Post Politics Hour

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Don't want to miss out on the latest in politics? Start each day with 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 Congressional reporter Charles Babington was online Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the latest news in politics.

Political analysis from Post reporters and interviews with top newsmakers. Listen live on Washington Post Radio or subscribe to a podcast of the show.

The transcript follows.

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Charles Babington: Good morning, thanks for joining. The Baker-Hamilton report (Iraq Study Group) is being publicly released as we chat. The White House and lawmakers were briefed earlier this morning. Happy to hear your questions and thoughts on this and other matters political.

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Albany, N.Y.: Isn't the real difference between the ISG and Bush, one of goals now. The ISG's goal is to extricate the U.S. from Iraq in an orderly way, while minimizing damage to Iraq on the way out. Bush's goal is to stay "until we get the job done."

Charles Babington: An interesting question. We may have to read the entire report carefully before fully understanding the answer. I think you capsulize the ISG position pretty well, and there are many people in Congress -- from both parties -- who hope the report will nudge the president into agreement.

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Irvinton, N.Y. Thank you for taking my question(s).

Is it a fair interpretation that the conclusion of the Iraq Study Group is that a solution to the sectarian violence in Iraq can only be realized as part of a comprehensive Middle East Peace plan?

Is part of the learning from Iraq that the U.S. is an inappropriate broker of Middle East peace initiatives?

Charles Babington: The report says an acceptable solution in Iraq almost surely will involve the broader Middle East region. More specifically, Iran and Syria must be brought into discussions because they are major regional players. And the U.S. must do a better job of helping to bring about a resolution of the Israel-Palestinian issue and to be seen, especially in the Arab and Muslim communities, as a fair player.

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San Diego, Calif.: Morning Mr. Babington. Can you tell me why reporters and other talking heads refer to Hillary Clinton in casual conversation as "Hillary?" Shouldn't they therefore call Romney "Mitt," McCain "John" and Obama "Barack?" It seems condescending to me to call the sole woman in the race by her first name.

Charles Babington: I agree with you. One reason her first name is possibly used (when it should not be), is that a mention of "Clinton" often prompts confusion with her husband (who was president for 8 years, after all). Reporters, commentators, etc., should refer to "Senator Clinton" or "Mrs. Clinton" or "Hillary Clinton" to avoid the confusion and be respectful.

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Washington, D.C.: Your article today characterizes the Iraq Study Group as "bipartisan", although you also report the panel is "stacked with ostensible allies of the Bush administration." In what sense is the panel "bipartisan" when it is stacked that way and since there are no progressives or liberals on the panel who favor withdrawal as did the electorate in the recent election?

washingtonpost.com: Bush Calls Iraq Report One Among Many Ideas, ( Post, Dec. 6)

Charles Babington: The panel has five Republicans and five Democrats. I don't know how you can confidently state that none of them is progressive or liberal. What are Vernon Jordan's politics, for example?

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Greenbelt, Md.: Can Congress force the President to act on ISG recommendations?

Charles Babington: No. The Congress's main power in the area of warfare is the power of the purse, i.e. cutting off funding to support a military campaign. Congress will not do that.

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Atlanta, Ga.: Appointing a seemingly independent (from the Bush administration, anyway) man such as Gates is so alien to the lockstep administrative style of Bush 43 that it arouses the suspicion that he is being imposed upon the President. This has the appearance of being an intervention by Bush 41. Any validity to that impression?

Charles Babington: I see no evidence that Robert Gates, or any other cabinet member, was "imposed" on the president. Obviously the president saw the results of the Nov. 7 elections and realized the need for a change in direction and tone. But no one could tell him who to pick or not pick to run the Pentagon.

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Washington, D.C.: Having read only the executive summary, I'm not sure how disappointed I am. Realizing there's more in the report, with time and a colleague, I could have written the executive summary. At best, it's a general statement that says "oh, boy, things could get worse, we need to help"; at best it's a general statement that says, "oh boy, things, things could get worse, we need to help".

I guess you have to see the movie, not the coming attractions.

Charles Babington: Posted without comment.

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Portland, Ore.: Thanks for taking our questions.

Roll Call is now reporting that the race in Florida's 13th CD may well go to the House for final determination. With the (Rs) controlling the House Administration Committee in the 109th and the (Ds) controlling the House itself in the 110th, (where the final vote would be held) doesn't this election have the strong possibility of ending up a (D)seat if the votes go on a straight party line vote?

Charles Babington: Or perhaps they will look at all the facts and evidence and reach a conclusion not based purely on partisan interests?

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Des Moines, Iowa: Good morning. What do you think of the continued support for Condi Rice in the national polls between 15% and 20%?

If her name has that same amount of support by this time next year, could she step into the race and get her name listed for the primary season of 2008?

Is that a possible viewpoint or is it more likely for her to the VP?

Charles Babington: I would be very surprised if Sec. Rice runs for president. I'd be only slightly less surprised if she agreed to be VP, but I certainly could be wrong.

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Arlington, Va.: In today's Washington Post article about the new 5-day workweek for congressmen, Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) stated "keeping us here eats away at families. Marriages suffer. The Democrats could care less about families - that's what this says". Before running for Congress, don't most Congressmen think about how working in Washington would effect their families? Do you think his whining about having to put in a full week will be well received by his constituents in Georgia?

Charles Babington: I think Mr. Kingston wins re-election in his Georgia district by comfortable margins. I doubt his remarks will change that.

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Princeton, N.J.: Can the House order a revote in Fla 13th?

Charles Babington: Not entirely sure, but I've never heard of such a thing.

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Rolla, Mo.: Interesting point by Al Gore this morning ostensibly saying Pres. Bush needs to understand that Iraq policy now is not about his personal legacy, it's not "about him." It really does seem that the more isolated his position becomes, the more it appears that it really is about saving face, not admitting he was wrong.

Charles Babington: I did not hear Mr. Gore's remarks, so I post your message without comment.

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Amherst, Mass.: Why did Gates get a pass on taking an oath that he tell the truth at the outset of the confirmation hearings? How many times before has a Cabinet level nominee been allowed to testify without being sworn in? I suspect it has rarely, if ever happened before!

Charles Babington: Different committees have different traditions. Some swear in all witnesses, some do not.

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Washington, D.C.: Spinners will spin, but in the corporate world that many of us live in an operations report with similar conclusions could not be viewed as anything but a total management failure. Isn't that the bare naked truth of this?

Charles Babington: The report says conditions in Iraq are "grave and deteriorating." Isn't that a very strong assessment?

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New York, N.Y.: I just got this Breaking News email: "Iraq Study Group's Baker: 'Stay the course' strategy no longer viable." But isn't that the course Bush has been touting? Is this report going to be viewed as reflecting badly on Bush? Or will the spinmeisters on Penn Ave somehow turn this into a positive?

Charles Babington: Let's see how Tony Snow handles it.

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Austin, Tex.: My understanding is the ISG is a creation of Congress. Is this correct? If so, since the admin has 2 or 3 other groups generating "solutions", why is there such expectation about the ISG. Why isn't it just one more OUTSIDER'S way to fix things. (You may answer Nov. 7 but the ISG got great press before Nov. 7)

Charles Babington: The ISG is getting a great amount of attention because of its makeup: 5 Democrats and 5 Republicans with longstanding records in public office (elected or otherwise) and solid reputations. They are not beholden to the administration. It's a combination that's hard for other groups to match.

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Seattle, Wash.: Some pundits think Senator Collins will have a tough race in 2008, but Senator Snowe won overwhelmingly in a very blue year, and Collins is a lot like Snowe in terms of ideology.

Charles Babington: I'm not an expert on Maine politics, but I understand that Sen. Collins is quite popular with voters. But there's no question that Republicans felt a chill when they saw GOP incumbents lose in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and upstate N.Y. last month. I'm guessing Sen. Collins will take her 2008 reelection race very seriously.

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Annandale, Va.: So what's Speaker-designate Pelosi's beef with Jane Harman and Juanita Millender-McDonald. Normally, one might anticipate that they would have benefited from Pelosi's promotion to the speakership. I would think that the California delegation would be big enough for more than one powerful female Democrat?

Charles Babington: I don't know details of Rep. Pelosi's relationships with those two colleagues. But I will note that relationships among members of Congress are not based entirely on politics and policy. They are humans, and personal chemistry matters in Congress just as it does in other workplaces -- for better or for worse.

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Power of the Purse: Is there no chance that Congress might tie funding to the president adopting some or all of the ISG recommendations?

Charles Babington: None that I see. A cutoff of funds for the war would be interpreted as undermining the troops.

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Parkville, Md.: With the rest of us working 40 hour work weeks, the question must be asked: could Republicans be any more whiny and self-centered? Cry me a river, please! And, oh yeah was it not the right in this country that scoffed loudest when the French government decided to mandate a 35 hour work week some years ago?

Charles Babington: At the risk of incoming rotten eggs and tomatoes, might I suggest: Is it possible that House and Senate members do some work when they are outside of Washington? Perhaps in their district offices? Meeting with constituents? Holding field hearings? Fact-finding trips?

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Des Moines, Iowa: What is the best way to find out when potential 2008 candidates are traveling to Iowa, or New Hampshire?

Charles Babington: Some (maybe all) of the candidates note their trips to NH and Iowa on their campaign Web sites. That's where I would start.

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New York, N.Y.: I think the Iraq Study Group is WAY overrated! Did people think they would actually come out with some major proposal to fix Iraq and we'd all slap our foreheads and say "of course, why didn't I think of that!" Basically they are going to recommend things that others have already been talking about, Bush will talk a good game for a few days before ignoring them, then these so-called "experts" will go back to their $100,000 speaking gigs.

Charles Babington: Posted without comment.

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Washington, D.C.: I don't work for Congress, and I don't particularly care for many Congressmen, but someone should point that that most representatives work BOTH in DC and back home in their districts. In fact, it's the district work that likely accounts for most of the incumbency advantage that reps have. Heck, political scientists have known this since Richard Fenno's pioneering work more than a quarter century ago (they even have a term for it called "home style").

Two questions: Why don't reports point this out? Will this decision to go 5 days come back to bite Hoyer in the rear?

Charles Babington: You, more eloquently, make the point I tried to make to Parkville. thanks

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Bethesda, Md.: AMEN!!!!

I love these guys. They're so smart, know what they're talking about and are taking everyone to the mat for their failures to make this work.

What a refreshing change in rhetoric.

Charles Babington: Posted without comment.

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Re: Office hours:"Fact-finding trips?"

You mean like the ones where they go play golf across the Atlantic?

HAHAHA Thanks for the laugh.

Charles Babington: Ooh, we are cynical today.

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Corning, Ark.: Re: Arlington, VA

The Post's story on how Congress may have to start working a five days a week was very well done. Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) comments about the strain of being a Congressman was almost too much for me to handle. Do you believe the Democrats will be able to clean up Congress's image to the average voter who has to work five days a week?

Charles Babington: I'm getting many similar comments. Clearly the Democrats hope to show voters they are hard at work -- in the Capitol -- on the people's business.

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Cary, N.C.: You can't cut off funding for the troops, but you can attach a rider that restricts the numbers of tours in Iraq. Say two for volunteer regulars and once for reserves. That would be popular, no?

Charles Babington: An interesting thought. I've not heard it floated in Congress.

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At the risk of incoming rotten eggs and tomatoes....:"At the risk of... Is it possible that House and Senate members do some work when they are outside of Washington? Perhaps in their district offices? Meeting with constituents? Holding field hearings? Fact-finding trips?"

It seems that our junior enlisted and officer corp also work when they're outside of Washington, not necessarily constrained by a 40-hour work week. Sorry, not throwing eggs but some jobs are more than 40-hour a week jobs and you take those jobs for reasons other than expecting to work 40 or less hours a week, getting holidays off with the family, or doing what people with normal jobs do or expect to do.

Charles Babington: The only point I'm trying to make is: You can't automatically assume that a House or Senate member stops working as soon as he or she leaves Washington. Some -- like people in many other businesses -- doubtlessly work very long hours at home, on weekends, holidays, etc... And some probably do not.

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New York, N.Y.: Is being a political reporter an ok job for a parent? Because you have to travel, or live in an expensive area, or commute fairly long drives with terrible traffic? I'm a college student, and I'm wondering whether to go for consulting, or reporting.

Charles Babington: Well, depending on the job, some consulting positions require a lot of travel... I've raised three children (well, my wife helped), often while being a political reporter. There were times I was away much more than I wanted to be. But the same applies to many other people in many other lines of work. My advice: Pursue the career you think you will enjoy the most day in and day out, year in and year out.

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Study Group: Wait a second. The people had to wait for this report until it could be published with a color cover? That's just to sell it at Borders. We probably could have had it weeks ago. Greed I gather.

Charles Babington: C'mon, folks, lighten up.

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Fairfax County, Va.: Best one-liner comes from Richard Cohen's column in yesterday's paper:

"Washington is a bad marriage with monuments."

Charles Babington: On that fine note, I bid you all farewell for another two weeks. Thanks for the chat.

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