i look at it like this -- if we're going to talk about cutting spending, we have to actually talk about cutting spending, and we have to talk about cutting projects here and there. and i think any time is a good time to talk about cutting spending. i have been completely unhappy with all of the proposals that i've seen from both parties. we have democrats and republicans that are only talking about cutting the tiniest little bitty bit of what is being spent. no one wants to get into the meat and potatoes of what is causing us to be in extreme debt. no one wants to talk about what is adding to the deficit. we added a trillion dollars to the deficit last year. no one wants to cut the serious stuff that needs to be cut. so how serious is congress about cutting spending? or is this just all a dog and pony show? >> paul, i think i read something that on the republican side, this has a lot to do with john boehner trying to appeal to the tea party, or at least to conservatives and show he can be their representative. do you buy that?