launched to try to get republicans to cry uncle on this tax hike. we have seen a parade of ceos coming up and down the driveway. we ve seen the president travel to the business round table yesterday. we have seen the president talk to middle class taxpayers. we ve seen this twitter campaign that you describe, my2k. the 22k being the $2,000 on the line if the country goes over the cliff. the president also went to philadelphia a week ago tomorrow to that toy factory. it was a toy factory but it s clear the president is not playing around here. he is really hitting the republicans hard from the outside, trying to crumble their defenses amid signs that those defenses from within are weakening. mike, the president and speaker boehner apparently did have a telephone conversation last night. are we inching closer to a deal or is that too much of a grown-up christmas wish? it s really impossible to say. i think most people in this town