When asked about why politicians might be able to solve the problem later when they can’t solve it today, he said, “Hope springs eternal.”

Daley said there has already been “enormous damage” done to the US image as the AAA, gold standard in the global economy.

He said the people voted for divided government, not dysfunctional government, but too often he faces a “my way or the highway” attitude from Republicans. He used the FAA layoffs as an example.

Daley says he is convinced Congressional leaders will not allow default, but we are in a moment when markets worldwide are questioning whether the political system in DC can actually compromise and reach agreement.

Next up, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) illustrated exactly why world markets are in a state of alarm about the US. He immediately called the president’s position on the need for a 2013 deal on the debt ceiling “ridiculous.”

Coburn offered nothing new and very little hope of compromise. If the Asian markets were watching Meet The Press this morning, the collapse may begin in a few hours.

In the roundtable, former Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) says politics reflects society. By this he means we will see the emergence of a new governing coalition in this country based on independents. Republicans and Democrats are being rejected in every poll. The last three elections have each seen the party in power thrown out.

Doris Kearns Goodwin agrees and calls for passionate centrists to step forward.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D) and freshman Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) both came across as thoughtful, passionate people who could perhaps transcend political party dynamics. In fact, I bet if we let the two of them draft a debt ceiling/deficit reduction plan, they would come up with something 70% of Americans would support.

Unfortunately, back here in the real world, Daley and Coburn are the people in charge. And it is unclear if they can pull America back from the brink.

Today’s Meet The Press transcript will be here.

Also follow the show on the MTP Facebook page, track Twitter feeds from host David Gregory, Meet The Press, and Executive Producer Betsy Fischer, watch the midweek PressPass interview, and don’t forget Gregory’s blog.

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) then joined host David Gregory by satellite. (Note: In the preview at the top of the show, Coburn was shown with a very full beard, but he appeared clean shaven for the interview.) The conversation began with a discussion of gun control. Schumer pointed out some non-legislative reforms which could be taken to reduce the ability of those with mental illness to buy guns.

Gregory noted that Schumer was showing unusual restraint in his rhetoric on gun control. Schumer said he was trying to heed the call for more civility.

Gregory asks if the big problem with our political discourse is that everything is described as an apocalyptic event or change. Coburn rejects the premise, but he later also rejects the idea that President Obama is trying to injure the country or steal our liberties.

Schumer said he has received some agreement on the idea that Democrats and Republicans should sit together at the State of the Union address. Coburn said we get in trouble when we question the president or Senator Schumer’s love of country. But we do have differences in ideology.

On the debt ceiling, Schumer says it is playing with fire to use this as a political issue. Coburn says the danger of growing, long term debt is even greater than the problems caused by not raising the debt ceiling.

The roundtable included David Brooks, Peggy Noonan, Al Sharpton, and Tim Shriver. They agreed the president’s speech last week was very good. This column by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) was also praised.

In discussing mental illness, the group actually touched on many important issues including de-institutionalization, Reagan-era policies, freedom, etc.

Brooks repeated a key theme of his column this week… the roots of civility lie in our own humility. If we think we know everything and are nearly perfect, then it is easy to dismiss others and be rude. On the other hand, if we acknowledge that other people have worth and worthy ideas (and we need them), civility is much easier to achieve.

The program concluded with thoughts about tomorrow’s Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and included a clip from one of Dr. King’s appearances on Meet The Press. “It’s all right to tell a man to lift himself by his own bootstraps, but it is a cruel jest to say to a bootless man that he ought to lift himself by his own bootstraps,” King said.

Today’s Meet The Press transcript will be here.