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.

Shailagh Murray, Washington Post congressional reporter, was online Monday, Dec. 15, at 11 a.m. ET to answer questions about the latest news from Washington and the transition.

A transcript follows.

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Archive: Post Politics Hour discussion transcripts

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Floris, Va.: Shailagh: After the 2004 election, President Bush said, "I have political capital to spend and I intend to spend it." Since P-E Obama was elected by a much wider margin I assume he has even more in the bank. What would you say then, if he asked all Americans to at least consider making their next purchase of a car one from Detroit? A patriotic plea, if you will. Then sweeten the deal by ramming through Congress a bill that gives everyone a 20 percent tax credit if they buy a new American car -- good for 2009 only. The tax credit would be instead of bailout bucks of course.

Shailagh Murray: Greetings everyone, and hope you're having a fine holiday season. If you're bored with Blago, try Bernard Madoff -- now that's a shakedown artist!

Floris, an excellent question. I suppose it would be almost impossible to pull off, as so many "foreign" cars are now made in the U.S. But incentives to purchase more fuel efficient cars, or cars with new technologies, could get people shopping again. And the fuel efficiency incentive is really key now that gas prices are low again. Anyway, these incentives work pretty well with appliances and wouldn't it be nice to actually get something for our bailout dollars -- like a new Chevy Equinox, which is what I'm thinking of buying.

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St. Pete, Fla.: Just wanted to know: if you could have any type of shoe hurled at you, what would it be?

I'd like some slip-on, soccer-style flip-flops throw at me since my dog just chewed through my favorite pair.

Shailagh Murray: Ruby slipper.

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Richmond, Va.: I guess it's just in the nature of politics to want to attack the opposition, but I really am appalled (not shocked) that the Republicans want to try to taint Obama with the Blagojevich scandal. They will look foolish if it all turns out to be nothing. While they may have some legitimate (from their perspective) opposition to any number of Obama's policies, tainting with this kind of thing is just something we don't need now. Don't they see that?

Shailagh Murray: The Republicans are responding in a totally reasonable way -- they are wildly overreacting and hoping the facts catch up with their hyperbole. There isn't a reasonable person around who thinks this scandal will taint Obama in any meaningful way, but at the very least, it reminds people of the political world from whence he came. This story could be a useful preamble to something bigger down the road. I'm not saying it will turn out that way, but you have to push. The same way the Dems are pushing on Coleman in Minnesota right now.

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Dirty Politics: Is Jesse Jackson Jr. the real loser in the Illinois Senate Seat scandal even though he kind of got dragged into it by association?

Shailagh Murray: Based on many conversations with folks who know the Illinois political world very well, I never thought Jesse Jackson Jr. had a great shot at statewide office, so although his reputation is going to take a hit, perhaps he will be spared having to give up a safe House seat to run in a Senate race that would likely lead to defeat.

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Fairfax County, Va.: I have been out of town and am just catching up on the developments re the Salazar brothers -- one possibly in for Interior, the other possibly out for Agriculture. Very exciting! I was surprised the coverage didn't point out that as senators, both Salazars and Obama had apartments in the same Capitol Hill building, always depicted as slightly rundown. Surely living at the same address had to build some camaraderie, right?

Shailagh Murray: Yeah, right, for the five nights Obama actually spent at the place.

I don't get this pick at all, unless the Salazars don't like elected office. That's a purple state, and winning another election there wouldn't be a slam dunk for either. Plus running an agency -- any agency -- is not easy, at least if you take it seriously.

If anyone would like to shed some light on these rumors, please weigh in.

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Washington, D.C.: So the fact Obama's Cheif of Staff Mr. Emanuel spoke to Blago about the Senate seat isn't a news story? If Obama were a republican, there would be calls for a full investigation and an independent council. Double standards much?

Shailagh Murray: Let's think about this for a minute. There's an open Senate seat, and the governor is looking around for candidates. The governor contacts the departing senator's top aide, who happens to be another local politician, to discuss options. Why would anyone not participate in that conversation? That is politics! What do you think is happening in New York right now?

If the shoe was on the other foot (as opposed to being thrown at the president) then any reasonable person would have to draw the exact same conclusion.

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New York : Have you ever been tempted to throw your shoes at any public figure? Heels or pumps?

Seriously, isn't it appalling that the security in the Green Zone was so inadequate that the guy was able to get "two shots" off? Is someone in the Secret Service getting disciplined today?

Shailagh Murray: I'm worried about the implications for holiday travel. Do we all get cotton booties as we board?

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Lake Elmo, Minn.: Regarding Dana Milbank's original claim that you were "crying like a baby" during Ted Stevens' farewell to the Senate speech: Milbank has now, in fact, withdrawn that and said instead that what he thought was a tremulous expression of emotion on your part was rather a symptom of a difficult "allergy problem" that apparently afflicts you. As someone who knows from personal experience what allergy sufferers go through, I have two questions a) Doesn't the tremendous amount of air travel you do for your job greatly exacerbate your allergy problems and b) On the other hand, is the the allergy problem sometimes a plus, since candidates are more likely to answer your questions because they are afraid to disappoint you when they see you are already in tears?

Shailagh Murray: That Dana. He always needs a foil.

I was NOT crying. I do NOT have allergies. I also did not get sick ONCE during the campaign because I drank water all the time (kids, you hear that?).

That said, I am deeply sympathetic to allergy sufferers and have in fact claimed an obscure affliction in past years to avoid getting my kids a cat. We have a dog now, so they've forgotten about it.

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Rochester, N.Y.: A few weeks ago I wrote in to ask if it was likely that Senate Republicans would block a bailout for auto companies simply to screw the UAW. I was told that was ridiculous, not only by the reporter (who I think was you), but by other readers.

I was right, though, no? Why are reporters so unrealistically naive about the motivations of politicians?

Shailagh Murray: Well, I take my lumps if I'm owed them. I think more likely Republicans are using the UAW, and pushing them to make concessions they know are impossible, as a scapegoat, because they want to draw the line somewhere in this bailout process. Many probably regret supporting the original bailout -- and regret it more and more as the optics of the crisis don't improve. But I've also heard many Republicans profess to be baffled by the GOP's choice of constituency: Reagan Democrats.

There's a sharp regional battle line developing, by the way. The Southern Republicans who are pushing back hardest apparently think they can win the WH without Michigan, Ohio, or Pennsylvania.

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Saddened...: I'm saddened that everyone is treating the shoe incident as a source of amusement. While I do not condone throwing shoes at certain presidents, the media should be made more responsible at telling the back story.

The Iraqi reporter who threw the shoe was actually held hostage by a terrorist group last year. Not only that, he lost his entire family to the war after he was released. This man's life was tragic and we should not be laughing at him.

Shailagh Murray: Thank you for weighing in.

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May I Defend Blago?: I'm slightly willing to grab this skunk by the tail because, really folks, this is D.C. If you've worked anywhere near the Hill, this kind of behavior happens all the time. The only difference is that it's a bit more genteel (but only a bit.) May I direct everyone's attention back to Richard Nixon? He basically auctioned off diplomatic posts. Lobbyists, let's be honest, purchase access. Blago is guilty of being crass, not of being different.

Shailagh Murray: I totally agree. It's not even clear he committed an actual crime here. As someone last week remarked, talking about hiring hookers is perfectly legal.

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Philadelphia, Pa.: Many people criticized Obama for running for prez so soon in his political career. Maybe he did so because if he marinated too long in Chicago politics it would hard to not be tainted by the corruption of Chicago politics, right?

Shailagh Murray: Interesting point. I recall speculation a few years ago that he would pass on a WH run and instead go back and run for governor. Perhaps he realized that he may never make it out of Springfield without handcuffs.

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Alexandria, Va.: Not that I'm defending Bush (or America's) actions in Iraq, but it seems something of a silver lining that Iraq has reached a point that the Iraqi's have the freedom to throw shoes at a press conference. Not something that would have happened under Saddam Hussein!

It does seem like it's time to get out, though. Iraq won't be free to make it's own future until they can stop reacting to the USA's presence.

Shailagh Murray: Thanks for this.

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Minneapolis, Minn.: As an acute political observer from outside our state, what do you think the odds are that Franken could actually pull off winning a Senate seat?

Shailagh Murray: Slim, but only because there aren't many ballots to work with. I did read somewhere this morning that he could pull ahead by literally a handful. This certainly speaks to the value of runoffs.

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Bronx, N.Y. : Don't know if your comparison of Obama/Blago and Coleman actually holds water. The FBI isn't investigating Obama, or money given to his wife. Coleman could actually wind up in some trouble, or be mildly disgraced at least. Obama not so much.

Shailagh Murray: I agree that there's a distinction, but the point is, if you're an opposition party with very little clout, you gotta jump on anything that comes your way.

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The New Civil War : Somebody better see how Fort Sumpter is doing. Not only did Southern senators spearhead the defeat of the Detroit bailout, but someone pointed out that there are no Southerners in the Obama cabinet to date. Maybe the GOP should go with Jeb Davis in the next election cycle.

Shailagh Murray: Hmm, I wonder if this has anything to do with the lack of Democratic senators, House members and governors from Southern states?

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North Manchester, Ind.:Re: Blago. Your bias is showing: if you think Blago didn't do anything illegal, you need to go back and read what was released and ignore the stuff that got the play in most papers (the bleeping parts). Fitzie can't be your hero one moment when he goes after one of the Bushies, and then become Ken Starr reincarnate when he goes after one of yours. Blago may not see a day of prison because he may offer to resign to avoid anything drastic, but he is going down.

Shailagh Murray: I'm not making this up. Real lawyers have noted that in the case of the Senate seat, the legal situation is murky.

And just because I'm an Irish girl doesn't mean Fitzie was my hero.

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Philadelphia, Pa."...Iraq has reached a point that the Iraqis have the freedom to throw shoes at a press conference."

But, the Iraqis are thinking of charging him with "insulting a guest of Iraq"!

Shailagh Murray: Hey, democracy is a wonderful thing.

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Charleston, S.C.: Hi Shailagh,

The most interesting development in the transition has been the direction Obama will or won't take the education department and who will lead that agency -- the reformers versus the unions. Given the president-elect's track record of appointing highly qualified and well regarded leaders, so far, he seems to really be struggling on this one. Why is that and when do you think we will see some clear indication on the direction of education policy?

Shailagh Murray: Supposedly he's going to make this pick later in the week and I agree with your very sharp observation here. In my humble opinion Obama's education pick will be the single most revealing one he makes. There is no gray area in education, at least perception wise. You are either a union person or you are a reform person. And there is no domestic policy issue that is more urgent in more ordinary households, than education (granted, health care is an urgent concern for many people, but it's apples and oranges). We will never fix our social problems without highly functioning schools. I think Obama knows that, and if he wimps out on this one, it will telegraph a lot.

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Charleston, S.C.: It's Fort Sumter...

Shailagh Murray: I knew you'd catch that.

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RE: Richmond, Va.A new Rasmussen poll this morning shows the RNC played Blago and the media like a violin. 45 percent of Americans believe that Obama played a role in the Blag-man scandal. All of a sudden, Obama is not so pristine, and who cares that almost everyone in politics and the media know that Obama and Blago had nothing but contempt for each other.

Shailagh Murray: A reminder that in politics, perception is reality.

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South Riding, Va.: I am somewhat amazed by the projected crowds for the inauguration. There won't be 4 million tickets available. I doubt there will even by 1 million tickets. What are these people planning to do in D.C.? The more I hear about problems with parking, transportation, bathrooms, vendors, etc., the more it makes me want to stay as far away from D.C. as possible. It is not like the 4th of July where you can see the fireworks from Virginia or D.C.

With that said, even though I asked my congressman the day after the election for tickets, I won't know if I am one of the lucky few to get tickets until January. Does that mean a lot of hotel rooms will be canceled once people realize they were not able to get tickets?

washingtonpost.com: Inauguration Watch

Shailagh Murray: I expect most of the hotel rooms are being booked by donors and the like who are certain to get tickets.

But the inaugural committee announced this morning that Obama and Biden would be arriving by train, with stops in Philly, Wilmington and Baltimore. That's a great opportunity for people to catch some action without having to brave the inaugural crush.

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RE: Floris, Va.: Shailagh, if there was a tax incentive, as Floris suggested, provided to consumers if they purchased a car from ONLY one of the Big Three, it would be a flagrant WTO violation and the fallout from the EU and Japan would be serious. Under the WTO's National Treatment rule, the government strictly cannot create artificial consumer disincentives for imported goods.

Shailagh Murray: When I was an antitrust reporter in Brussels for the WSJ (no joke), I wrote stories about European favoritism all the time. I think there are ways to rig incentives in favor of certain companies if you're basing them on energy consumption or something like that -- but you can't do it by brand or location.

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Chicago, Ill.: Lets all hope Blago is out by week's end. If this is the case what can you tell us about the Lt. Gov?

Shailagh Murray: Absolutely nothing. Let's hope he's not on the tapes.

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My Hero: Fitzie is my hero. Like me he is idealist who believes in the U.S. and its government as taught to us in eighth grade civics and the way it should be. However, it's hard to make out what criminal charges Blago would face. Excessive cursing? Venality? Stupidity? There are no statutes making any of those illegal.

Shailagh Murray: He does seem like a movie character.

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Real scandals of the week: Madoff and Drier are really criminals and a real jab at what has gone wrong in America over the past 30 years. Many of Madoff's clients trusted their money to him because they thought his abnormally smooth, positive returns were because he was using his insider's knowledge to game the system.

So who are the victims? You and me sister, we're going to foot the bill.

Shailagh Murray: Can I plug another publication here for a minute? I encourage you all to read Michael Lewis's cover story this month in Portfolio, about how it all went so wrong on Wall Street. It's an outstanding piece that walks you through the whole sordid mortgage meltdown, and if you're still fixated on Blago afterwards, you need to take a perspective pill.

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re: Obama approvals: Actually, there's no movement at all in his fav/unfav. Gallup has him at 72. Rassmussen has him at 67. (Nate Silver again. Yikes!)

Shailagh Murray: Go Nate!

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Williamsburg, Va.: You mentioned that Franken's chances were slim. With the rulings of the Canvassing Board last Friday, plus the AP analysis of the challenged ballots, he is now a favorite. Even Intrade has Coleman at only 43 percent.

Shailagh Murray: I should never had said anything committal about the Minnesota recount. For the record: This thing has more twists and turns than the Tour de France and I have no idea how it's going to come out.

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Arlington, Va.: I know we have an epidemic of lazy police in this country, but wow, the "shoe" incident shows it's even reached the Secret Service. How exactly does that person get up, throw a shoe, reach down, take off his other shoe, wind up and throw the 2nd shoe, and then berate the president before a member of the Secret Service appears from offstage? What EXACTLY were the members of the Secret Service doing?

Shailagh Murray: Lots of questions about the Secret Service this morning.

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washingtonpost.com: The End (Portfolio, Dec.)

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You are either a union person or you are a reform person.: Utter nonsense. Look at Chicago. In many places the teachers union is the major force for "reform." You are confusing "reform" for anti-union which the Republicans have spent a lot of money to get people to do.

Shailagh Murray: The point is there are very few candidates for the job who are considered broadly acceptable. The point is, Obama has publicly praised controversial figures like Michelle Rhee -- will he select an education secretary who will make her life easier, or more difficult? There aren't many policy areas where the contrast is quite as stark, and within one political party.

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Fairfax Station, Va.: Some symbolic moments often become representative of a public figure's life. Do you think the shoe throwing Iraqi will be one such moment for George W. Bush?

Shailagh Murray: Yes -- not just for the potent symbolism of what he is leaving behind in Iraq, but because he answered with humor. Which tells us that, after a long eight years, Bush doesn't seem to have changed much.

I think we've seen flashes of the real Bush and the real Cheney in recent days, BTW. That Hoover line last week was a killer, and would have resonated if Cheney weren't so reviled.

Anyway folks -- have a good week, a great holiday, and I'll see you in a couple of weeks. Cheers, Shailagh

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