http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/05/politics/fiscal-cliff/index.html

The rich will pay more taxes, Boehner says
By Dana Bash and Tom Cohen, CNN
updated 12:54 PM EST, Wed December 5, 2012

Washington (CNN) -- Taxes on the wealthy are going up, House Speaker John Boehner conceded on Wednesday in challenging President Barack Obama to sit down with him to hammer out a deal for avoiding the fiscal cliff.

Obama, however, continued to insist on Republicans first ensuring no tax hike for anyone but the top 2% of Americans as a first step toward a broader agreement on tackling the nation's chronic federal deficits and debt.

The statements reflected how negotiations on the automatic spending cuts and tax hikes set to occur on January 1 -- the fiscal cliff -- have evolved since Obama's re-election last month.

Republicans once opposed to any new revenue in their quest to shrink government now realize Obama's victory and public support for the president's campaign theme of higher taxes on the wealthy leave them with little negotiating leverage.

Read More > http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/05/politics/fiscal-cliff/index.html

Dayum. Maybe the nature of the Republicans' "mandade" is becoming clear... well, for a few minutes of clarity.

now that this is settled, let's see what can be done, John.