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 White House reporter Anne E. Kornblut was online live Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the latest in political news.

The transcript follows.

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Archive: Post Politics Hour discussion transcripts

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Anne E. Kornblut: Hi everyone! Finally, we're in a relatively slow news stretch ... at least compared to the past two years. But it's still a good time for questions, so fire away.

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Arlington, Va.: Anne, why are you here? I thought you'd be on some tropical island and finally relaxing! Is it your unflappable dedication? Or is The Post just a mean boss? (But it's always good to have you around!)

Anne E. Kornblut: Thanks so much! Didn't you hear? There's a transition under way! And then a new president to cover! After seeing the long lines out the door of The Post a week ago, after the election, we all realized: People still want the news! (Occasionally). Don't worry, though -- we're all taking plenty of time off down the road...

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Stafford, Va.: I read your recent pro-feminist article in the Post Outlook. I don't give about the feminists. As Sarah Palin demonstrated, the politically correct liberal academic feminists do not represent all women. She was a welcome breath of cold arctic air down the slender Ivy League necks of the man-hating feminist establishment. Even better is to celebrate that two women lost big in 2008. Maybe they should think twice about their capacity and readiness to lead the nation, especially if they can't be trusted.

washingtonpost.com: Will She Ever Get There? (Post, Nov. 2)

Anne E. Kornblut: Hm, that's an interesting perspective. I have been asking the question of whether America ready for a woman president for a while, and there are definitely those -- it sounds like including you -- who think not. But I will ask another question, based on yours: What does pro-feminist mean, anyway? Given that Palin described herself as a feminist, and a lot of liberal women do too, it seems that the word has come to mean simply "pro-woman" -- which is something most men I know consider themselves, in one way or another. Thoughts?

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North Manchester, Ind.: Good morning Anne! Did you see that McCain was on Leno last night? Leno served up a Larry King-esque softball, asking him if he felt the media coverage tilted the election towards Obama. He refused to take a cut at the pitch, saying Americans didn't like poor losers. You were right in the center of the coverage, so what is your take on the perceived slant in coverage towards Obama?

washingtonpost.com: Interview with Senator McCain Part 1 (Tonight Show, Nov. 11)

Anne E. Kornblut: Graduate theses will be written on the balance of the coverage; already we're starting to see some studies, although it's always tricky to just quantify "negative" and "positive" stories because most stories are a blend of both. That said, there is no question that Obama had a press operation that managed his image, and their coverage, in a way that worked for him. The McCain operation worked for a while -- certainly when he was in "straight talk" mode, and then again after he picked Palin -- but by the end it had come undone, with a lot of leaks everywhere, which fed a spate of negative stories about the McCain campaign. All of that said, it is good to see McCain recovering so well after such a long season, and such a hard loss -- we all know what a brutal year it was.

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Reston, Va.: I've heard more than one news report say that President-Elect Obama accepts that there is only one president at a time, and that President Bush is the nation's president until Jan. 20, 2009. A part of me responds to those with an "oh, how magnanimous of him!" But another part of me wonders if that is standard procedure -- that the president-elect constantly reminds people that he isn't president yet. Have past presidents seen the need to do so?

Anne E. Kornblut: Oh, absolutely. "One president at a time" is standard operating procedure, and sometimes said with a bit of a wink and a nod -- because of course Obama is setting his own administration in motion now, and very much does not want Bush to do anything that he would view as irreversible. But that's a delicate dance, and I don't expect to see Obama do anything overt that could undermine Bush before Jan. 20.

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Baltimore: Bella Abzug once said: "Our struggle today is not to have a female Einstein get appointed as an assistant professor. It is for a woman schlemiel to get as quickly promoted as a male schlemiel." I submit that Sarah Palin broke that barrier.

Anne E. Kornblut: That is one of my favorite quotes, ever. Thank you for sending it in.

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Anne K: Rock Star!: Hey Anne! I just wanted to tell you how much these chats have increased (all of your) visibility) to the normal news reader. Through the course of the final election coverage, I, just like everyone, had the opportunity to see things like the video of Dana Milbank's debate drinking game, and I thought, "What's Shailagh Murray up to now!" when I saw her downing the brews with Dana. Then, of course, I saw "the choice" on PBS and I saw Dan Balz, and I was explaining his position with your esteemed organization to my family ... then I said a few scenes later, "and that is Anne Kornblut; she writes for The Post and hosts a chat."

I had an a ha moment. We are being more connected to your paper through the reporters. Who knew that we would have this regular connection with reporters of the paper, as it were? Who would have thought that a reporter could be a rock star, just based on her ability/availability to talk to the masses on a regular basis? These chats are what make washingtonpost.com a must-visit Web site!

Anne E. Kornblut: Mom, is that you? I am kidding, of course -- and very appreciative of your kind words. In a time when newspapers are struggling, The Post has made a strategic decision to try to connect us with the readership more, for exactly the reasons you cite -- to help everyone understand who we are, and to give our institution credibility, and to feel like we're all part of the same mission of uncovering and interpreting the events of the day. And I have to say, with a few glaring exceptions, I love it. (Notes like this more than make up for the hate mail).

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Princeton, N.J.: My daughter rents a nice big house (with roommates) on Capitol Hill. Can she really rent it for a fortune for the inauguration?

Anne E. Kornblut: Yes. Absolutely. And if she snags tickets to the events, she can sell them on eBay and fund your retirement.

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Pro-Woman does not equal "Feminist": While semantic slippery slopes might make journalists' jobs easier, I don't think the co-opting of the term "feminism" by anti-feminists who do not support a woman's right control her own body (with regard to abortion and birth control) is a positive evolution. Do you?

Anne E. Kornblut: It's a fascinating question -- and as a journalist, I have the luxury of understanding the evolution more than just weighing in on it. So to be honest, I'm still in the process of listening to all sides and trying to wrap my brain around the electorate, and where the feminist movements -- both liberal and conservative, because both do exist -- are today. So this is one of those cases where I appreciate hearing from you. Thank you.

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Bloomington, Ind.: Good morning Anne. As a regular participant in these political chats this year, it seems that we're all in a kind of political lull (or stupor). How have you dealt with the transition from full-tilt, full-time coverage to this period of calm?

Anne E. Kornblut: It's funny, isn't it? I've had a few people tell me they're going through withdrawal. We're not complaining about it around here -- and the truth is, the transition is fully under way, so there's plenty to do. But I will admit to reverting back to my old habit of watching movies and "Law & Order" at night, instead of political news. I'm even reading -- get this! -- a book.

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Helena, Mont.: Why does everyone think that Obama is going to choose a Republican for any of the Big Three cabinet positions? Aren't there plenty of Democrats qualified for State, Defense and Treasury? I say, Democrats for the Big Three -- after all, we won the election -- and bipartisanship on Housing and Urban Development, Energy, Transportation, Education, etc.

Anne E. Kornblut: This is a great area of interest for us right now. Obama and his advisers all have said they would like to include a Republican, and that has been interpreted to mean that if they are "serious" about that, it would require putting a Republican in a meaningful, important post -- but that comes with its own risks, including a potential backlash from the Democrats who elected him. All I can say is, stay tuned...

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Palo Alto, Calif.: I'm a huge fan of Hillary Clinton -- always have been, always will be. Why has she gotten such shabby treatment from the Democratic Party? She'd be the perfect person to head up health care reform. Neither Kennedy or Obama will have the cycles to spend on it. We treat women really badly in this country. If I had a daughter trying to decide on a career, I'd argue strongly for medicine and the strongest against politics!

Anne E. Kornblut: As some of you may know, I'm writing a book about women in politics in 2008, and looking at -- among other things -- the question of how this year left women feeling about the political process. My hope is that it won't drive young women away -- but notes like this make me worry it might.

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Boston: In light of the mood in today's chat: It seems to me that we are about to "mommy-fy" Michelle Obama. Now, this is a woman with an exceptional educational and professional pedigree, and yet it seems like we want her to sit at the White House, take care of the cutest kids in the world and nothing more. I hope she has bigger plans, and that the media will not act as a megaphone for those haters out there who will excoriate her for living up to her abilities.

Anne E. Kornblut: Isn't Michelle Obama fascinating? I expect her to be a very careful, astute manager of both her family and her image -- and am waiting, like you, to see how she chooses to use her perch in the East Wing. Obviously, with young girls, this move is a very big deal for their family, and she always has made no secret that caring for them is her absolute top priority. Once they're settled in, I bet we see her taking a more active role. Or not. We'll have to wait and see.

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Houston: Hello. I read that Jeff Larson made the Palin purchases. Can it be true that Gov. Palin never has been in Nieman Marcus or Saks? Wouldn't there be store surveillance video to verify her statement?

Anne E. Kornblut: I'm not sure we're in the business of tracking down surveillance cameras over here -- that's more of a criminal justice tactic than a reportorial one. But I guarantee you that a lot more reporting will be done on this issue.

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Dallas: Do you think Obama really will be bipartisan? Seriously, he has control over both houses -- what is his incentive to keep Republicans around?

Anne E. Kornblut: Here's another one on this very interesting topic; the answer, of course, is that he ran on a promise of being bipartisan, so if he doesn't follow through, he'll risk alienating the independents and crossover Republicans who supported him. From everything I hear, it is also in his nature to like consensus-building, and to hear contrarian points of view, so it may be that he just feels an affinity to the center of the political spectrum (excuse the mixed imagery there). But again ... we just don't know yet.

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St. Paul, Minn.: Hi Anne -- Thanks for taking questions today. To his credit, Sen. McCain had the good sense and grace to disappear for a few days after the election, only to emerge last night for what was, by all accounts, a relaxed and positive chat with Jay Leno (I didn't see it -- past my bedtime). On the other hand, we have had Gov. Palin in full rehabilitation mode, granting interviews and trying to hijack every news cycle as if her life depended on it. Doesn't she risk overexposure and looking, well, a little desperate to redeem her reputation? Where was all this accessibility and openness a month or two ago, when it actually might have helped the campaign?

Anne E. Kornblut: It's a really good question. Someone I know, upon hearing Gov. Palin was talking to the media, said "oh, now she has a press conference!" Certainly one could argue that this is long overdue, perhaps even pointless. Look, she's in a tricky position -- she just went through a harrowing campaign, having no idea what she was in for, and wound up with her image pretty badly damaged. Her choices are either to disappear, i.e. go back to Alaska and hunker down, or to try quickly to reverse the storyline of the past few months. Neither one is ideal; I certainly don't begrudge her the right to try to reclaim her image. On the other hand, it could do her some good to let time elapse and re-emerge with concrete accomplishments. I have to wonder if she has a strategic plan, or is now just going with her gut.

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Washington: Anne, we all hope that your ceaseless travel nightmares have finally come to a stop. Can you toss out a few predictions for the future of Gov. Palin (if there is one)?

Anne E. Kornblut: Let's see ... I'm summoning spirits and ... I predict she will be at the Republican Governors' Association tomorrow! (Kidding; that already has been announced). My view is that, if she wants to run in 2012, she should have at it. Vice presidential candidates on losing tickets don't tend to fare very well, but she has every right to run just like everyone else. Will she want to? Does she need to tend to her Alaska base first? We just don't know yet. (And I can't believe I'm the one saying this, given that I'm as obsessive as all of you but -- it has been one week since the election!)

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Athens, Ga.: I don't think you have to worry much about women fleeing politics. This was my daughter's first presidential vote, and she campaigned for Hillary in North Carolina where she goes to school, met Chelsea, and constantly was asking me about how it was in the good ol' days. She then supported Obama, and I think will be involved in politics for a good long time.

Anne E. Kornblut: That is good to hear! I hope there are women across the ideological spectrum who came away feeling like the process is for them, not against them.

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Notes like this more than make up for the hate mail: Every so often you reporters who take our questions refer to this. I despise Rush Limbaugh's take on just about everything, but I can't imagine sending him hate mail because of it. Do you have any insight into the motivation of people who react to other people's opinions in such a destructive way?

Anne E. Kornblut: I actually don't. I have occasionally returned some very nasty phone messages -- to discover a perfectly decent-sounding person on the other end of the line, mortified to discover I was an actual human being who would pick up my voice mail. At other times, I think there are concerted, coordinated efforts made to intimidate reporters. But like you, I perpetually am baffled that people would take time out of their day to be hateful, rather than to just express considered differences.

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Abingdon, Md.: On feminism -- I was in a graduate program recently and took a course on gender studies. I was the only male in the class and was somewhat surprised at how many of the women in the group were "less feminist" than me. There was still a bit of belief in the "traditional nuclear family" concept, but when it came to jobs, pay and opportunity (most of the time) nearly all of us were in agreement. On issues like women in the military or as head of a family, there was more discussion. I do not know why people at this date still associate feminism with "man-hating" beliefs, and from the tone of your first questioner, I'm thinking he/she believes we should be stuck in the 1920s forever.

Anne E. Kornblut: A really good point; thank you for it.

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Thank you: for admitting that McCain's campaign was leaking like a sieve and that his own people generated negative stories about him (i.e. they were self-perpetuating). And that, in large part, is why he got more "negative" coverage than Obama. That is something that goes right over most people's heads.

Anne E. Kornblut: On that score, you have to wonder how much McCain knew in real time, and how much he's finding out only now...

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New Hampshire: New Hampshire's House of Representatives is majority female. I believe this is a first in the nation. Is there data to reflect the gender makeup of other states' assemblies? I think this is fascinating, and am wondering what if any effect this will have on the way things get done in New Hampshire.

Anne E. Kornblut: Thank you for this point. I am gathering that data now and will know more in a few months. It is fascinating.

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Alexandria, Va.: Last night on Hardball, after listening to a clip from Sarah Palin's Today Show interview, Lois Romano noted that Palin still is not being straightforward about the clothes issue. Her remarks in the interview, for instance, conflicted with what her own father had said. I know the fate of the nation doesn't rest on this issue, but I hope you will continue to figure out who bought what, where the purchases were made, and when they were made. I feel it's important to sort this out as one step in assessing Palin's truthfulness -- which is something we need to know about as she doesn't seem to be going away.

Anne E. Kornblut: Agreed. Given how many questions we're still getting about it here, I will make sure the editors are on the case before we all turn entirely to Obama's new administration.

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Arlington, Va.: Yesterday the Jerusalem Post and several other papers reported that Obama advisors had met with Hamas representatives prior to the election; today the Jerusalem Post reports that the Obama camp denies the meetings took place. What are your sources telling the Post about these alleged meetings?

washingtonpost.com: Obama adviser denies Hamas meeting (Jerusalem Post, Nov. 11)

Anne E. Kornblut: I have not been doing direct reporting on this myself, but I'll post this here; I have no doubt our diplomatic reporters are on it, and I'll check to make sure.

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Stafford, Va.: The Washington Post's guidelines prohibit the use of anonymous sources to attack a public figure. Why were these guidelines routinely violated regarding the post-election accusations against Gov. Palin? If your source for these accusations will not go on the record, then don't print the story.

Anne E. Kornblut: Actually, good news on this front: We were extremely careful about checking sources and having double sources at every step of the way, and did not print some of the anonymous attacks you saw elsewhere. (Now, of course, I expect to hear a complaint from the other side wanting to know why we didn't report that news...)

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What's a supporter to do?: I am a political person, so maybe this question sounds too naive for someone who pays attention, but on the campaign trail, Obama (who I supported greatly) said that he would not hire any lobbyists. And now, though he has put some restrictions on those who could be hired for his transition team (and perhaps will extend that to his administration), he already has nuanced that pledge. This kind of pledge helped me to support him. So, how are people like me to think about this kind of softening on such things like this?

Anne E. Kornblut: All you can do is stay vigilant, keep watching and use that technology that served the campaign so well to stay in touch. We'll have a much better picture of how Obama plans to run his administration in a few weeks; I think the jury is still out on the lobbyist question.

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Baltimore: "I don't expect to see Obama to do anything overt that could undermine Bush before Jan. 20." How about vice versa? George H.W. Bush invaded Somalia at the end of December when he already had lost to Bill Clinton, so Clinton was gifted with a rolling crisis to begin his presidency. We already are roiled in a financial crisis. Will Bush Jr. be presenting Obama with any other poison pills when Obama takes the oath?

Anne E. Kornblut: It's a good question. Certainly Bush has to worry about his own legacy at this point, which isn't looking too good; were he to do something obviously damaging at this stage, it could get even worse. Clinton still is haunted by the Marc Rich pardon at the end of his term. So far all the signs are that Bush wants this transition to be smooth and friendly -- remember that, in 1992, Clinton had defeated an incumbent -- but we'll have to see.

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Another weighing in on "feminism": True equality is obviously when one is no long the "first" of anything. I'd resent a candidate of either party choosing a woman just to pander to the female vote, which is what McCain did. It's possible that with a different choice, the right-wing Republican agenda might have been ignored up in the coverage, or at least less visible. Instead, immediately I said, game over, I don't need to know anymore. Admittedly, it would have been difficult for any Republican to get my vote this year, but I didn't have to any heavy lifting to make that decision.

Anne E. Kornblut: And another view! Thank you.

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Race trumps gender?: I have been pondering whether there would have been the same outpouring of heartfelt sentiment on Election Night had Hillary Clinton defeated John McCain rather than Barack Obama. Obama's election seemed to exorcise a lot of demons of racial bias that had haunted America, but would the election of a woman have had the same cathartic effect? I'm thinking not, but I wonder what your view is?

Anne E. Kornblut: Great, great question -- I have wondered it too. What's so interesting to me is how little Obama spoke directly about the issue of race during the campaign -- it was an obvious, constant undercurrent, and he gave one major address on it, but it wasn't until the very end, the victory, when he (and even more so his supporters) allowed that to become the predominant storyline. Would the same have happened if Sen. Clinton had been the candidate? Her speech at the Building Museum when she dropped out made me suspect it could have been -- but of course we'll never know.

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Helena, Mont.: I disagree with Sarah Palin on issues and don't really think she was ready for prime time when McCain rolled her out -- she is not an "energy expert," she's an Alaska expert, which includes the state's oil production. But, she did a lot for the feminist cause -- for instance, yes, it is only natural for a woman with small children to aspire to have a career with a very demanding schedule. Now with her as the model of what a conservative woman is, we have agreement on home/work issues that have bedeviled the feminist cause.

Anne E. Kornblut: Thank you for this, too.

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Boston: The story around Palin seems to be moving toward that she's smart and intuitive but has large gaps in knowledge on geography, international relations (both current and historically) and even some basic civics. People seem to be saying she can learn all she needs to in the next four years (two years, really -- campaigning starts in 2010). Do you think it's possible to learn that much in so short a time?

Anne E. Kornblut: It seems like an impossible challenge, made even greater by the fact that so many voters thought she wasn't up to the task -- so she's not starting at neutral, she's starting with a deficit. That said, I would refer you to the earlier Bella Abzug quote.

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Herndon, Va.: I hear John McCain is still saying that picking Palin as his vice-presidential candidate did not hurt his election chances and was a net positive, yet many polls and anecdotal evidence suggest quite the obvious. What's up with that? Is he lying, in denial, or has he been in his campaign bubble too long?

Anne E. Kornblut: I bet -- but don't know for sure -- that he is being generous and kind, rather than bitter and quick to blame. Which is probably the politically smart thing to do, and the decent thing as well.

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Re: Lobbyists: Would it really be possible to set up a "ready on day one" government without taking former lobbyists?

Anne E. Kornblut: That's the great counterargument ... thank you for sending it in.

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Er, for Princeton's Daughter the Renter: She kinda may wanna make sure that she worries more about her lease agreement and co-tenants than anything else. Chances are the landlord isn't an idiot, would be wise to the possibilities and come after any windfall as an unjust enrichment and breach of contract. So that means daughter might wanna try and strike a deal with the landlord to get written permission to do this.

Anne E. Kornblut: Very wise advice. Thank you.

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"Oh, now she has a press conference!": Now wait just a darn minute, didn't Biden go undercover in mid-September? Except for photo-ops, didn't the press complain that Biden wasn't giving any face time to the gaggle of reporters covering his piece of the campaign?

Anne E. Kornblut: Indeed, and he had better emerge soon as vice president. Knowing Biden, he will.

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New York: I am a big Obama supporter (voted for him and sent him money), but I am worried that his Afghanistan war policy makes even less sense than Bush's Iraq policies. For one thing, what is the goal? To get bin Laden and then leave? Seems like that would be easier done with an elite assassination team rather than more troops and bombs, which only will help to fuel hatred of America. Any chance Obama knows this or is hearing this opinion?

Anne E. Kornblut: Well, I'll start by posting it, in case President-Elect Obama is reading this online. You should double back when my colleagues Karen DeYoung and Glenn Kessler are doing their chats for a much smarter foreign policy analysis than mine.

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Pittsburgh: I'm somewhat concerned about the Newsweek articles and their policy where journalists agreed to embargo everything they learned during the coverage until after the election, even if that information was substantive. What is your position on this kind of agreement?

washingtonpost.com: Secrets of the Campaign (Newsweek)

Anne E. Kornblut: It's a tough one -- on the one hand, you never would want to withhold information that could tip the election (by changing voters' minds or revealing something substantive, etc.). On the other hand, if the options are knowing it on an embargoed basis or not knowing it at all, it's always better to know it. I believe that we should know as much as we possibly can. So, how is that for a mealy mouthed answer?

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Re: Stafford: Sorry, but your excuse does not cut the mustard. I don't care if two or 20 sources agree on the anonymous attack -- if they don't go on the record you should not print the story. Period! You are aiding and abetting cowards who sling mud behind the curtain of "unnamed sources said" ... The Post should be ashamed of its actions.

Anne E. Kornblut: I'm not sure which actions are in question here -- we kept a lot more out of the paper than other news organizations did -- but in principle I agree. People who want to insult their colleagues should do so out loud.

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Why a bipartisan cabinet?: Because Obama seems to have read Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, or he just recognizes how severely fractured our society has become in the past eight years and genuinely wants to find a way to heal that wound. If he does follow through on this, he'll be doing a great service to the nation.

Anne E. Kornblut: And another view, thank you.

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Home-work issues: "Now with her as the model of what a conservative woman is, we have agreement on home/work issues that have bedeviled the feminist cause." It's way too soon to come to that conclusion. Call it situational ethics: I believe that Palin's ideological appeal to the base got her a pass on home-work issues that would have, and which will bedevil other candidates again. There's no doubt in my mind that quite a few of her enthusiastic supporters would have excoriated a liberal Democratic woman running on a national ticket while she had young children (let alone an infant with special needs).

Anne E. Kornblut: I agree -- which is why her presence may have altered the landscape, for both parties. What an interesting debate.

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Brooklyn, N.Y.: Is Gore as Secretary of State unlikely because Obama is unlikely to choose him, or because Gore is unlikely to accept? Or because John Kerry blows everyone away? Can you explain the Kerry reasoning? Secretary of State is our ambassador to the world. So we pick the schlub who couldn't knock the worst president in history out of a second term? I find the Kerry choice thoroughly uninspiring and expect more from Obama.

Anne E. Kornblut: Great questions -- we all are dying of curiosity to know how much of it is real and how much of it is speculation. Hopefully the actual cabinet appointments will replace the trial balloons starting next week, or the week after.

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Anne E. Kornblut: Thank you all so much. ... Have a great week! See you soon, and keep the questions coming.

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washingtonpost.com: Discussion: The Root Writer on the First Internet President (washingtonpost.com, Live NOW)

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