they are trying to manufacture consent for a deal that would be otherwise unacceptable. so the members of congress and the american people. i don t think many people are thinking about having to watch what is going on in congress on new year s eve. we govern 365 days a year or should and this is a sign that the two-party system is breaking down, can t function and can t run a government. shannon: congressman, it would seem that many americans agree with that, with the congressional approval rating at 18%. how did we get here? well, listen, shannon, i agree with my friend dennis kucinich. we can cut spending. i don t think we need to cut the department of defense by 9 percent and hollow out the military. but we cut spending. the president, i can t believe with a straight face i guess with practice, he can do it go on meet the press and say that the republicans have done nothing. we have had months to act. how about hr-8, which keeps the