From NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Raum.There is guarded optimism in Washington about the chances for a deal to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff".NPR's Martin Kaste reports on what some hear as the sounds of compromise on the Sunday morning political talk shows.On ABC's This Week,Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he considered increasing tax revenues even if it means violating the no-tax-increase pledge signed by most congressmen.The only pledge we should be making to each other is to avoid becoming Greece.Graham favours capping deductions, not raising actual tax rates on the rich which Democrats prefer.On the same show, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said he was willing to consider Republican calls for entitlement reform.Retiring Senator Joe Lieberman on CNN's State of the Union, was less optimistic about the likelihood of a deal.If Congress does nothing, which Congress has gotten pretty good at doing these days. We'll go over the fiscal cliff.If Congress doesn't act, the deficit will shrink by itself because of automatic budget cuts and the expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts. Martin Kaste, NPR News.Meanwhile, on another television talk show, Senator John McCain says he still has questions about the September 11th attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazithat killed four Americans including the U.S. ambassador to Libya.The Arizona Republican says a select committee should be appointed.There are four committees in the House, four committees in the Senate.They are all holding different hearings, so all turf fights going on as it usually does in these bodies
