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December 06, 2012 | | SERIOUSLY? Paul Ryan and Marco Rubio recently laid out a vision for the GOP’s future. Too bad it shows Republicans have learned nothing at all from their historic trouncing on Election Day, writes The Daily Beast’s Michael Tomasky. FIGHTIN’ WORDS Don’t they know everyone texts now? In the latest round of back-and-forth on the fiscal cliff, President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner talked on the phone Wednesday and announced they would have a highly anticipated face-to-face meeting. But don’t get too excited: there was no announcement of any deal—or even any hint of a compromise. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told CNBC on Wednesday that the president is “absolutely” ready to jump over the fiscal cliff in Republicans won’t budge on tax hikes for the wealthiest Americans. If a budget deal is not made by Jan. 1, a set of draconian spending cuts will automatically go into place at the same time that the Bush tax cuts expire—a set of conditions known as the fiscal cliff. SCARY The Egyptian government deployed tanks outside of President Mohamed Morsi’s presidential palace early Thursday after overnight clashes between the president’s supporters and opposition killed at least five and wounded 400. Egyptian state television said the tanks had been sent in to secure the building, where armed Republican Guard troops were also reportedly deployed. Anti-Morsi protesters have camped out for days outside the palace, demonstrating against the snap referendum on the country’s Constitution as well as the president’s recent decree banning all legal opposition. Morsi’s supporters—he still has the backing of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood—have joined in, reportedly trying to chase down his detractors and tearing down their tents on Wednesday night. WEDDING SEASON Get ready for those save-the-date cards. Shortly after midnight on Thursday, Jane Abbott Lightly, 85, and Pete-e Petersen, 77, were issued a marriage license—the first to a same-sex couple in Washington state. “We’re so excited to know we’ll get a license and then get married on Sunday,” said Petersen, as a crowd outside the King’s County courthouse cheered. Voters in the state last month approved a referendum for legally allowing same-sex couples to wed—one of three states that for the first time voted in marriage equality—and Gov. Chris Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed officially certified the referendum on Wednesday. Nationwide, gay-marriage support has reached an all-time high, with 53 percent of Americans supporting marriage equality. according to a Gallup poll released Wednesday. TELL ALL Three men have come forward to accuse Sesame Street puppeteer Kevin Clash of having sex with them when they were minors. Now, two tell their stories to The Daily Beast’s Maria Elena Fernandez as they fight off charges of being money-hungry opportunists. | | 
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