Each week, the country's top reporters join moderator Gwen Ifill for an in-depth discussion of the week's top news, from Washington and around the world. The longest-running news and public affairs program on PBS, "Washington Week" features journalists -- not pundits -- lending insight and perspective to the week's important news stories. Now, Ifill brings Washington Week online.
Ifill was online to take questions and comments about the news and issues of the week.
Ifill is moderator and managing editor of "Washington Week" and senior correspondent for "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer." Ifill spent several years as a "Washington Week" panelist before taking over the moderator's chair in October 1999. Before coming to PBS, she spent five years at NBC News as chief congressional and political correspondent. Her reports appeared on "NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw," "Today," "Meet the Press" and MSNBC. Ifill joined NBC News from The New York Times where she covered the White House and politics. She also covered national and local affairs for The Washington Post, Baltimore Evening Sun, and Boston Herald American.
"Washington Week," airs on WETA/Channel 26, Fridays at 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. (check local listings).
The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
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Potomac, Md.:
I just read the article in today's post about the 80 insurgents being killed in a raid. The paragraph that concerns me is the following:
Among the items recovered at the scene were "numerous small arms, including an RPG with round, two light machine guns, one complete [improvised explosive device], ... one shotgun, a suicide vest, mixed ammunition and ... a portable generator," Goldenberg added.
How is it that 80 people were killed when it appears that they had little if any weapons to shoot back?
Gwen Ifill: Interesting question. I'm sure you agree any answer from this distance would be speculation.
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Springfield, Va.:
Lots of questions being raised on the internet about the "Republican memo" concerning Terry Schaivo. From what you know, is the memo legit or did ABC and others jump the gun and bite on another forged document?
Gwen Ifill: We know there is an unsigned memo circulating. But, as you might expect, no one has acknowledged writing it. That does not mean it was forged.
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Takoma Park, Md.:
Hi Gwen,
It's great to have you on-line! I always try to start my weekend by watching "Washington Week."
In your opinion, why is the Bush administration, on one hand appearing to try to mend fences with "Old Europe" and the rest of the world, and, on the other hand, appointing people like Paul Wolfowitz and John Bolton -- individuals who have displayed such disregard for international cooperation -- to high profile international positions? I have heard the theory that Condoleezza Rice wants to get a troublemaker like Bolton out of Washington, but making him ambassador to the UN is hardly kicking him upstairs!
Gwen Ifill: Glad you're there on Friday nights. I don't have an "opinion" on questions like these, but the best story I've read on the questions you raise was written in this week's Time magazine by WW panelist Michael Duffy. Check it out.
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New York, N.Y.:
How come the courts have ruled in favour of Terri Schiavo's husband to let her die, although he has nothing in writing from his wife that she wanted to die under her present condition? One always have to present prove, but he only made a statement. Who has made the crucial decision to take his words as the truth and that she actually mentioned anything about her wish in such a tragic event? Many legal experts say how important it is not only to have a "Living Will" but also "Power of Attorney" and thoroughly discuss ones wishes to a "Proxy," but then it is so easy by just a statement to decide between life and death of a human being?
Gwen Ifill: This is a tough and painful developing story. So many people have had to make these kinds of decisions regarding loved ones. Having something written down certainly ought to make intentions clearer, but -- given the emotions involved in this case -- who knows if that would not also have been challenged?
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Arlington, Va.:
Hi Gwen. What do you think will be the political fallout of the Terri Schiavo case? Will this have an adverse effect on the pro-life movement? What about the presidential prospects of Jeb Bush and Bill Frist, among others? Or will this be a sad footnote in history once the 2006 congressional or 2008 presidential elections take place?
Gwen Ifill: Well,I feel a little ghoulish talking about political fallout involving a dying woman. That said, it's probably too soon to say where public opinion will end up. Surveys released this week seem to suggest that most Americans opposed Congress' intervention in this case.
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Anaheim, Calif.:
Hi Gwen. Any word/rumors/gossip concerning Wofowitz being nominated to head the World Bank, as in he wanted out/the administration wanted him out?
Gwen Ifill: This may be one of those interesting occasions where everyone got what they wanted. But I am quite gossip-free on this topic.
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Volcano, Hawaii:
Ms. Ifill: I'm surprised at how badly the
tightly controlled message machine of
President Bush, Tom DeLay and Bill Frist
misread the general public's feelings on
the Schiavo case. Why do you think this
happened, and how do you gauge the
lingering political impact?
Thank you. I watch "Washington Week'"
every Friday, and my only complaint is it
should be an hour long, rather than a
half-hour.
Gwen Ifill: I've learned not to predict lingering political impact. If we've learned anything from covering big stories that seem to dominate the landscape at the time...any impact has a way of fading over time.
Still, one can imagine that all sides are readying their talking points on this one.
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Minneapolis, Minn.:
With President Bush and members of the GOP ramping up their rhetoric on the Democrats unwillingness to offer up their own plan in the Social Security debate, I'm wondering what it is they hope to gain? I have to assume that it's not a move for bipartisanship, but for political gain (especially now, when they're obviously running the risk of having the Democrats' plan much more widely accepted than the President's... they wouldn't take that chance without expecting to reap political gains).
What would we be likely to see in a plan from the other side of the aisle that makes them so unwilling to suggest it, and that makes Bush so eager to get it out there?
It can't be as simple as raising the income cap, can it?
Gwen Ifill: Ummm...what Democratic plan? What White House plan? One of the most interesting aspects of this Social Security is the giant game of chicken being played by both sides. Neither Democrats nor Republicans seem much interested in producing a comprehensive plan for the other side to attack. So the debate focuses on pieces of plans instead.
At some point, one of these chickens has to (forgive me) cross the road.
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Richmond, Va.:
They say that one reason that the Democrats have held back on talking about the Schiavo case is that they are afraid that come election time, the Republiacans will brand them as "pro-death." While the Republicans are certainly capable of doing that, is there no counter argument (or courage) the Democrats can find to deal with that?
Gwen Ifill: There certainly ought to be a counterargument on an issue that punches as many buttons as this one.
Suffice to say...it seems to still be in development.
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Re: Schiavo political fallout:
I hate to say that I'm afraid there won't be any. Remember, Bob Marshall intervened in the Hugh Finn case, and he's still in office today. I suppose Jim Gilmore would still be there too if he hadn't been limited to one term. That issue alone would not have gotten him out of office if he had been allowed to run again.
People will yell and scream to their politicians that "They'll remember this at the voting booth!;" but when it comes time for the next election, how their politicians voted on the Terri Schiavo bill will be the farthest thing from the voters' minds.
Gwen Ifill: Interesting point.
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New Orleans, La.:
Gwen,
In 1975, there was a compromise passed in the Senate to reduce the number of Senators needed for cloture, from 66 to 60. What issue or prior filibuster caused the Senate then to seek a rule change? Also, is there any hope that there will be a similar compromise with regard to the 10 renominated judges?
Gwen Ifill: Hmm. In 1975, I was blissfully whiling away my time in college. But that's an interesting detail. I will look it up.
As for compromise in the current standoff? Nothing in sight yet.
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Iowa:
Gwen--thrilled to have you back chatting with us. What do you think about the distinct lack of national female columnists/pundits among the MSM that has been discussed recently (ala Ehrlich and Kinsley)? Obviously you are one of the few women who has managed to attain a national reputation--why do you think there aren't more respected women like you offering their opinions and views?
Gwen Ifill: For some reason, I have not been particularly moved by this debate.Perhaps it is because it seems to me that there is far greater chance of finding diversity of opinion on newspaper op-ed pages than it is on the air.
On the other hand (I say that a lot, any discussion about the voices that are lacking in the public square has got to be a good one.
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Silver Spring, Md.:
Can you imagine a professional in any field watching a videotape for an hour and publicly disagreeing with other, more specifically qualified professionals in the same field who have observed and studied the situation for years? This was the shameless behavior of Bill Frist in the past week. I would think that the AMA would be on the verge of attempting to revoke his medical license.
Gwen Ifill: Oh, I somehow doubt that.
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Springfield, Va.:
Okay, you say "no one has acknowledged writing it. That does not mean it was forged." Does that mean the Post, ABC and others have proof that it was drafted by Republicans? Proof that it was circulated by Republicans? What makes an unsigned memo with no letterhead and some obvious errors a "Republican memo"?
Gwen Ifill: All I can tell you is I know and have competed against the reporter who originally broke the story -- Linda Douglass at ABC-- and I have only the highest regard for the work she does covering Capitol Hill.
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Northern Virginia:
Do you think the "Frist for President" notion reached its greatest height and then almost immediately its end during the Schiavo hysteria this weekend?
What other consequences, if any, do you see for any of the politicans involved?
And why isn't Senator Warner getting any credit for his vote against? I rank it up there with his opposition to Oliver North. And I'm a Democrat.
Gwen Ifill: I'm willing to wait out the Frist for President boomlet and see what happens next. If, as other chatters say, this whole thing fades in the public mind, Frist might be fine. But if the whole episode leaves a bad taste, who knows who will absorb any blame?
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Detroit, Mich.:
As a physician, I find at least the newspaper coverage of
the Schiavo case deficient of the perspective from people
in the medical field. There are thousands of such cases
every day in this country and each state has very detailed
laws that deal with them. Such laws have never been
taken lightly by the state legislatures and medical boards
that deal with them. I do not know if you have had
physicians on your shows to talk about these laws and the
frequency of such tragic cases. However, I think if the
public were better informed from such a perspective, they
would see the current debate as more of grandstanding by
certain politicians.
Gwen Ifill: Interesting. It does seem as if we have heard from more doctors who are politicians, than we have from hands-on doctors. But I think part of the reason that public opinion surveys have shown distaste for Congressional intervention, is that this is one of those issues where politicians do not have the stage to themselves.
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Anaheim, Calif.:
Gwen, you're always in the "Gossip-free" zone. What fun is that? Any word on the Grand Jury investigation of the Plame outing? Any word on why Mr. Novak hasn't been held in contempt?
Gwen Ifill: I have a lot of fun without tossing around rumors I can't prove. And I'm a better person for it.
Really!
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Alexandria, Va.:
Some of the social security polling I've seen in the Post makes no sense. A majority oppose the President's plan, but an almost identical majority support personal or private accounts. Can you point us to any reliable source for informaiton on Social Security reform?
Gwen Ifill: All I can suggest is that you always read the wording in these polls very closely. For instance, there is a reason the White House likes to use the word "personal," and Democrats like to use the word "private" to describe these accounts. The answers you get are different.
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Silver Spring, Md.:
Why don't you answer the question that I asked about Bill Frist? Do you, as a professional, believe that it is acceptable professional conduct to do what Bill Frist did last week?
Gwen Ifill: Why would I stand in judgement on Sen. Frist? Do you actually watch "Washington Week?" We're not in that dance. I'm sure you can find many others who will be happy to denounce Sen. Frist for you.
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Seattle, Md.:
Regarding the unsigned talking points memo -- do you honestly think the author will be revealed and admonished? We still can't seem to get to the bottom of the Valerie Plame incident, and now there is speculation by Editor and Publisher that we never will learn who outed her, and will merely send witnesses to jail. If they do nothing else right, this administration certainly knows how to stonewall.
Gwen Ifill: I guess I have been surprised so often with answers I never expected to get...that my hope springs eternal.
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Bethesda, Md.:
Gwen,
In the past week I've talked to conservatives and liberals who are likewise appalled by the blithe endorsement the administration gave to its own use of "video news releases" after they were found to be illegal by the GAO. Not surprisingly, people resent the quiet "Pravda-ization" of our TV News. Does The NewsHour ever use VNRs that come from the government, and if so, would you promise us they will at least be identified as such? Thanks much.
Gwen Ifill: I can assure you we never use those video news releases, and I highly doubt reputable national news organizations do. The breach seems to occur in smaller markets, where folks are not as careful with screening tape they get over the transom.
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Henderson, Nev.:
What has happened to media coverage of the impending bird flu pandemic that may take 10's of millions of lives, while so much has been discussed this week about one life, Terry Shivo. The government response to the bird flu pandemic has been puny considering the risks, and no one is complaining.
Gwen Ifill: One rule of news: it's easier to write about something that is actually happening now, than to write about something that might happen in the future.
Sad perhaps, but true.
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USA:
Gwen,
Would you kindly take two minutes out of your super-charged career to stop and take a look at what has happened to the United States over the past four years. We've launched two invasions of countries (in my view only one was legitimate). We were attacked on American soil for only the second time since the war of 1812 by foreigners. We have a White House that protects the Saudis and is unwilling to get tough with the royal family for fear of upsetting the oil markets. How many more times must Saudis fly planes into our buildings before the U.S. revokes Bandar's diplomatic license?
The royal family must be punished. Start putting some heat on them please.
Gwen Ifill: I am amused that you imagine that I don't spend hours -- rather than two minutes -- in my "supercharged career" to report on, discuss and shed light on these and many, many other issues. Every day. Every night.
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Munich, Germany:
I was quite puzzled when I read President Bush's statement in support of abductions of suspected terrorists and their transfer to other countries known to use torture on prisoners. President Bush described the procedure as "Returning suspects to their homeland, thereby making the world safer". The only point of concern is to obtain a statement from these countries, promising that they won't torture these returned suspects.
It makes the CIA sound like an international deportation agency.
A German man of Lebanese birth who was wrongly suspected of being involved with al Qaidi, was abducted, questioned and beaten for 5 months in a prison in Kabul, Afghanistan. Amongst his follow prisoners were Somalians, Yemenis, Saudi Arabians and Iraqis, all of whom don't call Afghanistan home. If these men weren't in Kabul to be repatriated, then they must have been there to be interrogated with heavy handed methods.
My question is, why debate whether or not the U.S.A. can prevent renditioned prisoners from being tortured, when the entire rendition process has been developed to soften prisoners up in countries that use torturous interrogation methods? If no one wants these people to be tortured, then they shouldn't be abducted and sent to places like Syria, Jorden, Egypt or Afghanistan.
Gwen Ifill: I have to admit, I continue to have unanswered questions about the issues you raise.
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Silver Spring, Md.:
You wrote "Why would I stand in judgement on Sen. Frist? Do you actually watch "Washington Week?" We're not in that dance. I'm sure you can find many others who will be happy to denounce Sen. Frist for you."
I rarely watch Washington Week, to answer your question. I don't know what dance you are talking about, and I am not trying to "find others to denounce Sen. Frist" I was asking your opinion of his professional conduct, which he has displayed in Washington this Week. I take it you have no opinion. I find that somewhat odd, but I wish you much happiness anyway.
Gwen Ifill: Nothing odd about it. I don't do opinion.
Happiness to you too.
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Tempe, Ariz.:
The Democrats in Washington remind me of the Cowardly Lion.
Do you think there is any chance they will ever muster the courage to challenge DeLay and the right wingers in Congress?
Gwen Ifill: Oh, I suppose Democrats spend a whole lot of time trying to figure out the best way to challenge Republicans in Congress. And occasionally, they learn a lesson the GOP learned a long time ago: better to let your opponent pull his own trigger.
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Bethesda, Md.:
Did someone really secretly tape a Delay strategy session/meeting over the weekend in which he said something about God calling him to save Terry?
Gwen Ifill: There was a tape that surfaced yesterday on CNN. I don't know if those were his exact words, but...close.
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Arlington, Va.:
I've seen very little news coverage of Deomcratic Sen. Tom Harkin's statements supporting Congressional intervention in the Schiavo case. Since his position essentially crosses party lines, why hasn't it been bigger news?
Gwen Ifill: Probably the same reason Sen. Warner's vote didn't. The story moved past who-voted-how almost immediately when it went to the courts.
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Yonkers, N.Y.:
Re: Bethesda you said
"The breach seems to occur in smaller markets, where folks are not as careful with screening tape they get over the transom."
I am afraid that as news personnel keep getting cut, this will spread to larger markets.
Is it just my perception or are interviewers becoming more unwilling to press politicians when they do not answer a question?
Gwen Ifill: I think reporters in general press newsmakers as hard as they can. But as I have learned over the years, "pressing" a question does not guarantee an answer.
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Anaheim, Calif.:
Did I miss the email that said this is beat up on Gwen day? Thank you Gwen for being "Gossip Free," and reporting only what you know as fact.
Gwen Ifill: Oh, you missed beat-up-on-Gwen day. That was last week!
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Oregon:
What do you think of the paradox, brought to light by the Schiavo case, confronting the two parties? We've got Democrats fighting tooth and nail for states rights and small government, and Republicans turning federalism on its head and spending like there's no tomorrow. Any predictions for the long run?
Gwen Ifill: Amazing, isn't it? Call it situational politics.
That's what keeps Washington so interesting for me. If everybody hewed to the same party line every day, every time, what new would we find to say?
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Philadelphia, Pa.:
Lots of pundits have taken the Democrats to task for not having a Social Security plan. It seems to me that the press has bought the GOP premise that there are major problems in Social Security. But back in the 1990s, it was projected that Social Security would go bankrupt in the late 2030s. So in spite of the fact that the government moved the broke date one year earlier from last year, shouldn't that projection be put in a historical contest? Doesn't it make it seem that Social Security is not in any more significant trouble?
Gwen Ifill: You think the press has bought the GOP spin? How does that explain today's headlines pointing out that the problems facing Medicare are far more immediate than the problems facing Social Security? Somehow, I don't think that's the headline the White House would have chosen from yesterday's trustees report.
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Washington, D.C.:
This may seem like an arcane issue, but since USA Next (the anti-AARP front group) started its campaign last month, I've become acutely aware of the amount of advertising that advocacy groups (501(c)4's) do on behalf of monied interests that they're not obligated to disclose. Is there any appetite on the Hill to strengthen disclosure requirements for these kinds of blatant political advocacy groups?
Gwen Ifill: Well, there was certainly a lot of dust in the air about regulating the 527s when the Swift Boat Veterans were savaging John Kerry, but I have not heard much about curbing groups like USA Next. Free speech protections cut a lot of ways.
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Henderson, Nev.:
One effect of the President spending so much time and effort on Social Security Reform seems to have been to reduce media coverage and Democrat focus and response to the rest of what has been going on in Congress. Is it likely that this is at least partially the strategy of the President? It may be like a magician misdirecting where we are looking.
Gwen Ifill: I am willing to believe that the Presideny might actually believe strongly in what he plans for Social Security, without deeper nefarious motive.
Plus, it's not like Congress has been asleep at the wheel. Big bankruptcy, class action and oil drilling victories for the GOP this year. And it's only March.
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Washington, DC:
Gwen:
There was an astonishing announcement on CBS radio news this morning that PBS was pulling the plug on Washington Week -- that the last show would be this June 24. Is that true? I couldn't believe my ears. How do I protest against this? I'm equally astonished that I don't see a mention of it anywhere on pbs.org. What's the story?
Gwen Ifill: Not true.
Wall Street Week, however, is leaving the air in June.
We're still around.Tune in tomorrow night -- and every Friday night for the forseeable future -- for analysis of all the week's events.
Thanks everybody for chatting.
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