The full house not even expected to return to work until sunday. Here is the guest list for todays showdown. The president , Vice President biden, Senate Majority leader harry reid and House Minority leader nancy pelosi on the democratic side. House speaker john boehner, Mitch Mcconnell representing the republicans. Brianna keilar live from washington. What do we expect to happen today . Any new offers from the president or House Speaker . We dont know. Right now, all eyes on the senate to see what Senate Majority leader harry reid can cobble together to get some republican support. Technically, its still possible to come to an agreement. That said, politically is a different story, and the prospects for coming to a deal are starting to dim. Right now, were hearing a whole lot of the blame game. A lot of public posturing from both sides as they prepare for the possibility of going over the cliff. Lets listen to harry reid. We are here in washington working while members of the house of representatives are out watching movies and watching their kids play soccer and basketball and doing all kinds of things. They should be here. Now, the speaker of the house, john boehner, sort of retorting to reid, ali. In a Conference Call he said the leaders should do more or pardon me. Less talking and more legislating. He wants the senate to take up a bill that the house has already passed to extend all rates and either take it up in whole or amend it. Amending it, and changing that threshold down to closer to what president obama wants. A quarter million as a threshold. That seems more likely. Well watch this meeting. We dont know what will happen, thats the truth much and well watch to see what will come out of it. Does it seem like perhaps there is a spirit of compromise . Or do they come out very far apart. An indication that it will be read as an indication we may go over the cliff. Nothing is being done until the house is back in session. We are being looking at the earliest at sunday evening if there is even a deal to vote on. Thats true. That said if there is some sort of agreement, you could get wind of the before then. Obviously, the house would have to pass something. It has to get through the senate first. You would start if there was an agreement, you could see movement before then. Now would be a very good time to assess the impact of the fiscal cliff on your 401 k . Despite the fact that leaders are meeting this afternoon. The dow, nasdaq, and s p futures all pointing lower this hour. Investigators have no stomach for this highstakes game of chicken played on capitol hill. Look at yesterdays chart for the dow. The index taking a big dive at the open with investors finding little hope for a fiscal cliff come on misz. When word came out that the two sides were meeting, the dow rebounded to positive territory. Expect another day like that today. Well talk with Debbie Stabenow. He was the most Popular American general since world war ii. Tributes from around the world are pouring in for Stormin Norman schwarzkopf. He crushed the Iraqi Military in the 1999 gulf war and liberated kuwait. He may have been the perfect front man for a war that played out live in your living room. Barbara starr live with more. Barb rar . President obama remembers general is schwarzkopf as an american original. He accomplished something on the battlefield few others can claim. Booting the Iraqi Military. The invasion force from Saddam Hussein out of kuwait after august of 11990. Commanding 700,000 Coalition Forces and got the job done in a ground war that lasted some 100 hours after six weeks of an air campaign. A real rout of those iraqi forces. And even general colin powell. One of his closest friends remembering him today. Powell, chair of the joint chiefs at the time. Powell saying his leadership not only inspired his troops, but also inspired the nation. He was a good friend of mine, a close buddy. I had miss him. That from one of his colleagues in the army. Schwarzkopf and powell didnt always see eye to eye. Part of the reason he got the name Stormin Norman. Powell would have to tame schwarzkopfs fiery temper. He set the tone for new generals. The televised press conference bringing the war into homes around the world and really the first time we saw the commander at the front lines standing up there exexplaining what was going on. And schwarzkopf agreed with president bushs decision to stop the war in 1991, leaving Saddam Hussein in power, and when the u. S. Went back in 2003, he doubted victory would be that easy. He was proven right on so many front. He and president george h. W. Bush, agreed, they didnt want to go all the way to baghdad. If u. S. Forces went to baghdad and occupied iraq in the winter of 1991, they would basically have to take responsibility for the country. It would be a long, bogged down expensive process. They decided that their real goal was to gelt iraqis out of kuwait. Accomplished that, want to go further and later in 2003, they were proven right when the u. S. Invasion would become something that would last so many years. Barbara star to the pentagon. To houston now, where 88yearold former president george h. W. Bush remains in intensive care, treated for an elevated feeter. He appreciates the outpouring of support he received from around the world, but not planning on going anywhere soon. Miguel marquez joins us from houston. What did his people say . Put the harps away . Yeah, that is from his current chief of staff, gene becker. Put the harps away, not going anywhere. Look, is he he is sick, but not critical is what i can gather from what folks are saying on the ground in houston. He is 88 years old. In the hospital a little over a month. Fought a bronchiol infection. It has taken its toll. And going into icu got everyone excited. But doctors wanted him there just to keep track of how he is doing. Monitoring him more minutely. The family wanting to keep a tight lid on information. Some family members coming in. Dorothy, george w. Wish, number 43, maybe jeb bush rushing to the bed side. The family wants everyone to know that they thank them for their concern, but they hope soon he will be going home. Doctors will take it day by day. Well check in with you later on in the morning. Miguel marquez in houston. And now we have alina cho for the rest of the news. Good morning, ali. Good morning, everybody. For all of you traveling back to the holiday vacation or heading to one, a new Weather Threat after that powerful winter storm that brought hoard rife haeking snow. Ten deaths blamed on this weeks snow. 2,400 flights already canceled. Bonnie schneider with a look at the forecast. Good morning. Reporter good morning, alina. The new threat, freezing rain frttle rock, arkansas, paducah, kentucky, branson, missouri. Its the same region that got hit with snow on christmas day. This will not freeze over. When temperatures are as cold as they are across oklahoma and certainly into little rock, likely to see ice accumulate on top of snow and that could compromise powerlines. Keep that in mind for those of you traveling on i40 specifically. Behind the system exiting the northeast, much colder air. Temperatures in the 20s this morning. Brutally cold, bundle up in new york or pennsylvania. Taking a look at the storm system setting up for this weekend. Traveling no, pressure slides across the southeast. Faster moving storm. Heavier snow less likely with it, but, remember, its a nuisance. 1 to 3 inches for the metropolitan new york city area. And we could see heavier snow for areas of new england. In fact, take a look at computer models, forecasting between 6 to 8 inches of some areas of massachusetts, rhode island, and this will impact travel likely. For today, light snow falling in the chicago area that will impact travel across the midwest. Minneapolis, detroit, all of the cities face potential drelays today. The wind still a factor today as it was yesterday. Stormy conditions down south. More nasty weather as we wrap up the holiday week. Just when you thought it was over. All right, thank you so much. Homicide detectives in new york city are looking for a woman who pushed a man off a subway platform, right into the path of an oncoming train. The victim died last night after he was hit by a number 7 train as it pulled into a stop in queens. Nypd surveillance shows the suspect running away from the station there, see her there . Before the incident the woman was seen walking back and forth on the platform, apparently talking to herself. North korea likely deceived the u. S. And its asian allies deliberately catching them offguard before the launch of its longrange rocket earlier this month. According to a u. S. Official, likely scenario, north korea was lying about technical problems days before the launch. Another conclusion . North korea knows how to counter u. S. Infell on what its up to. Not clear who will replace lisa jackson as head of the Environmental Protection agency. Jackson will step down in january, just after the president s state of the union address. The epa created new standard for air pollution from coal power plants on her watch. Hillary clinton wont be on the sidelines much longer. Back at work next week after spending the past three fighting off what the state Department Says was the stomach flu and a concussion from when she fainted. Doctors have grounded her from overseas travel for a few more weengz. Her return means she may soon testify before congress on the attack in benghazi. Lisa jackson, if republicans have their way in the fiscal cliff conversation, they get rid of the epa. They talk about the cannot of education, the department of agency and epa waste of money. Cost too much, all about regulations. Are you one of the few people employed to this organization who has been to north korea. Twice. I hope to go back again soon. Just ahead, a warning to democrats from republicans, they will not write a blank check to solve the fiscal cliff. Reaction from debbie snab now of michigan, next. Plus, the best selling river of gone baby gone and mystic river has a new crime to solve. Where is his dog . Dennis lahane is asking for help finding his dog tessa. [ male announcer ] its that time of year again. Time for citi price rewind. Because your daughter really wants that pink castle thing. And you really dont want to pay more than you have to. Only citi price rewind automatically searches for the lowest price. And if it finds one, you get refunded the difference. Just use your citi card and register your purchase online. Have a super sparkly day ok. [ male announcer ] now all you need is a magic carriage. Citi price rewind. Start saving at citi. Com pricerewind. I get congested. But now, with zyrtecd®, i have the proven allergy relief of zyrtec®, plus a powerful decongestant. Zyrtecd® lets me breath freer, so i can love the air. [ male announcer ] zyrtecd®. Behind the pharmacy counter. No prescription needed. Welcome back to starting point. A highstakes meeting later on today at the white house, on avoiding the fiscal cliff. President obama meets with four congressional leaders, boehner, pelosi, reid, and oconnell. The rhetoric getting more angry and disconnected in final moments. I want to bring in michigan senator Debbie Stabenow now. Thank you so much for being with us. Sure. It really is disconnected. Everywhere i go, people ask me a simple question. Why cant they get this deal done . Harry reid got up and said were just procedurally not going to get this done in time, it caused people to say why not . This is the most anticipated problem weve ever had. It just regular folks folks look at washington and say what is going on. Ali, im here and saying what is going on. There are basically three pieces to solving the deficit, right . One is spending and we have agrowed to 1. 6 trillion in spending cuts in the last two years and the other is spending cuts. We put forth spending cuts of over 700 billion. Not cutting care to seniors, but cutting overpayments to insurance companies. The burden of the deficit must not just be on the middle class. The wealthy have to kick in. We sent a bill to the house in july that says 98 americans, income up to 240,000 would continue to get tax cuts. Above that, people would may more. They made excuses, the bill wasnt right. We have the bill in the house, the bill in the senate. The bottom line is when the speaker put on the floor last week the bill that would say, okay, how about everybody up to 1 million gets a tax cut. Couldnt even pass that. Were stuck. Were really stuck. The house gop said they put a bill forward in august. So everyone sort of covering themselves saying we got a bill. We didnt ask to go over the fiscal cliff. Im kind of glad at 3 00 this afternoon, both sides of the house leader smip and house are meeting. Do you think that there is the will to go in and say weve got to solve this. Guys, we have just got to solve this. We cannot riske putting america back into a recession. Consumers are feeling badly now, but were feeling okay. Do your colleagues get how serious this is . We could send america to recession . I believe in the senate that we do. Were having a lot of very important, very good, positive conversations between democrats and republicans, i believe the president does. The tough part is in the house. They have taken this very extreme position about protecting the wealthiest americans at all costs, even Holding Middle class families hostage to do it. And that really isnt rhetoric. Were seeing it over and over again. We have one bottom line, when we get done, we have to solve the problem and cant be shifted onto the middle class one more time. Other than that, we want to sit down and continue to solve it. We have done cuts, tackled entitlements, we know there needs to be more. We have to say to the wealthiest americans, time to set up and be part of the solution, if we cant get that, were in a very tough spot. Middle class families cant afford an average 2,200 in increased taxes starting in january. One constituent of mine says thats four months groceries. This is absolutely real money. Well see holiday subpoenaing was hit. Consumer confidence turned down for the first time in a long time. Here is something ta dana bash got, where she said, republican told her, some Senate Democrats have discussed holding on on bringing up a proposal until the final final days of 2012, which we happen to be in at the moment. To increase pressure on republicans to support avoiding higher taxes on everyone due to the fiscal cliff. The clock is running down. Now is the moment. And all i can tell you, we have had various groups, the gang of six, the gang of eight. People meeting, talking, ive had multiple conversations since getting back yesterday. I just dont believe it in the senate. I absolute believe if it were up to the Senate Democrats and republicans, we would get this done. The problem is, unfortunately, with the extreme element insist the house, for whatever reason the speaker wont act. Even when Something Like the reform farm bill to eliminate subsidies which everybody agree should be eliminated. We cant get them to that i that out. So frustrating that we send things over that are bipartisan that do make cuts and to ask those at the top to pay a little more to help out and it keeps getting stuck, i dont know, but i know this is serious. I know that in life you have to compromise, thats what its all about bottomline, this whole thing is done, middle class families cant be holding the bag again. Which is what seems to happen. You have a good sense that compromise means everyone gives something up. We would love to get a resolution. Debbie stabenow of michigan. Thank you for joining us. Thank you. Ahead on starting point. Two weeks from the horrific shootings in newtown, connecticut. Now some teachers getting on board with the idea of getting armed. Dozens of people trained to shoot. The man who taught it and one of the teacher whos took it coming up. Visit usps. Com pay, print, and have it picked up for free. Any time of year. Nice sweater. Thank you. Thank you. We asked total strangers to watch it for us. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Ill be right back. They didnt take a dime. How much in fees does your bank take to watch your money . If your bank takes more money than a stranger, you need an ally. Ally bank. Your money needs an ally. I need you by my side 24 minutes after the hour. Soul singer Fontella Bass has died best known for rescue me. The song sure had legs it was rerecorded by cher, pat beena tar. And more. She died wednesday night of complications of a heart attack she suffered three weeks ago. 7 yea2 years old. Deteriorating security in the Central African republic has forced the u. S. State department to temporarily suspend operations there. The u. S. Ambassador, Diplomatic Team and private american citizens are out of the capital. The countrys president has asked france and the u. S. To help stop rebel advances. A florida fossils dealer faces 17 years in prison after admitting he illegally bought and sold dinosaur bones, including three tyrannosaurus skeletons. Eric has agreed to give up claims on a skeleton sold at auction for more than 1 million. Sentencing set for april. Whats the crime . They werent his bones . Or you cant sell dinosaur bones . You cant sell dinosaur bones. Who knew they were so much . Well talk about that even more. Coming up, a sad story. Parents in the u. S. Banned from adopting children in russia. The controversial new law signed hours ago, and hundreds of teachers get their hands on guns. Learning to shoot. The man offering the course for free and a teacher who took the class. E, alli can help you lose one more by blocking some of the fat you eat. Lets fight fat with alli. I just served my motherinlaw your chicken noodle soup but she loved it so much. I told her it was homemade. Everyone tells a little white lie now and then. But now she wants my recipe [ clears his throat ] [ softly ] shes right behind me isnt she . [ male announcer ] progresso. You gotta taste this soup. Welcome back to starting point. Atlanta, the sun coming up in that beautiful, beautiful city. Were back here on starting point. Our team is ron brown, editorial director at