Insight: "Fiscal cliff" fracas: From smiles to distrust to rancor

(Note: includes graphic language) WASHINGTON (Reuters) – It began so optimistically. On November 16, after their first "fiscal cliff" session with President Barack Obama, the four leaders of Congress had stood in the driveway of the White House shoulder-to-shoulder for what is a rare photo these days, Republicans and Democrats together, smiling. There they were at the microphone, talking about a "framework" for tax reform and deficit reduction. …