Shailagh Murray

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Washington Post national political reporter Shailagh Murray was online Monday, June 11, at 11 a.m. ET.

The transcript follows.

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Atlanta: Shailagh, thanks for taking questions today. On the immigration bill that just hit the skids, there was the so-called amnesty provision that most people don't seem to like. On the other hand, the alternative seems to be deporting 12 million people, which doesn't seem at all practical. Are these the only two choices? Has anyone in Congress offered a third or fourth choice?

Shailagh Murray: Good morning Atlanta, and all the rest of you, and thanks for participating.

Great question on immigration, and it illustrates why Congress is having such a tough time. You have two basic choices with illegal residents: make 'em leave, or let 'em stay. There are various alternatives within those parameters -- like making people pay to stay, or not allowing their relatives to come, etc, -- but there's no way to satisfy both sides. And therein lies the dilemma.

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Rolla, Mo.: As a Democrat, I would not trade our starting lineup of candidates for that of the Republicans, but I do think they have the advantage when it comes to the fringe candidates. Ron Paul has caught on with fundraising since the debates began, but Gravel may not make it through the next debate without someone starting to boo.

Shailagh Murray: I agree, the GOP long-shots are a superior crop. Plus they come with actual constituencies (although Kucinich does of course as well).

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Floris, Va.: The Republican candidates seemed a bit flummoxed last Tuesday when asked how they envisioned the role of George W. Bush in their administration. But now we know ... ambassador to Albania! Right, Shailagh?

washingtonpost.com: Albania Welcomes Bush With Enthusiasm, Affection (Post, June 11)

Shailagh Murray: I'm posting this from before the trip ... I love the question, "What does come to your mind when you heard the word, Albania?"

PRESIDENT BUSH IS INTERVIEWED BY VISION PLUS TV, ALBANIA,
AS RELEASED BY THE WHITE HOUSE
MAY 31, 2007
SPEAKERS: PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
ANDI BEJTJA, VISION PLUS TV, ALBANIA

BEJTJA: Mr. President, first of all, I want to thank you for the opportunity you give to me and to Albanian public for this interview. And I have just a simple question in the beginning. What is the reason of including Albania in this European tour this time?

BUSH: That's a fascinating question. First of all, I want to make sure the Albanian people understand that America knows that you exist and that you're making difficult choices to cement your free society. I'm coming as a lover of liberty to a land where people are realizing the benefits of liberty.

Secondly, I've been impressed by your leadership. I have met your leaders at different times --

BEJTJA: Impressed in what sense?

BUSH: In the sense that they're committed to common values with the United States, that they believe in certain freedoms, and that people ought to be given a chance to live in a free society. And so my message is that we welcome our friendship, that I'm proud of the hard work that you're doing, and I'm particularly grateful to be the first sitting President ever to come to Albania.

BEJTJA: Yes, this is a historical visit. And Albanians hoping to get a -- to receive an invitation at summit to join NATO in 2008. How realistic this Albanian expectation is, according to you?

BUSH: Well, my message to the Albanian government and the Albanian people is, first of all, thank you for your interest in joining NATO. But like I said to other countries that are at this stage in the process, if there's -- there's a certain map that has to be followed, a certain way forward; there are certain obligations that have to be met. And my only -- my only advice is, work as hard as you possibly can to achieve the different benchmarks that would cause the NATO members to accept Albania.

BEJTJA: And let's get to the hardest point: Kosovo. I mean, in the beginning of the week, you just had a phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin, and you agreed with him to rediscuss Kosovo's future once again. And people are worried about that. Do you expect any compromise with Russians that may affect our desired plan as it stands now?

BUSH: Well, let me make it clear what I did say.

BEJTJA: Because everybody is worried about that.

BUSH: Yes, they ought to be worried about it. It's a difficult issue. But they ought not to be worried about my position. My position is that we support the Ahtisaari plan, and that's the instructions that I have given to Secretary of State Rice, who totally agrees with me. And those will be the instructions we give to the United Nations.

And so I don't know who characterized my phone call with Vladimir Putin, but as I told him on the phone, look, we don't want to -- we would hope to avoid a major conflict in the area, but we feel strongly that the Ahtisaari plan is the right way to go, it's the right way to move forward. And that's the U.S. position.

BEJTJA: So in case of a Russian veto next month at Security Council, does U.S. have a plan B for Kosovo?

BUSH: Well, plan A is to try to make plan A work.

BEJTJA: Yes, but is the plan A --

BUSH: I know, but you're asking me to think hypothetically. It happens, by the way, with the United States press, too. They say, if something doesn't happen
-- my job is make it happen in the first place. So we're working to try to convince all members of the U.N. Security Council to support the Ahtisaari plan, and we're out making our case as to why it makes sense and why this will make -- yield peace. We would also hope that the EU would continue and NATO would continue to work with Serbia, to give them a way forward, as well, that there be an opportunity for them to become participants in some of the European structures, and in this case, in NATO's case, an opportunity, perhaps, to join NATO and have U.S. as a partner.

BEJTJA: Let me put another question. I mean, to be honest, it's very easy in the region to find pro-American governments, but it's not as easy to find so-called pro-American nations, or better saying, pro- American public or people. Does U.S. have any strategy to reverse this trend, to make U.S. policy more effective in long-term?

BUSH: Well, first of all, it's like -- people ask me the question about popularity, whether it be overseas or at home. You can't make decisions and try to be -- and want to be popular. You make decisions because you want to be right. I make decisions for what's best for the United States of America. Sometimes that makes me popular, sometimes it doesn't.

But popularity comes and goes, but certain principles should never leave. And I believe firmly the United States must confront tyranny and disease and hunger. And I believe the United States must secure our homeland from further attack.

And I will take the actions necessary to do so. I hope others understand why. I would like for people to understand the decision-making I've done. I want people to respect my country and to like the American people. And most people do like the American people. Sometimes they like the American President and sometimes they don't. But popularity is -- I would ask the question, are you still going to make decisions based upon solid principles? And the answer is, absolutely.

BEJTJA: Yes. And let me ask one childish question, because it is your first time in Albania, and everyone is wondering, what does come to your mind when you heard the word, Albania?

BUSH: Beautiful coastline, interesting history, Muslim people who can live at peace. That's what comes to mind. I'm excited to go. I'm -- I must confess that I also thought about the dark days of communism, when the society was a closed society. I'm looking forward -- I met many Albanians who are excited to be living in an open society. And I can't wait to come to your country. I've heard great things about it, and it's going to be an exciting trip for me and Laura.

BEJTJA: Thank you very much, Mr. President, and welcome.

BUSH: Yes, sir, thanks.

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Tehran, Iran: Hello. My question as an Iranian person is: What do you think about second talk between my country and yours? Thanks a lot.

washingtonpost.com: Iran: New Doubts on Talks With U.S. (AP, June 10)

Shailagh Murray: Wow, cool, Tehran. Thanks for writing.

I wish I had a brilliant insight for you, but I don't. But what did your country ever do to Joe Lieberman for him to suggest taking "aggressive military action" on "Face the Nation" yesterday?

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First Things First: There is a solution. A lot of us who are/were opposed to the current bill would be willing to accept most of the conditions if and only if sealing the border comes first. It's not going to be pretty, but you can't sew up a wound until you stop the bleeding, or maybe you can't bandage the wound until you sew it up, or something like that.

Shailagh Murray: You are right, sequencing is one way to resolve the conflict. Assuming you actually can "seal" a U.S. border.

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Ontario, Calif.: Shailagh, I keep hearing administration and other proponents of the recently shelved Senate illegal immigration bill say that the bill will be brought back very soon. Is this just wishful thinking?

Shailagh Murray: There's vast desire to produce a bill, and perhaps it will come back before the Senate if the leaders can reach a time agreement. But that's just the first of many steps -- and the political climate ionly s going to become less conducive in the months to come.

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Montreal: Hi Shailagh. Re: The non-confidence vote, I'm really hoping for an "up or down vote" as the Republicans used to say. I want to see the individual Senators either support Gonzales or express they've lost confidence. If the bill gets derailed by procedural or other distractions (i.e. off-topic amendments) will your paper be able to tell us who went to bat for Gonzales? I want names!

Shailagh Murray: The procedural vote will be telling -- or at least, it's likely to be the final word -- because senators will assume it's their only chance to take a stand. But because Schumer is backing it, Republicans will decry it as political, and that'll give some folks the cover they're looking for to stay on board.

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Vienna, Va.: Last week, you described Rep. Cubin of Wyoming as "ultraconservative." Have you ever put the word "ultra" in front of the word "liberal" in describing a politician, and who in the Democratic Congress would be accurately described as such?

washingtonpost.com: After a Quiet Farewell, Finding a Successor (Post, June 7)

Shailagh Murray: Ultraliberals:
Barbara Lee
Maxine Waters
Dennis Kucinich
Barbara Boxer
You want more names? And are you familiar with Rep. Cubin's record in the House?

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Washington: Thanks for mentioning the Lieberman quote. Has anyone else in the Senate advocated "aggressive action"?

washingtonpost.com: Lieberman: U.S. Should Weigh Iran Attack (AP, June 10)

Shailagh Murray: Not in quite those terms. But as we junkies know, Sen. Lieberman knows how to create a stir.

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Question for Rep. Tancredo: Speaking of fringe GOP candidates, I keep chuckling every time I think of Rep. Tancredo's comments at last week's debate that bilingual countries "don't work." Besides ruling him out as ambassador to Canada, does he realize his home state's name is Spanish?

Shailagh Murray: I actually have lived in two bilingual countries: Czechoslovakia and Belgium. The first split apart, and in the other the French speakers and the Flemish ignore each other. But I hear Switzerland is doing pretty well.

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Sunnyvale, Calif.: Can you give us some insight into why Bush's remaining base still supports him? Is there a dominant issue/justification or is it a hodgepodge of issues?

Shailagh Murray: I know this may come as a surprise, especially out there in California, but not everyone actually opposes the Iraq war. Some Republicans still believe in Bush, although they may not be happy with some of the decisions he's made, or their execution.

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Albania: It's pretty refreshing, actually, to see our President greeted warmly by a country that not too long ago was a sworn enemy of the U.S. Gee, I wonder if that has to do with Albania's rejection of communism and Muslim fundamentalism in favor of democracy and religious freedom?

Shailagh Murray: I think it may have something to do with being from a tiny obscure country and having an American president pay attention to you.

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Lincoln, Neb.: What is your take on Bob Kerrey running for Senate in Nebraska in 2008?

Shailagh Murray: I saw him in the Capitol the other day -- he's looking good.
But I haven't heard that rumor! I would have asked him about it.

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Bow, N.H.: I see an essential link between dumping Peter Pace and keeping Alberto Gonzalez. In both cases, the White House has chosen to cut and run from uncomfortable confirmation hearings (to keep Pace in office or put in a new AG). I imagine the Democrats are just as happy to keep Gonzales in office as a punching bag, but I wonder whether they will turn the tables on the White House and Pentagon and go after Mullen as hard as they would have gone after Pace.

washingtonpost.com: Joint Chiefs Chair Will Bow Out (Post, June 9)

Shailagh Murray: Without question, the administration is going to want to avoid confirming another AG -- what a circus that would be. But I think the most obvious explanation with Gonzales is the right one: Bush likes him, and for him that's paramount.

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Vienna, Va.: Re: Cubin. Not sure of the tone of your question back (defensive?) but I would argue that ultraconservative is perfectly appropriate for her, as well as ultraliberal an accurate description for your list. I hope you'll feel free to use the word in stories about them as well. I might add Sen. Sanders from Vermont to it, but some might consider ultraliberal too conservative a description for him.

Shailagh Murray: As my regular chatters know, I get irritated with people who assume knee-jerk bias in reporters, based on one story that they happen to read. I actually don't see such terms as inflammatory, but as descriptive, and I'll use them as a I see fit.

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Anonymous: Why not take strong action against Iran? We have done it before -- putting the Shah into power, though few Americans may remember that. Of course, we also sold guns to the mullahs in Iran in order to make them friendlier to the U.S. and to raise funds for the Contras, but few Americans -- and no Republicans I can think of -- talk about that as a good precedent.

Shailagh Murray: You clearly have a higher pain threshold than most readers.

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Baltimore: I'm intrigued by the notion of having a woman or person with dark skin in the White House. I'd really like to think it's possible. I know it's not talked about much in an overt way, but what's your hunch? Will Democrats write off whole swaths of the country if one of those two is nominated? John Edwards might win some southern states, is what I'm saying, but I have a hard time thinking Hillary Clinton could do that same. Does it even matter?

Shailagh Murray: Clearly there's a huge generation gap this year related to traditional identities like race and gender. The question for both Clinton and Obama is the degree to which they are able to transcend negative stereotypes that mostly older voters may be inclined to have.

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Florida: As a Democrat from Florida, I am not aware of Rep. Cubin's voting record and her "ultraconservative" record. Can you post more information? Thanks.

Shailagh Murray: Here's the Cubin bio from Congressional Quarterly:

Wyoming, like the rest of the Mountain West, is changing as a trickle of new residents and a flood of tourists seek out its wide open spaces and spectacular scenery. But Cubin remains anchored in the old way of life, fiercely defending the right of individuals and industries to mine, log, graze and drill the land to extract the bountiful natural resources of the nation's least populous state.

Her uncompromising approach and sometimes prickly personality may be wearing a bit thin back home. Although Wyoming is one of the most heavily Republican states, Cubin (CUE-bin) nearly lost her seat in 2006. Her 48 percent vote share was the second-lowest of any winning House candidate that year.

Although it had supported her in 2004, the Casper Star-Tribune, the state's largest newspaper, this time endorsed Democrat Gary Trauner, saying Cubin "delivers more rancor than achievement."

Nearly half of Wyoming's 97,100 square miles are under the federal government's jurisdiction, an important factor in a state whose economy -- though tilting more toward tourism each year -- still relies heavily on extractive industries and ranching. The Bush era has brought an enormous boom in oil and gas production, from coal bed methane in the Powder River Basin in the northeast to natural gas development in the Pinedale region in the southwest.

But the energy development has come at a price, threatening water quality and wildlife migration corridors. Ranchers, hunters, fishermen, outfitters and others who once scorned environmentalists now are joining forces with them to lobby for curbs on new drilling leases and protection of the natural resources they all depend upon.

Cubin's lifetime rating from the League of Conservation Voters is just 3 percent. She regularly battles efforts to shield more land from development, arguing in 2000, "The last thing we need in Wyoming is more federal land when the government can't adequately manage the property it has now." She made a small exception in 2007, sponsoring a bill to expand Grand Teton National Park by about 50 acres that local landowners wanted to donate.

Wyoming is the nation's leading coal producer, and Cubin has tried since the 108th Congress (2003-04) to rewrite a portion of the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act that finances mine cleanups nationwide -- she wants to recoup more of the fees her state's coal companies pay into an abandoned mine cleanup fund based on the amount of coal they mine. Western states, such as Wyoming, have accumulated substantial balances in the fund because they have few waste sites to clean up. Eastern states with declining amounts of coal, such as Pennsylvania, have large reclamation projects and less revenue to fund them. "Wyoming money is being used to clean up Eastern problems," Cubin said. In 2006, the House included her provision addressing the funding issue in a broad, year-end bill covering a number of issues, but the Senate refused to go along.

As Democrats took control of the House at the start of the 110th Congress (2007-08), Cubin had to give up her seat on the Natural Resources Committee, where she had focused much of her efforts in the past. She will continue to promote energy development from her seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, while also championing measures to improve access to health care and expand telecommunications in rural areas, important issues in sparsely populated Wyoming.

Cubin also has become an advocate of increased screening of women for heart disease, along with improved education and research. She cosponsored bipartisan legislation in 2007 to promote such efforts after suffering a mild heart attack in the summer of 2005 while waiting at Virginia's Dulles International Airport to board a plane home to Wyoming.

An ardent advocate of gun owners' rights who was elected to a three-year term on the board of the National Rifle Association in 2003, Cubin found herself in hot water in the 108th Congress for her rhetoric. During debate on a gun bill, she said one amendment would have barred the sale of guns "to anybody under drug treatment. So does that mean if you go into a black community, you cannot sell a gun to any black person?" That remark, perceived by some of her colleagues as racist, sparked outrage, but not an official reprimand. Cubin apologized.

She drew more adverse press coverage for remarks she made after a debate in the final days of her 2006 campaign. Libertarian Party candidate Thomas R. Rankin, who was confined to a wheelchair with multiple sclerosis, told local reporters that Cubin became irritated by something he had said and snapped at him, "If you weren't sitting in that chair, I'd slap you across the face." Her remark was widely denounced, and she later apologized.

Reared in Casper, Cubin earned a degree in chemistry and had a variety of jobs, including work as a chemist and real estate agent. She also served as manager of her husband's medical practice. She was active in local party politics and various civic groups, including the Wyoming State Choir, the PTA, a suicide prevention organization and a homeless shelter.

Over the years, her community activities led her to enter elective politics. Cubin served six years in the Wyoming House and two years in the state Senate, specializing in energy-related matters.

Her opening to Congress came in 1994, when Republican Craig Thomas left the state's lone House seat to run for the Senate. Drawing on her base in Casper and benefiting from the fact that she was the only woman in the race, Cubin prevailed in a five-way primary and went on to defeat Democratic lawyer Bob Schuster by 12 percentage points.

She initially won re-election comfortably. But in the 2004 primary, she faced multiple challengers after missing 12 percent of all House roll call votes in the 108th Congress and 27 percent in the 107th to care for her husband, Frederick, who has been hospitalized several times for non-malignant tumors, pancreatic problems and surgical complications. Cubin prevailed again, but her 55 percent vote shares in both the primary and the general election were below her norm.

In 2006, facing Internet executive Trauner, she had the closest call of her House career, prevailing by a scant 1,012 votes, a margin of .5 percent.

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Chantilly, Va.: When Mitt Romney's father ran for President I don't recall that his Mormon religion was ever a factor. Is the fact that it has now become an issue another indication that Christian fundamentalism has both not only grown but become politically active?

Shailagh Murray: Since the 1960s, the conservative Christian political movement has exploded, becoming one of the sharpest dividing lines in American politics. Plus, the LDS church has itself grown hugely in recent years, so people are more aware of it than 40 years ago.

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Anonymous: Honey, shorter answer to Florida: Use teh Google.

Shailagh Murray: Or that would work too, thanks.

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For Sunnyvale: There are some of us who think that removing Saddam Hussein was the right thing to do, both for our interests and those of the Iraqis. But you're right, there have been decisions along the way that were wrong, or badly executed. In other words: yes, I support the President, but I wouldn't give him a very high job performance rating.

Shailagh Murray: Yeah, I have proof to back it up!

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Burke, Va.: As a political reporter, I was wondering if you know what's on President Bush's schedule for tomorrow? My building located at 25 Mass Ave. N.W. is going to be "locked down" tomorrow with no one allowed in or out between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. We're told Mass Ave. also will be shut down. Thanks...

Shailagh Murray: Geez, that's weird. I have no idea. I do know that Bush is coming up to the Capitol for lunch tomorrow, but that wouldn't require a lockdown. Maybe Bono is in town.

Thanks to all for participating ... see you in two weeks. Cheers, Shailagh.

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