and john heilman's with the new york magazine. both are authors of the book "game change."you start with this thing. is this a possibility? let's talk about the tax cuts. it seems to me that everybody in america knows their taxes are going up this next coming january unless action is taken by congress to extend the bush tax cuts, at least for them. and the president's problem is he's unlikely to get a vote in this senate to extend tax cuts just for the group he wants them extended for, people under $250,000 a year. so he may be facing a choice come mid-december of whether to let this thing go, back to january, with the tax cuts not in effect. in other words, people facing a tax increase or it will all be blamed on him. so what's he do? >> look this is a test case for a lot of what the next two years are going to be like. the president's going to have a choice. all presidents face cross currents. on this issue and almost everything else the president wants to get done he can either get stuff done or alienate part of the so-called professional left. the key for him is to show

and john heilman's with the new york magazine. both are authors of the book "game change." mark, you start with this thing. is this a possibility? let's talk about the tax cuts. it seems to me that everybody in america knows their taxes are going up this next coming january unless action is taken by congress to extend the bush tax cuts, at least for them. and the president's problem is he's unlikely to get a vote in this senate to extend tax cuts just for the group he wants them extended for, people under $250,000 a year. so he may be facing a choice come mid-december of whether to let this thing go, back to january, with the tax cuts not in effect. in other words, people facing a tax increase or it will all be blamed on him. so what's he do? >> look this is a test case for a lot of what the next two years are going to be like. the president's going to have a choice. all presidents face cross currents. on this issue and almost everything else the president wants to get done he can either get stuff done or alienate part of the so-called professional left. the key for him is

and, john heilman, i know we're all spring chickens here but i just wonder, why in the world do peoplehting words for people? why is the democratic -- i guess it's the progressives, some of them are very young and they are thinking about 2075. >> i think it's more, chris, that democrats have just -- that the preservation of social security in its current form has been a touchstone for democratic politics. not just for the progressive side but the main stream of the democratic party for a long time. i think they feel to give anything on that front is letting the nose -- the camel's nose get into the tent. so they feel as though they have to keep up an absolutely staunch opposition to tinkering with social security. no matter how fiscally insane that position is. >> but this is basically a two or three for one. perhaps a three for one. it is tilted toward the republicans. there's very little tax increase. is that the problem? the balance is wrong for progressives? mark? >> that's part of it. i think there's more in there the progressives don't like. some progressives are kind of stunned

tomorrow, john heilman, "the washington post," jonathan capehart. here to pick things up next. >>> hi, there, chris. we have a lot of conversations about the so-called groping at air force security. i am talking to a former pilot whose wife died on the plane that crashed into the pentagon. >> hundreds say good-bye to the publicist to the stars. we have the latest on the investigation into a murder mystery. >>> what are sarah palin's chances of defeating president obama in 2012 if she decides to run? we have new poll numbers. you don't want to miss this one. stay with me. ♪ but only one dad. ♪ show him how much you care with gillette fusion proglide. ♪ [ male announcer ] there are billions of people in the world. ♪ but only one dad. ♪ show him how much you care with gillette fusion proglide. ♪ show him how much you care with gillette fusion proglide. ah, this is hey guys. what the eightsorry we're late. milk looks warm. finally got the whole gang together. maple brown sugar, strawberry delight, blueberry muffin. yeah, a little family reunion. [ wind

and, john heilman, i know we're all spring chickens here.y in the world do people worry about 2075 and why are those fighting words for people? i guess it's the progressives. some of them are very young and they are thinking about 2075. >> i think it's more, krirks that democrats have just -- that the preservation of social security in its current form has been a touchstone for democratic politics. not just for the progressive side but the main stream of the democratic party for a long time. they feel to give anything on that front is letting the nose -- the camel's nose get into the tent. they feel as though they have to keep up an absolutely staunch opposition to tinkering with social security. no matter how fiscally insane that position is. >> but this is basically a two or three for one. perhaps a three for one. it is tilted toward the republicans. very little tax increase. is that the problem? the balance is wrong for progressives? mark? >> that's part of it. i think there's more in there the progressives don't like. some progressives a

john heilman an clarence page. that's the question put forth here. >> first of all, i'm not sure it is one senator. i think senator kyle is not working alone but with tacit encouragement of senator mcconnell and others. >> why? >> your question was very pointed. i think he is acting this way that republicans have learned over the course of the last two years is that opposing barack obama at every turn, even on issues where they might agree with him sub stan civil has paid political dividends. the big difference between the current senator republicans and the list of republican gran des that you just showed up on the screen, all those republicans, those wise old men are no longer in elected politics. they are fundamentally focused on the national security and not focused on what's going to give the republican party political advantage. they are above politics. senator kyle is not, norris senator mcconnell. >> let me get to another possibility. kyle seems to be in bed with the neoconservatives, all those various comm