So, who do you think gets the appointments to the committee?

[Torie]

You don't think Coburn will be on it?  Hutchinson is retiring. That seems a non starter in all events. Lugar? LOL. Hatch is possible, but he may have a tough primary, so I doubt he wants to get anywhere near that panel. So I guess I disagree with your entire Pubbie list.

And are not all the Dems quitting too? 

[Torie]

It is going to be folks who are viewed as tough and effective negotiators. The caucus will accept nothing less. It is not going to be appropriator types like Rogers. The caucus would rebel. I am sure Ryan, Crapo and Portman will be on it. The caucus may demand that Cantor be on it, and I suspect he will, unless that stretches him too thin. Coburn said he will not be on it, and he voted against the bill. And I am not sure who they are (other than Ryan), but there will be a tax guru on the panel, since that will be a hot topic. Mitch may put himself on it, since I suspect he thinks nobody does it better than he, and he may be right. He has been the man behind the curtain so far really.

[Torie]

Remember that you need just one defector from one party to the other to get something out of this super committee. McConnell strongly implied he is going to put folks on with creative minds tonight. The big issue is getting something out of the super committee that can pass both houses. It is a tricky business. Odds are it will be a failure and we will go the default option, unless the polls suggest that would be a bad idea.

[Torie]

After some more consideration, I decided to rework my choices.

GOP:
Paul Ryan
Mike Rogers
John Mica
Saxby Chambliss
Rob Portman
John Thune

Dems:
Chris Van Hollen
Rob Andrews
Kathy Castor
Tom Udall
Kent Conrad
Maria Cantwell

Chambliss does not want to serve. That is the news tonight.