Washington Post Congressional Reporter Jonathan Weisman (Julia Ewan -- The Washington Post)

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 Jonathan Weisman was online Friday, June 8, 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.

Archive: Post Politics Hour discussion transcripts

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Jonathan Weisman: Oh man, do we have lots to chat about. I haven't gotten much sleep in the past two days, so don't trip me up too badly (and please, my e-mails are getting uglier and uglier). But let's get started.

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Campbell, Mo.: Did the president or vice president lobby Republican Senators for any votes on the immigration bill?

Jonathan Weisman: This is a big issue. Commerce Secretary Gutierrez and Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff were up here lobbying from Cheney's Senate office, but the president was in Europe -- with his chief of staff, by the way -- and the veep was nowhere to be seen.

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S: Hi Jonathan. Republicans are spinning the demise of the immigration bill as "Democrats didn't give us enough time," but aren't they happy it's dead for now?

Jonathan Weisman: The ones who are spinning are also very happy. And they're starting to admit it.

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La Vale, Md.: Good morning. I watched the last GOP presidential debate. I'm a very liberal Democrat, so the odds of me voting for any of those guys are slim to none. However, this makes me pretty impartial as far as the entire GOP field is concerned. There are two things I wanted to ask about the candidates' performances. First, Sen. Brownback struck me as having no charisma whatsoever. He reminded me of Al Gore in the debate where he said "lockbox" eight times. Is this just an aberration, or is he known for not being a very exciting speaker? Second, Gov. Romney said something to the effect of "had we let the weapons inspectors into Iraq and they discovered no weapons of mass destruction then obviously we would not have invaded." The fact of the matter is that weapons inspectors were in Iraq prior to the invasion. Isn't what Romney said the kind of factual mistake that the press just raked Gore over the coals for? Why isn't Romney being similarly raked?

Jonathan Weisman: First off, I wouldn't say Sam Brownback is Mr. Charisma. The Gore analogy is a good one, given that he is campaigning on earnestness. As for Romney, yes, perhaps he should be raked over the goals for such misstatements, and if he said it as the nominee he would be. But it is very early in the process, and frankly more people were watching Bill O'Reilly on Fox than that debate.

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Germantown, Md.: The Stock Market: It is about time for the media to clarify that the bullish trend in stock market is mainly from blue-chip companies doing well in international market. In the U.S. the economy is slow, and with the administration focusing on Iraq, many Americans have been without job for years. Surprisingly, the economy doesn't seem to be a factor anymore in this election campaign...

Jonathan Weisman: Something happened yesterday that may prove very critical to the upcoming campaign year: Long-bond yields leaped higher than short-term bond yields. If that is indeed a harbinger, interest rates will climb, stocks will fall as investors shift money from equities to bonds, and the economy will come roaring back as a political issue.

Or it was just an aberration. Stay tuned.

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Chicago: Jonathan, when is one of these debate moderators going to ask Giuliani why he turned away federal offers of help to clean up Ground Zero (such as OSHA at the Pentagon) and instead outsourced it to Bechtel, Bovis and others, for whom rapid cleanup was more important than safety? As we now know, this resistance to strict safety measures has led to all sorts of illnesses, cancers and respiratory diseases in the cleanup workers.

Jonathan Weisman: We recently did a big story on Giuliani Inc., and lots more stories will be coming. Don't look to debate moderators for such questions -- look to the newspapers.

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New York: Hi, Jonathan (I hope you're not too sleepy for this question): I know the president like to take big, bold action, regardless of public opinion. Do you think it's possible -- if Congress ends up not passing some kind of comprehensive immigration package -- that Bush might in his last days in office offer some kind of blanket pardon or clemency for all illegals living in the U.S. (provided they were not guilty of some other misdemeanor or felony)? Is that within the president's constitutional authority?

Jonathan Weisman: Absolutely not, and no, I don't think that is in his power.

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Wheaton, Md.: Hi Jonathan! Of late we are seeing some prominent Congressman/Senators stepping down the committee membership because of charges of bribery. Can The Post make a case to the Congress to pass a bill to strip them of their retirement benefits, as taxpayers are paying lump-sum amounts to white-collar criminals?

Jonathan Weisman: The House already has passed such a bill, as has the Senate. It almost certainly will be part of a compromise ethics package that should be forthcoming relatively soon.

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Please get out your crystal ball...: And tell us whether the failure of the "center to hold" regarding immigration legislation might finally pave the way for the re-emergence of centrist leadership in Washington. If not, does this crisis make a third-party presidential candidate more viable -- not for 2008, but in the future?

Jonathan Weisman: Let's not get too huffed up yet. The immigration issue is almost an aberration in Washington, an issue that raises more passions than anything I've ever seen. Right now the voters themselves are very polarized on issues from Iraq to taxes. I'm not even sure if there is this mighty middle to mobilize. (Like the alliteration?)

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Minneapolis: What do you think actually motivates President Bush's extreme support of the immigration bill? Is it some set of beliefs he really holds, political calculations, or what? I have to wonder if there are some kind of grand-scheme calculations going on, and perhaps his support is less than genuine in reality.

Jonathan Weisman: Ha, I love that. Extreme support of a bill that is hated by the extremes? I think he is a former border-state governor who really believes in this issue. Give the guy the benefit of the doubt on something like this -- he is, for the first time, playing against his base.

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Scotts Valley, Calif.: Because my husband and I are from very large families, we get emails from relatives who represent every imaginable political position. The only email we got about immigration was from two Republicans who were for no amnesty and demanded that their representatives listen (emphases were theirs). I think that the people who were against this bill felt more strongly than those who were on the fence or against it. Do you think I am correct in my assessment?

Jonathan Weisman: I think that is absolutely correct. I have been overwhelmed by vociferous (often nasty) e-mails from people who hated this immigration bill. I may have heard from two supporters. But virtually every poll has found a majority (though not a huge one) favoring a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. I now will be deluged by people who tell me I am full of it, but I trust professional pollsters to talk to a far broader audience and demographic than the friends and relatives of opponents who hate this bill.

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Troy, N.Y.: Just a comment. Typically when the yield curve goes from inverted to flat, that is a good thing. Long-term yields generally are higher than short-term yields.

Jonathan Weisman: Yes, and the flat curve has fueled economic growth and investment for the past five years. The fear is that the steeper yield curve that now is developing will take the economy back to the less-robust but more-normal state of the past.

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Baltimore: Has anyone ever asked Romney if he wears sacred underwear? Revisiting the "boxers vs. briefs" controversy...

Jonathan Weisman: I often have wondered that. My colleagues and I went so far as to do a Google search, but alas, we could not find an answer to the question. If he gets the nomination, I'll ask.

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Seattle: So what happens on immigration reform now? Do they try to craft another compromise or just let the status quo continue?

Jonathan Weisman: I just came from a Kennedy-Kyl-Graham-Specter-Dianne Feinstein press conference where they swore that they would come back with a short, final list of amendments and beg Harry Reid to schedule a second shot. But I am skeptical -- Reid already has scheduled an energy bill for next week, he wants this no-confidence vote on Gonzales, then the next Iraq fight comes, and somehow this summer they have to do 11 appropriations bills. Time is running out.

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Arlington, Va.: With the no confidence vote for Gonzales supposedly coming up in the Senate next week, do you have any vibes as to whether it will pass and whether enough Republicans will endorse it to make it seem bipartisan?

Jonathan Weisman: The Republican leadership will try to gum up the works with alternative resolutions and demand a vote on their political gotchas in exchange for a Gonzales vote. The Senate then becomes hopelessly tangled, and Reid gives up.

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Winnipeg, Canada: In an interview with John McCain, Bill O'Reilly accused supporters of immigration reform bill "They want to break down the white, Christian, male power structure, which you're a part, and so am I, and they want to bring in millions of foreign nationals to basically break down the structure that we have." I know you suspended habeas corpus, but when did your country adopt apartheid? And do you think it was a good move?

Jonathan Weisman: J'accuse, Winnipeg! I didn't suspend habeas corpus! And you're taking Bill O'Reilly a little too seriously. He isn't president yet.

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Seattle Do you think that Paris Hilton being sent to serve house arrest after a grueling two days in jail is a foreshadowing of Scooter Libby's likely jail time? And, if so, will he claim he has a migraine from keeping track of his lies to get out?

Jonathan Weisman: Yes.

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San Francisco: Given how wages have fallen for low-wage workers, why did Congress choose this time to move in legalizing illegal immigrants? I thought this showed how out-of-touch they are with ordinary Americans. They should focus on policies that help ordinary Americans for a change. Also, why not implement strict employer sanctions and just wait five years? If the number of illegals has gone down, then perhaps the American people would accept some form of legalization. But 12 million is too many.

Jonathan Weisman: Bernie Sanders, what are you doing in San Francisco? Seriously, that argument has its champions here in the Senate, not just in Sanders but Byron Dorgan of North Dakota as well.

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Alexandria, Va.: To back up the polls and what you said, I'm disappointed that the immigration bill went down. This is a serious issue and the bill had compromises on both sides. This is what government is about, people!

Jonathan Weisman: Alexandria, I have a bunch of e-mails I'd like you to answer for me. (But you'd better use a pseudonym.)

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Abingdon, Md.: What is the VP's position on the immigration bill? Usually he isn't too shy about speaking his mind, visiting the Hill and twisting a few arms. Is he at odds with the president on this -- or (for all you conspiracy nuts) could this be an elaborate set-up that they knew would end up failing? (Show support for a popular idea -- which I heard (NPR) was liked by more than 60 percent of the population -- but in reality, just a so-so idea within the administration).

Jonathan Weisman: Good question -- frankly, I haven't heard word one from Mr. Cheney, who was conspicuously absent as president of the Senate last night.

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The Bush Economy and Me: I keep reading about this great economy, but I wonder why the largess is simply not reaching me. When people talk of the economy being healthy are they only talking about the stock market? What about employment growth? What about real wages? Gas prices? Where is this "great economy" talk coming from? GOP think tanks?

Jonathan Weisman: Dude, you must not be a CEO. We have written about rising wealth inequality. Basically there is no getting around the fact that corporate profits have soared and stocks are on the rise (or were), but if you're not in the corporate board room or playing in the markets, you're not getting as much as those who are.

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Gaithersburg, Md.: Is the failure of the immigration bill just more evidence that Bush has no more political clout? What are the chances he'll get anything productive done with the rest of his administration?

Jonathan Weisman: Absolutely. As Trent Lott said yesterday, as far as this issue is concerned, the president should stay focused on the G8. The collapse last night really showed the president's weakness in his own party.

epublicans, especially in the House, are relishing an opportunity to separate from the guy and show that they are the true conservatives.

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New York: The only thing lacking in Dan Balz's analysis (which was so very good) was a sense of who else might have sponsored this bill and prevailed upon his Senate colleagues. If it was a failure of leadership, would you speculate on who might have done better? I'd have a hard time deferring to Kennedy or McCain, myself.

washingtonpost.com: A Failure of Leadership in a Flawed Political Culture (Post, June 8)

Jonathan Weisman: The problem was in large part that it never was clear whether Senate Majority Leader Reid and Senate Minority Leader McConnell really, truly wanted the bill. They always seemed reluctant, and they were elected leaders to lead.

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Frequent traveler: It's nice to know the Departments of State and Homeland Security are allowing legal U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda who have applied for but not yet received passports to enter the U.S. with a government-issued photo identification and official proof of application for a passport from the Department of State. Congress should take note of how State and DHS are protecting the homeland from ... from people already allowed to be here.

washingtonpost.com: Passport Rules to Be Suspended (AP, June 8)

Jonathan Weisman: Warms the cockles, don't it?

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Baltimore: A follow up to Minneapolis -- remember that immigration was a big issue for Bush his first summer in office, prior to 9/11. I think this is something he really believes in.

Mr. Weisman, many people said Edwards did well in the most recent debate and is starting to overtake Obama. I find his "I'm a real leader, I can admit my mistakes" to be an insincere power play, and his attacks on Clinton and Obama to be a bit much at this point in the race. How would you characterize his campaign right now -- on the up, or the beginning of the end?

Jonathan Weisman: I think he is faltering. It was a gamble to go on the attack in the most recent debate, and Obama parried him very well. I think in the end it didn't work out too well.

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New York: Not only am I getting less than those who are corporate mucky-mucks and investors, I'm getting less than those poor saps like me used to get, too! It's not that I'm staying put, I'm drifting slowly downward ... along with the rest of the middle class. But all I hear is Economy Happy Talk, for the most part ... so maybe I'm just not cheering loudly enough?

Jonathan Weisman: I hear you, brother (or sister).

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Washington: Some commenter from the country with Quebec in it is accusing the U.S. of apartheid?

Jonathan Weisman: Sacre bleu!

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St. Paul, Minn.: What do you think the chances are that the immigration bill will come up again in the Senate this session? Less than 50 percent? Give us your best estimate, please.

Jonathan Weisman: 45 percent. How's that? (I don't know the decimal point.)

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New York: Good Morning to the Wise Man: I sincerely hope your daughter is feeling/doing better! My question/comment is this: I'm always fascinated by news stories that make a big splash and then disappear. I remember a couple of years ago there was much coverage of Bunnatine Greenhouse, who was demoted as a civilian employee at the Pentagon after questioning a no-bid contract with Halliburton. Any idea what's become of her, or if The Post plans any follow-up?

washingtonpost.com: Whistle-Blower or Troublemaker, Bunny Greenhouse Isn't Backing Down (Post, Oct. 19, 2005)

Jonathan Weisman: A very good question that I have no answer for. But thank you for your concern about my daughter. We're hoping for the best.

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Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: Is there any hope that in the debate people will stop saying that "Americans won't do these jobs" without adding "for the pay being offered"? There is no consensus because the difference between "illegal workers," "guest workers" and "slaves" is mostly semantics. Do you see any hope for dealing with the real moral and economic issues involved?

Jonathan Weisman: Good question. I think a lot of Democrats were asking it, but frankly, if they want a bill with a path to citizenship for the 12 million illegal immigrants here, they have no choice but to accept a guest worker program. It's called compromise -- take it or leave it.

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Reston, Va.: Why is employment-based skilled immigration lumped with illegal immigration? Why does employment-based skilled immigration have the least priority in the media as well as among legislators?

Jonathan Weisman: I'm not sure what you are talking about. The talk shows have focused on the bill's illegal immigration issues, but The Post has written several stories about H1-B visas and the measure's shift from family-based to merit-based migration.

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Scotts Valley, Calif.: You wrote: "I trust professional pollsters to talk to a far broader audience and demographic than the friends and relatives of opponents who hate this bill." While I don't argue with the pollsters, I think that past experience has shown us that a group of dedicated believers (anti-abortionists) can have a much greater effect on our legal system than one would expect (recent Supreme Court nominees mirror the anti-abortionists' views). I don't think that my relative-in-law who believes in no amnesty cares about the difficulty of getting 12 plus million people out of this country. He isn't interested in facts, just emotion. And he is used to the Republican Party operating on the basis of emotion, not reason (for example, Cheney's continuing linking of 9/11 with Saddam).

Jonathan Weisman: Published as-is.

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New York: Regarding Romney's choice of undergarments, you said you'd ask if he got the nomination. That was a joke, right? It's hard to tell in print whether you're serious or not. Please tell me that was a joke.

Jonathan Weisman: It was a joke. (I'll let Dana Milbank ask.)

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New York: With President Bush continually thumbing his nose at the Senate (the recess appointment of Sam Fox, the refusal to allow Karl Rove or Harriet Miers to testify, and the collective amnesia that seems to have settled over the Justice Department being just the most recent examples) why on Earth is the Judiciary Committee going ahead with hearings and planned votes on Bush's judicial nominees? It seems that the more the president spits in their faces, the more the Democrats say: "Yes, yes, we like it! Give us more!"

Jonathan Weisman: They are doing their job. That doesn't mean the judge will get through.

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Arlington, Va.: What are the chances that Wyoming Republicans submitting Lynne Cheney's name to the Governor as a potential replacement for late Senator Thomas? It would certainly be interesting to see her with HRC in the Senate.

Jonathan Weisman: I hear it's slim. She hasn't lived in Wyoming for a long time, and they don't cotton to that much.

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Winnipeg, Canada: Just what's the crack about Quebec supposed to mean? Canada is officially bilingual, we've had French-speaking prime ministers, and our current head of state is not only a Francophone from Quebec, but she's black. About as far from apartheid as you can get. And Mr. Weisman, you know that I was not accusing you personally, but when no one exercises their free speech to oppose institutionalized racism, it smells like assent.

Jonathan Weisman: I do believe the United States has a pretty good track record on racism in recent years. Of course we have our problems, some of them severe -- but hey, we have an African American right now who is a serious contender for the presidency, and race hasn't yet been much of an issue with him.

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Atlanta: Do you think it would be viable for Giuliani to lose Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina? I know the numbers are there, but I'm not sure a candidate can survive all of that. Plus, if Christian conservatives are a big area of weakness, it further will publicize his social issue stands.

Jonathan Weisman: An excellent question, Atlanta. Are you, by any chance, my sister, brother, brother-in-law, mother or father? I agree that losing the first three would put him in a very deep hole. Not impossible -- but man, the news and conventional wisdom would be very against him.

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Washington: This immigration issue is just so tired. Your e-mails are nasty because the people who are stirred up are frantic (and angry -- just like the liberal left!). But people like me, who agree there is a problem but are very calm about how to go about solving it don't voice our opinions loudly on this issue. For the record, secure the boarder, give guest workers minimum wage, make illegal people who want to stay pay a hefty fine, do background checks on all ... done. Oh and huge penalties to employers who hire illegal/non guest-workers.

Jonathan Weisman: Would you like a seat in the United States Senate? I hope this is Washington State, otherwise the draft movement is doomed to fail.

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Philadelphia: Do you think McCain's immigration stance creates an opening for other candidates in terms of congressional endorsements?

Jonathan Weisman: Oh, most definitely.

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New York: Jonathan, about a month ago the New York Times ran an op-ed by a former Reagan Justice Department Deputy Attorney General, who made a convincing argument that the the law (Constitution?) should be changed to make the DOJ more of a quasi-independent agency, a la the FCC or the Federal Reserve, with an AG appointed to a fixed term (which could be renewed) like the Fed Chairman or the FBI director. Is there any movement in Congress to actually start looking at this as a real possibility? Thanks!

Jonathan Weisman: There is no movement and no real possibility. It could be made independent by statute, but no president would sign such a law and give up that much power.

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Silver Spring, Md.: With all the furor over the amnesty bill wending its way through Congress, are you a little surprised that the presidential campaign of Duncan "I Built A Wall" Hunter hasn't gained traction? He also seems like the perfect "red meat" conservative on all the other issues -- at a time when the right is bemoaning their choices. Is he running any advertising to speak of?

Jonathan Weisman: No. He has no money.

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Rockville, Md.: I have lived in farm communities and our family stopped growing cucumbers because we never could solve the labor problem. Really, people in the community did not want to work that hard. How much should we pay these reluctant workers? If it gets high enough, people might not be able to afford a $10 tomato.

Jonathan Weisman: I think the agriculture community has the very best case for a guest worker program. Fruit is rotting in the fields as we speak, and if we paid enough to get Americans to pick it, our grocery bills would skyrocket. Nobody wants that. Tom Tancredo thinks a super-duper fruit-picker machine is just waiting to be invented. We shall see.

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Reston, Va.: Why is backlog-removal in the employment-based immigration process such a low priority?

Jonathan Weisman: It's not. It's a huge, huge issue. Central in Washington, where the corporate lobbyists are very hard at work.

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Bride of Cheney: How come those people who attest to loathe "politically calculating" women (as they describe Pelosi and Clinton) don't seem to have trouble with one particular loud-mouthed and shrill political operative (aka The Bride of Cheney)?

Jonathan Weisman: Who is dis bride of Cheney?

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The Wall: Hey, what's happening with/ that immigration wall (fence?) down south, anyway? Is it built yet? Or are those Minutemen vigilantes too busy getting their hoods and sheets pressed to press the issue?

Jonathan Weisman: There's a new ad campaign trying to make "where's the fence" the new national catchphrase. A wee bit of it has been built, but I challenge you to go to the border between Douglas, Ariz., and Nogales, Mexico, and tell me how to build a wall plunging straight down canyon walls and up virtually 90 degree crags that wouldn't just get blown up in the remotest regions anyway.

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Rockville, Md.: I know this is ancient -- but Goldwater's big break came with winning California, and that was way into the season.

Jonathan Weisman: I love historians.

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Atlanta: President Bush, Sen. Kennedy and all those who so adamantly support the so-called "Immigration Bill" only talk about the needs of the 12 to 20 million illegal aliens in this country. They never mention how "good" this bill is going to be for Americans -- because it isn't. They don't seem to care about the burden this bill will cause on ordinary Americans.

This bill is not good for Americans, legal immigrants, and those who have stood in line for so long to become Americans. Supporters do not mention that this bill will lower wages for those hard-working poor Americans who have to survive on minimum wages now, and increase the cost of heath care, education, social security and all the other give-away programs we Americans will have to pick up the tab for. The retirement benefits alone are estimated to be $2.5 trillion.

I am truly sorry for poor Mexicans who have to leave their home just to survive. The Mexican government is screwed up and corrupt, but that is not American citizens fault. Why should I, or any other American, have to pay for it?

I'm tired of Congress squandering my hard-earned tax money on pet projects, such as the bridge to nowhere and all other pork barrel projects. We have a $9 trillion debt and it continues to rise daily. We can not afford their lavish spending anymore. They have bankrupted our country and most people don't even know it. And yet Congress continues to borrow and spend on a "national credit card" that they seem to think never will have to be paid off. Communist China and other Asian countries own us and no one seems to care.

There are many reasons the president and Congress have such low approval ratings, but the primary reason is that Americans are tired of them caring more about everyone else than they do about us. They are hopelessly out of touch with the American people and continue to screw us time and time again for the sake of corporations, lobbyists, or anyone else who will grease there pockets or re-election funds. The only thing they ever give us is more debt and unfulfilled promises.

Jonathan Weisman: You put so much into this question, I think I'll just put in online.

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Washington: Mr. Weisman, you said of Obama "and race hasn't yet been much of an issue with him." While I agree generally with your statement, let's not whitewash his campaign ... he did have to get secret service protection earlier than any other presidential candidate (ever) in part because of some hateful/racist publications ... so we really do still have some issues. But I know what your overall point was, and hope that it's truer than it feels.

Jonathan Weisman: True enough, and Dianne Feinstein just said in her 15 years in the Senate she never has been so deluged with toxic, racist e-mail.

Okay folks. I've gotta cut out a tad early. Tune in to MSNBC at noon!

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