revisited in a few short weeks. we have to move on. t august, september, october, november and december. five months. we would be back in this same debate in a matter of weeks. we could not allow that to happen so any agreement has to have a long-term approach. this is absolutely necessary. we must give financial markets confidence. this country won t shirk its obligations now or in the future. i know that the compromise being discussed at the white house again, gets us past january 2013. that has to be done, and that will be done if an agreement is reached. it is also crucial the agreement