THE HILL: Supercommittee slows to a standstill as clock ticks down. “A Saturday with minimal activity offered little hope that the congressional deficit supercommittee would be able to stave off an embarrassing failure to accomplish its assigned task. The 12-member panel has just five days to approve at least $1.2 trillion in budget savings, but the flurry of meetings and ‘shuttle diplomacy’ among members of the committee slowed to a near-stop on Saturday. No face-to-face meetings were held, aides in both parties said, while Republican members convened a single conference call in the morning.”

It’s not too late for my across-the-board cuts proposal. 5% year-on-year real cuts to start. Repeat until budget is balanced.