take some time, boehner has to get republicans more comfortable with raising taxes including raising rates. i don't think there's a scenario where the rates don't go up on people making over $250,000. and democrats have to get more comfortable with entitlement changes. but at the end of the day, obama can deliver democrats. and i think boehner's stronger today than he was three months ago, and he could deliver more republicans than he could of them. >> on that question of taxing the wealthy, you alluded to it in a comprehensive piece that you and mike allen wrote, everybody ought to read it at "politico" today. you say taxes are going up one way or another on people making over $250,000, and not just closing loopholes but on raising that marginal rate. what do republicans get in return for compromising one of their philosophical beliefs that taxes should not be raised? >> the thing that they'll demand, two things. domestic spending cuts and some cuts to medicare. and they're going to have to be north of $400 billion. but remember, even the cuts to medicare that are being talked about don't kick in until between 10 and 20 years from now.