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December 7, 2012 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF Share | Sign up | Archive | Advertise National Pulse  Obama and Boehner begin one-on-one "fiscal cliff" talks    Boehner, Obama/Reuters President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, are now the sole participants in discussions aimed at averting the "fiscal cliff." Senators and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., were removed from the talks at Boehner's request, congressional aides said. Some analysts saw the move as a sign that both sides were recommitting to the negotiations, and that Boehner was looking to take a firmer hand with his own party. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (12/6) , The Wall Street Journal (12/6) , CNN (12/7)      Joe Biden gets an increased role in White House's deficit campaign USA Today (12/7)      Reader Polls  This week's poll: The tax pledge On Monday, we asked how you as a voter would react to a candidate who refuses to sign, or signs then breaks, the Americans for Tax Reform pledge not to raise taxes or reduce deductions and credits. Your responses are below. One reader pointed out a choice we did not offer: "I would vote against a candidate who signs the pledge." We regret the omission. Next week: What to cut. I would tend to support a candidate who refuses to sign or violates the pledge in the face of a fiscal crisis  38.22% The tax pledge has little or no bearing on my vote  23.37% I would vote against a candidate who signs the pledge, then supports an increase in tax rates  13.09% I would not vote against a candidate for violating the pledge in the face of a fiscal crisis  11.69% I would vote against a candidate who refuses to sign the pledge  7.49% None of the above/Other  4.32% I would vote against a candidate who signs the pledge, then supports a limitation on deductions or credits  1.83% Agenda Items  Strong jobs report shows unemployment at a 4-year low    Reuters The U.S. economy added 146,000 jobs in November, according to Friday's jobs report, beating economists' estimates by more than 60,000 and suggesting that Hurricane Sandy didn't put a serious dent in the U.S. labor market. The figures dropped the national unemployment rate to 7.7%, a four-year low. The pace "is too slow to make much of a dent into the pool of unemployed, but it's steady and persistent," said James Glassman, senior economist at JPMorgan Chase. Bloomberg Businessweek (12/7)      Heritage Foundation gig will boost DeMint's influence, experts say Newsweek (12/7)      House conservatives consider a bid to topple Boehner National Journal (12/6)      Obama had $71M cash advantage in campaign's final days, filings show Politico (Washington, D.C.) (12/6)      Data Points  Pie charts offer potential path to fiscal compromise    Bowles, Simpson/Reuters The Atlantic has broken down the Bowles-Simpson deficit plan, the White House proposals and the Republican counteroffer in the form of pie charts, making it easy to visualize the precise revenues and spending cuts each plan would require. Comparing the plans side by side makes it easy to sketch the outlines of a possible compromise, writes Matthew O'Brien. "A deal that raises $1.2 trillion in revenue ... could get the job done," he argues. The Atlantic online (12/5)      The Conversation  Contributor Joe Conason: Republicans are guilty of fuzzy math RealClearPolitics (12/6)      Gov. Bobby Jindal: Only structural changes can prevent fiscal Armageddon Politico (Washington, D.C.) (12/6)      Author Peter Schiff: The trouble with punitive tax rates The Wall Street Journal (12/6)      Sen. Joe Lieberman: Boost cybersecurity now or risk a digital Pearl Harbor The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (12/6)      Contributor Craig Shirley: What you may not know about Dec. 7, 1941 The Washington Post (12/7)      Daily Chuckle  Stephen Colbert launches a Senate campaign    Colbert/Reuters The departure of Sen. Jim DeMint creates an opening for South Carolina's favorite native son. Stephen Colbert is calling on his fans to tweet messages to S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, asking for him to be appointed as DeMint's replacement. "I know when I look at the U.S. Senate I say to myself, you know what they could use? Another white guy," he says. Comedy Central (12/6)      SmartQuote  There is no such thing as a little freedom. Either you are all free, or you are not free." --Walter Cronkite, American journalist        SmartBrief delivers need-to-know news in over 100 targeted email newsletters to over 3 million readers. All our industry briefings are FREE and open to everyone—sign up today! 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