Captions by vitac www. Vitac. Com good evening. Outfront tonight, egypt on edge. Is a new dictatorship on the horizon . Tonight, president morsi clarified, but really largely stood by his decision to grant himself sweeping powers. Including freedom from judicial review for what hes calling president ial decisions. The announcement was made today after morsi met with members of egypts judicial body, which has been very critical of his position and u. S. Officials who were praising the new leader for his role in negotiating a cease fire between israel and hamas, well now when he took all these powers away from judges, theyre in a tough spot. Have some concerns about the decisions and declarations announced on november 22nd. Democracy depends on strong institutions and the important checks and balances that provide accountability. So, today, there were nationwide protests continuing in egypt and a million person march of anti morsi protesters is scheduled for tomorrow in tahrir square. The very spot where the revolution that cleared the way for morsis presidency was born. Now, there was a planned counterprotest that was supposed to happen tomorrow. People thought the two happening at the same time could cause serious violence, but that was canceled and now, morsi says to say his rule and word is more important than judges is just temporary. And not even is buying that. The cover of the egypt daily news website today proclaimed egypts new pharaoh. A chip off the old mubarak block. And morsi, lincoln in deguise or another mubarak. And the stock market didnt think this was a good move either. It plunged 10 . Stocks opened down today and barely moved up by the end of the day. So this new president in egypt in which the United States has placed so much hope, starting to look too much like the dictator he replaced and is he the leader of an islamist government that will become more and more extreme, threatening america . On the phone with us tonight, the founder of egypts Freedom Party and ed hussein joins me here. Ed, i want to start with you. Morsi was credited with brokering that cease fire between israel and hamas. It seems within hours, he swept away with all these powers, saying his word will ride over judges. Was he taking advantage of his success . Without doubt, he knew he had enough Political Capital to make this move and just before, he had signed a deal with the imf for a 4 billion loan program. He thought he had enough credibility now to go after the judges that it was rumored would somehow control his own powers on december 2nd. What he undermined and failed to understand that this is a new egypt in which nobody with get away with that level of power around them without the street rising to be the check and balance weve seen happen over the last three days. What is your point of view on this . Is this something people in egypt will accept . Definitely not. At least a broad segment of our population is not accepting it and is not accepting it for good reasons and key reasons. One, we have lived for 60 years under president ial sweeping powers and we have suffered from them. Secondly, we elect democratically our president s who acquire authorities which are more than enough for him to be an active president in shaping egyptian politics, domestic politics and he does not need additional authorities. Thirdly, egyptians have always held the Judicial Branch of government in high regards and these are not like any lack of what of the Judicial Branch of government to be part of what our revolution is all about. Could this be something thats good for you . As a former member of parliament, the judges needed to dissolve parliament, putting you out of your job and now that morsis trying to seize power from the judges, is this something that could end up being good . No, let me continue either way. Im here speaking as a political scientist as well. Countries which make it to success and transition to democracy after the revolution have always managed to build institutions and to respect the checks and balances. What morsi does is basically frees checks an balances and im not aware of any dictatorship which had been a dick tatatorsh which managed to transition to democracy. If we freeze checks an balances, if we withstand them, i guess we will not make it and its not going to be healthy to restore back a family that chamber of the parliament which i was a member of and was dissolved by a rulining of institution. By bringing back an assembly where we have prosecution. Interesting he uses the word dictatorip. And he is not alone. People who are characterizing what morsi has done here as a dictatorship. Wall street journal editorial page said the Muslim Brotherh d brotherhoods power claims more power. Whats the risk to the United States . I think we should hold our horses. Morsi is many thing, but hes not yet an islamist dictator. The fact the professor can speak in free times from cairo now is an indication that freedom of speech is still very much alive in egypt and also an indication that mubarak is no longer in power and you know, morsi is dependent on the u. S. For aid. Dependent on the imf. International opinion will not allow for mubarak, for morsi to consolidate power around him. You said mubarak. Freudian slip. What do you think about that . Is morsi a long away way from being an islamist dictatdictato . In terms of expression, i could speak to you three and four years ago from cairo and freely as i have done just right now and i did speak several times. Criticizing measures and policies took and put forward by the president and his government. So in terms of freedom of expression, its not a huge leap, but let me remind you as well of the fact that at least one chairman was closed in the last weeks in a step which we considered egypt to be negatively imposing a democratic limit on tv channels. However, if we sustain checks and balances, in the moments in which do not have a branch of government, and morsi is the president who has sweeping legislative and once again puts himself out in government. That is a very dangerous mix, which can only lead to the dictatorship and once again, we will not accept to have a dictatorship for a few weeks or months and that constitution situation needs to be brought down. Thanks very much to both of you. Were going to be watching closely for those demonstrations of the million man march which protesters say they will be carrying out tomorrow in central cairo. Next, Congress Returns to work after thanksgiving and the most important item still on their plate, it is a cold, nasty leftover. Its been a leftover for a couple of years, but now, you got to actually eat it. Republican senator mike lee pointblank asked next. And on thursday, the u. N. Is going to vote on whether to recognize palestine as a state. Its a move opposed by the United States. Can israel survive as a country if there arent two states and without power for weeks because of sandy, long island residents were shocked when they got their electric bills. They add up. [ male announcer ] this december, remember what starts with adding a friend. Could end with adding a close friend. The lexus december to remember sales event is on. This is the pursuit of perfection. The lexus december to remember sales event is on. Music is a universal language. But when i was in an accident. I was worried the Health Care System spoke a language all its own with unitedhealthcare, i got help that fit my life. Information on my phone. Connection to doctors who get where im from. And tools to estimate what my care may cost. So i never missed a beat. Were more than 78,000 people looking out for more than 70 million americans. Thats health in numbers. Unitedhealthcare. Or that printing in color had to cost a fortune. 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[ woman ] his phone is one of his biggest supporters. [ female announcer ] with cisco at the center. Working together has never worked so well. Our second story, legislative leftovers. Congress returning to work with a lot on their plate. Were not talking about turkey. Were talking about the fiscal cliff. One of the urgent matters this Lame Duck Congress needs to address before the end of the year and even though the tax increases are going to take effect in 36 days, theres still only talk of a compromise, so can Congress Actually walk the walk or are we going to go off this cliff . Up next, mike lee of utah. Really appreciate you taking the time. You wrote an oped in the Washington Times and said quote, delaying significant fiscal restraint will send the wrong signal and may serve as taping point for our economy. So youre fear is that Interest Rates could surge. To be father, weve had this disastrous situation for years and Interest Rates have kept falling in spite of all worries that there would be a disaster. Thats right. Thats one of the things that distinguishes the fiscal cliff, which were coming up against right now. From what i described yesterday says the fiscal avalanche. We can see when the fiscal cliff is about to hit. The avalanche occurs when people stop buying u. S. Treasury instruments and we have to start raising the interest rate. Eventually, we get to the point where we cant afford anything and thats what im concerned about. So, let me talk about the solution here because we talked back in may about this. Were finally here at the deadline, right. You talk ed at the time about wanting a simpler tax system and were open to some people paying more and you said some in the Republican Tea Party would be okay with that. Heres you on this program back in may. Id make it a point never to speak for my colleagues or counterparts in the house, but im not aware of anyone who would say that if one american might end up paying a little bit more, that would necessarily kou count them out. So, i want to understand what you mean. Are you open to a compromise in which if you closed loopholes, some americans would pay more. Yes, the point is, we need comprehensive tax reform. Anytime you reform the tax code, youre going to want to do it in a way that stabilizes the tax base. Youre creating a more reliable, sustainable base. That might mean some americans pay more, but that doesnt necessarily amount to a tax increase, what youre trying to do here is to stabilize the revenue stream. When you say it doesnt amount to a tax increase in the ago aggregate, that obviously is the center of this whole issue, especially when it comes to the pledge i know you signed with Grover Norquist. He said im okay with closing loopholes, but it has to be revenue neutral. But everyone knows to get a deal done, it cant be neutral. Are you open to a deal that is not revenue neutral . What im open to is the idea of acknowledging the fact that we can bring in on average 18. 5 of gdp through our revenue stream. Thats what our tax system is capable of doing in the United States. That remains a constant. Whether or top rate is at 35 as it is now or 75 as it was back in the early 1980s. Thats a relative concept. What i want is for us to produce a steady stream of 18. 5 rather than having these peeks and valleys. Last year, we had a valley of about 14. 5 . Other years, closer to 20 . We want a steady, even, 18. 5 . But to get from 14. 5 to 18. 5 is not revenue neutral. To get to there is not revenue neutral in the immediate sense, but what im saying is that if it produces on average 18 of gdp and thats going to keep us constant, that is arguably revenue neutral. In the long run, i think everyone would benefit. It would be revenue positive. Not every tax increase brings about more revenue. Just to understand where you stand on this, you know, it sounds to me like youre saying go against Grover Norquist, but you dont want to say it. Lindsey graham has said it. Theyve said theyll allow for more loopholes. Youre saying you agree with that, at least now. But not in the longterm, correct . Yeah, look, im saying there are a lot of ways to skin a cat and we need comprehensive tax reform. You have to look at something carefully to decide whether or not you think it is an aggregate tax increase, so its difficult to define what is or what is not a tax increase. I am against tax increases, but i am in favor of stabilizing our revenue stream. Okay, but do you have frustration with Grover Norquist in such an absolutist definition . Because if over time, it could mean youre never raising more revenue does it frustrate you . No. Look, my pledge wasnt to any one individual. The pledge that i made was to my constituents, the voters in utah who elected me and found it significant that i was willing to say tax increases are not the answer. We dont have a revenue problem so much as a spending problem in washington. Thank you very much. We appreciate you taking the time to joins us tonight. Sounds like everyone is moving bit by bit, closer to a possible solution. Next, as you just heard, a number of republicans say that well, theyll abandon their no tax pledge although as you can see, its hard for them to do it, but to avoid the cliff. But that is only one side of the compromise. The democrats have to do something bretty big to get a deal done, too and susan rice finally answering her critics face to face on capitol hill. What senator john mccain and others are demanding she answer. Now from the maker of splenda sweeteners, discover nectresse. The only 100 natural, nocalorie sweetener made from the goodness of fruit. The rich, sweet taste of sugar. Nothing artificial. Its all that sweet ever needs to be. New nectresse. Sweetness naturally. I have a cold, and i took nyquil, but im still stubbed up. [ male announcer ] truth is, nyquil doesnt unstuff your nose. What . [ male announcer ] it doesnt have a decongestant. No way. [ male announcer ] sorry. Alkaseltzer plus fights your worst cold symptoms plus has a fast acting decongestant to relieve your stuffy nose. [ sighs ] thanks [ male announcer ] youre welcome. Thats the cold truth [ male announcer ] alkaseltzer plus. Oh what a relief it is [ male announcer ] to learn more about the cold truth and save 1 visit alkaseltzer on facebook. In that time thereve been some good days. And some difficult ones. But, through it all, weve persevered, supporting some of the biggest ideas in modern history. So why should our anniversary matter to you . Because for 200 years, weve been helping ideas move from ambition to achievement. And the next great idea could be yours. [ gordon ] for some this line is a convenience. How you doing today . Im good thanks. How are you . Im good. [ gordon ] but for others, its all they can afford. Every day nearly nine million Older Americans dont have enough to eat. Anything else . No, not today. Join me, aarp, and Aarp Foundation in the drive to end hunger by visiting drivetoendhunger. Org. Saved 480 bucks. You know what that is . Yeah. Dont say it. So you know what it is, right . Yeah, yeah, dont. Thats a lot of dough [ male announcer ] switch and you could save 480 bucks with state farm. Time for democrats to step up. Republicans have been talking on whether or not they should ban their theyre having serious soul searching moments. So, democrats, youve been a little mum about what youre going to give up and so were not going to allow it. Reform has to be on the table. John avlon has been looking into what specifics have been put on the table by democrats and there have been some. You heard Lindsey Graham say im willing to give up the pledge if democrats put entitlement reform on the table. Gang of six, superfail committee. The grand bargain. There have been negotiations and some really interesting. It showed the white house willing to make significant concessions on entitlement reform. Theres a line of the documents, talks about alteration and the eligibility age for medicare. Now, this is budget talk. But one of the things that has been negotiated is gradually increasing the age to 67. That would save around 250 billion over ten years, so thats a significant concession. Although gradually is a problem. This is like you know, the french. They take ten years. Youve got to do it right away. Thats there and theres the political reality. You know the Old Washington joke. A billion here, a billion there, then youre talking money. What about Social Security . Talk about changing the benefit formula. Change cpi. Basically, what folks say is this could be a more accurate measure of inflation and if you put that in place, you could save 223 billion. If you raise the retirement age to 69 by 2075, it would affect toddlers today, no one else. You know what, toddlers, im going to move it to 59 today. This has democrats willing to take on their own special interests. Its a sense of where the argument could go. And neither democrats nor republicans want to be the ones to raise it. Theyre going to have to do it more quickly. Next, the question remains, can israel survive as a country if there is not a twostate solution . And that debate boil down to israe israeli theyre outfront and is it a ballpoint pen or something more dangerous . A look at the weapons allegedly found on a north korean spy. Its exclusive, its next. Questions . Anyone have occasional constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating . Yeah. 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