Post Politics Hour

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Don't want to miss out on the latest buzz in politics? Start each day at wonk central: The Post Politics Hour. Join in each weekday morning at 11 a.m. as a member of The Washington Post's team of White House and Congressional reporters answers questions about the latest in buzz in Washington and The Post's coverage of political news.

Washington Post White House reporter Michael Fletcher was online Friday, April 7, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the latest in political news.

The transcript follows.

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Michael Fletcher: Good morning everyone. As always, there is plenty to talk about, starting with Scooter Libby's interesting grand jury testimony. So let's get started.

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Boston, Mass.: The RNC has raised the specter of impeachment in a mailing to its supporters, repeated in a column by the Weekly Standard, claiming that Feingold's censure resolution is just a prelude to the Democrats' diabolical plot to impeach a wartime president. What do you think of this strategy?

Now that the Republicans have decided to make impeachment an active political issue, will the Washington Post poll to find out what the American public thinks?

Michael Fletcher: I guess the RNC sees the specter of impeachment as a rallying point for their base, which has been showing signs of fracturing. Perhaps in that way it's good politics. I generally hate ducking questions, but deciding what questions are polled is something above my pay grade.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: Hello, Mr. Fletcher, and thank you for taking questions. If you were to meet with the president in one of those off-the-record informal settings today, would you feel comfortable asking him about authorizing the leaks of classified information? If he gave one of his stock "can't comment on ongoing investigation" answers, would you feel okay about pressing him on the inconsistency in that he has commented on the DeLay case? How far could you comfortably go in that setting? I ask very respectfully as I went to J-school a long time ago and am picturing myself in your shoes.

Michael Fletcher: I would feel comfortable in bringing it up, and maybe following up as you suggested. I probably would not go farther than that,particularly in an off-the-record session. My thought would be: why? If he answers off the record, I can't use it. Consequently, those questions are probably best asked on national television when the president would presumably feel pressure to provide something approaching an answer.

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Princeton, N.J.: Will the "Leaker in Chief" title gain any traction?

Michael Fletcher: Who's to say? But you gotta admit, it's a great line.

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Washington, D.C.: Democrats seem to be making a big deal of the President "leaking" classified documents - somewhat of an oxymoron. What does this have to do with the Plame issue? Where's the link?

Michael Fletcher: Well, it seems that you're right, that the president by definition can't leak a classified document because once he authorizes its release it becomes unclassified. But this does show the sensitivity in the White House to the claims being made by Joe Wilson that the intelligence used to justify the war in Iraq was cooked. The president himself apparently felt the need to counter Wilson with intelligence information supporting his position. Of course, the president is not alleged to have authorized the leak of Plame's name, but I think he still has a problem here. Its not a legal problem, it seems, but a political one. The president has been outspoken about the damage caused by leaks, and here he is accused of authorizing the release of secret information for what looks like domestic political purposes.

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Tallahassee, Fla.: Even if President Bush authorized the leaking of classified information (thus declassifying it) Libby is charged with obstruction of justice and could still be found guilty, correct?

Michael Fletcher: That is the argument being made by the special prosecutor who points out that Libby is charged with perjury and obstruction of justice, not the leaking of classified information.

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Arlington, Va.: I know there's a lot of talk today about Libby, but my question is on immigration. Perhaps this has been addressed before, but why is there all this focus on immigration now by lawmakers? I've been reading all proposed solutions, but last night my spouse and I were talking about the issue and both wondered..why now?

Michael Fletcher: Well, the issue has reached a boiling point in parts of the country where people feel overwhelmed by illegal immigration. Congressman Tancredo, the leader of anti-immigration forces in the House, used to be thought of as extreme on the issue but now his caucus has grown to something like 91 members. Also, President Bush has been raising the issue of a guest worker program for some time and it seems like his proposal has become kind of a catalyst for discussion of this issue. Meanwhile, you had two years ago a ballot initiative passed in Arizona ending any public social services spending on illegal immigrants. I believe there is an effort to get a similar one going in Colorado. Governors in Arizona and New Mexico have declared states of emergencies in their border counties to stem the tide of illegal immigration. Other states, meanwhile, are looking at supplementing federal border patrol efforts. So it is the magical combination of all of these factors--and more--that you see at play here.

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Louisville, Ky.: Can/Will Scooter Libby still be pardoned?

Michael Fletcher: He can be pardoned, but it is tough to imagine that he will. But stranger things have happened, particularly in the final days of a presidency.

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Astoria, N.Y.: Just a funny observation more related to Howie's job, but political, so I will make it here, since Mr. Kurtz is not chatting today. Last night, CNN and MSNBC led with the Libby/Bush story and devoted much time to it. Fox News only discussed McKinney. Do you think McKinney (granted an unfortunate incident) is more important than Bush potentially leaking classified information for political gain (how is that for a loaded question)? Can we all just admit Fox News is not Fair and Balanced? Thanks and enjoy these chats.

Michael Fletcher: Astoria? I used to live in East Elmhurst, many years ago. Went to P.S. 127 and 148 for a while...you can tell I don't want to answer your question about Fox. Are you sure they didn't discuss Libby? I find that hard to imagine. For the record, the Libby story strikes me as more important.

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Sarasota, Fla.: Mr. Fletcher,

The outing of a CIA operative was a new low even by Washington standards. The leak compromised the work and the career of a long time deep cover operative. The CIA rightly complained and asked for the investigation. Our fearless leader made a cynical show of outrage knowing full well that it was an act of petty political revenge perpetrated by this sleazy Crawford Machiavelli . Plame's outing was a nasty and pointed signal to all agencies that you had better tow the party line or we will knife you or a family member in the back. It appears that President Bush has soiled the office he occupies and is unworthy of it. You enablers and collaborators in the press should also be ashamed of yourselves as you all participated in this travesty. Do you get it at all, as increasing numbers of Americans hold the President and the press in utter contempt?

Michael Fletcher: Geez, Sarasota, why don't you tell us what you really think?

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Great Neck, N.Y.: After reading several stories about Lewis Libby's testimony over the source of the Plame leak, where to things go from here?

Are there any legal ramifications for the President from this act? Since we already have a special prosecutor in place how far will his authority stretch, especially after what happened during the Clinton administration.

Could this be the beginning of an impeachment process, or is that a stretch, even for this action?

Michael Fletcher: Yesterday's revelation strikes me mainly as a political bombshell. But it's hard to know where this goes, because we don't know all Fitzgerald knows.

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Washington, D.C.: I find it amazing that since 1982, Congress has not been in session for more than 109 days. That is less than half the number of days Federal employees work. No wonder so little gets accomplished!

Michael Fletcher: I don't know that the problem is the number of days they stay in session.

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Jeb and Katherine: Jeb Bush was sharply critical of Katherine Harris yesterday saying she needs to take the advice of fellow Republicans including it seems the Governor himself.

Have you ever seen a worse run campaign by a major candidate for any office?

Michael Fletcher: I guess you have to admire her determination to forge on, seemingly in the face of everything. She's also digging deep into her pockets to the tune of something like $10 million to try to make this happen.

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Detroit, Mich.: Will Cynthia McKinney be censured by the Congress for hitting a cop and subsequently calling him a racist? Will she face any criminal liability?

It seems there's a double standard for the rich and powerful -- I can't imagine if a tourist walked into the Capitol and hit a cop that there'd be any debate...

Michael Fletcher: Well, the problem is that there is a dispute about what actually happened and why. I don't know that she will face any criminal liability, but I think that is certainly a possibility.

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Alexandria, Va.: I forget which, but either during the Lewinsky affair or Whitewater the Wall Street Journal ran editorials endlessly about the topic. If The Post thinks Plamegate or Warrantless Spying is so important, why doesn't it do the same as the Journal by writing a multitude of editorials?

Michael Fletcher: Gotta direct that one to my friends in editorial. They are an independent operation, separate from the rest of the newsroom.

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Iowa: New AP-IPSOS poll has the president's approval rating at 36, a new low, and this was taken before the news about him authorizing the leak via Scooter Libby. Are there any office pools on just how low that approval rating can sink? (Is there a lower threshold for public approval?)

Michael Fletcher: I don't know, even if polling experts do. I guess he has to be close to his core base number, meaning that he would be unlikely to fall much farther barring any extreme circumstances. But polls are funny and their findings are only a snapshot of a moment in time. If, say, there is a major turnaround in public perceptions on Iraq, his numbers could rise again--and quickly.

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Baltimore, Md.: Isn't there a pattern where the President claims powers that can't be challenged except by the media: secret prisons, enemy combatants, Guantanamo, energy negotiations, the Libby leaks?

Michael Fletcher: Certainly, the president has headed an administration that has advocated the idea of strong presidential powers. Couple that with the war footing they've been on since 9/11, and you get what you have.

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Torrance, Calif.: I enjoy reading - and chatting - about the ebb and flow of political fortunes, but I've become so cynical and angry about hardened political positions on both sides and the hypocrisy of many political leaders regarding the very laws they either make or are supposed to uphold.

Have you seen much evidence of a national kind of independent vote that could coalesce enough to make a difference in what the Repubs and Dems do in Congress?

Michael Fletcher: Not in more than an anecdotal way. But in my real life, as opposed to my professional life, I run into many people who are turned off by the tenor of politics so they tune out. There seems to be ground to be gained by someone who is willing to engage, compromise and occasionally even change their minds. But that must not poll well, given what we have.

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Reisterstown, Md.: Do you think there is a real chance of the Dems winning either house this year? There's lots of talk, but the incumbency advantage seems to negate the possibility.

Michael Fletcher: I wouldn't write off that possibility. Incumbency has always offered big advantages--particularly in House districts--and we've seen power shift between parties before. But having said that, it seems like seats are safer than ever. But there also is the reality that most potential voters are disengaged. Imagine what would happen if they are engaged and mobilized. The entire political equation could change.

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Denver, Colo.:

I saw this comment at the Washington Note and thought that it raised some interesting points. What do you think?

"Classification is a bureaucratic process, with the process spelled out in government regulations. If something is properly declassified, then it has a new set of parameters as to who may have access and how it may be shared. It sounds like the president authorized a leak rather than officially directed the declassification of material.

I believe that declassification actions are also supposed to be noted by date and official's name, so it should be easy to confirm if the information was officially declassified. If the processes weren't followed, then this was a leak, albeit one apparently authorized by the President."

Michael Fletcher: That outlines what sounds like parts of the normal declassification process. But the lawyers I talked with yesterday said that the president has the right to declassify information just on his say-so. They added, however, that a president actually using his power that way is highly unusual.

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Anonymous: Do you think there are ANY CIA operatives working on the editorial boards of any of the major newspapers?

Michael Fletcher: If there were, it would strike me as a waste of government resources.

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Germantown, Md.: In the court filing about Libby, and the President authorizing a leak, there was another interesting line: "Some documents produced to defendant could be characterized as reflecting a plan to discredit, punish, or seek revenge against Mr. Wilson." Which do you think is the more interesting story - Libby and perjury or the use (abuse?) of power for revenge?

Michael Fletcher: There have been no firings that I know of. Of course, the White House points out that he would fire someone if they were found to have broken the law, or some such thing.

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La.: Should Katherine Harris drop out of the Senate race in order to become a major player on the fundraising circuit? (I'm thinking of Democratic fundraisers)

Michael Fletcher: As my son says, you have jokes.

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Kettering, Ohio: What's the buzz on Cynthia McKinney's turnaround and mea culpa? Have a good weekend!

Michael Fletcher: It seems like everyone I talked to about this is simply puzzled. Hard to know what's going on there. Perhaps, she is worried about criminal prosecution.

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Michael Fletcher: That's all, folks. See you next time.

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