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.

Ed O'Keefe, washingtonpost.com Federal Eye blogger, was online Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the latest transition, executive branch and intergovernmental moves in Washington.

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

____________________

Ed O'Keefe: Good morning and welcome to another of the wildly popular Post Politics Hour discussions. I'll be fielding your questions on all things related to politics, the transition and the Federal bureaucracy.

Make sure to also check out my blog, The Federal Eye, where I keep an Eye (wink) on the Federal government.

Now to your queries...

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Is it possible that Martinez will try for the 2012 Republican nomination for president?

washingtonpost.com: Mel Martinez To Retire (The Fix, Dec. 2)

Ed O'Keefe: There's no reason to believe that right now, but anything is possible four years from now -- especially in a wide open field.

Martinez seems to have done the political math and realized that reelection would be a costly and possibly futile effort. Expect a very expensive, very interesting race to replace Martinez in 2012... Jeb Bush, anyone?

_______________________

Helena, Mont.: Are reporters the last naive group of people in this country who think that whatever is said on the campaign trail is exactly what the candidate thinks? I haven't thought that way for several election cycles. I refer specifically to Obama's news conference yesterday and to the question by Peter Baker (once of WaPo, now NYT) about what Obama said about Clinton's foreign policy bona fides during the primary campaign. Peter Baker could ask one question of the president-elect about his foreign policy and his national security team, and he took the opportunity to quote some stuff said on the primary campaign trail? This is an example of why the president-elect should hold more town halls where the common person asks questions -- most likely they would be more on target and have some substance behind them.

Ed O'Keefe: Just putting this out there... I'm sure it'll provoke some conversation :-)

_______________________

Fairfax, Va.: While there was a lot of talk about Lieberman's support of McCain during the campaign, do you know how they became such good friends in the first place? Most of McCain's close friends in the Senate (Kerry, Hagel, Graham) all seemed to be ex-military types, but where does his bond with Lieberman come from?

Ed O'Keefe: The Senate is generally a chummy place, but Lieberman and McCain have similar legislative goals and interests. It also helps that they're both considered "maverick"-like in their behaviors, decisions and politics.

This Fox News report sums it up nicely: "The McCain-Lieberman relationship is decades old. The two worked closely together on Kosovo and the Balkans issues in the early 1990s, and 'really cemented their friendship' by hosting an annual trip to Munich each year for the Conference on Security Policy. Both men also pushed legislation, against the Bush administration's wishes, that eventually led to the establishment of the Sept. 11 commission."

_______________________

Bethesda, Md.: I am a mil contractor and it was just announced that the base will be closed for Inauguration Day. Is it common for the fed to close down for this?

Ed O'Keefe: Yes. It just so happens that I wrote about Federal holidays and bad weather days for Federal workers in my blog, The Federal Eye:

"Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2009, will also be a holiday for federal employees that perform non-overtime work in Washington, D.C., Montgomery or Prince George's County, Md. or Arlington or Fairfax Counties in Virginia, or the cities of Alexandria or Falls Church, Va. The holiday does not apply to federal workers living and working in other parts of the country. Any federal worker in the D.C. region who is not normally scheduled to work on Jan. 20 cannot take the holiday on another day, according to federal law."

_______________________

Re: Martinez: Martinez is ineligible for president since he isn't a natural-born citizen. I believe he was born in Cuba.

Ed O'Keefe: Correcto (As we say in Spanish...).

_______________________

Rockville, Md.: Popular?

Well, you get lots of points for starting on time.

Ed O'Keefe: Actually, you can thank my mother and fiancee for my punctuality.

_______________________

Anonymous: Who is Obama likely to pick for National Intelligence director? I gather the money is currently on a technocrat -- someone with a background in the intelligence community -- rather than another political heavy-hitter, such as Sen. Hagel.

Ed O'Keefe: Your gatherings are correct. The latest AP assessment suggests a few names:

Denny Blair, retired admiral and former commander of the U.S. Pacific Command.

Former Rep. Tim Roemer, D-Ind., and member of the Sept. 11 commission.

Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., who heads the House Homeland Security subcommittee on intelligence.

Don Kerr, No. 2 official in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Jami Miscik, former head of CIA's analytical operations.

_______________________

Punctuationville: You seemed to display a penchant for the use of the exclamation! point in your first chat last week! Where? Did you develop; your "unique punctuative style"?:)

Ed O'Keefe: My inability to deal with the disease known as... CrackBerry.

_______________________

Rochester, N.Y.: What's your take on the politics of a possible Big Three bailout? It seems to me that it benefits Republicans politically for the Big Three to go under, because it would effectively de-unionize hundreds of thousands of autoworkers, which would in the long run make them more likely to vote Republican. Are Mitch McConnell and others making this calculation?

Ed O'Keefe: It might de-unionize those workers, but then Republicans would have almost no chance of ever winning Michigan, which with 17 Electoral Votes is still an important state to win.

_______________________

Seattle, Wash.: How's Bush's embedding of political appointees going? Once embedded and dug in, what can the next administration do to remove these people, especially ones not qualified for their job by resume or temperament (i.e. Dept. of Education employees who advocated removing the entire department)?

Ed O'Keefe: The Post's Carol Leonnig leads our reporting on this topic. Her most recent report notes that the various Federal employees unions are seeking lists of "burrowers" at the various departments and agencies. Here are some examples Carol reported:

"In one case The Post found, the Drug Enforcement Administration director hired a political aide to a career Senior Executive Service job -- the highest rank in federal service -- about a year after the same candidate was rejected as unqualified for a lower-level position. The Justice Department initially raised concerns about the DEA's plans to hire the employee with no competition. The DEA advertised the job for two weeks starting Oct. 26 and announced its selection Nov. 13."

We're still tracking these moves, and if you learn of any PLEASE send me an e-mail with information to federaleye@washingtonpost.com.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Regarding Peter Baker's question of the President-elect, I mostly agree with that earlier chatter from Helena, Mont. Although I find it to be a useless question, that most citizens already know the answer to that question (that was the campaign, this is the application of my policy) it almost 'needs' to be asked and answered "on the record" so that people on TV will stop obsessing about this point.

Ed O'Keefe: Good point. It also allows TV stations to play Obama's response to remind voters that what's said on the campaign trail doesn't always necessarily happen once the winner gets to work.

_______________________

Re: Jeb Bush for Senate?: Really? Outside the less than 20 percent of Americans who approve of him, isn't the Bush family too tarnished for politics for a couple of generations?

Ed O'Keefe: Maybe nationwide, but Jeb Bush is still somewhat popular in Florida. It's unlikely he'd run, at least at this point, but never say never in American politics. Never.

_______________________

Castle Rock, Colol.: It must be nice to be the governor Of Alaska. She has so much free time that she can travel to Georgia and campaign in the Georgia Senate race. Who is paying for the trip and how does she get so much time off.

Ed O'Keefe: I'm curious about this point, so I'll look into it, but it's likely that the National Republican Senatorial Committee or the Saxby Chambliss campaign paid for her to get to Georgia. It's likely her office paid for her travels today to Philadelphia for the National Governors' Association meetings with President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden. The Philadelphia trip is one that most governors have made today.

_______________________

Waterville, Maine: Good morning,

Now that Obama has announced his economic and national security team, when will he announce his picks for other cabinet posts such as Labor, Commerce, Energy and Education? Any word on potential Republicans such as Powell, Collins or Snowe? I think his picks have been brilliant so far and Powell as education secretary or Snowe as EPA administrator or Energy secretary would validate his promise to have a bipartisan cabinet.

Ed O'Keefe: We should learn of his other cabinet appointments soon, but since there has been very little leaked thus far on the education, labor and energy posts, we might have to wait awhile. Remember that Bill Richardson is expected to get the Commerce post. Remember also that Obama's announcements of his cabinet selections are the earliest in modern times. So be patient.

_______________________

Re: Helena: I guess I wouldn't fault Peter Baker as much as Helena does. It's worth pointing out the fact that even politicians whom I admire (Obama and Clinton) sometimes use words for self-serving ends rather than actually to clarify. Obama was also right to point out that Baker was playing a game. He was. All of this reminds us that it's still caveat emptor when it comes to politics. The wise voter must remain skeptical of politicians' pronouncements -- even of politicians whom you generally trust.

Ed O'Keefe: Putting this out there.

And for the record, Peter Baker is a gentleman, scholar and all around great guy :-)

_______________________

McCain-Lieberman: Never mind the Munich meetings, McCain and Lieberman both regard themselves as mavericks within their parties, who put their principles first and don't mind provoking heartburn with their party leaders. Examples: Lieberman's reprimand of Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal and McCain (at least initially) bucking his party on immigration reform.

Have to say that McCain has been treated much better by the Republicans than Lieberman was by the Democrats.

Ed O'Keefe: Remember that nowhere is it written that a U.S. Senator must toe the party line... Senators are free to do as they wish, and get checked on those decisions every six years.

_______________________

Go Eagles: An AU grad helping to make your description of this chat, "wildly popular," come true.

It appears that Obama will have to focus on the economy or national security, and let his appointed team handle the other while his name gets attached to the result, no matter how active he was in the policy formation?

Which will he choose? Is my question moot because his management skills will allow him to spend ample time on both and make my base assumption wrong?

Keep up the good work.

Ed O'Keefe: Gooooo Eagles! Woohoo!

Obama's unlikely to have the time, or take the time to get bogged down in the specifics of either his economic or national security policies. Remember what Obama said on Monday: "I will be setting policy as president. I will be responsible for the vision that this team carries out, and I expect them to implement that vision once decisions are made. So as Harry Truman said, the buck will stop with me. And nobody who's standing here, I think, would have agreed to join this administration unless they had confidence that, in fact, that vision was one that would help secure the American people and our interests."

It seems Obama will do the vision thing and his picks will take care of the details... stay tuned.

And gooooo Eagles!

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: I am a federal employee who started my career during the Clinton administration. I find it laughable, predictable -- and obscene -- that your newspaper is investigating burrowing by Bush appointees, while the burrowing by Clinton appointees went virtually without notice, much less investigation. Double standards much? Bias much? I guess it's okay for a Democrat to burrow, but not a Republican.

Ed O'Keefe: Actually, our first report on "burrowing" during this transition noted that: "The practice of placing political appointees into permanent civil service posts before an administration ends is not new. In its last 12 months, the Clinton administration approved 47 such moves, including seven at the senior executive level. Federal employees with civil service status receive job protections that make it very difficult for managers to remove them."

So we have noted that at least so far, "burrowing" seemed more widespread during the Clinton Administration than the Bush Administration. But with 49 days to go, will the Bush Administration match or exceed those 47 slots? We'll see.

_______________________

Robocallsburg, S.C.: Anyone who thinks McCain has been treated better by the Republicans than Lieberman has been treated by the Democrats has obviously forgotten about the 2000 South Carolina primary.

Ed O'Keefe: Just putting this out there...

_______________________

re: asking about campaign statements now: Eh, it's a two-sided coin. As we all know it's the candidate's job to say those things during the primary -- we also know it's the reporter's job to note the contradictions and ask about them. Obama handled it perfectly by shrugging it off as "we all know that was my job and this is your job, consider it asked and answered. Now let's move on to saving the country."

Ed O'Keefe: Putting this out there too...

_______________________

St. Paul, Minn. : Hi Ed -- What do you make of the president's recent spate of mea culpas for this "problems" that have occurred on his watch? I really thought he'd ride off into the sunset stubborn to the end. It's a little jarring.

Ed O'Keefe: Most presidents give a series of exit interviews and often sit back and recollect. It seems he's now done this both with Charlie Gibson and may do it again in the near future in other interviews.

It's a demonstration perhaps that he now undersatnds -- or is at least willing to publicly admit -- the mood of the nation, whereas he would not have done so before.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: As for Rochester, N.Y., discussion of the autoworker unions, he or she obviously doesn't know much about unionist from Detroit. Most of the UAW members are not only current members but their parents and grandparents were members too. If the Republicans try to kill the Big 3 as a way to attack the unions, none of these people will EVER vote for Republicans.

And it will hurt the Republicans with a lot of blue-collar conservative voters who still believe in buying American and American first, even if they are more conservative on guns and abortion. This could help bring those Reagan Democrats back to the Democratic party for good.

Ed O'Keefe: There you go... another person's opinion...

_______________________

Send Charlie packing...: Ed: How much of a hypocrite does the Speaker of the House seem when the terrific misconduct by her old pals like Charlie Rangel goes almost unnoticed? Is this the change the Democrats are going to bring when the new President takes office?

Ed O'Keefe: The Rangel story has been widely reported in The Post, the NY Times and the NY Post. It has also been featured on major television newscasts and has been the topic of conversation on blogs.

Has he received different treatment thus far than other Democratic and Republican colleagues? You decide.

_______________________

Re: Burrowing: To answer the question from the Republican federal worker in Washington, D.C., about a "double standard" for burrowing, isn't it fair to say that burrowing is more of an issue for Bush appointees, because there have been so many scandals requiring the hiring practices and competence of appointees under Bush?

Ed O'Keefe: Adding this comment to the mix as well...

_______________________

Princeton, N.J:. When will the new congressman and senators be able to hire staff?

Ed O'Keefe: That process should be underway right now and they'd all be on staff by the time the new member is sworn in. Keep an eye out in your local news reports about various hires. Remember they'll have to staff both their Washington and local district offices.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: "McCain has been treated much better by the Republicans than Lieberman was by the Democrats."

Really? Think the Republicans would have allowed McCain to keep his chairmanship if he had endorsed Kerry in 2004? Or donated to Democratic Senate candidates?

Ed O'Keefe: Good point.

_______________________

Bethesda, Md.: In a recent article, Fred Barnes seems to assume that since he doesn't hate Obama's cabinent appoinitments "liberals" must. Example, "the only reasonable conclusion is he's spurning the left." I'm a pretty liberal guy and I have no problem with Obama's appointments and haven't heard any complaints from my friends. However, since I am a father of two children under five, I'm not exactly out canvasing public opinion. Are "liberals" mad or is Barnes being unnecessarily provocative?

washingtonpost.com: Is Obama America's First Co-President? (Transition Tracker, Dec. 1)

Ed O'Keefe: The great Mr. Barnes is probably doing his best to keep hope alive among Conservatives. As for what liberals think, you'd have to ask a liberal.

_______________________

washingtonpost.com: Bush on Economy/Charlie Gibson Interview (ABC News, Dec. 1)

_______________________

Rockville, Md.: What has surprised you about President-elect Obama after the election?

His Cabinet choices?

Ed O'Keefe: It's not so much suprising but impressive: The man has gone to the gym for at least 30 minutes each day since he was elected president. That's to his credit, and probably a great way for him to relieve the stress.

Have you heard that he's looking for a basketball court near the White House at which to play pick up games? Can you recommend any? Submit your suggestions.

_______________________

Re: Obama's Team of Rivals: I don't think that Lincoln is the model as much as FDR. Set strong policy guidelines, listen to all sides and encourage strong personalities, compotent, and smart people to figure out what works.

Ed O'Keefe: Agreed. This whole Lincoln/FDR thing makes my head spin and seems partially designed to drive up book sales at Barnes & Noble.

While I'm a student and fan of history, I'm not a fan of tying everything that happens today that something that happened in the past. There's no need to attach "-gate" to every so-called scandal and it seems silly to tie the next president to the transitions of past presidents. Obama and the situation he faces is different.

My opining ends now...

_______________________

Boston, Mass.: So what you are saying is that it was a good question because it gave a soundbite for the newscasts in which Obama said something everyone already knows? Seems like a waste of time for everyone involved.

What is the current procedure for figuring out who gets to the questions? I heard there was some kerfuffle about this last week. If I might suggest, why not have reporters submit questions to a reporters-chosen and always-changing group of 3 or so and have them pick the most interesting? I'm sick of boring questions.

Ed O'Keefe: There is some crazy formula that Robert Gibbs, the next White House Press Secretary, has employed, usually leading to a mix of print and broadcast reporters getting a question. Obama's also been good about always calling on a Chicago-based reporter. Smart move.

And if you haven't noticed (plenty of blogs have), the President-elect has yet to take a question from a Fox News reporter during these transition press conferences.

_______________________

Wilmington, N.C.: With Clinton accepting the SoS appointment, is she placing herself in a position where she can't run for prez in 2012? Is this a misogynist democratic idea or Obama's self-preserving stance?

Thankk you.

Ed O'Keefe: It's whatever you want to believe... we could type about the Obama-Clinton relationship 'til our hands fall off.

_______________________

Georgetown: Obama should play basketball at McDonough gym on the GU campus. Didn't Coach Thompson III go to Princeton? Did he play college ball with Craig Robinson, Obama's brother-in-law?

Ed O'Keefe: Good question... putting this out there...

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: The Hell-Well Center on GW campus, which often hosts famous folks looking for a little pickup hoops, could be a great call for the future president.

Ed O'Keefe: Here's another... keep 'em coming.

_______________________

Great skit idea: I think you just did a comic writer's job -- "As for what liberals think, you'd have to ask a liberal."

"Ask a liberal" is a great idea for an SNL skit a la man-on-the-street interviews, er, man-in-the-wine-and-cheese-shop interviews.

Ed O'Keefe: Agreed.

(Hosting "Saturday Night Live" is a career goal of mine. I'd also like to appear on "Sesame Street"... but anyways...)

_______________________

Team of Rivals: How long before the Beltway pundits start talking about 'lack of message' discipline among Obama's picks? I find the idea of people talking about message discipline a good thing after Bush's performance, which emphasized loyalty over compotence.

Ed O'Keefe: I'm thinking those conversations will start around 12:01 p.m. ET on Jan. 20, 2009.

_______________________

Dunn Loring, Va.: Has anyone in Obama's transition team noted the irony of the fact that Hillary and not Obama will be the person who actually takes the 3 a.m. phone call?

Ed O'Keefe: Perhaps, but I know plenty of other people have noted this!

_______________________

Lake Ridge, Va.: Castle Rock, Colo.: It must be nice to be the governor Of Alaska. She has so much free time that she can travel to Georgia and campaign in the Georgia Senate race. Who is paying for the trip and how does she get so much time off. ...

Wow, how myopic. Because governors from other states NEVER spend any time campaigning in other states and/or for other races.

It's fine to not like Gov. Palin or any or no reason, but don't slam her exclusively on an activity they all do routinely. Hate the game, not the player.

Ed O'Keefe: Amen, Lake Ridge is right... Govs. Rendell and Sebelius were frequently out of state campaigning for Clinton or Obama. So were Govs. Kaine and Pawlenty. Say nothing of the Representatives and Senators away from their offices campaigning for presidential candidates...

_______________________

Princeton, N.J.: I'm a 70-year-old progressive liberal who disagrees with Obama on health care, gay marriage, Iraq, etc., and I think he is doing great. After all the guy has to govern. All I have to do is snipe.

Ed O'Keefe: Snipe away. And please do most of it at washingtonpost.com ... the more time you spend on the site, the larger my Christmas bonus :-)

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: I can see a rooftop court from the Rhode Island Ave. Metro stop. Includes, I'm sure, a scenic vista of the Capital Dome. Imagine the photo opportunitie.

Ed O'Keefe: And heeeere's another...

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: Originally from St. Paul -- can the Senate really interfere with the recount in Minnesota to award the Senate seat to Franken? If they can, will they?

Ed O'Keefe: Yes it can.

According to our friends at The Hill: "The U.S. Constitution allows each congressional chamber to be the 'Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members.'"

But will the Senate intervene? Stay tuned.

_______________________

Presidential Court: Sportsclub L.A. at the Ritz. They're already used to shielding celebs.

Ed O'Keefe: Indeed.

_______________________

Rockville, Md.: National Intelligence Director?

Rob Simmons from Connecticut. Republican. But with lots of experience.

Ed O'Keefe: He's also the uncle of a very good friend of mine.... which doesn't necessarily qualify him for the job, but just sayin'...

_______________________

Re: Basketball Court: Isn't it more likely (and safer) just to build a court in the White House?

Ed O'Keefe: And they may indeed find a way to do that... but can you imagine them doing that with the economy the way it is? Hmm....

_______________________

Ed O'Keefe: Alrighty folks, that's it for today. Please make sure to check out my blog,Federal Eye , and I'll chat with you again real soon.

_______________________

Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.