jay carnie made a point when briefing that the president will not allow the same thing will happen on the debt creating -- ceiling that happened in 2011. i wonder that's a consideration of using his executive authority. is there any reason to think that might happen? >> i don't have any reason to think that. i think for one thing that tim geithner made clear because revenues have been a little more than expected, they have more wiggle room that they can push it into february 2013. the tax cuts would have to be dealt with before that. if the republicans want to do the same thing they did in august of last year, i don't see how the president stops him. >> in spite of all the gridlock, i noticed one thing did happen in the senate this week. they confirmed a couple of people. why did that go through? it seems the only sunshine -- >> you're right. the president nominated a republican and a democrat for two seats in the federal reserve. there apparently was enough said that the fed needed two people that they got the 60 votes they needed. of course these two candidates through the confirmat