. obama making remarks about the fiscal cliff aired it earlier today. he put much of the blame on shoulders of the republicans if no deal is reached. the gop fired back saying the president should lead right now not cast blame. correspondent s henry is live from the white house. >> he is frustrated going on a talk show today in the middle of the negotiations. he has not been on one of the

but i'll read you the things the nra said in 2008 about joe biden. the senate have as much experience as joe biden in attacking our right to keep and bear arms. joe biden has voted for an actively pushed major anti-gun bills's including those banning semiautomatic firearms, banning hunting, sporting and self-defense ammunition, banning magazines holding more than ten rounds, and imposing background checks on gun sales, that sounds like a guy the president should turn to. >> what a radical, can you believe those things he supported? i think joe biden is a very strong choice to head this task force. i am a little bit concerned about the time frame, though, frankly. i think we're seeing polls that show a majority of americans for the first time in a long time, supporting stricter gun control. supporting majority, supporting these basic common sense rules. which actually that has been the case for a while. but i'm just concerned that right now is when the pressure and the heat is on the nra. is on the republican members of congress. is on people like joe

joe biden is saying, yeah, 2016. maybe. >> he is not going through the ritual of saying -- he is clearly it does interest me. it's hard to -- i would separate this from presidential politics. as hard as that is for somebody like us. >> come on. it's tough. i do think this represents the fact that at the end of the day particularly in your intense dead looirn situation personal relationships do matter. two men that have been in the senate and know each other. i don't know of if i particular affection, they know each other and they know what makes the other tick. they know what the other incentives are. the personal relationships can matter. there's no question. i think it will give sort of credibility to joe biden's standing, and they will show the value of that kind of institutional knowledge and seniority. >> they say it's the deal and it's the program meter is 450,000 with an extension of the patch in amt and extension of unemployment benefits and all these sorts of things. are both sides able even if they're not r

though joe biden hear you out because i'm not sure i'm a gentleman look at them look at the moves on him you know i don't know i don't know if he's a if he's a this guy but he you know he looks like a president vice presidential guy joe biden and whatever the case joe biden he's known for his big about big mouth he's known for his even bigger teeth when obama recently passed his major health care act at the podium biden gave him a hug and as he hugged him he said in a negative way he said this is a big deal guys run run the grab so we can hear what he had to say mr joe biden vice president. the president the united states of america barack obama. thank you everybody. not only not only was heard by barack obama but it was heard by everyone on stage even people started tweeting about it saying that you are mr joe biden you're absolutely right in the you know that guy's story or is it just me or has a bronco obama in some way been involved in almost all of the open mikes whether he's talking to someone or being talked about or it's his vice president he's you know involved in a lot of a

joe biden put that boy in his place. it reminded me of kathy bates. >> the part where she hits it car. >> he just spanked the guy. it was fantastic. the jack kennedy line was epic. it was my favorite line of the debate. >> i went into the debates cynical. biden is not going to say anything to paul ryan. he said that line and i was like oh! he said it! >> part of the reason this was happening is because we were so sad on the left after the first one. we just have to take a look at president obama during that first debate. it was -- it was a sad moment. the reason we were so excited about biden, what was going on there? >> i'm glad we had the sad drama. it sound tracked to 2012. i feel like biden is like a fun dad but then was able in the debate to get away with being angry dad. he's like fun, laughing, i'm kind of condescending to this guy and then with the jack kennedy line, like seriously, don't mess around. >> that's the thing. joe biden is your crazy uncle joe. it's not a joke. you go to thanksgiving dinner and mentio

i think joe biden is a very strong choice to head this task force.a little bit concerned about the time frame, though, frankly. i think we're seeing polls that show a majority of americans for the first time in a long time, supporting stricter gun control. supporting majority, supporting these basic common sense rules. which actually that has been the case for a while. but i'm just concerned that right now is when the pressure and the heat is on the nra. is on the republican members of congress. is on people like joe manchin, to actually do something. and the longer that we wait to have a task force and have recommendations and push something forward here in the state of the union, the less pressure there is going to continue to be. maybe i'm wrong, maybe this is a mounting wave. but based on what we've seen in past initiatives, there is an initiative to do something, and then the focus goes elsewhere. so i think the sooner they can put those recommendations out the better position we would actually be in. >> well, the problem is the calendar here an

that's vice president joe biden.onnell and biden reportedly spoke several times by phone throughout the night after talks with harry reid came to a halt. welcome back, everyone, to "morning joe." that's the latest. ed rendell and jeffrey sachs all with us along with sam stein and michael steele in washington. joining us also in washington, senior national correspondent for "bloomberg businessweek," joshua green. and joshua, before we go on to what led to this doomsday scenario that we're facing right now, which was all set up by lawmakers in washington, talk to me about what businesses are looking for and wall street is looking for. there will be reaction. there's always this discussion about the need for certainty. at best, we're going to get some sort of small deal that puts everything off, which makes this whole deadline make no sense. are businesses going to respond well to that? >> if we get a deal, yes. i mean, wall street all along has been looking to avert the fiscal cliff. and frankly, i don't think ceos and

the answer was joe biden. then-senator biden was chair for 17 days when the senate was split 50/50. then he became the committee's chair in 2001 when jim jeffords of vermont switched party. he held the post for a third and final time during the 110th congress. so there you go. arcane trivia. that might be a little-known fact. this is live pictures. this is senator inouye's body arriving. a decorated medal of honor recipient. heel lie in state at the capital rotunda today. congressional leaders will make remarks at a service in just a few minutes and tomorrow night a public memorial at the national cathedral and he'll be laid to rest in hawaii over the weekend. ♪ i'd like to thank eating right, whole grain, multigrain cheerios! mom, are those my jeans? [ female announcer ] people who choose more whole grain tend to weigh less than those who don't. >>> let's bring back the gaggle. mike viqueira and jennifer ruben. one of the pieces of conventional wisdom always circulated in washington is the good old days of washington ended with the robert bork confirmation hearings and republicans

it's going to be led by vice president joe biden. going to bring that to you live as soon as the president begins his remarks there. >>> it's time now for the pollee side bar. this time not in a divorce court, the former governor and former first lady reportedly both considering a run for the house seat vacated by tim scott. he was just appointed to jim demint's senate seat. >>> take a look at this picture, how this story went down we're not exactly sure, but the white house releasing this new picture of the president getting caught by the super hero's web. the cute spider-man is a staffer's son. the picture was taken on october 26th, so just days before the presidential election, days before halloween. >>> nbc gets a look at christmas past and christmas present. the white house with this unprecedented access to 1600 pennsylvania avenue. ten presidential families features, as well, hosted by meredith viera and jenna bush hagger as the executive producer. >> we're such a small group of women and men that have had the privilege of livi

and to head the effort, he appointed vice president biden. on some semiautomatic rifles. the team will report back by next month, the president said. the president hopes to capitalize from this national moment, when even some pro-gun rights democrats are calling for change. he demanded congress take real action right now. ban the sale of high capacity ammunition clips, close the so-called gun show loophole that does not require background checks in many private sales. and ban the sale of what he called military-style assault weapons. >> if we're going to change things, it's going to take a wave of americans, mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, and yes, gun owners, standing up and saying enough, on behalf of our kids. >> reporter: the white house vaguely defines military-style assault weapons as those that can fire hundreds of rounds in minutes. for perspective, this is an m-16 automatic rifle. it's generally illegal to the public. it can fire continuously. [ gun fire [ with one pull of the trigger, the bullets come nonstop. 30 rounds in two se

to the vice president and said, perhaps joe biden could help jump start things. that's where we are now. there was a lot of fatigue and weariness as the day went on the without a package for members to consider. there was a lot of back and forth, as you know, about different elements of a potential deal and what was angering one side or another. what we expected now is, barring some late night breakthrough which seems unlikely, we would hear from the senate tomorrow, late morning, get a sense where they are, if they're any further along, and then if there is a package, it would be revealed to each side, meaning the house and the senate, let members take a look at it, and gauge if they're ready to go and vote on it. it is the final day of the year tomorrow. and so the time could not be any shorter. and that's putting pressure on everyone involved. we just don't have a sense if there is optimism, but at least we're told they are still talking. chris? >> obviously, vice president biden has not been involved in these negotiations up until now. do we know why the whit

vice president biden is in charge of that task force. they've been given a deadline of january to present ideas to the president. the president gives his state of the union address in early february. and then it's off to the races and trying to get something done. so the idea that the president isn't going to push hard on doing something about gun safety, gun control, however you want to talk about it i think is a little bit ludicrous. julian and james, thanks very much. >> thank you. >> happy new year. >> stay with us. much more ahead. >> many new year. >> happy new year. in this country we say happy new year. >> ha, ha, ha, ha! safety, gun control, however you in this country we say happy new safety, gun control, however you in this country we say happy new >>> stay with us. the day's "top lines" are coming up. ♪ i heard somebody say ♪ burn, baby burn ♪ disco inferno ♪ burn, baby burn >>> fireworks and old friends, champagne toasts and resolutions. oh, and that dreaded fiscal cliff. here are today's "top lines." countdown to sky fall.

vice president biden also here at the white house. he can of course be an incredibly important player in this entire process. president obama's strategy has to some extent been to wage a public campaign putting the pressure on congress to get something done during that exclusive interview earlier today you heard the president accuse republicans of being solely focused on protecting the taxes of wealthier americans. of course, president obama wants to see the bush era tax cuts extended for those making $250,000 or less while letting it raise on those making more than that. that $250,000 figure is up for debate and is up for compromise. i can tell you that republican leaders on the hill fired back saying he was more interested on assigning blame than getting something done and leading while they are trying to hammer out a deal. that is where things stand right now at the white house. clearly watching these developments quite closely. >> kristen welker, thank you. we will be checking back throughout the afternoon, as well. nchlts for mor

it is now, and the clock is ticking on vice president joe biden's gun violence task force. mr. obama wants to announce new initiatives before his state of the union address in late january. >> there's no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence in our society. we're going to need to work on making access to mental health care at least as easy as access to a gun. we're going to need to look more closely at a culture that all too often glorifies guns and violence. and any actions we must take must begin inside the home and inside our hearts. >> reporter: after congresswoman gabrielle giffords and 18 others were shot in arizona and 12 were murdered in a colorado movie theater the president offered up words but little else. now words appear to be yielding to action and impatience. >> i will use all the powers of this office to helped advance efforts aimed at preventing more tragedies like this. we won't prevent them all but that can't be execute not to try. >> reporter: biden wrote the 1994 crime bill that imposed the first-ever ban on assault weapons. th

senate majority leader harry reid said we should talk to vice president biden and mitch mcconnell. earlier republicans suggested changing the way inflation is calculated on changes like social security read offered this reaction late in the day. >> i was really grass fied to hear republicans taking command by social security set off the table. this should never have been on the table to begin with. there is still significant difference between the two sides negotiations continue. still time left to reach an agreement. >> meanwhile west virginia democrat joe mansion introduced the calm act trying to soften the blow as the country goes off the fiscal cliff. it would maphase in tax hikes or the years and prioritize spending cuts. he says he's frustrated and tried to do something. >> it was crossing the wires it's more than frustration it sounds like desperation at this point as they are losing hope. the chained cpi the social security adjustment you were talking about basically changes the way they configure the cost of living and would make those benefits smaller checks. does it soun

e-mails specifically refer to vice president joe biden's involvement in the $1.6 billion grant. it's for the proposed ivan power solar power project in the desert in southern california. an e-mail from bright source energy's subcontractor, bechtel systems and infrastructure, dated december 2, 2009, said that biden met weekly with energy secretary steven chu to discuss the energy department loan guarantees. bernard tune who was biden's chief of staff when he was a senator in the senate was a principal vice president and manager for bechtel. in an e-mail to bright source ceo john woolard dated december 3, 2009, tune wrote, quote: calls are in to biden's staff, and i will be approaching the political affairs office at the white house tomorrow as well. as this prompt could benefit -- project could benefit two democratic senators who are in cycle and whose races already tough next year, barbara boxer of california and majority leader senator reid from nevada. both won re-election in 2010. over a year later, in march 2011, bright source still had no loan. ceo woolard sent an e-mail to

mcconnell and joe biden are talking. when things between mcconnell and reid stopped working, mcconnell, highest ranked republican in the senate, reid the highest ranking democrat in the senate. we have to believe some work is being done somewhere. >> some of it is being done somewhere. talking to an aide to senator mcconnell, we understand that discussions between biden and mcconnell went into the night so this is something that they are working on, although certainly, yes, it's being left to the last minute and unclear if we'll avert the fiscal cliff. talk to snom senators, and they say we are going over the cliff. some way they think there will be a deal by tonight and a vote by tonight, but the fact is it's very iffy. here is what's not iffy. an incentive if we go over the cliff to get this done. because it is -- both sides have been preparing themselves for the blame game. it is in full swing now. president obama said, basically saying if we go over the cliff, he is really going to take aim at republicans more than h

tonight it's between senator mitch mcconnell and vice president joe biden. we're some of the last people in the building. i know -- come on through, guys, if you want. there's one of the crews that -- the worker crews are starting to come into work tonight. we're the last reporting crew. all the members of congress have pretty much gone. the republicans in the house were meeting late tonight to try to talk about what to do, in the end this is what our producer deirdre walsh heard from them. the message is just sit tight, stay tuned and i think what we have to do, don, is find out tomorrow morning, whether there is any progress between senator mcconnell and vice president joe biden. there is definitely hope. there is not a lot of time. >> let me tell you this, lisa. when you see the workers there, and the crew that -- and those are the people who these negotiations are about. every day americans who work these types of jobs, who are every day americans and so there you go. i think that is absolutely tells the story. >> don, i want to -- >> go ahead. >> i want

joe biden was running for president at the time. you know, that famous quote from the conservative activist grover norquist about how his goal is to shrink government down to the size where he can drown it in a bathtub. that famously is grover norquist's attitude about all of government, right. makes it sort of remarkable that anybody would even think he might be a relevant player in stuff like the negotiations over taxes and spending and deficit reduction that are happening right now between the white house and congressional republicans. really, we have to consult the guy who wants to drown the government? but talking that way about government, talking about killing the government in a bathtub is not designed to make you a mainstream appealing figure. it's designed to make you a hero on the right. it's the type of conservatism that sees itself as insurgent. it's them against the government. they like to see themselves as outsiders who are only in washington because they want to destroy washington. so mostly when you hear rhetoric l

would you stand, senator joe biden. [ applause ] >> the choice of joe biden to lead the current task force on gun violence is no coincidence. the vice president fought against the odds to get democrats and republicans on board for the 1994 crime bill. biden is also a powerful symbol on this issue. his fight to curb gun violence helped him receive an "f" rating from the national rifle association, which i think really makes him qualified for job. the nra calls biden, in fact, the most anti-gun vice president in history. what an honor. by picking biden, the president is sending a very strong message. the task force will not roll over to play indicate the nra. vice president biden will do the job. president obama knows it. he did not speak in generalities today. he laid out a very clear agenda. >> a majority of americans support banning the sale of military-style assault weapons. a majority of americans support banning the sale of high capacity ammunition clips. a majority of americans support laws requiring background checks before all gun purchases so that criminals can't take advanta

but i think joe biden is formidable.ere in ohio, wisconsin -- >> if she doesn't run, i'm not betting on andy cuomo over joe biden as vice president. >> i would. i would definitely -- >> it's the same argument for hillary clinton. she will have the money, she hat establishment and all good people around him. cuomo does not come into that race as formidable as hillary clinton looked in 2007. >> how do you prevent a republican primary picture that you guys had? i think a lot of you folks in romney world believe the primaries hurt mitt romney. >> i think the debates became a side show there. if you looked at the volatility of the electorate and how the numbers went up and down with debate performances, that was something that had a big effect. >> you could have a large -- >> i think the rnc can step in and take a more management role. and have an impact on a nominee, and have that nominee more viably positioned for a general election. >> fairly large field, jeb would shrink it a bit? without jeb, boy, seven, eight serious pe

but this is not biden's first foray into gun reform.e will examine the administration's best hope at taking control of the issue next on "now." >> in case after case of murderous ram pages by disturbed and violent thugs, the ability of military style assault weapons to kill and maim, not just a few, but eight or ten, 14, 35 people in just minutes has been proven beyond any reasonable doubt. >> in the early 1990s joe biden took on gun violence. as the chair of the senate judiciary committee, he played a crucial role in passing the assault weapons ban. now nearly 20 years later he is once again being charged with developing a plan to stop deadly shootings. in about an hour the vice president will hold the first meeting of president obama's task force to combat gun violence. bide seven expected to meet with cabinet members and law enforcement officials. the veep has long been a supporter of gun control, a decision made abundantly clear after being questioned by a debater in 2008. >> tell me your position on gun control as myself and other

he put vice president joe biden in charge.gave them only one month to come up with a set of recommendations that he would then push through congress. and then he opened up the floor to questions and all the white house press corps wanted to talk about was the fiscal cliff. come on! it just shows how out of it they are. they can't get outside the beltway. they don't know what the american people really care about! all right. we'll get into that and a whole lot more here. but first, before we get to your calls, we'll take time out to get the latest, today current news update from lisa ferguson joining us from los angeles. good morning, lisa. >> hey bill. good morning everyone. that task force is wasting no time getting to work, as bill mentioned, that's the task force president obama commissioned in the wake of the newtown tragedy. vice president joe biden will hold his first official meeting today. the group will develop proposals aimed at reducing gun violence in the united states and must put together a set of recommendations

i am interested, how long of a deadline will joe biden and company have? when will their recommendations be coming forward? i want to hear, is it going to be a matter of weeks? is it going to be a matter of months? over the years, and i have been in washington for a long time, whenever a president wants to deal with something but he is not ready to deal with it, he creates a commission and effectively punts the ball down the road because that's a good way of pretending you're doing something and not really doing anything and i remember recently the fiscal kries crisis we had and the bowles-simpson commission were going to come up with plans to deal with the deficit and the long-term debt reduction, spending, and all of that and they came up with a plan and hasn't worked out that great. we're in the middle of a fiscal cliff crisis now. i want to see specifics. i want to see what the president announces, who will be on the commission, how long do they have, what's the mandate, what are the recommendations? or is this just going to be more talk, talk, talk, a

. -- joe biden.ven if he runs in 2016 for the presidency. >> named the head of the whole gun thing. >> i'm telling you -- this position. >> we'll have to wait. >> his political style is seen unfortunately for him as too aseckic for broad appeal. maybe you should talk to his wife about running for president. his wife is terrific. >> he may or may not run for president, john. but a lot of people love joe biden. he's an authentic voice and democrats in particular love him. maybe you got a problem -- >> we're talking about his wife as a candidate. >> jill? >> why not? >> because she's shown no political ambition. she teaches at a community college and she has a fine career. >> okay. best political theater of 2012. pat? >> i hate to say it but i think the democratic convention in charlotte. it was a real bell winger of a convention, very entertaining. >> eleanor? >> i second that and i loved clint eastwood interviewing the empty chair. that was classic. >> you really thought he had it all together. >> ele

the biden team, which will include the four relevant cabinet secretaries, will report to the presidenty next month, he said. >> this is not some washington commission. this is a team that has a very specific task to pull together real reforms right now. >> reporter: the president also called on congress to take real action now, banning the sale of high capacity ammunition clips, closing the so called gun show loophole that does not require background checks for many private sales, and banning the sale of what the president called military-style assault weapons, which the white house defined as high-powered weapons that can fire hundreds of rounds in minutes. >> if we're going to change things, it's going to take a wave of americans, mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, pastors, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and yes, gun owners standing up and saying enough on behalf of our kids. >> reporter: of course, a ban is not that simple. take a look. this is an m-16 automatic rifle. it's generally illegal to the public. it can fire continuously. with one pull of the trigger,

go biden. i like this. network. >> king is an independent. >> that's what i'm going to be watching. >> do you see the ce,of the servetive movement? >> i think it's hard for jim demint -- it's like this aol time warner merger. it makes a lot of sense on paper. we'll be able to overcome some of the institutional challenges. it's something that's out in the -- the think tank worl. >> we'll have more from the gaggle coming up. plus, the six-year itch,it's a bedrock of conventional wisdom. or is it just a made-up thing? second term president, supposedly struggling in his midterm. we'll let you know whether you think it's real or simply a coincidence. but, first, our special trivia question. who was the first president and who is the most recent president to officially start a term on a sunday? the answer and more is coming up on the daily rundown. we'll be right back. [ male announcer ] it's that time of year again. time for citi price rewind. because your daughter really wants that pink castle thing. and you re

the biden offer has this in it

coming up, president obama launches a new gun violence task force and puts joe biden in charge.hat will it mean for your right to bear arms? we'll discuss. plus, the president got a little irritated when jake tapper asked him a tough question. that exchange coming up next. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> kimberly: fox news just learned that hillary clinton will in fact be testifying mid-january. the report is she is in fact feeling better and will testify about benghazi. so we are actually going get some information about that. now, president obama holding a news conference today about stemming gun violence in america five days after the shooting at sandy hook. vice president biden will come up with proposals on how to prevent another tragedy by next month. the right to bear arms will be in focus. >> there is a big chunk of space between what the second amendment means and having no rules at all. that space is what joe will work on to try to identify where we can find common ground. >> kimberly: some people, including abc's jake tapper wonder why it took so long for the president to act. >> this is

on the democratic side, vice president biden, secretary of state, hillary clinton, bennett, jerry brownabeth warren, and angus king who is an independent but will caucus with the democratics on the republican side. marco rubio, mike pence, jeb bush, and soon to be former senator from south carolina jim demint. joining me now, our end of the year gaggle, crystal lizza, perry bacon, stephanie cutter was the deputy campaign manager for obama's campaign, and madden was a senior adviser for romney's campaign. hello. happy new year, although we asked all of you to pick, i threw out my dozen and i asked you to pick two you were going to feedback. we're not going to do the 2016 conversation now, but we'll do it in a few minutes. who are the few who jumped out at you? >> i'm a little nierdy, so i picked michael bennet, the colorado senator, because he's the head of the committee which means he's tasked with trying to again keep a democratic senate majority, going to be difficult. you have 20 democratic seats up, only 10 republican seats up. >> and he wants to be senate majority leader some day.

people call biden the mcconnell whisper around here.are able to at least talk and get things done. they have been key players in the last negotiation. i have to tell you, dagen, the white house and the vice president office are not telling anything about the talks. harry reid seems to be on the sidelines right now. dagen: the idea of mitch mcconnell in the vice president whispering to one another in each other's ears, just, well, leaves me with no words. [ laughter ] i think i should end it there before i embarrass myself. >> that is okay. the horse whisperer, the mcconnell whisper -- dagen: the dog whisperer on yes, i understand. thank you very much. peter barnes, happy new year. twelve hours to go and no deal inside. david, your reaction to no action. >> it definitely looks really bad right now. as if we may go over the cliff. i, you know, other people on this network know more than i do on this. the markets do not seem to be freaking out right now. it seems like they are perfectly happy to watch us go into the new year. everybody in

>> i don't know that even biden could really. biden has been a very good vice president and if things keep going, he doesn't have her star power. he doesn't have her ability to attract money. he doesn't have the excitement that she'll offer to democratic base voters. okay we elected the first african-american president. now let's finish and elect the first woman president now. i don't think anybody has that kind of calling card. >> it comes down to the money. the one thing the clintons can do is raise money. that may endear them. the money game is certainly different than what it was before. what about that? >> i think that's right. and she's not going to have outside of biden, who i don't think is really stiff competition for her. i don't think outside of that there is. it's not going to be like in 2008 she was one of three in the top tier. she's going to be the top tier in 2016 if she decides to run. but the circumstances have to be right for her.

vice president biden, mcconnell, said to be about $100,000 apart with biden willing to preserve tax cutsamilies making up $450,000 and mack connell wanting to go to 550,000. south dakota senator john thune is too on miss tick but his focus is different than senator bocker's. >> i certainly hope the negotiations occurring right now can conclude in a way that will give us an outcome that prevents those tax rates from increasing on americans across this country and also put in place some things that would actually deal with the real problem, and the real problem, mr. president, is that our country spends too much. >> reporter: democratic senator tom harkin of iowa says republicans are trying to lock if had income and estate tax rates and some permanent spending cuts in exchange for temporary hikes in unemployment insurance and other things. and he objects to that. still aways to go, uma. uma: still aways to go indeed. wendell goler on the front lines right at the white house keeping tab on all the happenings from that vantage point. thanks so much for joining us. jon: let's bring in joe tri

mcconnell had been working with senate majority leader harry reid, but he and biden have gotten things done when working together in the past. can they do it now? let's go to dana bash. dana, what do you think? is it promising? can they go it now? >> reporter: well, let's start there. it certainly has happened before between these two men, and it's happened before when democrats on capitol hill are either split or have gotten, frankly, just too frustrated with the republican counterparts to have conversations to be able to find bipartisan agreement. these are the two men who negotiated an extension of the bush era tax cuts for two years. that happened two years ago when republicans had a lot of political capital because they just won the house in a big way. whether or not these two men are actually going to be the ones to strike a deal, we're not sure, but we are told, our ted barrett and jessica yellin and i are told by multiple sources that it does seem that at this point, at this late hour, the talks are primarily centered around and between these two men, between mitch mcconnell, t

now vice president biden is said to be about 100,000 a year apart.lling to preserve tax cuts for families making up to $450,000. mcconnell holding out for $550,000. a year. south carolina senator lindsey graham is not happy about it. >> in 2010 we extend the all the tax cuts because the economy was weak. in 2012, 2013, we're not going to extend the tax cuts the economy is weaker. i don't understand the economics but i do understand the politics. the president won. the president campaigned on raising rates. he will get a rate increase. >> reporter: we focus on the tax rates but that is not the only issue. the bigger issue is what the money is used for. the republicans want to use it to reduce the deficit. the democrats want to ease spending cuts for another year or so. gregg? gregg: wendell goler, thank you very much, live at the white house. we switch to the other end of the avenue and there is house speaker john boehner just arriving and, let's listen. >> [inaudible]. gregg: wow, we got a ephappy new year out of eric cantor. maybe i couldn't hear an

vice president joe biden and mitch mcconnell are at the center of the talks.d in urgent negotiations late last night while the senate has just reconvened while the house is on standby. good morning, sir. if it comes down to a vote, you're the one who will count the votes as the house minority whip. what are you hearing from your senate counterparts this morning? any signs of progress there? >> there are some signs of progress. we have heard that there is another offer on the table by the administration to reach agreement. in terms of the specifics, i don't know all the specifics. some of which i'm not too happy with. some of which i don't think make the math work, but i think the most important objective is of the administration's and to not go over this cliff, to make sure working americans don't get a tax increase tomorrow and to make sure that those on unemployment who have been unable to find a job have some help in the week ahead. i think we need to keep our powder dry to remain positive. there's still time to act and we need to reach agreement. both side

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biden is charged with crafting concrete proposals. biden is due to have a report back to the president in january. >>> attorney general eric holder will be meeting with first responders and law enforcement officials tomorrow in newtown. holder is expected to held there after meeting with the vice president. he's being asked to come up with recommendations on gun laws. >> we have 20 children trying to point us the way. if we don't follow their lead, we've failed them and their deaths are in vein. >> six more funerals are set to be held today for some of the 26 students and teachers killed during the -- during the sandy hook elementary school massacre. >>> a woman is in critical condition this noontime after being hit by a car near oakland's lake merritt b.a.r.t. station. police responded to a 911 call about 7:30 this morning about a woman struck at 7th and madison. officers say her injuries are life-threatening. no word if she was in the crosswalk. police say the driver of the car that hit her stayed at the scene and is cooperating wit