An American flag flies from the U.S. Capitol in Washington Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011. The deficit-reduction talks in Congress sank towards gridlock Friday. The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction faces a deadline Nov. 23, 2011, the day before Thanksgiving, and lawmakers on both sides stressed they were ready to meet through the weekend in a last-ditch search for compromise. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)