'Special Report' Online: 10/21

" Welcome to another edition of Special Report on line I'm Bret -- sorry -- missed you last week we will try never in this. Another Wednesday on line let's bring in our panel tonight Steve pays Nina Easton. And also more contract -- in here from Major Garrett at the White House in just a minute. We have a special thing tonight in that the online poll will include below us here. Be sure to vote in our online poll on what story you'd like us to talk about in this Friday's lightning round segment so you will choose. One of the topics it's a new feature called your choice on line democracy in action. Cast your vote your choices are. The lowest here where are they Michelle can you read and then there. Good. Oh no he can you do it can you say it. -- Obama versus critics now. I don't care now can -- hear you now so yes they are. -- Obama versus critics H1N1 vaccine delay should Obama get involved in. The BC yes. Cheney strikes back again. Those -- choices but you can also comment and we can see if there they are right there. You can also comment we can see if choice is better suited that everybody wants to talk about this Friday. We're working out the kinks but we're gonna get get through -- first of all let's talk about on this panel. What seems like a White House enemies list more what do you think about this. There's the White House versus Fox News the White House -- nurses US chamber of commerce. Insurance companies."

" Right. Well you know Lamar Alexander is the Republican senator from Tennessee. Were called on the Senate floor today how he was. Once a young age in the Nixon White House and that -- enemies list the term enemies list comes from the Nixon white house of course. I was on the enemy's list of if you didn't know that you I was actually on the Nixon enemies we value. I don't violence I was I'm here at fox are probably on that let's. That but you know that the difference is that the that the Nixon enemies list was never published. It furthermore there was not much in the way consequences I never got invited to White House party. But on the other hand my income tax was not audited either hand and I didn't have the White House chief of staff denouncing me in public which is the difference. I mean in this case you've got rob Emmanuel Anita -- and all these other people going out there in public. And you'll find people that -- that they disagree what. The Bush Administration had its adversaries as well -- the every administration has its adversaries but but you know they don't allow denouncing them. And and making examples of the vilify them demonizing him and that's the that's the big mistake here that this administration is doing they say they look petulant. That it certainly is not in keeping with what what about Barack Obama said was is going to be his theme to unite the country. And last point it's unnecessary I mean that the Washington Post poll. Indicated that when asked who do you trust to make the right decisions for the country 49%. Say Obama Republicans. Republicans in congress of 19%. Right Democrats in congress 34%. Only 20% of the country identifies as Republicans and in the Republicans are doing it to themselves they don't need Obama to be the --"

" It's just initially tactic and you see a way. That the White House steps away from what they've kind of opened the day and Rahm Emanuel and David Estrada on the Sunday shows have a unified message. That was clearly planned out I actually think this how large is coming from Ron because he's he really is far he has a history of some centrist policies like Internet -- it was in the Clinton white house on NAFTA for example he's he was American treasury hasn't -- very calm very instrumental in getting that past and is now on some Clinton centrist programs when he's not partisan position he's like that toughest. You know. -- with the meanest town partisan player there as we we saw that on we saw that the 2006. Election where he ran. The DC's -- triple C that democratic campaign -- which is basically responsible for getting house members elected democratic house members elected they were really really good at playing hardball. What's disappointing is that they are. Bomb -- they've got haven't gone from campaign mode to governing mode in you know as as Morris said in this was a president who ran on unifying the country. No more politics as usual I mean this is just like usual below the fray you know it's it's in the fray -- this is an above the fray that this president ran on. If I think am -- not sharing. They've had an -- and get out of it is I just was gonna say tea during the campaign. Recall that while they played with us a bit. Fox News need to come on in the united they were somewhat I'm willing to they'd vanish and that we speak to independence -- slalom and some are willing to come on. If Hillary Clinton was the one who really appreciated fox and they and felt like we gave her a break and we didn't fall into Obama land. Completely like the rest of the media and she was so she really felt like we were giving her a fair -- she and her staff were on fox a lot during the campaign."

" Now let's let's bring in senior White House correspondent Major Garrett on the north lawn and major welcome back to on line. Great to be with you remember all those wonderful campaign days and yeah -- is mentioning them hey listen I've a lot of questions here. About how you're being treated at the White House we've talked about it that what you tell the online folks how it's how it's going -- seats."

" First of all my press pass the works idea. Well then yeah look nothing has changed for me. I keep the facts in front of me every day this is it ruthlessly accountable business everyone knows what I say and what I do for your show and every other show on fox if I get it wrong which I try never to do. We corrected. Happily I can tell you that hasn't happened very often White House knows this we had a gaggle this morning with Robert -- an off camera session. Five questions Robert all of them taken all the -- the best visibility might give and take. Has not changed. This is all sort of shrapnel flying around me above me in front of me behind me. And is that a distraction well when shrapnel falls above behind -- in front of you yes it is a distraction I'd rather not go through it but the White House. For whatever reason decides has decided it's. In some way shape or form beneficial we will continue to keep the story the facts in front of us and press on."

" Yeah. Marion and Montana says this is gonna backfire on the White House -- is. Mexican Maine says majors questions are tougher than most. Major glad to see you are you okay I'm. -- very concerned about here flew."

" And that's well and it's -- look couple weeks ago I can tell folks out there it's real if you feel sick of seeing doctors treatable and only treatable in my case unfortunately I got a secondary infection which. -- happens in a very very small percentage of the cases. I just was unlucky enough to have a somewhat compromised immune system but I'm fighting back and ready to go."

" Knights fighting back and ready to go even on the trail of President Obama a little bit too much. Steve you know they had this off the record the of the day. The White House in which. Among the people who attended Rachel -- and Keith Obermann. You know political. I mean. Confidence if you will they're they're definitely opinion makers on another channel. While this battle is going back and forth about our shows you it was just understand context -- look at I love it."

" When White House's have opinion journalists and then brief you know us as well since that's what I -- but yes it is pretty clear double standard here too. He made you'll remember that they called on the Huffington Post today at a presidential press conference -- there were some questions about whether they planted. The question of the extent to which they claim to the questions so yeah there's I mean a very clear double standard here. This is a game that's hard to figure out exactly what they're doing other than trying to create. Villain and I think there. Into the best. The viability and what I think they're starting to do at least I'm starting to make sense this is I think they're trying to create a tour bigness. Villain if that makes sense and I won't say this very well but you know they're going to look at they're going after the going after it still went after President Bush they're going after. Fox they're going after the chamber of commerce or do not -- and at the same time I think what they're trying to do -- forge at least domestically sort of a new populism. -- they did this today with president Obama's event taking inside a small businesses more loans from the SBA raises the limit. I'm doing all these things that I think are trying to position him as looking more like where the common man. While taking on big institutions. And that they conservative institution."

" It's a major we did this story on the shore leave broke the story about Vice President Cheney speech she's delivering. Tonight it's of the Center for Security Policy by the way we're taping that event. And -- is going to have a hold a big segment on it at 10 o'clock on the record but in that speech it's pretty. Aggressive as Vice President Cheney has been before about Afghanistan and I know you've heard it that he charges that essentially the Bush Administration handed over. Their review in the final months of the the Bush Administration to the Obama administration. And that's what was accepted in March what do you think the fallout to another attack by Vice President Cheney will be. Two by this White House."

" Well I can tell our online viewers that as soon as I got a copy. Through you -- of vice president's remarks like for them to. Let's just say be relevant authorities here at the White House taking any comment they might have criticism reputation whatever they want to say have heard nothing back yet. -- house has at times taken the measure of a speech from Vice President Cheney responded sharply. Other times it has -- a speech go where -- come down on this we'll find out. I can tell you this that one of the persistent messages from this White House has been. From the get go Afghanistan was a start from scratch proposition that they inherited nothing. Of particular value from the bush White House other than. The increased amount of troops. That President Bush contemplated in the latter days of his administration. And that what they found in Afghanistan was a system by which point. Strategy by which. There was essentially -- holding pattern nothing was being accomplished nothing was being said as far as future goals for governance defeating the Taliban. Or creating a sound relationship between United States NATO partners and the people on the ground in Afghanistan. That is always been the White House's perspective on what it inherited from the Bush Administration. Quite clearly now the vice president is trying to reshape. That debate and say you receive plenty from us and that you are now appearing gulf -- or delaying. You're enactment of any new strategy is your fault not ours that there are a lot of people online who just Google does docent -- and -- They wanted to and they had added enough of you sitting correctly -- good -- Do you think your decision is forthcoming pretty soon well obviously a decision is forthcoming. Robert -- this morning said I can't predict when the decision will be made we said William the president make it before the November 7 scheduled runoff. In the Afghan presidential election he said I know the date of the runoff I don't -- know the date of the decision. Today the president told NBC in an interview. That it's quite possible he will formulate a policy before November 7 that runoff election is also equally possible he won't announce it by -- but we now."

" Yeah more this decision the longer it goes this it isn't look like he's taking his time being. Analytical or does it look like he is as Cheney charges -- different."

" Well they've done at the longer it -- he is of the more -- it looks like different but here's here's what I think happened. As we all know Obama that this was a good wore off I would because Iraq was the bad war all leading up to did to his election and and unity. In into his presidency. So he gets this he gets this our report from an and the plan from the Pentagon. Two to add 21000 troops he makes a speech in March which is a continuation of the all of the old policy. And he and he has is his -- surged 41000 extra troops and makes a statement we're gonna win we've got to win this is a war of necessity it's after. It's a protector and replaces general McCarron and with general my crystal as a -- insurgency got. So then. The crystal surveys the scene between march and and and July. August. End to end and comes up with a 40000 or maybe 60000 extra troops that he wants in order to carry this policy out and if he doesn't get it. Then. We're -- then we're gonna lose. This is as they say sticker shock to into the administration. Furthermore all the polls are heading south on Nam -- of the Afghan war especially among Democrats. Who hate wars of all kinds good wars are bad -- when they're -- when we're actually in them and so that then all of a sudden people of the White House and wait a minute what what what look look let's let's reconsider this whole thing and that's what's been going on now and it's been going non. And non non non. And people in the region the Afghans -- Taliban the pakistanis. Are allies and in the NATO allies who were sending troops to. To Afghanistan all. In it in that event in a quandary as to whether what is this present them to do is he gonna stick with -- gonna stick with it. We have abandoned the Afghans so many times that if we do it again you know I I don't know what. The world was gonna think of the United States."

" I guess incentives also plays into it part of the problem is on the dip -- issue is that he's. He's a play if he likes to let -- marinade so we've got it's not just Afghanistan we've got -- health care reform effort going through me he doesn't seem decisive money came out that big speech on health care. What -- several weeks ago that was -- being big form of leadership on Mancini leadership from him on that either take I think he's in danger of all of this playing in a story line he's not he's not decisive on on anything. And of course stimulus bill was crafted in being congress not Miami didn't provide leadership on that. 101 quick thing on the on the Cheney speech I think it's so interesting is the contrast between vice president's this this and the Dick Cheney. -- who was so. Powerful some people thought too powerful -- so determined to protect this country after nine elevenths. That he he became knowing he'd be advocated very robust -- muscular -- defense policy. All all the way around and then you've got Joe Biden. As it even this week. He Murat. In Warsaw in Poland -- the Czech Republic trying to make these allies feel better after they were nerve wracked because we decided did get into that Obama decides -- via a missile defense program. She got in doing that and of course he's leading the charge on reducing the troops in Afghanistan and trying to fight Afghanistan with the light footprint. So an -- he's it'll be interesting to see out his power is still. Being determined but very big contrast between these two vice president spoke pretty high profile and and both White House this yeah."

" And you want -- I think there was something very significant. In the role that Senator John Kerry the chairman of the foreign relations committee has played in Afghanistan in the last week or so. Think about this about a week ago John Kerry was very out. Front and very outspoken. As being number one skeptical of any increased troop footprint in Afghanistan. And the wherewithal the government to carry out any successful mission in Afghanistan. With the current number of troops or maybe even less then what happens he has a coincidental. Congressional delegation trip to Afghanistan is suddenly suddenly. Finds himself right in the middle of negotiations with President Hamid Karzai to persuade him in lean upon him to accept a presidential run off. Now this white house of course has the secretary of state Hillary Clinton it has a special envoy Richard rolled into entirely Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke. Both played no role note receivable role at least so far in dealing with Hamid Karzai. What does that tell me instinctively that the White House empowered John Kerry. As chairman of the senate foreign relations committee to make this pitch to make this plea to secure and it Karzai's agreement to a -- runoff on November 7. Hoping that would make him an ally within the confines of the Senate and congress more largely when the president decides. At the White House is already said. The decision matrix runs from leaving where things are now to adding up to forty to 60000 troops it's not lowering it. So we're talking about the magnitude of increase. -- US troops on the ground why has authority conceded. That is the decision matrix so. When it seems to me is that John Kerry by being solar powered by the White House White House hopes to become an ally for them on whatever decision it makes going forward and Afghanistan. -- out of place that's really."

" Intersected to note in fact that was read the transcript and I think -- Gibson in one of those briefings called him secretary Kerry about his day but a hobby. But it wasn't saying that Richard Holbrooke wasn't in that picture Afghanistan Pakistan. Envoy. But he has spoken out against Karzai frequently in public. So perhaps that had a factor in his seat that's exactly as if anything major right but I would actually add to that you Holbrooke has been sort of the the of the most prominent critic I think both external. But I think there's a sense about talking to people on the hill that that he's been too aggressive in his criticism of Karzai. The administration has has -- cars that have occurred several times in public. Several times in private in -- it has has you know got I think lessen their influence on cars at a time when -- again. There's a lot to criticize you Karzai we know we know they -- asked why isn't Clinton involved Mort why hasn't Clinton."

" Well I think -- that that Kerry would Kerry was out there and it was convenient to do this at the time. And at -- look Clinton has not been dealing. With the biggest issues facing America mean I choose by choice not my position. Shouldn't I -- Dick Holbrooke presumably reports to both her and the president. He's they did the -- pack. Envoy. And so she's -- I'm sure she got a more of a voice in the pie in the policy making in in all that she's a member of the national. Security Council but she's not she doesn't carry out every policy. I think in this case look I think they succeeded. To the in what they wanted to do that got Karzai to agree to a runoff. You know that now. The idea that that is linked to that the outcome of the runoff is somehow linked to be -- but. Obama's decision which don't which. The of the White House announced on them on the weekend is ludicrous -- you know the idea. If Karzai. Is reelected or he's not reelected and ending much is gonna change we've got to fight the Taliban. Regardless of who isn't in charge you know a week. Did and and there's corruption in in Afghanistan it's gonna take years due to eliminate mean well you know with the war's got to go on so Obama ought to get on what."

" This is a huge huge irony to this whole thing too because remember. We haven't seen President Obama used the word democracy much as it relates to Afghanistan he had deliberately did deliberately chosen not to compete can make -- both ways on this. To set aside democracy as a goal was an objective in Afghanistan. And yet they're using an election a troubled election hide behind to avoid having to make. Decisions about what their stated objective is which is stability and taking out terrorists -- hiding behind something that they have already downgraded. As an objective I mean it's it strikes me as incredibly phony the other thing that -- point I would make is there was another person who was talking to -- that throughout this whole thing. Which again I think yeah highlights and and an irony in this whole thing that was -- Collins. He was talking to Karzai he had been in contact with. White House official Obama White House officials we've communicated. To him what their preferred policy positions where he conveyed those to Karzai. Now if you're gonna trash your predecessor in the policy makers in the policies that they came up with future -- better be careful when you use one of those policy makers. To implement your own policies and there's a lot of hypocrisy going -- at final point. Bush Administration officials here say are furious about this in ways that are really haven't seen them before even on interrogations on things. Beyond sort of Cheney world you know -- Bush Administration officials who are really unhappy about it I think we'll see in the next day or two. Just how angry are depending on whether they come out and actually support what Cheney has said he criticized the administration asked for for this review the Afghanistan review --"

" Well yeah -- giving things one is if you don't wanna hear the clicks on the computer you just push that little. The little sound thing on the bottom here and metal mute it. A lot of questions about that secondly why is not on the panel not because of the Newsweek article that said she should not be on Fox News panel. She just wasn't scheduled tonight she'll be back in an ounce -- and -- happened to me here. Yeah he said it all major the let me get you on health care reform and where the White House thinks they are right now it really seems just from. I'm looking at what's happening on Capitol Hill that is pretty -- And to hear Carl Cameron Jim Angle report on -- You know I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel that's pretty clear. If you're a Democrat you wanna pass this thing."

" White House officials are outwardly confident. Inwardly nervous and they have every right to be inwardly nervous everyone understands. The calendar and calendars now the biggest vote of healthcare reform in the year 2009. There is still no delineated path for senate passage of house passage of healthcare reform legislation there is a theoretical -- starting October 26 on the Senate floor. That means they've got to resolve things of the Senate Finance Committee in the Senate health committee this week that they have to have the CBO. Do scoring on it than the public has had a chance to read it then the Senate has to be able digest sided vote on of that last week of October. That's all theoretically possible but each hour that takes away the White House gets farther in the Senate gets farther away from that goal. On the house side they're trying to put together their bills because of the same process again. They're beginning to count votes there are expressing outward confidence but the vote still aren't there yet. Meanwhile you have this whole separate issue of Medicare reimbursement. And 250 billion dollar ten year program that's not paid for. And everyone sees how conspicuously that violates all of these central tenets of healthcare reform. Pay for it do it rationally doing in a way that's deficit neutral. That is becoming an increasing political problem for Democrats because they have vowed. Not just in the healthcare reform debate and all spending. To pay for what you spend in the future and in this plan they're not doing it the Senate failed today the house is gonna try to deal with that that is a enormously complicating factor not only as far as policy. But politics and that's the last thing this White House needs another complicating factor in the middle of an already complex policy and political. Go through on health care."

" Yet Nina Renee asks do you think that. That the president will get a public action what effect do you think we'll have a doctors the way doctors practice minutes."

" I don't -- getting a public option unless it's a home in some kind of watered down public option like you know this this -- he was proposing the states could opt out. I just don't see getting sixty votes in the Senate I think with what's gonna happen is Nancy Pelosi is gonna. Con man with. You know eight kind of she's trying to is you that the house version so it's more liberal and more are you a bigger public option. She's helping you bring that in as a bargaining chip and tech conference with the Senate bill. The -- that whenever they come up with still has to go back through this planet. And you start looking at the votes there I just don't see it I just don't see where they get those sixty votes to get that through and if you. You know you go -- reconciliation and that's that's a whole political nightmare more so -- one or visit the majority leader house majority leader Steny Hoyer said -- that."

" The Senate bill that senate finance. Committee bill and the house bill what it will be. Are not just inches apart her feet apart didn't miles apart they sure so when you get into conference committee. The only any get I think I think the."

" Only way that health care passes this year is that after the house passes this liberal bill and the Senate passes something like the Senate Finance Committee bill. They go in a conference and the president says to the House of Representatives to listen. We've got to get this thing done and the only way we're gonna get this thing done is that you in the house have got to eat the Senate bill -- last hole. And will figure things out you know will will. Trainer best sub trigger some day some that we don't we've got -- we've got -- to work on this but if we lose this bill. We are going to be where we're going to be war in worse shape. Then Bill Clinton was in 1994 when he lost the of the that the health care debate and then lost. The control of congress they will this is that the president's highest priority. They've got sixty votes in the Senate they've got a forty vote margin in the in the house represented if they can't pass is number one priority. What -- what are they therefore you know and so they're they're gonna be politically dead and they know it. And so that I think the liberals are just gonna have to eat and eat it eat whatever the Senate serves up."

" Yeah a major video final word here. You agree with that that that's how this is all should not. Well that's the current trajectory what I would also say is the biggest problem for Democrats is they can't agree on how to pay for it and when you have major labor unions like. Asked me to American federal federation of state county municipal employees led by Gerry McEntee saying. This method of paying for health care reform by -- so called Cadillac plans. Is a non starter and other labor unions pushing for public option. But no one knowing how to pay for -- when you have that kind of disagreement within the most integral parts of the Democratic Party. And then you have the far left accusing Kerry Reid of being too soft and not strong enough politically to push a public option. You begin to see fissures within the party this is no time for that the White House knows that they're trying to find glue to try to find masking tape anything to keep this coalition together. The one thing I would say still works to the White House is in the Democrats net advantage. It doesn't appear to me for -- the public polling data that the Republicans have put forward. Incredible what politically saleable alternative. And so it's still a debate within democratic ranks and if they can close ranks and hold ranks there's still a possibility of passing it. If for no other reason the loyal opposition has failed to get its -- going."

" Johnson camp assistant Ron just walked behind. The hand and if they did I'm sure give me a big thumbs up hit."

" Major as always thank you from the Illinois -- well here's the deal -- this online poll about our Friday lightning round. Here the topics Cheney strikes back H1N1 vaccine delay Obama versus critics Obama and the BC yes. And it looks like Cheney. And his comments Vice President Cheney will be the lightning round. Topic this Friday at least one of them we're gonna pick in the two. And of course bring your own comments which -- panelists so get to add their thoughts. Panel as always thank you thank you offered to an end the Special Report on line I promise will be back next Wednesday. And of course in some Special Report every weeknight. 6 PM eastern time control our own little way."

" Thanks everybody. Tonight."