Washington Week with The Atlantic
Special | 22m 10s | Video has closed captioning.
With the recent resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, we take a look at President Obama’s standing 18-months into his 2nd term, including his priorities, his stumbles and the potential obstacles ahead, both politically and internationally.
Aired: 05/30/14
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GWEN: IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING.
POURING.
SHINSEKI IS OUT, JUST AS THE SHINSEKI IS OUT, JUST AS THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TRIES TO OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TRIES TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE ABOUT ITS CHANGE THE NARRATIVE ABOUT ITS OWN COMPETENCE.
OWN COMPETENCE.
WE ASK, HOW IS THAT WORKING WE ASK, HOW IS THAT WORKING OUT?
OUT?
TONIGHT ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
TONIGHT ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
>> A FEW MINUTES AGO SECRETARY >> A FEW MINUTES AGO SECRETARY SHINSEKI OFFERED ME HIS OWN SHINSEKI OFFERED ME HIS OWN RESIGNATION.
RESIGNATION.
WITH CONSIDERABLE REGRET, I WITH CONSIDERABLE REGRET, I ACCEPT IT.
ACCEPT IT.
CHRIS: HEADS ROLL AT THE V.A., CHRIS: HEADS ROLL AT THE V.A., WITH NEW EVIDENCE THAT ITS WITH NEW EVIDENCE THAT ITS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM HAS HURT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM HAS HURT THE VETERANS IT EXISTS TO SERVE.
VETERANS IT EXISTS TO SERVE.
BUT THAT WASN'T THE WEEK'S ONLY BUT THAT WASN'T THE WEEK'S ONLY CHALLENGE.
CHALLENGE.
>> JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE THE >> JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BEST HAMMER DOES NOT MEAN THAT BEST HAMMER DOES NOT MEAN THAT EVERY PROBLEM IS A NAIL.
EVERY PROBLEM IS A NAIL.
GWEN: A BIG FOREIGN POLICY GWEN: A BIG FOREIGN POLICY SPEECH MEANT TO TURN THE PAGE, SPEECH MEANT TO TURN THE PAGE, DIDN'T.
DIDN'T.
A NEW PLAN TO WITHDRAW TROOPS A NEW PLAN TO WITHDRAW TROOPS FROM AFGHANISTAN BY 2016 DREW FROM AFGHANISTAN BY 2016 DREW CRITICS.
CRITICS.
>> THAT JUST GIVES THE ENEMY >> THAT JUST GIVES THE ENEMY THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN THEIR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN THEIR STRATEGY.
STRATEGY.
GWEN: AND EDWARD SNOWDEN GWEN: AND EDWARD SNOWDEN POINTED FINGERS.
POINTED FINGERS.
>> WHEN PEOPLE ASK, WHY ARE YOU >> WHEN PEOPLE ASK, WHY ARE YOU IN RUSSIA?
IN RUSSIA?
I SAY, PLEASE, ASK THE STATE I SAY, PLEASE, ASK THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
DEPARTMENT.
GWEN: AND THE SECRETARY OF GWEN: AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE ROSE TO THE STATE ROSE TO THE ADMINISTRATION'S DEFENSE.
ADMINISTRATION'S DEFENSE.
>> I DON'T THINK THE PRESIDENT >> I DON'T THINK THE PRESIDENT FRANKLY TAKES ENOUGH CREDIT FOR FRANKLY TAKES ENOUGH CREDIT FOR THE SUCCESSES THAT ARE ON THE THE SUCCESSES THAT ARE ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW.
TABLE RIGHT NOW.
GWEN: BLAME, CREDIT, THE PRICE GWEN: BLAME, CREDIT, THE PRICE OF THE PRESIDENCY.
OF THE PRESIDENCY.
TONIGHT WE LOOK AT THE TONIGHT WE LOOK AT THE PRESIDENT AT A CROSSROADS, WITH PRESIDENT AT A CROSSROADS, WITH PETER BAKER OF "THE NEW YORK PETER BAKER OF "THE NEW YORK TIMES," CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN OF TIMES," CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN OF "POLITICO," MICHAEL CROWLEY OF "POLITICO," MICHAEL CROWLEY OF "TIME" MAGAZINE, AND CHRISTI "TIME" MAGAZINE, AND CHRISTI PARSONS OF "TRIBUNE" PARSONS OF "TRIBUNE" NEWSPAPERS.
NEWSPAPERS.
>> AWARD-WINNING REPORTING AND >> AWARD-WINNING REPORTING AND ANALYSIS, COVERING HISTORY AS ANALYSIS, COVERING HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS, LIVE FROM OUR IT HAPPENS, LIVE FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITOL, THIS IS NATION'S CAPITOL, THIS IS "WASHINGTON WEEK" HAVE GWEN "WASHINGTON WEEK" HAVE GWEN IFILL.
ONCE AGAIN, LIVE FROM WASHINGTON, MODERATOR GWEN WASHINGTON, MODERATOR GWEN IFILL.
IFILL.
GWEN: GOOD EVENING.
GWEN: GOOD EVENING.
I'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION BEFORE I'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION BEFORE AND I'LL ASK IT AGAIN.
AND I'LL ASK IT AGAIN.
WHY DOES ANYONE WANT TO BE WHY DOES ANYONE WANT TO BE PRESIDENT?
PRESIDENT?
THE WEEK STARTED OUT WELL THE WEEK STARTED OUT WELL ENOUGH FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA WITH ENOUGH FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA WITH A SURPRISE VISIT TO BAGRAM AIR A SURPRISE VISIT TO BAGRAM AIR BASE IN AFGHANISTAN.
BASE IN AFGHANISTAN.
>> I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE LATE, >> I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE LATE, T I WAS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
T I WAS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THOUGHT I'D STOP BY.
THOUGHT I'D STOP BY.
GWEN: BUT AFTER THAT IT WAS GWEN: BUT AFTER THAT IT WAS HEADACHE AFTER HEADACHE, HEADACHE AFTER HEADACHE, EMBARRASSMENT, DISGRACE, EMBARRASSMENT, DISGRACE, UNCERTAIN ALLIES AND ENEMIES.
UNCERTAIN ALLIES AND ENEMIES.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND, OF COURSE, PLAIN SECURITY AND, OF COURSE, PLAIN OLD GARDEN VARIETY POLITICS.
OLD GARDEN VARIETY POLITICS.
AND THAT'S JUST THE STUFF WE AND THAT'S JUST THE STUFF WE KNOW ABOUT.
KNOW ABOUT.
SO WE THOUGHT WE'D PUT IT ALL SO WE THOUGHT WE'D PUT IT ALL IN CONTEXT TONIGHT.
IN CONTEXT TONIGHT.
FIRST, THE RESIGNATION OF FIRST, THE RESIGNATION OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY ERIC VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY ERIC SHINSEKI THIS MORNING.
SHINSEKI THIS MORNING.
>> WE NOW KNOW THAT THE V.A.
>> WE NOW KNOW THAT THE V.A.
HAS A SYSTEMATIC TOTALLY HAS A SYSTEMATIC TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE LACK OF INTEGRITY UNACCEPTABLE LACK OF INTEGRITY WITHIN SOME OF OUR VETERANS WITHIN SOME OF OUR VETERANS HEALTH FACILITIES.
HEALTH FACILITIES.
THAT BREACH OF INTEGRITY IS THAT BREACH OF INTEGRITY IS IRRESPONSIBLE, INDEFENSIBLE AND IRRESPONSIBLE, INDEFENSIBLE AND UNACCEPTABLE.
UNACCEPTABLE.
GWEN: IT BECAME CLEAR THAT IN GWEN: IT BECAME CLEAR THAT IN THE END IT WAS THE POLITICAL THE END IT WAS THE POLITICAL CLAMOR THAT WAS GOING TO FORCE CLAMOR THAT WAS GOING TO FORCE SHINSEKI OUT.
SHINSEKI OUT.
IN WASHINGTON PARTICLE LANCE, IN WASHINGTON PARTICLE LANCE, THEY ARE KNOWN AS DISTRACTION THEY ARE KNOWN AS DISTRACTION D-PARLANCE, THEY ARE KNOWN AS D-PARLANCE, THEY ARE KNOWN AS DISTRACTIONS.
DISTRACTIONS.
THE PRESIDENT ADMITTED AS MUCH THE PRESIDENT ADMITTED AS MUCH TO CHRIS TY PARSONS.
TO CHRIS TY PARSONS.
>> SO IS THIS THE BEST STEP TO >> SO IS THIS THE BEST STEP TO TAKE GOING FORWARD?
TAKE GOING FORWARD?
WHAT I'M ASKING IS, IS THERE A WHAT I'M ASKING IS, IS THERE A POLITICAL REASON FOR REMOVING POLITICAL REASON FOR REMOVING HIM, OTHER THAN GOING STRAIGHT HIM, OTHER THAN GOING STRAIGHT TO THE PROBLEM?
TO THE PROBLEM?
>> WELL, THE DISTRACTIONS THAT >> WELL, THE DISTRACTIONS THAT RICK REFERS TO IN PART ARE RICK REFERS TO IN PART ARE POLITICAL.
POLITICAL.
HE NEEDS TO BE -- AT THIS STAGE HE NEEDS TO BE -- AT THIS STAGE WHAT I WANT IS SOMEBODY AT THE WHAT I WANT IS SOMEBODY AT THE V.A.
WHO'S NOT SPENDING TIME V.A.
WHO'S NOT SPENDING TIME OUTSIDE OF SOLVING PROBLEMS FOR OUTSIDE OF SOLVING PROBLEMS FOR THE VETERANS.
THE VETERANS.
GWEN: IT FEELS LIKE WE'VE BEEN GWEN: IT FEELS LIKE WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, DOESN'T IT, HERE BEFORE, DOESN'T IT, CHRISTI?
CHRISTI?
>> IT DOES.
>> IT DOES.
IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO THAT IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO THAT HEALTH CARE WAS MELT DOWNING HEALTH CARE WAS MELT DOWNING AND THE HEALTH AND HUMAN AND THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY, EVERYONE SERVICES SECRETARY, EVERYONE WAS CALLININ FOR HER HEAD AND WAS CALLININ FOR HER HEAD AND THE PRESIDENT SAID, SORRY, I THE PRESIDENT SAID, SORRY, I WANT TO KEEP HER IN PLACE AND WANT TO KEEP HER IN PLACE AND FIGURE THIS OUT.
FIGURE THIS OUT.
GWEN: IN FACT, THAT WAS THE GWEN: IN FACT, THAT WAS THE QUESTION YOU ASKED THE QUESTION YOU ASKED THE PRESIDENT TODAY.
PRESIDENT TODAY.
THAT WAS DIFFERENT ABOUT THAT WAS DIFFERENT ABOUT KATHERINE SEBELIUS'S SITUATION KATHERINE SEBELIUS'S SITUATION AND SHINSEKI'S.
AND SHINSEKI'S.
>> HIS ANSWER WAS PERPLEXING.
>> HIS ANSWER WAS PERPLEXING.
DISTRACTIONS IN BOTH CASES IS DISTRACTIONS IN BOTH CASES IS WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO AVOIOI WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO AVOIOI WITH CELEBRITY JUST, THE WITH CELEBRITY JUST, THE DEPARTURE WAS A DISTRACTION, DEPARTURE WAS A DISTRACTION, AND WITH SHINSEKI, HIS AND WITH SHINSEKI, HIS REMAINING WAS THE DISTRACTION.
REMAINING WAS THE DISTRACTION.
HE DID ADMIT POLITICS ARE IN HE DID ADMIT POLITICS ARE IN PLAY HERE, THAT'S PART OF WHY PLAY HERE, THAT'S PART OF WHY IT'S MORE COMPLICATED.
IT'S MORE COMPLICATED.
WHAT HE DIDN'T SAY IS IT'S WHAT HE DIDN'T SAY IS IT'S BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS ARE AFTER BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS ARE AFTER SHINSEKI, WHEN THEY REALLY SHINSEKI, WHEN THEY REALLY WEREN'T GOING AFTER ISABEL WEREN'T GOING AFTER ISABEL YULLS.
YULLS.
GWEN: CARRIE, HOW BIG OF A DEAL GWEN: CARRIE, HOW BIG OF A DEAL WAS THIS, AND WHAT DIFFERENCE WAS THIS, AND WHAT DIFFERENCE WILL IT MAKE IF JUST THE HEAD WILL IT MAKE IF JUST THE HEAD OF THE SNAKE IS CHOPPED OFF?
OF THE SNAKE IS CHOPPED OFF?
>> I THINK FOR NOW IT ALLOWS >> I THINK FOR NOW IT ALLOWS THE WHITE HOUSE TO CALM THE THE WHITE HOUSE TO CALM THE TEMPERS OF THE MEDIA.
TEMPERS OF THE MEDIA.
THE WHOLE FOCUS THIS WEEK WAS, THE WHOLE FOCUS THIS WEEK WAS, WHAT IS THE PRESIDENT GOING TO WHAT IS THE PRESIDENT GOING TO DO WITH SHINSEKI?
DO WITH SHINSEKI?
THE WAY THEY HANDLED SHINSEKI THE WAY THEY HANDLED SHINSEKI THIS WEEK WAS SO DIFFERENT THAN THIS WEEK WAS SO DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY THEY'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THE WAY THEY'VE SPOKEN ABOUT OTHER CABINET SECRETARIES WHO OTHER CABINET SECRETARIES WHO HAVE BEEN UNDER SIEGE.
HAVE BEEN UNDER SIEGE.
IT WAS STRIKING IN THE PRESS IT WAS STRIKING IN THE PRESS BRIEFING ROOM WHEN CARNEY BRIEFING ROOM WHEN CARNEY WOULDN'T SAY IF THE PRESIDENT WOULDN'T SAY IF THE PRESIDENT STILL HAD CONFIDENCE IN STILL HAD CONFIDENCE IN SHINSEKI.
SHINSEKI.
THAT WAS A STARK DIFFERENCE THAT WAS A STARK DIFFERENCE WHEN HE WAS ASKED ABOUT HOLDER, WHEN HE WAS ASKED ABOUT HOLDER, SEBELIUS, STEVEN CHOO.
SEBELIUS, STEVEN CHOO.
THEY ALWAYS SAID THEY HAD THEY ALWAYS SAID THEY HAD CONFIDENCE.
CONFIDENCE.
THIS WAS A LINGERING PROBLEM THIS WAS A LINGERING PROBLEM FOR THE PRESIDENT AND I DON'T FOR THE PRESIDENT AND I DON'T THINK THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN THINK THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN BEYOND IT POLITICALCALLY..
BEYOND IT POLITICALCALLY..
IN TERMS OF SUBSTANTIVELY, WITH IN TERMS OF SUBSTANTIVELY, WITH THE PROBLEMS AT THE V.A.
IT THE PROBLEMS AT THE V.A.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE MUCH OF DOESN'T CHANGE MUCH OF ANYTHING.
ANYTHING.
IN FACT, THEY'VE PUT IN IN FACT, THEY'VE PUT IN SOMEONE, AN ACTING SECRETARY, SOMEONE, AN ACTING SECRETARY, WHO'S ONLY BEEN IN THE POSITION WHO'S ONLY BEEN IN THE POSITION FOR THREE MONTHS.
FOR THREE MONTHS.
SO Y Y'RE GOING TO HAVE A SO Y Y'RE GOING TO HAVE A LEARNING CURVEBALL AND THE LEARNING CURVEBALL AND THE PRESIDENT ADMITTED AS MUCH PRESIDENT ADMITTED AS MUCH TODAY.
TODAY.
GWEN: THE WHITE HOUSE PUT ON A GWEN: THE WHITE HOUSE PUT ON A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE PRESIDENT PHOTOGRAPH OF THE PRESIDENT BASICALLY DELIVERING THE BAD BASICALLY DELIVERING THE BAD NEWS TO ERIC SHINSEKI IN A WALK NEWS TO ERIC SHINSEKI IN A WALK ON THE SOUTH LAWN AT THE WHITE ON THE SOUTH LAWN AT THE WHITE HOUSE SHORTLY BEFORE HE MADE HOUSE SHORTLY BEFORE HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
HE'S CLEARLY SADDENED ABOUT HE'S CLEARLY SADDENED ABOUT THIS.
THIS.
BUT THE PROBLEM, PETER, SEEMS BUT THE PROBLEM, PETER, SEEMS TO BE SO MUCH BIGGER THAN TO BE SO MUCH BIGGER THAN ANYBODY IS EVEN BEGINNING TO ANYBODY IS EVEN BEGINNING TO ACKNOWLEDGE.
ACKNOWLEDGE.
>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
AND THE PROBLEM FOR THIS AND THE PROBLEM FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION IS SO DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATION IS SO DIFFERENT THAN THE PREVIOUS FEWER ERRORS THAN THE PREVIOUS FEWER ERRORS AND CONTROVERSIES THEY'VE HAD AND CONTROVERSIES THEY'VE HAD -- FEWERORS AND CONTROVERSIES -- FEWERORS AND CONTROVERSIES THEY'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH, THE THEY'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH, THE I.R.S., TAPPING INTO PHONES AND I.R.S., TAPPING INTO PHONES AND SO FORTH.
SO FORTH.
THE ISSUE HERE REFLECTS PEOPLE THE ISSUE HERE REFLECTS PEOPLE REVERED IN AMERICA'S SOCIETY.
REVERED IN AMERICA'S SOCIETY.
PEOPLE THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA PEOPLE THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA HIMSELF SENT OVERSEAS AND HAS HIMSELF SENT OVERSEAS AND HAS COME HOME AND THAT'S THE TISSUE COME HOME AND THAT'S THE TISSUE THAT'S CONNECTED THIS WHOLE THAT'S CONNECTED THIS WHOLE WEEK.
WEEK.
AS YOU POINT OUT, HE STARTED AS YOU POINT OUT, HE STARTED THE WEEK IN AFGHANISTAN.
THE WEEK IN AFGHANISTAN.
HE ANNOUNCES A WITHDRAWAL.
HE ANNOUNCES A WITHDRAWAL.
GOES TO WEST POINT.
GOES TO WEST POINT.
AT THE END OF THE WEEK HE'S AT THE END OF THE WEEK HE'S SAYING WE'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE SAYING WE'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THE P PPLE I'VE JUST BEEN OF THE P PPLE I'VE JUST BEEN TALKING TO.
TALKING TO.
THAT GOES BEYOND CONSERVATIVE, THAT GOES BEYOND CONSERVATIVE, LIBERAL, REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRATIC LIBERAL, REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRATIC KINDS OF POWERS.
KINDS OF POWERS.
THAT'S WHAT HE'S TRYING TO GET THAT'S WHAT HE'S TRYING TO GET IN FRONT OF.
IN FRONT OF.
GWEN: MICHAEL, IF HE'S TRYING GWEN: MICHAEL, IF HE'S TRYING GET IN FRONT OF IT, DOES HE GET IN FRONT OF IT, DOES HE GET IN FRONT OF IT BY JUST GET IN FRONT OF IT BY JUST TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE DISTRACTIONS?
DISTRACTIONS?
IS THAT WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO IS THAT WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO DO TODAY?
DO TODAY?
>> I THINK THE HOPE WOULD BE >> I THINK THE HOPE WOULD BE THAT YOU ESSENTIALLY HAD A FIRE THAT YOU ESSENTIALLY HAD A FIRE THAT YOU PUT OUT WITH HIS THAT YOU PUT OUT WITH HIS DEPARTURE.
DEPARTURE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE A AND, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE A FEELING AMONG SOME REPUBLICANS FEELING AMONG SOME REPUBLICANS THAT IT WAS NICE TO HAVE A KIND THAT IT WAS NICE TO HAVE A KIND OF PINATA UP THERE TO KEEP THE OF PINATA UP THERE TO KEEP THE STORY ALIVE.
STORY ALIVE.
I THINK THE PROBLEMS AT THE I THINK THE PROBLEMS AT THE V.A.
ARE MIND-NUMBINGLY V.A.
ARE MIND-NUMBINGLY COMPLICATED.
COMPLICATED.
IT'S A SEVERELY DYSFUNCTIONAL IT'S A SEVERELY DYSFUNCTIONAL BUREAUCRACY.
BUREAUCRACY.
THEY PREDATE THIS THEY PREDATE THIS ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION.
THEY GO WAY BACK.
THEY GO WAY BACK.
THERE WERE ALREADY PROBLEMS THERE WERE ALREADY PROBLEMS BEFORE WE WERE SWAMPED BY BEFORE WE WERE SWAMPED BY VETERANS IN TWO WARS, IN A VETERANS IN TWO WARS, IN A BUREAUCRACY THAT WASN'T BUREAUCRACY THAT WASN'T PREPARED.
PREPARED.
THIS COUNTRY DID NOT PREPARE THIS COUNTRY DID NOT PREPARE FOR THE DECADE AFTER 9/11.
FOR THE DECADE AFTER 9/11.
BUT THERE MAY BE REPUBLICANS BUT THERE MAY BE REPUBLICANS WHO FEEL LIKE HAVING THE HUMAN WHO FEEL LIKE HAVING THE HUMAN DRAMA END, WHICH WAS THE MOST DRAMA END, WHICH WAS THE MOST ACCEPTABLE WAY FOR PEOPLE TO ACCEPTABLE WAY FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THIS.
UNDERSTAND THIS.
IS HE GOING TO STAY?
IS HE GOING TO STAY?
IS HE GOING TO GO?
IS HE GOING TO GO?
IS THE PRESIDENT GOING TO FIRE IS THE PRESIDENT GOING TO FIRE HIS SUBORDINATE?
HIS SUBORDINATE?
WELL DEFUSE IT AND GO BACK TO WELL DEFUSE IT AND GO BACK TO THE UNFORTUNATELY UNSEXY AND THE UNFORTUNATELY UNSEXY AND DULL BUREAUCRATIC QUESTION OF DULL BUREAUCRATIC QUESTION OF THESE WAIT TIMES AND HOW DO YOU THESE WAIT TIMES AND HOW DO YOU SOLVE IT.
SOLVE IT.
SO PROBABLY IT'S A SMART SO PROBABLY IT'S A SMART POLITICAL MOVE FOR THE WHITE POLITICAL MOVE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE.
HOUSE.
>> IN FACT, ONE THE THINGS I >> IN FACT, ONE THE THINGS I PHONED MORE INTERESTING IS THE PHONED MORE INTERESTING IS THE REASON OF THIS WAIT TIME, THE REASON OF THIS WAIT TIME, THE REASON THE BOOKS WERE COOKED IS REASON THE BOOKS WERE COOKED IS THEY WERE TRYING TO LIVE UP TO THEY WERE TRYING TO LIVE UP TO THE LAST SET OF REFORMS THEY THE LAST SET OF REFORMS THEY PUT IN PLACE BY SETTING PUT IN PLACE BY SETTING DEADLINES FOR THE VETERANS DEADLINES FOR THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION SOME YEARS AGO, ADMINISTRATION SOME YEARS AGO, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT IN FACT ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT IN FACT TO MEET THOSE NUMBERS, TO MEET TO MEET THOSE NUMBERS, TO MEET THOSE DEADLINES, THEY JUST MADE THOSE DEADLINES, THEY JUST MADE UP THE NUMBERS.
UP THE NUMBERS.
THEY JUST CUT THEM OFF.
THEY JUST CUT THEM OFF.
>> EXACTLY.
>> EXACTLY.
AND SHINSEKI ACKNOWLEDGED TODAY AND SHINSEKI ACKNOWLEDGED TODAY THAT THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE THAT THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
WAY IT SHOULD BE.
I IMAGINE WITH THESE REPORTS I IMAGINE WITH THESE REPORTS THAT ARE STILL GOING TO BE THAT ARE STILL GOING TO BE FORTHCOMING FROM THE FORTHCOMING FROM THE PRESIDENT'S VISOR, WHO I SENT PRESIDENT'S VISOR, WHO I SENT TO THE V.A.
TO LOOK AT -- THESE TO THE V.A.
TO LOOK AT -- THESE ARE THINGS THE PRESIDENT IS ARE THINGS THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWEROR.
F GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWEROR.
F IT'S NOT OVER.
IT'S NOT OVER.
NOW THE SPOTLIGHT DOES GO BACK NOW THE SPOTLIGHT DOES GO BACK TO THE PRESIDENT IN TERMS OF TO THE PRESIDENT IN TERMS OF REPUBLICANS BEING ABLE TO SORT REPUBLICANS BEING ABLE TO SORT OF PIN IT ON HIM, PUT IT IN OF PIN IT ON HIM, PUT IT IN TERMS OF A QUESTION OF HIS TERMS OF A QUESTION OF HIS COMPETENCE.
COMPETENCE.
SO IT DOES SHIFT THE SPOTLIGHT SO IT DOES SHIFT THE SPOTLIGHT A BIT.
A BIT.
>> THAT COMPETENCE ISSUE IS THE >> THAT COMPETENCE ISSUE IS THE BIGGER THREAT HERE.
BIGGER THREAT HERE.
IT'S ONE THING TO SAY WE DON'T IT'S ONE THING TO SAY WE DON'T LILIHE PRESIDENT BECAUSE WE LILIHE PRESIDENT BECAUSE WE DON'T AGREE WITH HIS POLICIES.
DON'T AGREE WITH HIS POLICIES.
WHEN YOU START TO QUESTION THE WHEN YOU START TO QUESTION THE PRESIDENT'S COMPETENCE, THAT'S PRESIDENT'S COMPETENCE, THAT'S DANGEROUS TERRITORY.
DANGEROUS TERRITORY.
PRESIDENT BUSH FOUND THAT WITH PRESIDENT BUSH FOUND THAT WITH HURRICANE KATRINA.
HURRICANE KATRINA.
HE HAD A HEART TIME GETTING THE HE HAD A HEART TIME GETTING THE PUBLIC FAITH BACK.
PUBLIC FAITH BACK.
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAD THIS PRESIDENT OBAMA HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH HEALTH CARE AND PROBLEM WITH HEALTH CARE AND NOW, THIS ADDS TO THAT.
NOW, THIS ADDS TO THAT.
GWEN: JOHN BOEHNER CAME OUT GWEN: JOHN BOEHNER CAME OUT AFTERWARD -- HE'S ONE OF THE AFTERWARD -- HE'S ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO SAID I DON'T KNOW PEOPLE WHO SAID I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WILL HELP TO GET RID OF WHAT IT WILL HELP TO GET RID OF ERIC SHINSEKI.
ERIC SHINSEKI.
AFTER SHINSEKI WAS FIRED, THIS AFTER SHINSEKI WAS FIRED, THIS IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY -- IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY -- >> GENERAL SHINSEKI HAS >> GENERAL SHINSEKI HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO OUR DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO OUR COUNTRY, AND WE THANK HIM FOR COUNTRY, AND WE THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE.
HIS SERVICE.
HIS RESIGNATION, THOUGH, DOES HIS RESIGNATION, THOUGH, DOES NOT ABSOLVE THE PRESIDENT OF NOT ABSOLVE THE PRESIDENT OF HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO STEP IN HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO STEP IN AND MAKE THINGS RIGHT FOR OUR AND MAKE THINGS RIGHT FOR OUR VETERANS.
VETERANS.
BUSINESS AS USUAL CANNOT BUSINESS AS USUAL CANNOT CONTINUE.
CONTINUE.
GWEN: SO WHAT HE'S CLEARLY GWEN: SO WHAT HE'S CLEARLY TRYING TO DO HERE IS SAY, WELL, TRYING TO DO HERE IS SAY, WELL, YEAH, THAT'S FINE, BUT WHAT YEAH, THAT'S FINE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PRESIDENT?
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT?
>> AND THE PRESIDENT WAS QUICK >> AND THE PRESIDENT WAS QUICK TO REACH OUT AND EMBRACE THE TO REACH OUT AND EMBRACE THE HILL, TOO, AND PULL THEM BACK HILL, TOO, AND PULL THEM BACK INTO THE STORY AS WELL.
INTO THE STORY AS WELL.
ASIDE FROM CHANGING THE CULTURE ASIDE FROM CHANGING THE CULTURE AT THIS ADMININATION, AT THE AT THIS ADMININATION, AT THE V.A., HE WAS ALSO SAYING WE V.A., HE WAS ALSO SAYING WE NEED TO SPEND MORE MONEY.
NEED TO SPEND MORE MONEY.
WE NEED MORE DOCTORS.
WE NEED MORE DOCTORS.
WE'VE GOT THIS FLOOD OF VETS WE'VE GOT THIS FLOOD OF VETS COMING BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN COMING BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN WITH THESE SERIOUS PROBLEMS LTS WITH THESE SERIOUS PROBLEMS LTS WE NEED MORE MONEY.
WE NEED MORE MONEY.
AND NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
AND NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
GWEN: AS PETER POINTED OUT, GWEN: AS PETER POINTED OUT, THIS IS ONE OF THE HEADACHES.
THIS IS ONE OF THE HEADACHES.
THIS IS ONE THE BIG PROBLEMS THIS IS ONE THE BIG PROBLEMS AND IT SPEAKS TO THE OTHER AND IT SPEAKS TO THE OTHER ISSUES, THE COMPETENCE ISSUES, ISSUES, THE COMPETENCE ISSUES, WHICH KEEP DOGGING THIS WHICH KEEP DOGGING THIS ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION.
I HAVE SAT DOWN WITH SECRETARY I HAVE SAT DOWN WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY THIS WEEK OF STATE JOHN KERRY THIS WEEK TO TALK ABOUT AFGHANISTAN AND TO TALK ABOUT AFGHANISTAN AND UKRAINE AND SYRIA AND NIGERIA UKRAINE AND SYRIA AND NIGERIA AND WHY THE ADMINISTRATION AND WHY THE ADMINISTRATION SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENTLTL SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENTLTL BETWEEN ROCKS AND HARD PLACES.
BETWEEN ROCKS AND HARD PLACES.
FOR INSTANCE, ON THE STALLED FOR INSTANCE, ON THE STALLED MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS THAT MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS THAT KERRY TRIED TO REVIVE.
KERRY TRIED TO REVIVE.
>> MY JOB IS TO PUSH IT >> MY JOB IS TO PUSH IT FORWARD.
FORWARD.
MY JOB IS TO TRY TO FIND THE MY JOB IS TO TRY TO FIND THE OPTIMISM AND THE POSSIBILITIES, OPTIMISM AND THE POSSIBILITIES, NOT TO GIVE UP.
NOT TO GIVE UP.
AND I REFUSE TO GIVE UP.
AND I REFUSE TO GIVE UP.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO FIND THE WAY AHEAD.
TO FIND THE WAY AHEAD.
THIS HASN'T GONE AWAY IN 40, 50 THIS HASN'T GONE AWAY IN 40, 50 YEARS, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO YEARS, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO SUDDENLY JUST SORT OF SOLVE SUDDENLY JUST SORT OF SOLVE ITSELF, BY ITSELF.
ITSELF, BY ITSELF.
THAT'S OUR JOB IS TO TRY TO THAT'S OUR JOB IS TO TRY TO PUSH THE PROCESS FORWARD.
PUSH THE PROCESS FORWARD.
GWEN: IT OCCURRED TO ME LATER GWEN: IT OCCURRED TO ME LATER THAT THE FRUSTRATION I HEARD IN THAT THE FRUSTRATION I HEARD IN THE SECRETARY'S VOICE COULD THE SECRETARY'S VOICE COULD APPLY TO ALL OF PRESIDENT OBAMA APPLY TO ALL OF PRESIDENT OBAMA FOREIGN POLICY DILEMMAS.
FOREIGN POLICY DILEMMAS.
>> IT'S THE GIFT THAT KEEPS >> IT'S THE GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING.
GIVING.
IT'S BEEN AN UNFRIENDLY WORLD, IT'S BEEN AN UNFRIENDLY WORLD, ON THE PEACE PROCESS ON THE PEACE PROCESS SPECIFICALLY.
SPECIFICALLY.
THERE'S A SAYING THAT SAYS, WE THERE'S A SAYING THAT SAYS, WE CAN'T WANT IT MORE THAN THE CAN'T WANT IT MORE THAN THE PARTIES DO.
PARTIES DO.
IF YOU LISTEN TO THE CHIEF U.S.
IF YOU LISTEN TO THE CHIEF U.S.
NEGOTIATOR FOR KERRY, HE CAME NEGOTIATOR FOR KERRY, HE CAME BACK AND GAVE A KIND OF EXIT BACK AND GAVE A KIND OF EXIT SPEECH RECAP.
SPEECH RECAP.
IN HIS VIEW IT SOUNDED LIKE IN HIS VIEW IT SOUNDED LIKE NEITHER SIDE WAS REALLY READY NEITHER SIDE WAS REALLY READY FOR IT.
FOR IT.
I THINK THE SECRETARY OF STATE I THINK THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS BEING OPTIMISTIC.
IS BEING OPTIMISTIC.
THERE IS GREAT FRUSTRATION IN THERE IS GREAT FRUSTRATION IN THE WHITE HOUSE RIGHT NOW.
THE WHITE HOUSE RIGHT NOW.
EY CAN'T GET A WAYNE ON EY CAN'T GET A WAYNE ON FOREIGN POLICY ANYWHERE.
FOREIGN POLICY ANYWHERE.
THERE ARE SOME REASONS FOR HOPE THERE ARE SOME REASONS FOR HOPE IN UKRAINE, THAT PUTIN MAYBE IN UKRAINE, THAT PUTIN MAYBE HAS STEPPED BACK FROM THE HAS STEPPED BACK FROM THE BRINK.
BRINK.
WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT, OF WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT, OF COURSE.
COURSE.
AND THEY ARE HOPING THEY'VE AND THEY ARE HOPING THEY'VE TURNED THE PAGE IN AFGHANISTAN.
TURNED THE PAGE IN AFGHANISTAN.
THAT'S GOOD NEWS.
THAT'S GOOD NEWS.
THE BIG QUESTION WILL BE JULY THE BIG QUESTION WILL BE JULY 20 IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE 20 IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE INTERIM DEAL WITH IRAN AND THE INTERIM DEAL WITH IRAN AND THE NUCLEAR NEGOTIATIONS.
NUCLEAR NEGOTIATIONS.
AND THAT REALLY SEEMS LIKE THE AND THAT REALLY SEEMS LIKE THE ONE REMAINING OBVIOUS ONE REMAINING OBVIOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PRESIDENT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PRESIDENT TO HAVE A BIG FOREIGN POLICY TO HAVE A BIG FOREIGN POLICY VICTORY THAT COULD MAKE UP FOR VICTORY THAT COULD MAKE UP FOR A LOT OF THESE DISAPPOINTMENTS A LOT OF THESE DISAPPOINTMENTS SO FAR.
SO FAR.
EN: THE CASE THAT THE EN: THE CASE THAT THE PRESIDENT MAKES ABOUT UKRAINE PRESIDENT MAKES ABOUT UKRAINE AND SYRIA IS THAT THINGS ARE AND SYRIA IS THAT THINGS ARE BETTER THAN YOU THINK.
BETTER THAN YOU THINK.
WE ACTUALLY DID DO THE RIGHT WE ACTUALLY DID DO THE RIGHT THING IN ORDER TO GET PUTIN TO THING IN ORDER TO GET PUTIN TO STAND DOWN IN UKRAINE.
STAND DOWN IN UKRAINE.
IN SYRIA, WE HAVE ELIMINANAD IN SYRIA, WE HAVE ELIMINANAD 92% OF THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS.
92% OF THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS.
ASSAD IS STILL IN POWER, BUT ASSAD IS STILL IN POWER, BUT THIS IS NOT A BAD THING.
THIS IS NOT A BAD THING.
>> IT'S A TERRIBLE BUMPER >> IT'S A TERRIBLE BUMPER STICKER TO PUT ON YOUR CAR, IT STICKER TO PUT ON YOUR CAR, IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.
COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.
MUCH LIKE HE WAS WITH THE MUCH LIKE HE WAS WITH THE ECONOMY WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR ECONOMY WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.
RE-ELECTION.
WE LEARNED THIS WEEK THE WE LEARNED THIS WEEK THE ECONOMY SHRANK IN THE FIRST ECONOMY SHRANK IN THE FIRST QUARTER.
QUARTER.
THE IDEA THAT WE AVOIDED WORSE THE IDEA THAT WE AVOIDED WORSE OUTCOMES IS NOT VERY SATISFYING OUTCOMES IS NOT VERY SATISFYING EITHER TO HIM, MUCH LESS TO HIS EITHER TO HIM, MUCH LESS TO HIS OPPONENTS.
OPPONENTS.
AND CERTAINLY WITH SYRIA, THE AND CERTAINLY WITH SYRIA, THE JURY IS STILL OUT.
JURY IS STILL OUT.
WE'LL SEE NEXT WEEK WHEN HE WE'LL SEE NEXT WEEK WHEN HE GOES TO EUROPE.
GOES TO EUROPE.
THE RUSSIANS HAVEN'T THE RUSSIANS HAVEN'T NECESSARILY GIVEN UP ON MAKING NECESSARILY GIVEN UP ON MAKING THINGS DIFFICULT.
THINGS DIFFICULT.
UKRAINE JUST THIS WEEK, THEY UKRAINE JUST THIS WEEK, THEY SHOT DOWN A HELICOPTER WITH A SHOT DOWN A HELICOPTER WITH A UKRAINIAN GENERAL ONBOARD.
UKRAINIAN GENERAL ONBOARD.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF HARDSHIPS SO THERE'S A LOT OF HARDSHIPS STILL AHEAD.
STILL AHEAD.
>> CHRISTI, THE WEST POINTS >> CHRISTI, THE WEST POINTS SPEECH INY THE PRESIDENT WAS SPEECH INY THE PRESIDENT WAS GOING TO LAY OUT AGAIN HIS GOING TO LAY OUT AGAIN HIS VISION FOR FOREIGN POLICY, DID VISION FOR FOREIGN POLICY, DID IT ACCOMPLISH WHAT THEY IT ACCOMPLISH WHAT THEY INTENDED?
INTENDED?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT DID >> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT DID OR NOT.
OR NOT.
IT CERTAINLY DIDN'T QUELL THE IT CERTAINLY DIDN'T QUELL THE CRITICISM OF THE PRESIDENT'S CRITICISM OF THE PRESIDENT'S FOREIGN POLICY.
FOREIGN POLICY.
GWGW: NOTHING WILL.
GWGW: NOTHING WILL.
>> AND PROBABLY NOTHING WILL.
>> AND PROBABLY NOTHING WILL.
SEEMS LIKE WHAT THE PRESIDENT SEEMS LIKE WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS FRUSTRATED ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS FRUSTRATED ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS THAT AVERAGE AMERICANS DON'T IS THAT AVERAGE AMERICANS DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE HE'S GOING UNDERSTAND WHERE HE'S GOING WITH THIS.
WITH THIS.
AND I THINK THIS REALLY WAS A AND I THINK THIS REALLY WAS A SPEECHCH IN SOME WAYS DESIGNED SPEECHCH IN SOME WAYS DESIGNED APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY HAVE LOST THEIR APPETITE FOR HAVE LOST THEIR APPETITE FOR WAR, WHO REALLY CAN MAYBE WAR, WHO REALLY CAN MAYBE CONNECT WITH THE IDEA OF MAYBE CONNECT WITH THE IDEA OF MAYBE THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.
THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.
HE STILL IS SORT OF SEARCHING HE STILL IS SORT OF SEARCHING FOR A WAY TO EXPRESS THAT, THAT FOR A WAY TO EXPRESS THAT, THAT PEOPLE CAN RALLY AROUND, AND PEOPLE CAN RALLY AROUND, AND THAT SPEECH DIDN'T CONTAIN IT.
THAT SPEECH DIDN'T CONTAIN IT.
GWEN: YOU HAHA A PIECE POPPING GWEN: YOU HAHA A PIECE POPPING UP ON "POLITICO" THIS WEEK UP ON "POLITICO" THIS WEEK ABOUT THE WAY THE ABOUT THE WAY THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN COPING ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN COPING WITH ALL OF ITS SETBACKS AND WITH ALL OF ITS SETBACKS AND STEPS FORWARD IN THE PAST STEPS FORWARD IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
SEVERAL YEARS.
IS THIS THE KIND OF THING WHERE IS THIS THE KIND OF THING WHERE THEY JUST FEEL LIKE NOBODY GETS THEY JUST FEEL LIKE NOBODY GETS US, THEY JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND US, THEY JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED?
WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED?
>> YES.
>> YES.
WE'RE SEEING THAT ON THE WE'RE SEEING THAT ON THE DOMESTIC FRONT, TOO.
DOMESTIC FRONT, TOO.
THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS HAD TO TURN TO HIS OWN HAD TO TURN TO HIS OWN ADMINISTRATION TO GET THINGS ADMINISTRATION TO GET THINGS DONE, EXECUTIVE ACTIONS, AND DONE, EXECUTIVE ACTIONS, AND THEY FEEL THEY DON'T GET THE THEY FEEL THEY DON'T GET THE CREDIT THEY DESERVE FOR HAVING CREDIT THEY DESERVE FOR HAVING TAKEN CERTAIN STEPS, DOING TAKEN CERTAIN STEPS, DOING THINGS WITHOUT CONGRESS.
THINGS WITHOUT CONGRESS.
BECAUSE EVERYTHING IN BECAUSE EVERYTHING IN WASHINGTON IS VIEWED THROUGH WASHINGTON IS VIEWED THROUGH THE LENS OF WHAT'S GOING THE LENS OF WHAT'S GOING THROUGH CONGRESS.
THROUGH CONGRESS.
NOTHING IS GOING THROUGH NOTHING IS GOING THROUGH CONGRESS.
CONGRESS.
THERE'S FRUSTRATION IN THE THERE'S FRUSTRATION IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
WHITE HOUSE.
THIS PIECE I WAS POSTING THIS THIS PIECE I WAS POSTING THIS WEEKEND IS A LOOK AT THE WEEKEND IS A LOOK AT THE PRESIDENT, WHERE HE IS AT THIS PRESIDENT, WHERE HE IS AT THIS POINT IN HIS SECOND TERM AND POINT IN HIS SECOND TERM AND THERE'S A PARADOX THAT EMERGES.
THERE'S A PARADOX THAT EMERGES.
HE IS CLEARLY FRUSTRATED, BUT HE IS CLEARLY FRUSTRATED, BUT HE'S ALSO MORE LIBERATED THAN HE'S ALSO MORE LIBERATED THAN WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST SIX WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST SIX YEARS.
YEARS.
HE'S APPROACHING HIS JOB HE'S APPROACHING HIS JOB DIFFERENTLY.
DIFFERENTLY.
IT'S LIKE TO SAY THIS IS A IT'S LIKE TO SAY THIS IS A PRESIDENT THAT DOESN'T DO PRESIDENT THAT DOESN'T DO THINGS MUCH DIFFERENTLY THAN HE THINGS MUCH DIFFERENTLY THAN HE DID THE FIRST DAY HE WALKED DID THE FIRST DAY HE WALKED INTO OFFICE, WELL, HE DOES.
INTO OFFICE, WELL, HE DOES.
HE'S APPROACHING THINGS HE'S APPROACHING THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
DIFFERENTLY.
IT'S ABOUT REALIZING HIS TIME IT'S ABOUT REALIZING HIS TIME IS LIMITED AND WANTING TO DO IS LIMITED AND WANTING TO DO CERTAIN THINGS BEFORE HE CERTAIN THINGS BEFORE HE LEAVES.
LEAVES.
CLOSE EYE ON THE CLOCK, BUT CLOSE EYE ON THE CLOCK, BUT REALIZING HIS POWER IS PRETTY REALIZING HIS POWER IS PRETTY LIMITED AT THIS POINT.
LIMITED AT THIS POINT.
GWEN: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GWEN: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STRAWMAN ARGUMENT, THE IDEA STRAWMAN ARGUMENT, THE IDEA THAT HE SETS UP THINGS LIKE WE THAT HE SETS UP THINGS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT BOOTS ON THE DON'T HAVE TO PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND EVEVEWHERE.
GROUND EVEVEWHERE.
NO ONE'S ASKING HIM TO PUT NO ONE'S ASKING HIM TO PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND EVERYWHERE.
BOOTS ON THE GROUND EVERYWHERE.
BUT THEN HE SAYS, THIS IS THE BUT THEN HE SAYS, THIS IS THE OTHER SOLUTION.
OTHER SOLUTION.
IS THAT AN ARGUMENT THAT CAN IS THAT AN ARGUMENT THAT CAN ENDURE?
ENDURE?
IS THAT JUST A STRATEGY TO GETET IS THAT JUST A STRATEGY TO GETET THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS?
YEARS?
>> IT MIGHT BE THE BEST HE'S >> IT MIGHT BE THE BEST HE'S GOT.
GOT.
THE OLD THING THAT THEY SAY WE THE OLD THING THAT THEY SAY WE HAVE THREE OPTIONS, NUCLEAR HAVE THREE OPTIONS, NUCLEAR WAR, TOTAL SURRENDER OR STATE WAR, TOTAL SURRENDER OR STATE DEPARTMENT POLICY AND PROPOSAL.
DEPARTMENT POLICY AND PROPOSAL.
THAT'S WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS THAT'S WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS DOING.
DOING.
HE'S SETTING UP THESE FALSE HE'S SETTING UP THESE FALSE CHOICES.
CHOICES.
HE TOOK A LOT OF CRITICISM FOR HE TOOK A LOT OF CRITICISM FOR DOING THIS IN HIS SPEECH.
DOING THIS IN HIS SPEECH.
THE SPEECH WAS ROUNDLY PANNED.
THE SPEECH WAS ROUNDLY PANNED.
I READ SEVERAL EDITORIALS AND I READ SEVERAL EDITORIALS AND IT WAS HARD TO FIND POSITIVE IT WAS HARD TO FIND POSITIVE OPINION.
OPINION.
A SMALL MINORITY.
A SMALL MINORITY.
I THINK THAT THAT ARGUMENT IS I THINK THAT THAT ARGUMENT IS PROBABLY THE BEST HE CAN DO.
PROBABLY THE BEST HE CAN DO.
THERE'S NOT A CLEAR OBAMA THERE'S NOT A CLEAR OBAMA DOCTRINE.
DOCTRINE.
YOU CAN'T PUT IT ON A BUMPER YOU CAN'T PUT IT ON A BUMPER STICKER.
STICKER.
DON'T DO STUPID STUFF HE DON'T DO STUPID STUFF HE ALLEGEDLY SAYS AS A PRETTY LOW ALLEGEDLY SAYS AS A PRETTY LOW BAR OF SUCCESS.
BAR OF SUCCESS.
IN SOME WAYS HE IS BLESSED BY IN SOME WAYS HE IS BLESSED BY SOME OF HIS CRITICS, LIKE SOME OF HIS CRITICS, LIKE SENATOR MCCAIN, WHO SPEAKS FROM SENATOR MCCAIN, WHO SPEAKS FROM HIS HEART AND REALLY BELIEVES HIS HEART AND REALLY BELIEVES THAT WE SHOULD BE USING OUR THAT WE SHOULD BE USING OUR MILL TEAR MUCH MORE, SHALL WE MILL TEAR MUCH MORE, SHALL WE SAY, FREELY THAN WE DO.
SAY, FREELY THAN WE DO.
AND HE DOES SET UP A AND HE DOES SET UP A COUNTERPOINT FOR THE PRESIDENT COUNTERPOINT FOR THE PRESIDENT TO SAY THERE ARE THESE PEOPLE TO SAY THERE ARE THESE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE BOMBING AND WHO WANT TO BE BOMBING AND INVADING ALL OVER THE PLACE, INVADING ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND THAT'S CRAZY TALK.
AND THAT'S CRAZY TALK.
I THINKENATOR MCCAIN IS NOT I THINKENATOR MCCAIN IS NOT IN STEP WITH THE MAJORITY OF IN STEP WITH THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS.
AMERICANS.
SO THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE SO THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT THE PRESIDENT IS THAT THE PRESIDENT IS RESPONDING TO WHO ALLOW HIM TO RESPONDING TO WHO ALLOW HIM TO SET THAT UP.
SET THAT UP.
BUT I THINK HE EXAGGERATES THE BUT I THINK HE EXAGGERATES THE DIFFERENCES.
DIFFERENCES.
THE LAST THING I'LL SAY VERY THE LAST THING I'LL SAY VERY BRIEFLY -- I THINK THERE'S BRIEFLY -- I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER SYRIA CRISIS COMING.
ANOTHER SYRIA CRISIS COMING.
THE CHEMICALS REMOVAL DEADLINE THE CHEMICALS REMOVAL DEADLINE IS NOT GOING TO BE MET.
IS NOT GOING TO BE MET.
IT APPEARS THERE WERE CHEMICAL IT APPEARS THERE WERE CHEMICAL WEAPONS THE ASSAD REGIME DID WEAPONS THE ASSAD REGIME DID NOT APPEAR AND THERE ARE NOT APPEAR AND THERE ARE CHLORINE ATTACKS IN THE CHLORINE ATTACKS IN THE COUNTRY.
COUNTRY.
THERE'S A U.N.
TEAM THERE'S A U.N.
TEAM INVESTIGATING THEM NOW.
INVESTIGATING THEM NOW.
LOOKS LIKE ADMINISTRATION LOOKS LIKE ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WILL COME BACK AND OFFICIALS WILL COME BACK AND SAY CHEMICAL ATTACKS ARE STILL SAY CHEMICAL ATTACKS ARE STILL GOING ON.
GOING ON.
GWEN: AND NEXT WEEK, AN GWEN: AND NEXT WEEK, AN ELECTION IN WHICH ASSAD CLEARLY ELECTION IN WHICH ASSAD CLEARLY WILL WALK BACK INTO O FICE FOR WILL WALK BACK INTO O FICE FOR ANOTHER TERM.
ANOTHER TERM.
BUT ON THIS END, YOU TOUCHED ON BUT ON THIS END, YOU TOUCHED ON THIS, AND CARRIE TALKED ABOUT THIS, AND CARRIE TALKED ABOUT THIS, TOO, CONGRESS -- FOR THIS, TOO, CONGRESS -- FOR INSTANCE, THE PRESIDENT AS PART INSTANCE, THE PRESIDENT AS PART OF HIS PLAN THIS WEEK SAID I'D OF HIS PLAN THIS WEEK SAID I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO AID AND ARM LIKE TO BE ABLE TO AID AND ARM THE REBELS, WHICH A LOT OF THE REBELS, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING TO DO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING TO DO IN SYRIA.
IN SYRIA.
BUT IT REQUIRES CONGRESSIONAL BUT IT REQUIRES CONGRESSIONAL AGREEMENT.
AGREEMENT.
IS THERE ANY ROOM FOR IS THERE ANY ROOM FOR CONGRESSIONAL AGREEMENT ANYMORE CONGRESSIONAL AGREEMENT ANYMORE ON ANYTHING?
ON ANYTHING?
>> I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THERE >> I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THERE IS.
IS.
EVERY EFFORT TO PRODUCE IT EVERY EFFORT TO PRODUCE IT FAILS.
FAILS.
SO IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT.
SO IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT.
AND I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.
AND I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.
I WAS REALLY LOOKING IN THIS I WAS REALLY LOOKING IN THIS SPEECH FOR SOME SIGN THAT THE SPEECH FOR SOME SIGN THAT THE PRESIDENT MIGHT OPEN A DOOR TO PRESIDENT MIGHT OPEN A DOOR TO MORE ACTION IN SYRIA, BECAUSE MORE ACTION IN SYRIA, BECAUSE IT DOES SEEM LIKE THERE'S A IT DOES SEEM LIKE THERE'S A DEBATE TAKING PLACE WITHIN HIS DEBATE TAKING PLACE WITHIN HIS ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION.
SO ACTUALLY, I WAS GOINGNGO SO ACTUALLY, I WAS GOINGNGO DIRECT THIS QUESTION TO YOU AND DIRECT THIS QUESTION TO YOU AND SEE IF YOU'RE HEARING THE SAME SEE IF YOU'RE HEARING THE SAME THING, AND IF WHAT WE'VE HEARD THING, AND IF WHAT WE'VE HEARD SAM POWER AND JOHN KERRY SAY SAM POWER AND JOHN KERRY SAY PUBLICLY IN THE LAST FEW DAYS PUBLICLY IN THE LAST FEW DAYS HAS MADE YOU THINK THAT REALLY HAS MADE YOU THINK THAT REALLY THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING UNDER THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING UNDER CONSIDERATION IN THE WHITE CONSIDERATION IN THE WHITE HOUSE, SOMETHING TO INDICATE HOUSE, SOMETHING TO INDICATE WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID ABOUT WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID ABOUT ARMING THE OPPOSITION MEANS ARMING THE OPPOSITION MEANS SOME SUBSTANTIAL MOVEMENT.
SOME SUBSTANTIAL MOVEMENT.
>> I THINK THE DEBATE IS STILL >> I THINK THE DEBATE IS STILL ONGOING.
ONGOING.
LIKE SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN LIKE SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY PUSHING FOR MORE ACTION.
KERRY PUSHING FOR MORE ACTION.
THE PRESIDENT SUGGESTED WE THE PRESIDENT SUGGESTED WE WOULD RAMP UP SUPPORT FOR THE WOULD RAMP UP SUPPORT FOR THE REBELS.
REBELS.
THE KEY POINT NOW SEEMS TO BE THE KEY POINT NOW SEEMS TO BE WHETHER THE PENTAGON WOULD WHETHER THE PENTAGON WOULD START TRAINING SOME OF THESE START TRAINING SOME OF THESE VETTED REBELS AND YOU HAVE TO VETTED REBELS AND YOU HAVE TO DO THAT WITH CONGRESS.
DO THAT WITH CONGRESS.
THEY DID A CONFERENCE CALLS THEY DID A CONFERENCE CALLS WITH REPORTERS.
WITH REPORTERS.
ONE REPORTER ON THE CALL SAID I ONE REPORTER ON THE CALL SAID I DON'T THINK WE'RE HEARING A DON'T THINK WE'RE HEARING A STRAIGHT ANSWER HERE.
STRAIGHT ANSWER HERE.
TO ME, MY SENSE IS THEY HAVEN'T TO ME, MY SENSE IS THEY HAVEN'T MADE UP THEIR MIND AT THE WHITE MADE UP THEIR MIND AT THE WHITE HOUSE HOW HARD THEY WANT TO HOUSE HOW HARD THEY WANT TO PUSH THAT AND THEY HAVE TO DEAL PUSH THAT AND THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH CONGRESS.
WITH CONGRESS.
SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS STILL SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS STILL VERY UNCLEAR.
VERY UNCLEAR.
GWEN: LET'S GO TO THE GWEN: LET'S GO TO THE 30,000-FOOT LEVEL HERE.
30,000-FOOT LEVEL HERE.
NKCAUSE WHEN YOU STOP AND THI NKCAUSE WHEN YOU STOP AND THI ABOUT IT, THIS WEEK WE SAW ABOUT IT, THIS WEEK WE SAW EDWARD SNOWDEN BREAK HIS EDWARD SNOWDEN BREAK HIS SILENCE AND BASICALLY ACCUSE SILENCE AND BASICALLY ACCUSE HIS COUNTRY OF BETRAYING HIM, HIS COUNTRY OF BETRAYING HIM, INSTEAD OF HIMSELF BETRAYING INSTEAD OF HIMSELF BETRAYING THE COUNTRY.
THE COUNTRY.
WE SAW THE ADMINISTRATION ADMIT WE SAW THE ADMINISTRATION ADMIT THERE'S VERY LITTLE THEY CAN DO THERE'S VERY LITTLE THEY CAN DO TO HELP RESCUE THE NIGERIAN TO HELP RESCUE THE NIGERIAN GIRLS.
GIRLS.
HUMANITARIAN CRIRIS IN SYRAH, HUMANITARIAN CRIRIS IN SYRAH, SUDAN, IN ALL SORTS OF PLACES SUDAN, IN ALL SORTS OF PLACES WHERE THIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD WHERE THIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME IMPACT.
LIKE TO HAVE SOME IMPACT.
BUT IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE PLAYING BUT IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE PLAYING SMALL BALL.
SMALL BALL.
THE PRESIDENT USES A LOT OF THE PRESIDENT USES A LOT OF SPORTS METAPHORS, TALKING ABOUT SPORTS METAPHORS, TALKING ABOUT BLOCKING AND TACKLING ON BLOCKING AND TACKLING ON FOREIGN POLICY AND BASE HITS.
FOREIGN POLICY AND BASE HITS.
HAS THE TRANSFORMATIONAL HAS THE TRANSFORMATIONAL PRESIDENCY THAT WAS ONCE PRESIDENCY THAT WAS ONCE PROMISED TURNED INTO A BIT BY PROMISED TURNED INTO A BIT BY BIT BY BIT?
BIT BY BIT?
>> TRANSFORMATION IS OVER WE'RE >> TRANSFORMATION IS OVER WE'RE NOW IN INCREMENTS, SINGLE AND NOW IN INCREMENTS, SINGLE AND DOUBLES, THAT'S WHAT HE SAYS.
DOUBLES, THAT'S WHAT HE SAYS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M STRUCK BY AND, YOU KNOW, I'M STRUCK BY YOUR INTERVIEW WITH JOHN KERRY.
YOUR INTERVIEW WITH JOHN KERRY.
HE ASKED YOU TO TURN THE HE ASKED YOU TO TURN THE CAMERAS BACK ON BECAUSE HE CAMERAS BACK ON BECAUSE HE FORGOT TO SAY AND W WTED TO FORGOT TO SAY AND W WTED TO SAY, YEAH, HE HIT A HOME RUN SAY, YEAH, HE HIT A HOME RUN FROM TIME TO TIME.
FROM TIME TO TIME.
BUT THEY'RE LOOKING AT A BUT THEY'RE LOOKING AT A MINIMUMMIST, WHAT CAN WE DO NOT MINIMUMMIST, WHAT CAN WE DO NOT TO MESS THINGS UP FURTHER THAN TO MESS THINGS UP FURTHER THAN THEY ARE.
THEY ARE.
DON'T DO STUPID S S. DON'T DO STUPID S S. IT'S NOT INSPIRING, IT'S NOT IT'S NOT INSPIRING, IT'S NOT RIFTING AS RHETORIC.
RIFTING AS RHETORIC.
IT MAY BE SENSIBLE IN A WORLD IT MAY BE SENSIBLE IN A WORLD OF CONSTRAINTS AND CHALLENGES OF CONSTRAINTS AND CHALLENGES AND SO FORTH.
AND SO FORTH.
NOBODY IN AMERICA FEELS THAT NOBODY IN AMERICA FEELS THAT THE SITUATION IN NIGERIA ISN'T THE SITUATION IN NIGERIA ISN'T HORRIBLE AND YET, THERE'S NOT A HORRIBLE AND YET, THERE'S NOT A GREAT APPETITE TO SEND IN THE GREAT APPETITE TO SEND IN THE 101ST AIRBORNE AT THIS POINT.
101ST AIRBORNE AT THIS POINT.
>> CARRIE, DO WE SEE THEM >> CARRIE, DO WE SEE THEM TRYING TO REFRAME THE DEBATE?
TRYING TO REFRAME THE DEBATE?
IS THERE AN EFFECTIVE WAY IS THERE AN EFFECTIVE WAY THEY'VE IDENTIFIED TO DO THAT?
THEY'VE IDENTIFIED TO DO THAT?
>> THEY'RE CONTINUING ON THIS >> THEY'RE CONTINUING ON THIS SORT OF PATH WHERE -- YOU SAW SORT OF PATH WHERE -- YOU SAW THE PRESIDENT TRY TO PULL BACK THE PRESIDENT TRY TO PULL BACK FROM HIM BEING TAGGED AS SORT FROM HIM BEING TAGGED AS SORT OF A SINGLES AND DOUBLES KIND OF A SINGLES AND DOUBLES KIND OF PRESIDENT, BUT IN REALITY OF PRESIDENT, BUT IN REALITY THAT IS WHAT IT IS AND THEY'RE THAT IS WHAT IT IS AND THEY'RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE ON THAT JUST GOING TO CONTINUE ON THAT PATH, TRYING TO ADVANCE THE PATH, TRYING TO ADVANCE THE BALL.
BALL.
GWEN: IS THAT HIM OR IS THAT GWEN: IS THAT HIM OR IS THAT THE NATURE OF THE PRESIDENCY?
THE NATURE OF THE PRESIDENCY?
>> IT'S DEFINITELY THE NATURE >> IT'S DEFINITELY THE NATURE OF THE PRESIDENCY IN A SECOND OF THE PRESIDENCY IN A SECOND TERM.
TERM.
IN SOME WAYS THE PRESIDENT IS IN SOME WAYS THE PRESIDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHERE HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHERE HE IS NOW.
NOW.
HE'S TRYING TO RECTIFY THAT A HE'S TRYING TO RECTIFY THAT A LITTLE BIT BY DOING MORE LITTLE BIT BY DOING MORE OUTREACH WITH DEMOCRATS ON THE OUTREACH WITH DEMOCRATS ON THE HILL, TO MAYBE MAKE SOME HILL, TO MAYBE MAKE SOME ADVANCES.
ADVANCES.
BUT BY AND LARGE IT'S A BUT BY AND LARGE IT'S A SECOND-TERM PHENOMENON.
SECOND-TERM PHENOMENON.
NORMAL FOR A SECOND TERM TO NORMAL FOR A SECOND TERM TO HAVE TO DO THESE SMALL THINGS.
HAVE TO DO THESE SMALL THINGS.
>> THERE COULD STILL BE A HOME >> THERE COULD STILL BE A HOME RUN IN THE FORM OF AN IRAN RUN IN THE FORM OF AN IRAN DEAL.
DEAL.
THAT IS THE POTENTIAL DEAL, THAT IS THE POTENTIAL DEAL, WE'D BE HAVING A VERY DIFFERENT WE'D BE HAVING A VERY DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.
CONVERSATION.
>> THAT'S HIS BEST HOPE.
>> THAT'S HIS BEST HOPE.
YEAH.
YEAH.
>> HE SAYS IT'S LESS THAN >> HE SAYS IT'S LESS THAN 50/50.
50/50.
>> YOU'VE BROKEN ALL MY RULES >> YOU'VE BROKEN ALL MY RULES AGAINST SPORTS METAPHORS.
AGAINST SPORTS METAPHORS.
JUST BECAUSE HE DOES IT, JUST BECAUSE HE DOES IT, DOESN'T MEAN WE DO.
DOESN'T MEAN WE DO.
THAT'S IT, WE APPRECIATE IT.
THAT'S IT, WE APPRECIATE IT.
WE HAVE TO LEAVE YOU EARLY WE HAVE TO LEAVE YOU EARLY TONIGHT, SO YOU GET A CHANCE TO TONIGHT, SO YOU GET A CHANCE TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PBS STATION, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PBS STATION, WHICH, IN TURN, SUPPORTS US.
WHICH, IN TURN, SUPPORTS US.
BUT THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES BUT THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES ONLINE WHERE THE "WASHINGTON ONLINE WHERE THE "WASHINGTON WEEK" WEBCAST EXTRA STREAMS WEEK" WEBCAST EXTRA STREAMS LIVE AT 8:30 P.M. EASTERNND LIVE AT 8:30 P.M. EASTERNND ALL WEEK LONG AT ALL WEEK LONG AT S.ORPBG/WASHINGTONWEEK.
S.ORPBG/WASHINGTONWEEK.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT ANOTHER WE'LL TALK ABOUT ANOTHER SURPRISE RESIGNATION TODAY, SURPRISE RESIGNATION TODAY, AMONG OTHER THINGNG AMONG OTHER THINGNG KEEP UP DEVELOPMENTS WITH ME KEEP UP DEVELOPMENTS WITH ME AND JUDY WOODRUFF ON THE PBS AND JUDY WOODRUFF ON THE PBS NEWS HOUR AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEWS HOUR AND WE'LL SEE YOU HERE NEXT WEEK ON "WASHINGTON HERE NEXT WEEK ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
WEEK."
GOOD NIGHT.
Celebrating 50 Years
Washington Week came on the air February 23, 1967. In the 50 years that followed, we covered a lot of history-making events. Read up on 10 of the biggest stories Washington Week covered in its first 50 years.
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