Washington Sketch Live

Post columnist Dana Milbank serves as the capital's foremost critic of political theater.

He was online Friday, Oct. 16 at 10:00 a.m. ET to take your questions and comments about the things politicians say -- and the absurd ways they find to say them.

Read today's column Obama's War of Few Words on who will fill the Afghanistan vacuum.

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Dana Milbank: Good morning, Sketchreaders.

It has been an interesting week for the Washington Sketch. Olympia Snowe finished writing President Obama's health care plan, and Carl Levin put the finishing touches on Obama's Afghanistan plan. Barney Frank is hard at work on Obama's financial regulation plan, and Barbara Boxer has just rolled out Obama's climate-change plan.

Tell me, dear reader, which of Obama's policies you have been devising.

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What does win mean?: Dana, I've wondered when republicans talk about win in Iraq, Afghanistan (or VietNam) what does that mean? What is win in a guerilla war, when anyone with a political, religious, poverty driven dispute can cause havoc? IMO there's no way to defend or win, what do you think?

Dana Milbank:

The way we win in Afghanistan is for Osama bin Laden to say "uncle," which, according to Google translation, is " عم ". He must deliver this message in a video tape given to al Jazeera.

Actually, the way the House conservatives were defining victory yesterday was to make Afghanistan look like Iraq. I suppose the notion of victory can always be defined downward.

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Valley Forge, Pa.: Hi Dana,

I've asked this question several times recently but no one answers it.

Where is David Addington? What is he doing now? Does he have a job? Is he planning to write a book?

I never see him interviewed on TV. I never see him quoted in print or online media. It's like he up and disappeared.

He is one of the key players of the Bush 43 national security scene and he has simply vanished. I'm concerned for his well being.

Please Dana, couldn't you do a stakeout at his house and do an "ambush" interview. It would be just like 60 Minutes.

Dana Milbank:

No one answers this, Valley Forge, because we are all afraid of David Addington. We believe he is living in a small cabin in the forest somewhere writing a manifesto. He has a lot of kids, though, so it is probably very noisy in the cabin and this is probably slowing progress on his manifesto.

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President Obama Cannot Win...:

First his critics cried, "Obama's doing TOO much!" Now, with Afghanistan and judges, his critics are crying, "Obama's lazy! He's not doing enough!"

First on Afghanistan, wow! The President wants to take some time thinking out his choices and possible CONSEQUENCES of his choice? It's not like he wants to rush in blindly with a war with a country that posed no threat to us. I prefer a President when it involves HUMAN lives to carefully consider his options.

On judges, that's not his doing. Republicans in Congress have used every procedural tactic to block what nominations he has. Republicans have made no secret that they WANT Obama to fail and they are going to try every trick in the book to make that happen. They're a selfish bunch and they have no care for what is good for this country.

Thank you for listening.

Dana Milbank:

Different critics, for the most part.

The ones who said he was doing too much were the conservatives who didn't want his economic package to go through, and then his health care plan.

The ones who say too little, on judges, etc., are on the left.

Afghanistan isn't a question of too much or too little, but, as you say, a question of taking too long. The concern here, as I pointed out in today's column, is less an ideological one than the likelihood that the longer Obama waits, the more his policy is being written for him by other people.

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Dallas, Tex.: Did you see in Hammond, La where the judge denied an interracial marriage? OK, so its La, but seriously? This is an example of the lack of synchronization between DC and the rest of America. Read what the judge says and think about the President, its Unbelievable!

washingtonpost.com: Interracial couple denied marriage license in La. (AP, Oct. 16)

Dana Milbank:

Astonishing.

Best part is he did it out of concern for any children the couple might have. Presumably he is worried they might grow up and become president.

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What the hell? : What are you doing on at 10 AM? When did this happen? I thought you were on at noon.

Dana Milbank:

I have to do some volunteer work today during the usual hour, so we moved it up. Am now realizing from the relatively short queue of questions that this took some folks by surprise.

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Uncle: Is that 'uncle' in Pashto or Dari? It kind of looks like a swan.

Dana Milbank: That was arabic. Google translation isn't up on pashto yet.

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"the longer Obama waits, the more his policy is being written for him by other people": But doesn't he have to wait to see (or get a better read) on how the disputed election results shake out?

Dana Milbank: Now he's got an even trickier situation, because he can't plausibly wait until the outcome of the recount to implement the new strategy, whatever it is. On the other hand, the new strategy, whatever it is, will have a much better chance of success if there's something resembling a legitimate government in place.

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Mt. Lebanon Pa.: Boy Said to Have Floated Off in Balloon Found Safe

Likely outcome. Please choose one.

a. Boys are punished.

b. Parents pay damages to local, state, and federal authorities involved in search and rescue.

c. FAA tightens up unlicensed aircraft rules and regulations.

d. Family gets its own sit-com on ABC.

e. Extraterrestrials discovered living in north central Colorado. And they look just like us!

Thanks much. HLB

Dana Milbank:

f. yesterday's events will be traced to Roswell in nearby New Mexico.

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Coffee break time: OK, everyone over to my house for a hot cup of Joe (decaf & cocoa available) and some doughnuts. Enough with this continuous crappy cold drizzle. Hey, we are trying to avoid swine flu here. If I wanted to live in Seattle I would move there.

Dana Milbank:

Thank you for bringing up the swine flu, my favorite subject. Our au pair has it this week, so the dreaded bug is IN MY HOUSE! We have locked her in the basement in a tub of Purell and my daughter is dining on Tamiflu McNuggets.

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Obama: So he's the guy we all thought he was in the campaign or he's someone else?

And if someone else, care to venture an opinion on who? Or what?

I know I definitely have buyer's remorse (Afghanistan, Iraq, Bailout, Wall Street, Civil Liberties). I wonder if we'll all get a recall notice in the mail one day.

Thanks.

Dana Milbank:

At the risk of incurring the wrath of the blogosphere, yet again, I don't think anybody should be surprised that Obama is turning out to be a cautious, split-the-difference kind of guy. It was always my view that he represented no threat to the species Homo Politicus and the way business is conducted in the capital.

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Virginia: Dana, you know how poll questions often start, "If the election were held today, ..."? Well, I wish it were! If the election were held today, we'd have no more polls, no more gotcha sound bytes, no more accusations, and no more "He lied/no, he lied" ads on my television EVERY 30 SECONDS.

Dana Milbank: I feel your pain, Virginia. I'm in your media market. In my sleep I am hearing the sing-song voice of the man in the Deeds ad telling us that McDonnell isn't really from northern Virginia.

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Hickory, N.C.: Good morning Dana. How bout them crazy R's now accusing interns of being Muslim - how much whack does the republican party allow itself before it blows up?

washingtonpost.com: GOP Rep Takes Campaign Against Muslim 'Intern Spies' To Fox (Talking Points Memo, Oct. 15)

Dana Milbank:

Who gave Sue Myrick's parents a marriage license??!!

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Cleveland: LeBron James has H1N1 - the tall version. Maybe he got it over at your house!

The fans of the Cavs want to thank you. Please come and visit.

Turn onto Elm Street and drive slow.

Dana Milbank:

Wasn't my au pair. She wears a surgical mask whenever she leaves her tub of Purell.

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Re: Obama: Can't believe anyone's shocked by him. The moment he chose his running mate, I knew he was going to be a fairly middle-of-the-road guy. And I even like Biden! A lot! I'm just saying, you don't choose Joe Biden to be your running mate if you plan on being some kind of ultra-liberal change-osaurus rex.

Speaking of, how much hate mail from Biden's fangirls (fanboys? fanpeople?) do you think Arianna Huffington's gotten for her resignation call? It is my understanding he has four or five who aren't even related to him.

Dana Milbank:

Here's how much I adore Joe Biden: On the way up to New Jersey for a wedding last weekend I stopped with my family at a restaurant in Wilmington just because Joe Biden said he likes their soup. I am a Joe Biden fanboy! And I will write indignantly to Arianna immediately.

Of course, every time I enter Delaware, whose main industries are traffic and toll booths, I have doubts about anybody from that state being trusted with national office.

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Re: Hammond, La.: Can you think of a better counter-narrative to Obama's visit to New Orleans?

I have to believe Orly Taitz would be involved...

Dana Milbank:

I was hoping he'd survey the damage by doing a flyover in a runaway balloon.

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Annapolis, Md.: Just a comment, maybe people should have to pay for their lifestyle choices.

Dana Milbank:

I keep telling my au pair that. She never should have left the house without her Tamiflu.

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Moscow, Russia: Dana, The health care debates that I am watching from far away are beginning to look like the Goldilocks story. Who would think that we would be reduced to a debate over whose numbers are too hot and whose are too cold? By the way, Afghanistan is starting to look the same to me. Could be the amount of vodka I'm swilling while watching CSpan online at God awful hours.

Dana Milbank: You know we're in trouble when Moscow tells us Afghanistan is starting to look familiar.

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H1N1 and health insurance reform: Dana, Are you eager for health insurance reform since H1N1 is at hand?

Dana Milbank: I sure am. And if we get the public option, the H1N1 infection rate will be pegged to Medicare prices, so it will spread at a much slower pace.

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Arlington, Va.: How will you one-up Meghan McCain's racy twitpic? Your fans are eagerly waiting!

washingtonpost.com: Meghan McCain Twitpic: Blogger Threatens To Quit Twitter Over Tank Top Pic, 'Breasts' Drama (Huffington Post, Oct. 15)

Dana Milbank:

Well, I have to leave you with something to look forward to in next week's chat. . .

Speak to you then, back at the regular noon hour.

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