Post Politics Hour

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 national political reporter Anne E. Kornblut was online Tuesday, March 13, at 11:15 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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washingtonpost.com: Anne Kornblut's spot on MSNBC is running a little long -- she'll be here momentarily.

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Anne E. Kornblut: Hi! I'm here. Sorry for the delay.

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Chicago: Do you think Republican voters would hold it against Fred Thompson that as a senator he voted to acquit Bill Clinton on one of his two impeachment charges (the perjury count)? He's the only Republican senator running or considering a run who voted to acquit Clinton on either count, and those Republican primary voters still have quite a bug you-know-where about all things Clinton. Thanks.

washingtonpost.com: Actor Thompson Considers Role in Presidential Race (AP, March 12)

Anne E. Kornblut: This is a terrific question. The Clinton years really aren't over, are they? Sen. Thompson would have a steady defense -- that many in the Senate decided they would rather move on that actually evict Clinton from office-- but it could be an issue from conservatives, dare they raise it in a year when Hillary Clinton herself is running.

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Philadelphia: Anne ... I just saw you on MSNBC talking about Michelle Obama. In the segment Chris Jansing brought up the many marriages of the Republican candidates and the "trouble" with the Clinton marriage which you said, "yes not to mention." What trouble? It has been more than a decade since the Clinton/Lewinsky affair and Bill and Hillary are still together. Can we stop now?

Anne E. Kornblut: Fair point. Except: it's an issue that voters out in the country still ask me about. But a question back to you: Do you think Giuliani's marriages will be off-limits as well?

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Evanston, Ill.: Hi Anne, Thanks so much for answering questions. I was excited about Obama months ago when the Republicans were in control of Congress because Obama looked like someone who could transcend party differences. However, now that the Democrats are in power the knowledge and experience of Hillary looks more appealing. How does Obama now position himself in the environment of a Democratic-controlled Congress?

Anne E. Kornblut: That's a great question. Mostly, by submitting legislation and getting out there and campaigning -- on the very fact that he hasn't been in Washington forever, and is still a fresh face, both to Democrats and Republicans.

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San Francisco: Many commenters and questioners hereabout lately have asked for some substantive presentation of issues in the 2008 Presidential race. We've been promised it'll happen. Yet, your recent story was all about the horse race and tag-playing you perceived between the Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton campaigns. Can you explain what you and your editors thought readers were to gain from that coverage? Thank you very much.

washingtonpost.com: Obama, Clinton Sparring Early (Post, March 12)

Anne E. Kornblut: Good question, implicit criticism notwithstanding. You're going to see every conceivable manner of political story from us over the next year and a half. Already, we've had many stories about the candidates and the war; Edwards' health plan; their legislative records; their pasts. At this point the campaign, however, the candidates themselves aren't laying out specifics. We have not, for example, been able to get either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama to tell us the details of their health care plans. And much of what they're doing on the stump is process. Hence process stories for now. But the interest in substance is duly noted (and appreciated).

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Norwalk, Conn.: So the CBS poll puts Bush's approval at 29 percent, but for Connecticut the figure surely is much lower than that. Where in the U.S. does Bush have higher-than-national polling numbers? There has to be such a place, considering all the Connecticuts out there.

Anne E. Kornblut: It's been awhile since I looked up the answer to this, but the last time I checked, Bush was doing well where you'd expect: in Republican strongholds. Utah, in particular, was still strong for him.

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Washington: I consider myself a liberal but I have never been more grateful to the conservatives for stalling the nomination of Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court. If the current dustup is anything to go by, she just would have been the President's lawyer on the bench. Seems to me this whole business of firing federal prosecutors could be perfect grounds for Presidential candidates (I am thinking John McCain here) to distance themselves from the President. Have you have heard anything from those candidates about this issue?

Anne E. Kornblut: Haven't heard anything yet (though I've spent the weekend with Democrats, not Republicans). It's a good question for us to ask. I'll pass on the suggestion to my colleague Mike Shear, who's mainly in charge of GOP candidates.

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Bel Air, Md.: In answer to a question, you said Obama can position himself mostly by "submitting legislation and getting out there and campaigning" -- he seems to be doing neither. He is busy fundraising. I heard on one of the news stations that whenever Hillary Clinton's people call a potential donor, they find that Obama recently, personally has called them. That also explains his absence during a couple of political events recently.

Anne E. Kornblut: Do you remember what radio program you heard that on? They are all, to be sure, busy raising money. But so far they've managed to be in D.C. doing work during the weeks (a somewhat punishing schedule). Obama and Hillary both did some voting rights legislation work last week, for one thing.

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Glenside, Pa.: In response to Philadelphia, I would point out that (1) there's a group of independent women (according to Sam Donaldson) who understand why she stayed with him then, but don't understand why she's with him now; (2)If the reason she's with him now is say for power and politics, that's kind of disturbing; and (3) the fact that the whole Monica thing happened and there were stories of messy things before certainly makes one question how healthy their marriage was, and does not paint it in a good light.

Anne E. Kornblut: This is going to remain out there, on people's minds, in one form or another, that's for sure.

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Falls Church, Va.: If HRC or Obama were to win a position in the new White House, what would happen to their Senate seats? Same question for Chris Dodd?

Anne E. Kornblut: If a senator wins the presidency -- or dies in office -- the governor of that state picks the replacement until the next election in almost every case. So for both Hillary and Obama, the Democratic governors of those states would presumably pick a Democrat. In the case of Connecticut, Jodi Rell, the governor, is a Republican. So if Dodd were to win the seat could go to a Republican.

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Alexandria, Va.: As Brit Hume and his cohorts at Fox Noise Channel take pleasure in ripping on you and your colleagues in the "liberal media", I was curious what you -- as a journalist and Columbia journalism school grad -- thought about their agenda-driven approach to covering politics.

Anne E. Kornblut: Truth? I don't watch Fox at all. I know the "liberal media" tag is still floating around out there, but there has also been a growing murmur from liberals in recent years about the "conservative media" bent, since so many mainstream news outlets are owned by mega corporations. So I save emails from both sides.

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Los Gatos, Calif.: Do you think Alberto Gonzales will be forced to resign as a result of the U.S. Attorney firings? Can he be an effective, credible Attorney General after this?

Anne E. Kornblut: That's a great question, and I honestly don't know the answer. Bush doesn't fire his captains readily, as we know, so it may take some time for us to find out.

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Indianapolis: Is Chuck Hagel waiting to first see if his buddy John McCain stumbles and gets out? Or to determine if the surge has worked or not? Or to make his move if the Dems and GOP both nominate ideologically polarizing and originally pro-war candidates like, say Hillary and Brownback, and then to run as a third-way Independent who then would have a chance? What is his game? Otherwise, the longer he waits the more irrelevant and unfunded he becomes.

washingtonpost.com: Hagel Postpones Decision on 2008 Bid (Post, March 12)

Anne E. Kornblut: It's curious, isn't it?

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Arlington, Va.: The pressure had been on Gonzales to resign even before we found out that the impetus for the U.S. Attorneys' firings came from the White House in coordination with his office -- will this up that pressure? How do you think this affects the balance of the President's term? Do you think his resignation would help or hurt this President?

Anne E. Kornblut: I could argue it either way. If he were to fire Gonzales, it would change the narrative somewhat, and demonstrate action and accountability. But it would also upend the Justice Department, and Bush, as we know, does not come to change and firings easily.

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Washington: I have read in a couple of stories that some voters are put off with the way Giuliani publicly humiliated his second wife during the course of their divorce, but I don't think I've read anywhere what exactly he did to humiliate her. Can you briefly explain?

Anne E. Kornblut: There was a famous-in-NY episode in which, after much speculation about a divorce, Mayor Giuliani held a televised press conference and announced they were splitting. Not long after that, his wife, Donna Hanover, held her own press conference saying she had learned about the split on TV, watching her husband's press conference. Thus came the shorthand phrase for Giuliani - that he "divorced his wife on television."

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Re: Norwalk's question about approval ratings: Here's the most recent Survey USA approval polling from all 50 states. He's at 28 in Connecticut. His highest are in Idaho and Utah. These are the only two where he has above a 50 percent approval rating.

Anne E. Kornblut: Great, thank you for that.

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Eugene, Ore.: Iraq, Walter Reed, firing prosecutors. Do you sense scandal-fatigue?

Anne E. Kornblut: I don't know about fatigue, but I certainly heard a lot of anger out in Iowa over the weekend. The Walter Reed story has resonated just about everywhere it seems.

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St. Paul, Minn.: Hi Anne -- thanks for taking my question. We've heard a lot lately about the Rudy/Newt/McCain multiple marriage conundrum, but what about McCain and the age issue? It seems like that's out there, but no one's really willing to bring it to the surface. And if you ask me, he's looking and acting his age lately, if not older, and I wonder how big of an issue that is for the Republicans. Yes, Reagan was in his early 70s when he ran, but he didn't look it. Your thoughts?

Anne E. Kornblut: We've been wondering that ourselves. Obviously, it will remain to be seen whether one of McCain's rivals chooses to make age an issue; if they do, he has a ready response, which is that his mother, who is in her 90s, recently finished driving across Europe and is alive and well. But it is true that health is generally considered fair game: remember all the stories and questions about Cheney's heart in 2000?

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Goodland, Minn.: Did you attend the Chuck Hagel announcement?

Anne E. Kornblut: I did not attend the Hagel announcement. I was actually in Iowa, returning from traveling with Obama.

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Pittsburgh: I have been following the Post's coverage of the U.S. Attorney scandal as well as articles in other outlets. Dana Perino, the White House spokeswoman, reportedly has said that "Rove told her that he did not suggest any of the eight U.S. attorneys be forced to resign." (McClatchy, March 11) Doesn't the White House press officer have an inherent problem when going to the press/public with any sentence that begins "Karl Rove told me..." after Scott McClellan's experience in the Plame/Libby matter?

Anne E. Kornblut: That's one reason so few people last forever in the job.....

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Austin, Texas: You mention the lack of policies, e.g., health plans, from the D's, but not the R's. Is one to conclude that the R's will "stay the course," adopting the widely successful policies advocated by W concerning health care reform and the War on Terror?

Anne E. Kornblut: Full disclosure: my main focus is the Democratic field, so I am more familiar with their ins and outs. But on the Republican side, we do know a little more about, certainly, McCain, who's been in the Senate much longer than Hillary and Obama and has made some things his signature issues (campaign finance, Abramoff, armed services).

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Alexandria, Va.: Good morning. There have been two stories in The Washington Post in the past week about the rumors of Cheney stepping down as VP. So my question is, if health proves to be the reason for such an event, and if Condi Rice is asked by President Bush to take it, will the Senators who are running for president try to knock her out? Or will enough Republicans in the Senate unite to support her? And if this happens, how much could she shake up the 2008 GOP field?

Anne E. Kornblut: Terrific question. There is absolutely no way to know what will happen at this point, but I will say: Condi had a rough hearing on the Hill just a couple of months ago, in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. No doubt any sort of ascension on her part would be just as scrutinized.

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McCain's age: I don't think his age will be a factor: Seventy isn't that old anymore. But what about his health? Not to be ghoulish, but the man doesn't look too well.

Anne E. Kornblut: You're not the first to ask me about that. Up close, he actually looks the same as ever, but he does seem burdened, and his advisers would say the war in Iraq is taking its toll.

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Salinas, Calif.: Hi Anne. I find it extremely ironic that the White House cites a lack of aggressiveness in prosecuting Democratic voter fraud as the overriding reason for the recent firing of U.S. Attorneys, considering the remaining unanswered questions from Florida in 2004. Do you think that we'll get a chance to see Karl Rove in the hot seat before the Schumer/Specter dais?

Anne E. Kornblut: If Schumer has his way, for sure. But the White House will presumably do all it can not to have it come to that.

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Sheffield, Mass.: Anne, in yesterday's Post, Paul Kane wrote that it is unclear that Karl Rove can be compelled to testify about his involvement in the Justice Department brouhaha because there is no Congressional Committee that has oversight over his activities. Does that mean staff members can't be compelled to testify before Congressional Committees? I seem to remember Erlichman and Haldeman testifying during Watergate.

Anne E. Kornblut: Wasn't that a special committee set up for Watergate? I think the question here is jurisdiction over the executive branch, which in many matters (such as freedom of information requests) exempted.

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Newtown, Pa.: As administrations include more than 10,000 political appointees -- who in large part define the conduct of government -- would it not be appropriate to ask each contender to at least name their top "250" appointees who will constitute "their" administration? It is much more than a one-person election. Thanks!

Anne E. Kornblut: I like that idea!

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Clifton, Va.: Could gun control become a major issue for the 2008 Presidential election based on the recent decision about D.C. gun laws? I can see that, if things go wrong for the Dems, this might become the major issue for race. Because Obama and Hillary are pro-gun-control it gives their Republican challenger a big advantage in the states they need to carry to win! Gun control is not a big issue on the coasts but in flyover country it is, and could make the difference in 2008.

washingtonpost.com: D.C.'s Ban On Handguns In Homes Is Thrown Out (Post, March 10)

Anne E. Kornblut: That's a really good point. Interestingly, Giuliani is also in favor of strong gun control laws, so even before we get to the general election we may get a chance to see how the issue plays out.

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Alexandria, Va.: Any murmurs yet about the "client" list of that escort company madam?

Anne E. Kornblut: not that I know of....

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Re: Hagel announcement: Any chance he could switch parties? His rhetoric in the past month on an historic realignment in politics makes me wonder...

Anne E. Kornblut: We're all wondering the same things, and his announcement yesterday did open that door some, don't you think? In this volatile a political environment, I'd say anything is possible.

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Obama Fundraising:"Do you remember what radio program you heard that on?" I heard it too. But it wasn't radio. It was on last week's Chris Matthews show when at the end he does a "tell me something I don't know" segment. The reporter's name who said it escapes me.

Anne E. Kornblut: Got it, I'll look for the transcript. thanks.

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Chicago: Re: "70 is not that old anymore" -- maybe the aging baby boomers feel this way, but for those of us who are young professionals in our twenties, 70 -- or especially 78, McCain's age at the end of two terms -- seems plenty old enough to impair his judgment.

Anne E. Kornblut: What's interesting about this is that I'm even hearing a generational divide discussion among Democrats, with questions about how "old" 46 is (Obama's age) -- whether that's too young, or whether Hillary, edging toward 60, is too old to understand younger voters.

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Philadelphia: Gen. Kiley's replacement, Gayle Pollack seems to be cut from the same mold as her predecessor. Your paper has an e-mail from her to her subordinates complaining about the media coverage and portrayal of the outpatient services. How long do you think she can remain with talk like that?

Anne E. Kornblut: Well, with the constant stream of firings, I'd say: keep on the lookout.

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Philadelphia:"...but I don't think I've read anywhere what exactly he did to humiliate her."

He brought his mistress into Gracie Mansion on a regular basis while his wife and children still were living in the mansion. Hanover (Rudy's second wife) had to get a restraining order to stop him from bringing the mistress to the house. Sounds quite humiliating to me.

Anne E. Kornblut: What we don't know is what role Donna Hanover would or would not play in the campaign -- i.e. whether she would speak out. Obviously their son, Andrew, is already causing a stir by saying he won't campaign for his father as a result of the divorce.

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Omaha, Neb.: The U.S. Attorney purge came from the White House, Bush and Miers, not Gonzales -- so the President can't fire Gonzales for simply carrying it out. Can he? Will he? Should he?

Anne E. Kornblut: Good questions all. Of course, the president can fire anyone in his administration whenever he feels like it. As Andy Card always used to say -- they "serve at the pleasure of the president."

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Richmond, Va.: In Peter Baker's story this morning, he said, "...the president says he will work to change policies unpopular in Latin America," but if the current immigration policies in the U.S. are popular, why would he take his orders from Latin America? What is that about?

washingtonpost.com: In Guatemala, Bush Vows to Push Immigration Changes (Post, March 13)

Anne E. Kornblut: I'm not entirely sure, but I would greatly doubt that Bush intends to take orders from abroad, at least judging from his track record.

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Minneapolis: I would add to the poster in St. Paul regarding Mr. McCain's age: I believe age will be a factor in his race. If the debates in 2008 show McCain and Obama debating the issues, fairly or not, my guess is Obama is the future and McCain is the long-ago past. Or as my 16-year old says, "he looks like Grandpa."

Anne E. Kornblut: It would be a remarkable contrast, wouldn't it?

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Washington: I had forgotten about Giuliani's divorce-by-press conference. If Gingrich enters the race, with his divorce of his hospitalized wife, then maybe the candidates can all compete for most colorful way to leave your wife. Sadly, McCain's divorce was pretty pedestrian. No wonder he's dropping in the polls...

Anne E. Kornblut: All I can say to that is: Oy vey.

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Survey USA poll: It appears that poll is from November 2006. Is there something more recent?

Anne E. Kornblut: I would suspect that the numbers have dropped some, but Nov. 2006 was a pretty good measure of where we are. I'll look around for something more recent.

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Philadelphia: Do you use the Drudge Report as a launching pad for what to cover? According to your colleague, Chris Cillizza:

"Major media outlets -- especially television networks -- use Drudge as a launching pad for their coverage..."

This is outrageous because Drudge is a hotbed of lies and misinformation, i.e. Obama madrassas story, Hillary's fake drawl, etc.

Anne E. Kornblut: Well he DID say the TV networks.... Look, we all look at everything. Do I look at Drudge? Sure. But I also subscribe to the Council on Foreign Affairs magazine. The trick -- and we're imperfect at it, to be sure -- is to try to achieve some balance between the popular and sometimes banal culture and the very serious issues that affect the course of history.

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Inquiring minds want to know: What ARE Obama and Hillary's positions? They obviously don't need to go into detail because they are continuing to get coverage regardless ... shouldn't the media cover their lack of substance to this point?

Anne E. Kornblut: I think so far we -- and by we, I mean not only the media but the campaigns themselves -- have been caught up in the sheer volume of political news, with so many different people announcing and traveling and drawing huge crowds. But yes, the hour for serious plumbing their substance is arriving, and we're on the case. Any issues in particular you want us to look into?

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Washington: You wanted a source for this comment -- "I heard on one of the news stations that whenever Hillary Clinton's people call a potential donor, they find that Obama recently, personally has called them." That comment came from Howard Fineman on the Chris Matthew's Show this past Sunday.

Anne E. Kornblut: Fabulous, thank you

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Re: Is 70 too old: You know who really has reservations about 70-year-old candidates? Eighty-year-olds! If memory serves, the polling on this is that older folks want to see somewhat younger candidates. They know all too well that 70 isn't the new 40.

Anne E. Kornblut: Is it time to change the requirement age for the president? Could 30 be the new 35?

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Anne E. Kornblut: So thank you all for joining me today! This was my first of these chats... I look forward to many more, and really appreciate all the questions and your taking the time to communicate.

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