susan davis, my colleague, martin frost, dick armey, thank you very much for coming. [applause] >> earlier today, house republican leader john boehner and house republican whip eric cantor spoke to reporters about last night's election results with republicans gain control of the u.s. house. >> we are humbled by the trust that the american people have placed in us. our job is to listen to the american people and follow the will of the american people. it is pretty clear the american people want us to do something about cutting spending here in washington and creating an environment that will get jobs back in our country. we have a big job ahead of us. that is why you'll see us roll up our sleeves. >> last night indicates the american people are tired and frustrated in washington. it is very clear that what a government that listens to them, and frankly, whether you are republican dick --, democrat, or independent, the people in this country want to see results. the first order of business has to be to create jobs. the american people said that the obama administration

and susan davis has joined us here. so, susan, say a few words and get it started. >> okay.i apologize for being late. i was actually working on a phone interview talking to one of the members that is going to be coming to washington in january. i think maybe just the best way to start off is open it up to the possible and say -- panel and say what, what did last night mean? >> and we'll get to stan's deeper question which i think we'll give them all a moment or two to think about in a second. eric, you want to start? >> sure. what'd it mean? i mean, i think there is danger in reading too much into this being a republican election. i said that in 2008, i think there was too much, it was too easy to read into it being a democratic mandate. i think what we've seen is three successive change election, 2006, 2008, 2010. i don't think 2006, 2008 were votes for democrats as much as -- same with 2012. all the research i've seen, they are votes against the status quo. they are votes for change, they are votes to disrupt the way things are in washington. and i think that that, you kn

susan davis and i, and we've found yes, they're aggressive, yes, they're interested in changing the culture of washington, but they're also pragmatic about what's something that they can accomplish. they said, look. we understand there's a fill bustner the senate, we watched the republicans use it to great effect. we know the president has a veto pen. if things bog down in the senate or we can't overcome a veto, we're okay with that, but we'll have a debate, set this in motion and that's how we'll judge ourselves and ask our constituents to judge us. >> i talked to michael steele, and one of the things that surprised me is after this tremendous victory, there was still leadership fights within the republican party. hal hal haley barber saying the rnc didn't raise enough money, if you just got 60 votes -- if that's what it's like when you're winning, if that's what it's like when you're winning, what's it like when you're losing? >> let me put you all on pause. president obama seems to have a little something in common with george w. bush, they are both out there this week, and they're both

susan davis and nine put together what we call a chart icle. we analyzed all lot of issues a possible compromise. we bring up in the afghanistan and start treaty, and the president is likely to find -- and i want to put this before the panel -- substantial support provided the july 2011 withdrawal is not precipitous from their point of view, and they are brought in with the december review that the president will have to read and is -- to evaluate his afghanistan policy after one year. and the start treaty, dick lugar is a linchpin, but if it does not get some specific details, it will not happen in the lame duck and may not at all. i won it for this over to you. >> we are paying -- it sounds i am repeating the same thing. but both parties will find places. the success in 2012 is based on -- what success was choosing fights on both sides. foreign policy is the more intuitive place where they will find agreement. talking to susan major, they will find some common ground on this. i do think there is a high priority for the white house is this tre

my colleague susan davis will be joining us momentarily. i want to briefly introduce our panel. most of them are very familiar to all of you. i will not go through all of their resume. to my immediate right is dick armey, a former majority leader of the house. to his right is martin frost, a democrat from texas, a graduate of the university of missouri school of journalism, as am i. he was also leader of the house democratic caucus and head of the democratic congressional campaign committee. he can tell you how hard it is to win house seats, so he will have some perspective on the magnitude of last night's victory. then we have eric smith, president of blue engine message and media. he was a crucial component of the obama 2008 presidential campaign as far as paid media and advertising campaigns. he formerly worked with dick gephardt, and susan davis has joined us. >> i apologize for being late. i was working on a telephone interview, talking to one of the members that will be coming to washington in january. the best way to start off is to open it up to the panel and ask, what d