The GOP has tried, the Dems want nothing to do with it, because they have the MSM and polls insidiously posing that any cliff diving is being caused by the GOP. Dems want this fiscal cliff dive now, more than ever because of the polls. It's a supposed win-win for them, since they get the higher tax rates on everyone, including "the rich", while the defense gets some major cuts, and all the while the Dems can keep pointing at the GOP as the cause, and the MSM lapps it up
The party of the Demawonts think they've got a winner here, while they actively push the country into another recession.