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\f0\fs26 \cf0 \cb2 (Image source: {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-debt-ceiling-grand-bargain-documents-2012-11"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 \ul \ulc3 Wikimedia Commons}}) \f1\fs24 \
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\f0\b\fs26 \cf0 BY CHRISTINA HARTMAN \f1\b0\fs24 \
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\f0\fs26 \cf0 President Obama called himself a \'93hopeless optimist\'94 about the fiscal
cliff negotiations in a statement Friday night. \f1\fs24 \
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\f0\b\fs26 \cf0 OBAMA {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.local10.com/"}}{\fldrslt \cf4
VIA WPLG}}: \'93This is something within our capacity to solve. ... We just have to do
the right thing. So call me a hopeless optimist, but I actually still think we can get it done.\'94
\f1\b0\fs24 \ \
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\f0\fs26 \cf0 But considering the fact those across-the-board spending cuts and the expiration
of the Bush-era tax cuts are both set to kick in on January 1st \'97 AND considering lawmakers
have left town for the holidays \'97 time is REALLY running short.
\f1\fs24 \ \
\f0\fs26 But the \i media
\i0 sure is hungry for answers \'97 on Wednesday when the president held a news conference
about gun control in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting \'97 the first
SIX questions were about the fiscal cliff. \f1\fs24 \
\f0\fs26 And earlier Friday {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2012/12/21/president-obama-nominates-john-kerry-secretary-state"}}{\fldrslt
\cf4 when he announced }}Senator John Kerry as his pick for Secretary of State \'97 and
took no questions \'97 one was shouted anyway: \f1\fs24 \
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\f0\b\fs26 \cf0 (OFF CAMERA): \'93Mr. President - the fiscal cliff - is there gonna be a deal?\'94
\f1\b0\fs24 \ \
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\f0\fs26 \cf0 So Friday night\'92s impromptu statement from the president didn\'92t answer
that burning question \'97 \'93Will there be a deal?\'94\'a0\'97 but he called it \'93achievable.\'94
{\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.cbsnews.com/evening-news/"}}{\fldrslt \cf4 CBS}}\'92s Major Garrett sounded less
optimistic. \f1\fs24 \
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\f0\b\fs26 \cf0 \'93Tonight there is no bill written to avert the fiscal cliff. There is
no road map to the drafts of that legislation. There are only hopes and aspirations, both
much smaller than the president would prefer.\'94 \f1\b0\fs24 \
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\f0\fs26 \cf0 And Thursday night Republican House Speaker John Boehner suffered an embarrassing
blow when his so-called \'93Plan B\'94 proposal to increase taxes on income over $1 million
couldn\'92t get enough support for a vote. \f1\fs24 \
\f0\fs26 Boehner let his conference head home after that, and President Obama told reporters
the first family is headed to Hawaii. No work on the proposal is expected to happen until
after Christmas.}