Post Politics Hour

washingtonpost.com's Daily Politics Discussion

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 federal government reporter Lois Romano was online Monday, Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. ET to answer readers' questions about the latest news from Washington and the transition.

A transcript follows.

Get the latest transition news live on washingtonpost.com's 44: A Transition to Power, or subscribe to the daily Post Politics Podcast.

Archive: Post Politics Hour discussion transcripts

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Lois Romano: Good Morning readers! Thank you for joining me this morning. I see many good questions so we'll get started.

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Raleigh, N.C.: Good morning! The Senate Dems seem poised to force Lieberman out of his current committee chairmanship. What are some of the key issues that Lieberman and his committee have been working on in the two years since the Democrats gained control of the Senate? Is this committee tasked with working on foreign policy? Domestic policy?

Lois Romano: They are tasked with homeland security.

Quick Guide: Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

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Lancaster, Pa..: Is it possible to verify what has been printed in our local press that Lancaster County, Pa., had the greatest increase in percentage Democratic vote from Kerry in 2004 to Obama in 2008 for any county in the country? If this is true, this has to be an embarrassment to the McCain campaign. They supposedly spent more money on Pennsylvania than any other state and were counting on conservative counties like Lancaster County to pull them through, they campaigned very hard in Lancaster County, and it seems like their efforts did not pay off.

Lois Romano: I'm not sure how to verify that. But you would start with the website for your elections commission in Pa.

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Richmond, Va.: I don't know how many netroots people I speak for, though I do know the people in my circle feel the same way, namely, that Obama, who we ardently supported in the name of change, is front-loading his transition and permanent teams with ex-Clinton people. We don't feel that is change "we can believe in." We feel it is going backwards. Aren't there any other specialists than Clinton-era people who would be qualified for top jobs, or is Washington comprised of a revolving door of power people and no one else can break through?

Lois Romano: That's a good question. Of course, there are specialists other than Clinton era people, but an administration has to be a balance of new faces and experienced hands. Its been 8 years, and those Clintonites have gone on to do different things and hopefully have grown with the times. The flipside of your argument: they shouldn't be excluded just because they worked for Clinton.

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More Hillary speculation!: This my own, and totally unfounded speculation . . . but I'm wondering if she has been considered for a position as secretary of Health and Human Services? That seems like a more natural fit with her experience and policy specialties.

Is that considered too limiting a position to allow for another run at the presidency?

Lois Romano: Yes, that would be limiting. she wouldn't leave the senate for that. secretary of state is arguably the most powerful cabinet post, and has great input into crafting foreign policy.

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Montgomery Village, Md.: Lois Will the Clintons, particularly Bill, be able to withstand the extensive vetting the Obama people seem committed to with all appointees ? There just seem to be an awful lot of business deals and support that has gone to Bill's foundation from companies and countries the Administration -- and SoS Hillary -- would be dealing with. How forthcoming are the Clintons willing to be or is this a way for the Obama team to say that the Clintons took themselves out of consideration?

Lois Romano: He will have to do something with his foreign investments- not sure what the conflict of interest requirements are.

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Winnipeg, Canada: I've seen a lot of comments in various WP chats from disgruntled GOP supporters who suspect foul play because both the Alaska and Minnesota senate races tightened up in favor or the Democrat candidate after November 4. A more likely scenario is that Democrat-leaning voters made more use of early ballots because of widespread fears of voter suppression at the polls. Could I suggest a third scenario? If there was chicanery, (and I'm not saying there was) perhaps is was not by Democrat operatives, but by Republican sympathizers, who, after the election, feared that they would not have White House staff cover for their deeds, and therefore 'discovered' their 'errors' before someone else did, such as the precinct with 124 Franken votes that on election night was mistakenly reported as 24.

Lois Romano: Thanks for the comment.

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Silver Spring, Md.: As someone who voted for Obama and is hopeful that his "Team of Rivals" approach is the best way to get the country on track, I am rather dismayed at the Obama transition team's requirement that applicants fill out what amounts to be, in my opinion, a ridiculously long and detailed application for service. I realize they do not want to be derailed by a major embarrassment. However, the expectation such an application brings is that such qualified applicants are inhuman and have not made mistakes. On the contrary, I think mistakes are one facet of why some people are actually more qualified for a particular position and the opportunities they've had to learn from mistakes. What is your take on the Obama transition team "application" and do you think it is a good or bad idea? Do you think some otherwise highly qualified applicants will not seek positions because of this application process? Thanks!

Lois Romano: The Obama campaign needs to know as much about their appointments as humanly possible so as not to be embarrassed. Allot has changed in the world of communications in the past few years, so he has to ask about email, blogs etc.

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Washington, D.C.: Lois: Hardly any Palin stories in the last 48 hours...what's the matter you guys getting soft? If we start going through whole news cycles without a new Palin story, might we forget her?

Serious question here. Now that the election is over, do reporters who covered election stories and the paper do any sort of post mortem? I mean, do you look back to see what you got right, what you didn't get right and why, and try to think about the coverage from the stand point of what can and should be done better...or is it simply off to new beats and new stories without too much reflection?

I ask this thinking that The Post and its reporters did a pretty good job for the most part, but if the politicians and the parties are thinking it all through...are reporters, papers and other media doing the same...and if not, shouldn't they?

Thanks.

Lois Romano: There will be some postmortems in newspapers- but largely it will be left for books. This process is so fast-moving, most news organizations don't have the resources to look back right now.

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Falls Church, Va.: How is it not a Hatch Act violation for a federal employees' union to solicit the Obama campaign to send campaign literature to federal workers?

And why did The Post wait until after the election to report on these letters?

Lois Romano: This from the story's author: According to the union, Obama was simply putting in writing his campaign platform as it concerned the federal agencies. But instead of just saying what he supported in a casual conversation with the AFGE president, he also passed it along in the form of a letter to the union president so he could share those commitments with his members.

And this is from me: we probably didn't have the letter before the election.

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Obama Wrote Federal Staffers About His Goals (Post, Nov. 17)

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Fairfax, Va.: Why has Richard Holbrooke gotten so little consideration for the Secretary of State job?

Lois Romano: He may very well be on the list -- we don't know everyone who is being considered.

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New York: What will they do about the Clinton library donors and the other financial ties that Bill Clinton has formed if they want to make Hillary secretary of state? Will the GOP senators try to give her a hard time during confirmation?

Lois Romano: They will likely have to disclose quite a bit. I'm not sure about the library donors, but his personal finances would need to be an open book. He may be able to put them into a blind trust- I am not familiar with ethics rules on that. She may get probing questions but she will be confirmed easily.

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Washington, D.C.: Mr..... Kurtz has a very good column this morning on the media love fest with President-elect Obama. I'm a Republican but I voted for Obama, however I have to say that I agree with Mr. Kurtz, especially on MSNBC's behavior. They are just blatantly pro-Obama, I saw a promo today during a commercial break for Morning Joe that was just stunning in it's impartial pro-Obama message. Journalists on that network should be ashamed of themselves, just as those on Fox News should be ashamed of their pro-Bush coverage these last eight years.

washingtonpost.com: Our New Pop Culture Icons (Post, Nov. 17)

Lois Romano: Thanks for the comment. The story is receiving good reviews from readers.

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Washington, D.C.: Were the Federal Union letters actually distributed? If so, you would think the media would have gotten wind of them.

Lois Romano: There were so many intense stories about the race going on at the time--hard to know if it was floating around.

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Bowie, Md.: Just to be clear. The transition team's questionnaire is a gauge, a tool. It is not a right or wrong answer, but a way for the team to understand what/whom they are dealing with. And I think the same people who are deriding it will be the first people to ask "why didn't the Obama team know who they were choosing when they asked (blank) person to be Sec of Interior..." if a scandal arises. These cabinet candidates are people, so they can make mistakes just like the rest of us. I for one is just thankful that Obama is being as cautious as he is.

Lois Romano: well explained. thank you.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: How soon before the governor of Illinois names Sen. Obama's replacement? As a lifelong Democrat, I worry that if the seat remains vacant AND Senator Joe Lieberman either leaves or gets pushed out of the party caucus, Senate Republicans will try to make mischief during their lame-duckness.

Lois Romano: It will be pretty quick. Senators achieve seniority starting the minute they are sworn in, so Illinois will want a new senator sworn in before the other new senators.

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Why has Richard Holbrooke gotten so little consideration for the Secretary of State job?: Maybe because he has a reputation as too much of a diva?

Lois Romano: there are those who might think that as well.

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To Falls Church:: How could it possibly be a Hatch Act violation for a candidate, using campaign funds, to write a letter to Federal union members? That is not using the Federal government for political purposes. It's a candidate trying to win the votes of Federal employees.

Lois Romano: I was just thinking the same thing. the illegality comes from the other direction-- federal workers helping with campaigns. I think the point the earlier questioner was making was that Obama met with the head of the federal union. But again, the union president's position was that Obama was simply informing of his platform which is not illegal.

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Change we can believe in...: I supported Obama in the POTUS campaign, and I never expected that his election would necessarily mean bringing outsiders into his cabinet. Rather, I think his goal is to change the culture of D.C. and revamp the way policy is approached. That is still change I can believe in.

Lois Romano: That's probably the best way to look at it.

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Change: As a semi-astute political spectator, I'm a little weary of the concern trolls who think that because Obama is hiring some people who worked in the Clinton administration, he is not in favor of "change." Whites, Lois! These people should understand that any "change" will be shown in the results, not in the people who effect those results. Honestly, it's like the commenter above thinks that anyone who worked for Clinton is somehow tainted. Not a very realistic or pragmatic attitude to have.

Lois Romano: Thanks

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washingtonpost.com: Obama Letter to Gage (pdf)

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For Falls Church...: ... who asked, "How is it not a Hatch Act violation for a federal employees' union to solicit the Obama campaign to send campaign literature to federal workers?"

For one thing, it could be that it's because the Hatch Act "restricts the political activity of executive branch employees of the federal government, District of Columbia government and some state and local employees," and John Gage, the president of the AFGE who distributed the letter, isn't such an employee. He's probably not covered by the Act.

Lois Romano: Very good point. We're spending a lot of time on a non issue!!

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Washington, D.C.: As a federal employee at an agency that was the subject of one of the letters, I can share that it was not forwarded to the general union members until after the election. Is there any fed out there (beside the union presidents they were addressed to) who got the letter before the election?

Lois Romano: well, that clears up lettergate.

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washingtonpost.com: Obama's Letters to Federal Workers (Federal Eye, Nov. 17)

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HRC for SOS: I'm no HRC supporter, but I wonder what all this fuss is about her and Bill being "vetted" and "conflicts of interest." She was second runner up for president of the United States. Would Bill's library donors and whatnot been a conflict of interest in her presidency?

Lois Romano: much of that would have been looked at after the election. His finances would surely have been put in a blind trust. Don't know about library donars.

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Speculation: How much is actually known about who Obama is considering and what is purely speculation. NOW has issued a letter demanding more women be on "short lists." Is the Obama team releasing these "short lists"? It seems to me that an awful lot of people are becoming upset about what amounts to media speculation.

Lois Romano: The Obama operations is not leaking so when you see a name surface, they want it made public. I know there are women on all the lists.

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Alexandria Va.: As a young person who is ready to make the move from federal contractor to federal employee, I was wondering if the plan Obama bring will make this transition easier. Also, when would someone in my position make this move, is there a "best" time for this?

Thanks!

Lois Romano: There is no good time or bad time- whenever you're ready, you should apply for one of the jobs in the agency you want to work.

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"There were so many intense stories about the race going on at the time--hard to know if it was floating around. ": Given your track record, I find that difficult to believe. If McCain pulled this type of stunt, it would've made front-page, above the fold, weeks before the election. Why am I not surprised?

Lois Romano: A reader just wrote that the letter went out AFTER the election, which should put an end to this.

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Reston, Va.: A question about the Obama questionnaire (which requires applicants to disclose all on-line "handles" and blogs): was that questionnaire only for cabinet positions, as Bowie, Md., suggests? WRC-4 spun it such that all applicants for all administration positions.

Lois Romano: I believe it is for positions that are considered senior--white house or cabinet. The biggest issue for any administration is the Senate confirmation process, which does its won vetting. Obama and team want to know anything that's out there about a contender and not be told some news as the candidate is going through the confirmation process.

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Springfield, Va.: If Sen. Clinton stays in the Senate, she is her own boss and can pick her own issues. If she becomes SOS, she works for Obama and has to execute his policies. Why would she do it unless she is bored with the Senate?

Lois Romano: She is not her own boss in the senate. she is the junior senator from new York, competing with a lot of big egos. Secretary of State is a far more influential job on the world stage.

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Union letter: At EPA we DID NOT get the letter until long after the election. Get over it, McCain LOST ya'll!

Lois Romano: Thank you!

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Maybe Obama is trying to have it both ways...: ...by floating trial balloons re Hillary Clinton for his cabinet (thus placating her people), while simultaneously using such a detailed questionnaire that she and Bill are unlikely to want to answer completely.

Lois Romano: I don't think that's accurate. he wouldn't be floating her name if he wasn't serious. And all indications are that she'd happily fill out that form to be SOS.

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Clarification: The letter was forwarded to the general union members from our union rep at my agency after the election -- not sure if other agencies were the same, but that should be easy to check.

Lois Romano: Again, to reinforce what we've said: letter was sent after election.

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Washington, D.C.: On 60 Minutes last night, Obama said there will 100 percent be a Republican in his cabinet, but did not say if there will be more than one. Could he be considering Powell? I haven't heard if Powell was interested in a cabinet post again. What about something as crazy as inviting McCain to lead the V.A.?

washingtonpost.com: Video Clip: Obama On Economic Crisis, Transitional (CBS News, Nov. 16)

Lois Romano: All options are in play. Maybe he'll offer DoD to McCain when they meet today. Chuck Hagel has also been mentioned.

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Obama's temperament?: Since Barack Obama seems to have a reputation for a comparatively even disposition, is it possible that he'd rather not choose Cabinet secretaries with mercurial temperaments? (Not naming any names, of course).

Lois Romano: I think its fair to say that divas and self-promoters need not apply. He wants no drama and he was a team player.

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Indianapolis, Ind.: Lois: Newt Gingrich is in the news today insisting that Sarah Palin is not the leading Republican presidential candidate in 2012. Meanwhile, I was on the Indianapolis craigslist the other night and saw a classified ad for stickers that said Re-elect Obama in 2012.

Are we now in permanent campaign mode? And what can we do to make it stop?

washingtonpost.com: Video: Bobby Jindall and Newt Gingrich on Face the Nation (CBS News, Nov. 16)

Lois Romano: Unfortunately, we are in permanent campaign mode. Not sure it can be stopped. We'll know more by how well Obama does in the next four years whether he'll have much opposition.

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Lois Romano: Ok- its time to sign off. Thanks so much for joining us today and tune in here same time every weekday to talk to my colleagues.

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