a number of outside folks were coming back like the senator who knows the issue pretty well, erskine bowles who worked in the white house, and a number of people from private industry -- it is a lot of talent. after this second meeting, you can see the complexity and the challenges are growing. what is possible? what can we come up with to bring 14 of the 18 together? if everything is on the table, it means some of us will have to swallow hard. those who are hard and fast against any consideration of new revenue may have to give up a little. those were against any cuts in discretionary and domestic spending may have to give a little. we owe it to the country. they are looking for us to do this. i sense a growing sentiment across the united states, even among those who would traditionally be on my side of the issues, that concern that we need to address as we try to whip -- try to work our way out of this recession. >> senator, how difficult is it to get 14 of 18 to agree? he would have to put everything on the table -- you would have to put anything on the table in every sort of agreement.