have this document? why not make a single proposal to cut social security, medicare, medicaid? >> chris, this is what happens here in washington. when you start down that path, you just invite all kinds of problems. i know. i've been there. i think we need to do this in a more systemic way and have this conversation first. let's not get to the potential solutions. >> will the house hold a vote this week before you adjourn for a month of campaigning, a vote this week on whether or not to extend the bush tax cuts? >> i doubt that we will. >> and there's your party strategies for this year's elections in a nutshell. republicans promising that they're not really ready to talk about, you know, policy and stuff. solutions. it's very complicated. democrats offered the softest of all political targets, nevertheless are refusing to campaign against republicans. tada. joining us now is my friend lawrence o'donnell, his show premieres right after this show