David Walker: “It's not an issue of Harry and Louise, we're headed for Thelma and Louise. This economy is in tough shape.”

A hundred years ago the Federal Government was 2 percent of GDP. Now it's 23 percent.

I think there's a way to bridge this and for both sides to save face. We ought to be trying to get a credible down payment and a one-year extension to get a grand bargain.

Believe it or not, I am 65 years old. Congress has passed timely budget and appropriation bills four times in 65 years. That is an F minus.

There is only one kind of mandate that occurred in the election in November, because the public returned the Republicans to the House, the Democrats to the Senate, and President Obama to the White House.