as white house chief of staff under president clinton mr. bowleselped broker the budget deal that paved the way for the nation's first balanced budget in 30 years. we have fought president obama for establishing this commission and especially credit him for choosing these two great americans as co-chairs will. they've already demonstrated the orie team and are leading the way on a bipartisanship that we so desperately need. who better to direct the discussion than leslie stahl of cbs news. please welcome alan simpson bowles and leslie. [applause] ♪ >> hello, everyone, thanks for coming. first i want to ask alan, how is your me? [laughter] [inaudible] [laughter] [inaudible] erskine hasn't been sympathetic at all. [laughter] >> i durham all over washington. >> can now we have dispensed with the funnies because our topic this kind of heavy. so, senator simpson, let me start off and ask you whether the word doable is going to be factored into your deliberations. in other words, if it becomes clear that there is a solution that is obvious will you toss

as white house chief of staff under president clinton, mr. bowleselp broker budget deal that paved the way for the nation's first balanced budget in 30 years. we applaud president obama for establishing this commission and for choosing these two great americans as coach fares. they have already demonstrated they are a team and are leading the way on the bipartisanship that we so desperately need. who better to direct this discussion and lesley stahl of cbs news? please welcome alan simpson, erskine bowles, and lesley stahl. [applause] >> hello, everyone. thanks for coming. first i want to ask alan, how is your niece? -- have is your knee? it is new, and it is seven weeks old. it is healing. i have not had a drink. erskine has not been sympathetic at all. >> now that we have dispensed with the funnies, our topic is kind of heavy. senator simpson, let me just are often ask you whether the word "doable" is going to be factored into your deliberation. if it becomes pretty clear that there is a solution that is obvious, will you just toss it out there? o

as white house chief of staff under president clinton, mr. bowleselp broker budget deal that paved the way for the nation's first balanced budget in 30 years. we applaud president obama for establishing this commission and for choosing these two great americans as coach fares. they have already demonstrated they are a team and are leading the way on the bipartisanship that we so desperately need. who better to direct this discussion and lesley stahl of cbs news? please welcome alan simpson, erskine bowles, and lesley stahl. [applause] >> hello, everyone. thanks for coming. first i want to ask alan, how is your niece? -- have is your knee? it is new, and it is seven weeks old. it is healing. i have not had a drink. erskine has not been sympathetic at all. >> now that we have dispensed with the funnies, our topic is kind of heavy. senator simpson, let me just are often ask you whether the word "doable" is going to be factored into your deliberation. if it becomes pretty clear that there is a solution that is obvious, will you just toss it out there? o