After the Show Show: 7/8

" We're still laughing about that kicker welcome to another edition of Special Report on line I'm Bret Bair of course you can add your questions and comments here on line and will be reading them throughout. The program here we also have on the bottom of the screen you may see the the polls that are ongoing including how can the US should be more effective in Afghanistan. Missy. Structure will bring up these polls. And we have our panel. Some analytical observations from folks here Bill Sammon of Fox News Washington managing editor. And you remember Steve Hayes senior writer for the weekly standard Mara Liasson national political correspondent national public radio and Jeff -- managing editor of digital of The Washington Times. We first want to talk about the number of SARS. That this administration passed we call them as -- in the media. Whatever they are the Senate doesn't confirm them. And the Obama administration has. More than thirty of these czar is working in the administration I think we have a graphic of all of the -- is do we have that. -- Well okay well let's show the control room as they work to get the graphic of the thirty -- There they are these guys are working hard in the control room there's Doug -- back he's the senior producer but it -- they go. The stars as we work to get that. Run again bill what about that there are some questions here. How the stars not unconstitutional. From TJ times."

" Well you have the the waters are which is not to be confused with the Great Lakes are which is not to be confused with the cars are. The compensations are the insurance are phenomenon. The problem with the SARS is that critics on both left and right argue that. He's standing here if you serve being. The legitimate constitutional authority of the Senate normally a president has cabinet officers post cabinet officers are in charge of large agencies. In this cabinet officers have to be confirmed by the Senate. They can be hauled before the Senate and you know and grilled and in how we should point out. Other administrations have had -- Republican and Democrat. -- try to operate our heads ours bush had a good but this book Obama's got thirty plus I mean the Romanov dynasty in Russia had only eighteen in three centuries we now have. 32 -- 33 here so. You know senator Byrd is a Democrat there's been some Republicans are saying look. You know this is an end run around the legitimate authority of the Senate you can't you not only can you not summon them before the Senate they can invoke executive privilege. Because they're just directed appointees of the president they can say look we don't have to come talk to you -- anything so it's a legitimate problem Jeff had I think."

" The bigger problem is is there's going to be conflict. From between the White House and cars and the cabinet officials. And who are only a very similar sorts of responsibilities and come -- what happens. He -- the car -- disagrees with the commerce secretary of the Treasury Secretary. In all likelihood the Treasury Secretary the commerce secretary you're going to be pushed aside because all the most important officials. Are always the ones closest to the president. In the White House and it undermines. The authority of the people who actually have their hands. The executive branch of government on the thousands upon thousands of officials who run the federal government."

" Mark do we know Judy asks how much are these -- paid these. Ours are not paid any more than their actual titles would suggest I mean when you look at the kind of innocuous titles of these people have none of them are actually called bizarre by the White House. Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Director of the white house office of urban affairs assistant secretary of the treasury for financial stability. Assistant to the president for energy and climate change and they have that thing payroll etc. Sure but look this is a trend that's been going on for a long time which is to diminish cabinet what -- you might call cabinet government and to consolidate power in the White House. And you know we get to test the question what happens if a -- commerce secretary get some conflict with one of the SARS. Bizarre wins I mean there is no conflict this is so this is an administration. That is a very cohesive there are not warming. Turf battles I mean if there is a czar in the State Department you can rest assured the Secretary Clinton picked them cannot Richard Holbrooke herself so let's go back to."

" The cost of them it comes under the White House operation white house budget pays for them they're there or maybe a third more councils in the White House. Then in the Bush Administration in part to take care of these -- for example Steve on the campaign trail candidate Obama and the Obama campaign. Criticized George W. Bush for executive power increasing executive power. Pointed out Vice President Cheney was grabbing too much power. This is more power in the west wing and the White House then. They had and bizarre position."

" Right and and that's my problem with actually. I'm not hang out and it's a step -- losing sleep because they're too many stars in the White House where do you think it's a problem is is the hypocrisy. Because as you say on the campaign coming that was one of the the regular applause lines for. Then candidate Obama and then candidate Joe Biden. Was that -- we've seen this abusive of executive power in the Bush Administration really you know. Can restore the balance that you had to -- people coming from the Senate they knew the proper role of legislator -- legislative branch never pointed. Help the legislative branch reassert its role and you've seen that they've infect I'm just the opposite and they don't get called on it and that's the second problem I have. If this had been Bush Administration can you imagine. That the mainstream media the numbers -- stories we would have seen about this sort of major power grab bringing power close to. Power hungry officials at the White House the president and vice president we would've seen countless stories about this and they wouldn't have been buried on. He page a twenty of newspapers it would have been front page above the fold headlines about the abuse of power."

" I want to go back to a different topic bill we had around on the show about the stimulus. That's that collectively that didn't think that there was going to be a second stimulus. But there's real concerns and questions about the first stimulus and where that money has gone and where it is going."

" Yeah I think there's a growing consensus that the first stimulus has not done what it was promised to do. I mean even Democrats I mean you get Harry Reid the Senate majority leader's talking the other day about cheese we've only been able to spend 10% of the 90% of this hasn't been spent yet we're talking about a second stimulus he -- second stimulus. Remember the high. -- and promises we we were given. It's in order to get this stimulus package. Past I mean we were promised to you know these these these these these pie in the sky. It's gonna solve this can keep your growth unemployment everybody manageable level it's gonna solve the it's gonna get jobs going is gonna solve this recession -- it hasn't done any of that. And so I think there is zero political will to get a second stimulus package through. Obama doesn't wanna take -- the table because he wants to keep his options open but not even Democrats think that there's a public appetite for putting another stimulus package through 190% of the first package has -- spent yet."

" And morrow when you look at the big price tag whatever and as a being for healthcare."

" There's just no political will there is no political will for adding to the deficit anymore. Now if something is needed down the road if unemployment is still high. You could add extend unemployment insurance which is a traditional response to downturns or you could try package of tax cuts. --"

" Being I think that if you by the -- Pete says shovel ready green jobs they complete joke that one of the things that. Before the stimulus you know when the initial pitch was all the shovel ready projects are ready to go. There have been a lot of shovels."

" Well and they have this they just may not be shoveling dirt is whether I think may be happening here but I I think that there are. Options. If the economy gets bad enough that congress. Does two things well it. Does nothing and overreact so and so if the economy really good word to decline it precipitation. Congress will act. But what it does is I think it sweeps off the table other. Initiatives that the president has say healthcare climate change. Maybe even financial regulation the Big Three of his priorities so. I guess it is possible that something can be done quickly to save the economy and may well but at the expense of the rest of the president's agenda that's -- the question."

" Exasperated earlier was it was hat this point can the stimulus. Money that's in the pipeline be redirected by this administration or do you think it would be safe I think that would amount and to essentially. Admitting failure on a certain level and and you know for reasons. We all understand it probably be reluctant to do that. -- not I think I think Jeff's point is is an interest in one and going back to what we've said before I wonder if they've. Wouldn't be open to you know rather than looking at a second stimulus that they would be look who's interested in incorporating some ideas that takes some Republican ideas. To get some Republican by and to you know whether they I don't think they would -- caught a second stimulus I think we're done seeing uses the words of our tax cut my hand yes Mike from New York says if -- second stimulus won't fix the economy what."

" Will. I tell you I think this is part and parcel of this public this growing public dissatisfaction over the stimulus. It's part and parcel of what I view as the first. Real rough patch of this young presidency. The stimulus is cut problems his health care thing is bogged down on Capitol Hill fighting among Democrats about whether you know to a public option or whether the tax benefits. He just got back from Russia over just been just left Russia where he got lectured by an hour by Vladimir Putin. There's a new poll out in Ohio which is a Bellwether state I grew up there. Sort of a microcosm of the nation and has its the only statement in this country. We're Obama's approval rating has slipped below 50% for the first time ever 49%. Is down thirteen points since may. You know I tell ya I think. The bloom is starting to come off the roads of the vaunted. Honeymoon of the Obama presidency it's you know he's still extraordinarily popular guy there's still a lot of political capital he's got but I'm telling you he is."

" Entering a rough patch right now are you there every day you agree with that. I think this is something that the administration actually anticipated. I mean that as unemployment goes up his numbers go down that's almost like an ironclad law and politics. And his cumulative the average job approval rating for the president right now I think it's fifty it's it's under sixty that's still pretty healthy. But there there there -- a couple things to worry about one to -- really concerned about deficits. They're only gonna get bigger when all these other things are passed. The second thing is they're not as convinced that the stimulus is working. And I think the White House has at least one if not find events every single week to call attention to. How well the money's been spent they have Joe Biden going up all over the country meeting with -- I mean there's that's true and isn't that. -- LYTV show the public of the money's being spent and jobs are being created but people don't believe it because. -- that unemployment number is something that's absolutely immutable you can't stand that and it's always a lagging indicator. And I think the White House is hoping that as this stimulus money. It's a rate of spending its accelerated and it will be more and more will be getting into the economy this finally next year. It begins to to have an impact."

" And I think you don't know what those events a lot of residents are -- you know. How to put it delicately -- pretty stupid you know you go you good to see never. -- So you that I can really tell you you lose and go see faster you can see mayor Ronnie in Roanoke and you're showing that kind of money if the guy and he said well this is great we love our money. What does that tell you to tell you nothing for anybody -- Actually outside the process looking at this it tells you nothing no reporters that we know are gonna cover that is a serious event or he would smoke number I just love -- local news its in its path. -- Here's the movie -- here is the new musical section of the new never the traffic to fly ball in the -- to new yeah damn it this is all about recently."

" Particular events as Charles -- asked could somebody explain the deal made between the White House in the hospitals today and what does that mean. Basically vice president Biden announced this agreement the national hospitals will forgo some. 155 billion dollars in future Medicare and Medicaid payments to helping the overall cost of health care reform. Now this is an idea that -- senator Max -- really came up with to try to get all these different elements of the health -- Equation if you will come to the table and this is how you get to the table to have influence you have to cut back -- what you're willing to charge the government. And the vice president was the one who announced this."

" The biggest case the president himself announced the drug makers feel the other formulas to call these people special interests now they are called stakeholders. And they had because we want them to stay at the stay at the table and look this is in the death. Pharmaceutical companies have done a great job of protecting their interests in health care debate at the hospitals were looking and much deeper cuts that the administration was threatening. This is a better deal for them if they can step up to the table and voluntarily say well except. -- it's all in the interest of trying to find savings that the CBO will score that that will will pay for health care reform."

" About it but all of these savings are contingent on. The congress going no further basically and so. Here's the deal we agreed to says the hospitals the drug companies and the health insurers. Take it or leave it and what happens if congress leaves it then. Then that's fitting that will end -- stakeholders it becomes the religious -- special that's right that's senior producer in the Booth there we had a question from. He's done in Indiana he wants to know or re really being overcharged for health care how we really saying no they include a charge for health care."

" Well it's you know I tell you you can say that well people get too many tests and -- other doctors are ordering redundant tests well. -- test is redundant unless it's being done to yourself. When it's being done to yourself it's cheap double checking you do with your precious health. And I think that gets at the heart of this whole have health care debate is do we really want somebody. Like they have in England sitting there in the government saying you know what. This drug. And it's kind of expensive we're gonna give it to you in the early stages of the disease but we're not gonna be able to give it to in the latter stages of the disease or -- we want American system where as expensive as it is. You can get the Cadillac treatment and then not take any Sheehan."

" Is with your -- know I tried to press secretary of health and human services Kathleen sibelius on this very point on FOX News Sunday. And I appointed to present Obama who talked about his grandmother got a hip replacement she fell down -- she was diagnosed with cancer she fell down broke her hip. And he said if somebody told me that she couldn't get her hip replaced because she was in misery. Because she had been diagnosed with cancer before that. How would I would've gone through the roof is essentially the quote he said. -- with all these commissions and if there's a federal public option there will be some kind of committee that decides whether she gets the hip replacement -- not am -- wrong."

" We know there will be but the question is and I think this is what advocates of this reform would say. Do you want to committee that's in government or you want a committee that already exist it's in the health insurance industry and their movement if people are making decisions all the time as anyone knows who calls up. -- where's my -- paid for that it's right where the money to pay for the grandmothers hip replacement well in this case it it will have to be put it what the president is proposing is that more it will come from taxpayers basically didn't work cutbacks in other program there was a very effective long editorial about this in The Wall Street Journal yesterday about the British system. And the acronym is nice and I CEO forget what exactly stands for but it's basically the these are. Office that dictates we know who's gonna get hip replacement who's gonna get drugs and so and so -- of the horror stories he had thirty plus stars. They don't horse stories are amazing and you look at Canada. Where people are so Fed up with the long waits for for this government health care. Then there is a proliferation of private health care facilities they're going in the opposite direction is that we are you as if they're going from a public system. To a private system we're gonna go to."

" Ups you know mark I mean that the administration pushed back pushes back hard whenever you talk about Canada. Whenever you talk about another system not a single Payer system that pushed back."

" It really we're not gonna have that we're gonna can continue with employer based. Private insurance. That the problem is there was somebody in that town hall meeting -- about President Obama have with ABC who got up and I think it was a doctor doesn't look. Who is going to tell the American people know. You know can you explain how this is gonna work somebody's gonna have to say no to somebody right -- sometimes it's a health insurance company doesn't look we're not gonna paper that you -- to -- yourself. But what some smart guy incidentally an answer the question. And I think so far the administration has sold this as something that will reduce your costs but nothing else we'll change you'll get better health care now for a lot of people. It is going to be a huge improvement they're gonna get health care -- before they had no insurance at all. But there's gonna be happy to be some sort. Of savings especially around end of life care that. Is gonna be end up probably being a kind of two tiered system where if you wanna."

" You might have to pay for yourself and read a couple things Greg from California the key to reducing health care costs are minimizing cost of malpractice. Insurance. Margaret from Virginia Beach I do not want any government running health care look at what happened to federal security. Another failed miserably in the story she's talking about is this GAO report. In which. Federal agents managed to smuggle and bomb making material actually pieces of a bomb and a federal buildings can of them here in Washington. And if that report was even. Any federal agents who noticed that a baby was put through a live baby was put through the detector. And the agent is who was watching the federal building let it go body you."

" While you're the guy who let the big and they got got to tell you are back you fire the guy who was asleep when they walked in you fire that guy who let the guys come -- with a bomb parts. I mean this is great to have this exposed and I appreciate the GO doing this is very dramatic and makes a lot of news. But unless you fight here bureaucrats. You're never going to fix the system you have to get tough and get rid of these people I didn't see that anywhere in this report that guy. Got his job back because or let the baby can't you hear more about this and the protection that. That's federal buildings again Steve I think it's absurd and if you. Listen to the rest of that the testimony there from the from the GAO that was in charge of the but the report premium import it goes far beyond you know this is the secret union. Bomb parts in the federal buildings you do the problems with these guards a thirteen to 15000 of them across the country. Not protecting. They're buildings and not doing their jobs and in some cases doing other jobs. On the job there was one guy who was was. Found running a porn sites and online porn site from his computer while he was being paid by the federal government to be supposed to protect these buildings. And there are all sorts of examples like that that they gave. With interest in the here the second partisan obviously the head of the the federal protective services. He's going to defend. Hits his agency to the extent that he can't get a tough job today but one of the things that he said was no to a certain extent this is a resource issue and you hear that of course from. Basically anybody who's gonna try to defend their agency but I actually found his. Then that's what he believes in small government actually found if his tests we've somewhat. Compelling yeah he's talking about the kinds of cuts and talking about the fact that this should be a priority protecting our federal buildings. Should really be a priority and we look at the the overall budget for. FPS with which I think is is around a billion dollars if -- if my memory serves. That's around here given the kind of spending that we have. Taking place today. This is something where I think it would be worth putting some resources to making sure not only that the buildings are well protected but that we have that we will hire the kind of personnel. -- going to be doing some stimulus plan that we should do. We should point out that they struggled in the bomb components and they put the bombs together in the bathrooms inside the ten federal buildings. That they took them outside and put them in cars and blew them up to show the devastating damage that these bombs that they produced. Inside the buildings could do Jeff. I -- what -- worry that."

" When you could fire those people. You ten. Write reports and people will still be able to break through security guy I remember security breaches and and test like this going back a long time I remember when somebody. Got a gun through he the security and into. Then wouldn't majority senate majority leader Bob Dole's office. That was a long time ago I think that the security systems are not foolproof and will never be. And we'll be seeing reports like this for a long since 9/11 and we expect a lot more we expected -- we don't actually have it and and that he's one of the up problems that is endemic to democracy I think that these that these. Buildings are for the most part opened to the public and it's very difficult. But no system is foolproof but you've got a fire people and not put the guy who falls asleep at the guard desk. Given his job back and think fit well throw your hands and say well no assistance foolproof let's just give the guy's job you've got to improve it it."

" Least question here are they are these guards Unionist. Yes yes federal union your employers -- is probably one of the reasons why it's so hard on people. Dave asked did they blow up American cars are foreign. That's really the only Abel turner which argued that video -- get an answer for you -- to. Let's change topics for the last second segment here Afghanistan and how things are progressing on the ground in Afghanistan. -- do we have Jennifer Griffin of Patagonia. She not there yet she still on fox report we will wait and hear from her for the second Steve you've been there many times as a -- It has changed it is a dangerous place. What's your sense talking to people over there at the Pentagon or commanders out there about what is happening on the ground in Afghanistan -- hard it's hard didn't to tell I think and."

" Part of that is because. There is a lack of openness among specifically uniform military I think they are worried about saying. The thing that many of them feel which as we need more troops come to you you had this exchange some really interesting exchange over the past week where. National Security Adviser. And talked about having said the essential we don't know that he said it but. Jim Jones National Security Adviser in effect said to two people on the ground over there look you're not any more troops don't ask. Tom you've had other people since then -- walk that back including. Abnormal and say well look we're always we always wanna hear from the the commanders on the ground we wanna know what they need. What you had an event today at the Pentagon that Jennifer reported on earlier where you had done. The brigadier general I think Nelson. Asking for saying he needs more resources of all kinds focusing his comments focusing his request some war. Afghan forces and more state department's civilian types. Yeah it one got the sense reading between lines and haven't talked other people who think that they need more resources. That there was something that he really wanted to ask for and he wasn't asking."

" marking its sense that there are it's truly committed to Afghanistan. Or that. Over time it will be a situation like a rock that perhaps troops are drawn down based on what you know."

" Those are being drawn down in Iraq because there was a search there. Thank you never hear the words are deployed to Afghanistan now if this ramp up of troops -- they are sending 31000 troops over there they are ramping up and they are trying to get the Afghan army to -- Step up to the plate just like they were in Iraq I get. If the surge that must know because they don't wanna call it a surgeon I don't wanna call too much attention to but I think that Barack Obama has said over and over again. Afghanistan is the front line in the war on terror that's where it is I think he's he has a lot invested their I don't think he can just. I'm coming given a cursory try and then and then pull out and let it destabilize I think he's got to finish the job there."

" We have to remember that all of this. Effort the offensive. With a 4000 US soldiers. Is meant to clear the way for an election that's coming up in about a month or so. And what we hear -- on the ground is even with the surge. There are a lot of places that are not being cleared of Taliban that many of Pacific. Facilities that would be used as polling places are really still not available in May not be available even with through military action to allow. The election to to to go ahead. So there is a moment upcoming when we will find out whether. The Obama. Policy is working and that is to see if there's an election in which. President Karzai. Can stand for reelection with no real. We with the electorate being allowed two to cast their votes in an unfettered manner."

" Control room as we get that cartoon ready for the wrap up I'll take up more questions here how do we get Pakistan to cooperate more on the battle. Going on at the border bill -- that's a real problem well."

" It's hard not to get Pakistan to give us any cooperation in terms of getting sort of pro authority over their nukes or at least to make sure their nukes are under control. So that when the Taliban advances to within a world power -- they got seventy miles the last time around it that we would actually be able to help Pakistan protect the integrity those -- But I wanna go back to what Mara said you know you you're correct that Barack Obama does not want to draw attention to Iraq and doesn't wanna use the term search. Let me do that for a moment. Iraq has basically been won because of that search still dangerous place still -- killed it's not over yet but basically the surge worked and George W. Bush push that search through. That war has been and continues he derided by the Obama administration. Whereas they look at Afghanistan as the good war this was the war they campaigned on this is the way they're gonna put the -- our resources on. And whatever you wanna call it the truth is he's doing his own surge in Afghanistan. And then you know what. They're having the worst violence in Afghanistan since 2001 when this war started --"

" In Cincinnati says has Afghanistan become Obama's war now sure absolutely sure I think I think you really make one point they will differ with bill one thing. -- this is in effect his own surge even though he's not calling it that. But I would say that that the key component in addition of more troops in the surge in Iraq was a change in strategy that I don't think we've seen a change in strategy I think we've seen people -- that it. But and we saw this I think -- really clear examples. You know within the past couple days where have we had sites on some Taliban members and village. We didn't want to take them out using predators we didn't wanna take them out. You know in a -- comprehensive way because we were worried about civilian casualties so we allowed the women and children to come out of this area. And the end of the man apparently it's Calvin man apparently escaped by putting -- on it and the Marines got in there and they found basically nobody. Now that is not the way to win a war I'm sorry I mean nobody likes civilian casualties you do everything you can't. To minimize them but one of the things that we didn't -- with a change in strategy to allow us to be in very selective cases more aggressive. Being taking down the bad guys and I think we haven't seen it yet."

" All right that's it for the panel thank you very much for watching Special Report on line again every Wednesday night 7 PM right after the show lot of questions about. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the CIA and where that's going next we're gonna have a report on that tomorrow on Special Report on the broadcast that's little teaser. Also Major Garrett of course is traveling with the president he's in Italy for the G-8 summit. And we thought we put up this cartoon that showed up today in honor of major. Take a close look there the president saying before we start the press conference which -- the Fox News guy. And Robert Gibbs saying the one not -- you're collecting mister president -- We like that cartoon we'll see you next week. Petroleum Romulus say goodbye. Join us a proxy shall ever weekdays six season for Special Report we'll see you next Wednesday right here online."