Washington Week Show - # 4234
Washington Week Show - WW 4234 - "Show Open"
Washington Week Show # 4234 - Segments: Coalition Complications; Eight Is Enough?; Local Laments; Action Reaction (Affirmative Action). Hosted by Gwen Ifill, with guests Doyle McManus, Gloria Borger, David Broder, Linda Greenhouse. Composite footage (unclean) with Washington Week title and text: Saddam Hussein; UN Security Council; anti-war protesters; "Peace Please" sign; US military headquarters; Dick Gephardt at campaign event; Senator Carol Mosley Braun; Senator Joe Lieberman; woman doctor taking care of little boy in doctors office; teacher in grammar school classroom; firemen gearing up beside fire truck; U.S. Supreme Court building; college students walking on campus; students in classroom.
Washington Week Show - WW 4234 - "UN Resolution"
Gwen Ifill talks about the hurdles faced by the United States and Britain in convincing the rest of the UN Security Council to take action against Iraq. Doyle McManus of the Los Angeles Times discusses what is at the heart of the problem: lack of diplomacy with countries lukewarm to the Iraqi threat. He answers Borger's question of how the US is trying to persuade countries to join their side: money (foreign aid) and conversations which boil down to "you don't want to be my enemy on this."
Washington Week Show - WW 4234 - "U.S. Plan for War"
Doyle McManus of the Los Angeles Times does not believe that the United States' effort to create a coalition will significantly alter the planned U.S. action or timetable for action against Iraq. The one wildcard that can change things is Tony Blair and Great Britain. Blair is in a difficult political position and the entire prospect of a coalition will fall apart if he cannot get approval of Parliament to proceed. Further details on the U.S. timeline and why there is a rush to meet the American timetable.
Washington Week Show - WW 4234 - "Democratic Candidates for President"
Gwen Ifill segues to segment on two more Democrats entering the Presidential race. Footage of Democratic Senators Dennis Kucinich and Carol Mosley Braun. There are now eight Democrats in the field, evenly split on the upcoming war in Iraq (4 for, 4 against). Gloria Borger of CNBC explains how those who are for the war have positioned themselves to be supportive of the President's decision to go to war, but critical in the manner in which it has been carried out. David Broder of the Washington Post goes into more depth on the reasoning and mindset behind Dick Gephart's decision to support the war.
Washington Week Show - WW 4234 - "Democratic Candidates for President"
Gloria Borger of CNBC agrees with Linda Greenhouse of the New York Times that the reason so many Democrats are entering the Presidential race is because they see the President as increasingly vulnerable. Democrats believe there are serious domestic policy debates that need to be addressed. Yet polling also shows that when it comes to the issues of national security and the prospect of war, voters prefer Republicans in power. While there are Democrats who support the war and want to be seen as defense hawks, Gwen Ifill notes that it was the anti-war Democrats that received applause at the latest Democratic Party convention.
Washington Week Show - WW 4234 - "State Budgets"
Gwen Ifill parlays Democrat enthusiasm for discussing domestic policy into discussion on the upcoming U.S. governors meeting and their main concern: budget shortfalls. David Broder of the Washington Post says they have occurred and are expanding due to factors like large spending programs (education and healthcare) that have to be paid for despite the stock market "tumble." States did not realize how dependent they were on capital gains tax revenues. Additionally, Bush tax cuts helped lower state tax revenue and state sales taxes have taken a hit due to the increase in online shopping, which avoids that tax. The biggest state program in jeopardy is Medicaid, with states looking to the federal government to help pay the bills. States have done as the federal government has asked in cooperating with the new Department of Homeland Security, but the promised funding is sorely lacking.
Washington Week Show - WW 4234 - "State Budgets"
Linda Greenhouse of the New York Times asks David Broder of the Washington Post if Republican state governors hold any resentment against the Bush administration for the lack of help they've been receiving. Broder says if there is any, it is not overt, but states certainly thought the administration would be more receptive and helpful. Gwen Ifill, citing Broder's previous example of online pre-orders of the latest Harry Potter book hurting sales tax (by evading it), and wonders if there are any similar examples. Broder proceeds to name a few more ways states are being hurt by the lack of revenue.
Washington Week Show - WW 4234 - "Grutter v. Bollinger"
Gwen Ifills segues to segments on a U.S. Supreme Court case pertaining to affirmative action: Grutter v. Bollinger. Linda Greenhouse of the New York Times provides a brief synopsis on the position of the plaintiff and the position of University of Michigan, as well as some of the arguments being given, although most of the briefs are coming down on the side of the university. The Bush Administration felt compelled to provide a brief in support of the plaintiff.
Washington Week Show - WW 4234 - "Grutter v. Bollinger"
Linda Greenhouse of the New York Times believes that Sandra Day O'Connor is the justice who will provide the key swing vote in this decision, and many of the briefs seem to be indirectly trying to persuade her to one side or the other. Gwen Ifills wonders if Justice O'Connor gets dizzy from constantly being looked at as the swing vote, but Greenhouse is of the opinion that O'Connor doesn't view herself in that way. She also is certain that neither Justice O'Connor nor the other justices read every single written brief.
Washington Week Show - WW 4234 - "Anti-War Protests"
Footage of global anti-war protests-- signs read "Drop Food Not Bombs", "Stop Bush." British Prime Minister Tony Blair saying, "I do not seek unpopularity as a badge of honor, but sometimes it is the price of leadership and it is the cost of conviction." U.S. President George W. Bush says, "The signs of protest is like deciding, well, I'm going to decide policy based on a focus group. The roll of a leader is to decide the policy based upon the security, in this case the security of the people." Gwen Ifill asks her panelists if the Iraq War protesters have or can make any difference. Doyle McManus of the Los Angeles Times notes that the two leaders see the protesters and have two different reactions: Bush is not concerned since they likely did not vote for him in the first place, and for Blair the protesters are his voters. Gloria Borger of CNBC asked a source in the White House if protesters have come up in White House meetings, to which the answer was "no, not once." David Broder of the Washington Post believes protesters have emboldened the Democrats to challenge the President. Linda Greenhouse of the New York Times says the last two Presidents to dismiss large protests outside their window was Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. McManus reiterates why the administration does not want to wait.
Washington Week Show - WW 4234 - "Show Close"
Gwen Ifill thanks her guests, wraps up the show.