White House War

" At what I had -- home of all the news that is not White House approved the administration doesn't want to hear what we have to say. They wanna silence us they want us to shut up they want us to get in line. They don't want people asking them the tough questions."

" It was a way for us to get their message out without having to actually talk to reporters he's just could've put that out there and made life. What Buffett said at the -- doing. An interview with a reporter."

" Maybe it's because they don't have any good answers for example they don't want anyone questioning where the president's new policy for Afghanistan is."

" All All the President's Men are preoccupied fighting a war against the Fox News Channel."

" They don't seem to be in any hurry to fight that war against our nation's real enemies."

" It has been 52 days since general McChrystal delivered his recommendations to the Pentagon for troop increase that's 52 days since the president's hand -- general."

" Gave the commander in chief a recommendation on how to win that war in Afghanistan."

" And when that time the president has flown to Copenhagen to get embarrassed by the International Olympic Committee. He's dispatched his henchmen in an attempt to silence his critics and even found time for dance parties at the White House. Up fifty today's -- a long time. It took general George Washington less time to lay siege to Yorktown and secure the surrender of lord -- Wallace essentially ending the American revolution."

" An 1864. It took less than 52 days for general Ulysses S. Grant."

" To march from Washington to Petersburg Virginia and begin to see that would in fact in the civil war and by the way along the way. He fought battles at the wilderness. -- courthouse north -- and cold harbor among others and then in the winter of 1944 to 45. American troops on the western front well they held their positions at -- don't. And repelled Hitler's final offensive at the battle of the bulge and guess what that took less than 52 days. But the White House while they don't want us talking about that. Meanwhile secretary of defense Robert Gates said today that a decision about troops in Afghanistan can't wait until the election questions in Afghanistan herself. But telling you about that has not been approved by White House sensors. At the same time Bill Kristol reports that Romney rumbled dead fish Emanuel. He seems to be making declarations about Afghanistan all by himself. Without even consulting our pentagon as when he said this this past Sunday."

" It be reckless. To make a decision on US troop level if -- thank you haven't done a thorough analysis of whether in fact there's an Afghan partner ready to fill that space. That the US troops would create and become a true partner in governing the Afghan."

" Excuse me cooler -- this -- to make decisions about Afghanistan. And would -- it would appear that the political hatchet man in the White House are trying to hijack troop decisions away from the Pentagon. But in the world of make believe and through the looking glass at the White House podium the press isn't supposed to ask about that."

" Because to do so would mean that you wore under White House control."

" Very rarely. Do we -- communicate didn't present anything that we didn't absolutely control."

" No I think we're gonna stay out of that rabbit hole and joining me tonight was more his former white house Press Secretary Dana Perino. Democratic strategist Bob Beckel Bob both Fox News contributors. -- so the general Dana. Now asking for really serious request saying that if we don't get these troops what -- lose this war. And that but they've got time to fly to -- and -- they've got time to declare war against the Fox News Channel have taken what they think and here."

" It is hard to understand their priorities I can understand the president wanting to think things through. But it's been a long time -- go to your rundown. It does good things in perspective. I also think it's interesting that this weekend Rahm Emanuel did go at great lengths to explain that their priority. Was at creating jobs in America -- always different priorities in the fact that they've actually been attacking fox for. Many months but increasingly -- the last five weeks and I you have to wonder what their priorities are -- Bob --"

" be honest but I don't use this term lightly. But it seems like the White House is developing an enemies list. They -- commit to the Fox News Channel they went after Humana. The ears senators talking about retribution for health care companies. Legislative retribution. You know do you think the White House has their priorities straight here. Now I think first of all I does your question who elected McChrystal to make those decisions. The but -- going on. -- bottled the greater than the eight. I understand but it wasn't elected in the jagged yet done anything done is about as silly it's a statement I've heard but you wanna know why that -- will. I don't understand why they're going have to but let's get on this subject on talk about the rest of this stuff I talked about -- you all the time. The fact -- managers aren't -- read understand I can understand why they don't come on. I'm about three hours for the programming including this one. Why can't because this it well because this is bumped the bobcats Obama. Who we can't and I though the show I've been on the show and yet when you have Karl Rove and and you never on the -- what you are talking about I don't get what you. -- you have forwarded wars as your medical experts on health care reform and -- watching your -- they're not c'mon. That guy again though let's not kid ourselves we know what this is an opinion show relative and you're gonna win yeah. If if the president could talk -- but that they shot I could I would think he could sit down a little Sean Hannity. I it would bid I think maybe the -- got to get good looks here here's my point content and -- and I don't understand for fox is for somebody like me in the last three weeks since the start alleged two weeks. I'm not getting hit from the left as well as a writer was I was the perfect foil for the right being called a traitor now vehicle driven by both sides. What I don't understand is this network if you take out the three shows up talking about and the new shows have more persuade it will voters than the other two. Let Avery and they cannot get combined by two. -- I don't know why why not go out and -- campaign for them why give it to good to them but much -- right wing groups."

" Well here's what I think I think we let let's step back for a second. When you at a White House you got to speak to the sixteen reporters who are in the room. What you say at that podium really matters that you save -- as the chief of staff for other members of senior staff matters to everybody including emergency emerging democracies around the world and what."

" They see. It's what they see that dictators do right they go after. Bill legitimate news organization points and they think that that's okay I actually think that I should just step back I understand that doing their opinions just from. But don't brother doesn't it just letting go and take the -- it seems like they did."

" Is that they're -- they have a health information at data. That's developing dementia and not told fox and their audience and and for that fit. Fifteen of the eighteen hours of programming today they're not the opinion -- slashing Obama like like Sean show there is that's a legitimate news and those people who will listen to that. Our people we're gonna be this undecided but I don't disagree and I think our intent."

" And I yeah."

" I understand the politics have but I guess what that accent it's your campaign can you put on campaign but that could it couldn't be OK yeah now debate this. If you can't debate Michelle Bachmann that you don't deserve to be my politics according to get he would let Michelle Balkan. Never let a fact getting a wherever it took four without -- that the Bob stop the personal tax there is a question over the -- that."

" Could be that they want energize their base they see that there agenda is failing."

" And they wanted they almost one isolated enemy is part of industry."

" Action tactic tactic it could be I think one of the things is that when you're at the White House you feel like you're under siege of the one of the good things that make you feel better is if you check your fighting back and you have an opponent. For along time for this act when he was candidate Obama and then when he was president for a while. I think his opponent was George W. Bush that's not the case anymore and -- they're looking for other opponents to fight and I do think it probably placate -- left little bit but again. They're gonna be president even if president for at least three more years and he needs to they -- the longer term strategy is."

" It seems -- Bob that was not very president not very presidential. Look when you started a campaign it seems even David Axelrod said the basically can't take a punch. You know it was you know speaking metaphorically that he doesn't take criticism very well. You know that's why you lashed out at me throughout the entire campaign I'm sure somebody said he got to stop every time he duly given Hannity another problem which by the way I appreciate it. I know I know you appreciated grant helps your raiding another effect but listen there have been some things set up some other shows that don't blame him for being upset about but. On the news part of fox which is the overwhelming percentage of fox. I have -- on this six years I have never been asked to Alter what I say. And you well know I put some pretty partisan things I'd drive you crazy every week by saying Barack Obama is the greatest economic residential program for now we didn't have taken matters. The fact of the matter is during the day these are legitimate bona fide news show that you can't. Save these things to people like Rick I want to retire and while the other day that you dealt with the media. For the media sort of to allow this to happen fox I think is foolish I would expect the media any day now to come to Fox's defense. Jake Tapper to his credit has some pretty interesting questions today. What are they making a mistake by allowing the White House to isolate them. And are they putting themselves in the position -- compromised it."

" It's astounding to me that they would be that they would just. Sit back and that it all happened because I have a feeling that if I had done this. From the White House podium but their reaction would have been different yeah and I think about what they -- And other countries when news organizations. Are muzzled and they have a very different reality it was one week we don't like what corporate lobby alleged."

" I speak to my as a liberal I speak to more people in a week that you would get no love -- fortune three months. And so I don't understand that these are people we're gonna vote and let's get real here we need these voters there's other people's -- that majority got those right here you you can actually make some votes Beckel I'd -- I need to have -- does sit down with you and an intervention I'm working on and it's coming. All right gotta run I've had a few of those in my life behind. You can get a -- still a lot more thank you guys should be -- us a lot more to come tonight here's a sneak peek."