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Washington national political reporter Tom Edsall was online Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 11 a.m. ET .

The transcript follows.

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Washington, D.C.: The 9/11 report card obviously is big news here in D.C., but do you think that the average American is going to pay attention to this? And what effect will this have? Thanks!

Tom Edsall: I was surprised to see this morning that our competitors, the New York Times, played the story inside. Insofar as the press drives a story, that will diminish public reaction. I only saw the beginning of CBS News last night and don't recall an early mention of the 911 commission findings, which would also weaken the lasting power. The NYTs has a wider national distribution than the Post. We gave the story top of the front page story, which I think is the correct play. All this is to say, I don't know if the issue has legs or not. It should.

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Bermuda: This from a September 29th, 2005 Post article by By R. Jeffrey Smith:

"The facts of one of the central transactions at issue in the case have never been in dispute -- the transfer in September 2002 to an arm of the Republican National Committee in Washington of $190,000 in corporate funds collected by the committee in Texas and the subsequent donation by the RNC arm of $190,000 to seven Texas House candidates on Oct. 4, 2002."

Has any analysis been done to determine whether or not this is money laundering? I understand that to prove it is a different matter, but I wonder if Tom DeLay is acquitted, does that mean that he is actually innocent, as opposed to not guilty?

Tom Edsall: On the surface, this has the earmarks of money laundering. To actually prove it, and show that the two transactions were not an extraordinary coincidence, I think there has to be some testimony showing knowledge of the participants that a one-for-one transaction was taking place. The simple facts are pretty good basis for a news story, but a court case is a different matter.

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Rochester, N.Y.: I have a question about the Cunningham scandal: how good a job have the Republicans done at "quarantining" it, as it were? It sounds like there may have been several other government official involved -- will this be investigated or will the one apple line rule the day? What's your take?

Tom Edsall: My impression from the Abramoff lobbying case is that once prosecutors get their hands on a good case, it is tough to quarantine. Everyone knows, including Justice Department officials, that cover ups are very dangerous strategies as soon as grand juries and ambitious prosecutors get involved. Also, the press is pursuing stories on how the contractors in the Cunningham case dealt with other members of Congress.

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Denver, Colo.: Which story currently in the news do you believe is the most seriously under-reported? Potentially the best story that has the least impact in the press as of this date?

Tom Edsall: The issues of wealth and income inequality, the apparent decline in social mobility, and the consequences of international, global competition on American workers.

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Baltimore, Md.: Looking at some key state races coming up in 2006, two big ones that come to mind for the Dems (and Republicans for that matter) are the gubernatorial races in Ohio and Maryland. What would Democratic victories, especially in a "red" state like Ohio, mean on a national scale going into '08? Is it a national trend or only based on state and local issues?

Tom Edsall: A Democratic victory in Ohio would be significant. It has become a key state in presidential elections. The value of a Democratic victory based on Republican corruption may not be that significant, however. Republicans are looking at the governors' mansions in Illinois, Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin. GOP victories in two or more of those states would diminish the significance of a Democratic victory in Ohio.

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Iowa: Even though VP Cheney was fundraising for Rep. Tom DeLay last night, how long will the White House continue to support DeLay in light of the continuing money laundering charges and his dropping poll numbers? When does the Hammer become a political liability to them?

Tom Edsall: As long as DeLay has a chance of getting his Majority Leader post back, the administration will treat him with respect. If, next month, he is formally replaced in the House leadership, I think he will have a much tougher time getting campaign help from the administration.

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Queens, New York: Will Schwarzeneggar switch to the Democratic Party next year?

Tom Edsall: I think he would have a harder time running in a Democratic primary than a Republican primary, so a switch would not do his re-election changes much good.

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California: I think it's very interesting the spin a headline can give breaking news. When DeLay news broke yesterday, The Post titled it "DeLay Conspiracy Charge Dismissed", which on the surface of things sounds rather positive and vindictive for the Texas Congressman. However, this morning's headline is "DeLay's Felony Charge Upheld," which sounds bad for him. Same news, same event, different spin. Of course reading the article would clarify the picture, but first impression being what it is, I thought it was interesting.

Tom Edsall: Good question. Most papers I looked at this morning had a similar approach as the Post initially did: that DeLay had succeeded in getting one charge dismissed. Personally, I think the switch is correct. DeLay still has the same problem that he faced before the dismissal of one charge: the House may well vote to replace him as Majority Leader next month if the remaining charges have not been resolved.

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Virginia Beach, Va.: RE: your response to Rochester...I know that ambition may play a part in some prosecutions, but I would submit that prosecutors are motivated mostly from a desire to make bad people pay the price for their transgressions. It's called justice.

Tom Edsall: You are right, but ambition and aggression may be very important characteristics for someone seeking to see that justice is done.

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Arlington, Va.: What's this business about Duke Cunningham's co-conspirator and Republican lobbyist Brent Wilkes hosting a hospitality suite with several bedrooms at high-end Washington hotels? Why exactly does a Republican lobbyist need several bedrooms to host gatherings? If the National Journal picks this up, then yes Thomas it's OK for The Post to deign to question the Republican Party over their "family values".

Tom Edsall: Good question again, and it is an entirely legitimate for news organizations to find out if, and how, these bedrooms were used.

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New York, N.Y.: On the same day a judge upholds the most serious charges against Tom DeLay, the Vice President of the United States headlines a fundraiser for Mr. DeLay. What exactly does this say about the ethics and morals of our current administration? Perhaps Cheney skipped the recent ethics classes at the White House?

Tom Edsall: The dovetailing of the two stories is a reflection of a much broader shift in the ethical culture of Washington over the past four decades. This is a subject that deserves much more examination, and I hope to contribute to that process.

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Minneapolis, Minn.: This past weekend The Post published a story on Viveca Novak's role in the Plame matter that on key points directly contradicted a story published a couple of days earlier in the New York Times, clearly driven by the desire of The Post's -- anonymous -- sources to claim the Times' story mistaken. The Times' story was also driven by claims made by obviously different anonymous sources. How on earth are we readers supposed to decide between these stories and gain knowledge of the case when we've got contradictory information being floated by anonymous sources whose motives we are unable to judge, and when the two papers don't seem to post corrections or amendments as long as they're just reporting what anonymous sources have told them?

That said, any news on the Plame case? When are we going to get The Post's promised story on the role of Cheney in coaching Libby on what to say to journalists about the Plame affair in July (and possible June) 2003?

Tom Edsall: There is no way for the reader to resolve the two-paper contradictory anonymous source issue, except to judge over time which paper produces more accurate information. I think the Post would welcome such a competitive test.

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Vienna, Va.: Hey Tom

Now that the economy has shown impressive results in the last quarter, the public sentiment is rising and job less rate steady with over four million jobs added, Bush's job is looking easier everyday in getting his approval ratings up, wouldn't you say?

Tom Edsall: It should. It will be interesting to see where Bush's rating are in the month before the November, 2006, election.

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Washington, D.C.: Do you think Frist will face any challenges to his leadership position? Aside from the fact that he's not running for reelection, some of the party faithful seem unpleased with his tenure as majority leader.

Tom Edsall: Doubtful, unless he runs into serious trouble with the SEC over his stock sales.

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Dunn Loring, Va.: Do you see how conservatives might find The Post biased given the different headlines on this story: Washington Post, Felony Charge Is Upheld For DeLay CNN, DeLay Conspiracy Charge Tossed Out Washington Times, DeLay's Conspiracy Charge Rejected.

Tom Edsall: Almost every choice choice a newspaper makes lends itself to some form of bias accusation. In this case, I think the Post made the correct news decision.

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Alexandria, Va.: Mr. Edsall --

I came across one of your old books in a used bookstore recently. I picked it up and really enjoyed it. Do you have plans to do anymore in the future?

Tom Edsall: Thanks. I am just finished a book on the conservative movement and the Republican Party that, if all goes well, should be available in September, 2006.

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McLean, Va.: Having known several people who worked E Ring with Cunningham, the common reaction has been surprise that it has taken so long for this story to unravel. Stories have been bouncing around Washington for at least 10 years about his clandestine dealings, not to mention JAGs have been looking into this corruption for awhile. I thought it was one of those well-known secrets, so why now? Is the environment ripe for scandal at the moment?

Tom Edsall: Cunningham's detailed admissions of taking huge sums, and his home-buying and other practices would seem to be just the kind of activities that should have drawn the attention of prosecutors some time ago. If the San Diego Union stories prompted the inquiries, some government folks have been sitting on their hands.

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Washington, D.C.: If the latest polls are correct and DeLay would lose to an unnamed Democrat if the election were held today, it stands that he'd also lose to a Republican in a primary. Do you think any Republican will dare to challenge him for the nomination next year?

Tom Edsall: If DeLay does not get the Majority Leader post back, and if his numbers continue to look terrible, he would well face a Republican primary challenger. The interesting question in that scenario is whether the House Republican leadership and the National Republican Congressional Committee would back him, if he is seen as facing very likely defeat in the general election.

I am going to sign off now. Your questions continue to be provocative and I have left too many unanswered. See you in two weeks, Tom

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