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Bob Cusack discusses the reaction to Bob Woodward's new book by the White House
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It -- what would be talking a lot about 9/11.
Today obviously on this the eleventh anniversary of those -- attacks.
I wonder how you think DC.
-- DC politics has changed.
In those eleven years I -- it up on the day and the weeks off the woods we was so much more united than we had perhaps ever been.
Not so much any wrong.
Yeah and I and I think that -- should there be another.
Widespread terrorists -- I don't know I think you could see a lot of joining fingers as opposed to coming together just like -- members did after 9/11 coming singing.
On the Capitol Hill steps.
It's just so partisan environment especially so close election obviously we hope that that doesn't happen.
I mean for the day.
Politics is is set aside for the most part.
The parties don't attack each other but then tomorrow.
-- -- right and it had ball what are your memories -- -- DC on the on the on 9/11 2001.
Yes -- was actually I was on my way to US -- in right outside DC.
In Northern Virginia and I was on the metro and what happened was they said that was one stop away from the Pentagon and they said you have to get off.
The train because there's been a terrorist attack at the -- -- So we got out I walked through the Pentagon so parking lot it was.
Mass chaos.
My parents actually in there so then we heard about the.
The flights that go in the -- trade center trying to figure out whether they were on those flights so.
It was it was it was a very dramatic day in a very unusual day in riding the metro home that day.
Just very solemn the whole train ride was was very quiet in -- -- Well given -- we still have thousands of troops in Afghanistan given that we have a very volatile situation in Syria.
Given that we have -- what is perceived by many to be a gathering and real threat.
From Iran to -- nuclear weapons why as foreign policy so much on the back burner in this election campaign do you think of.
That's a really good question because there's so many threats as you mentioned you have China being very aggressive in the South China Sea he you have -- Rand.
Afghanistan I think there's there's some fatigue with Afghanistan because it has been the longest war and and bin Laden is now dead.
But there -- threats in other parts of the world especially in Africa.
A form of al-Qaeda it is -- it seems there so it is kind of shocking but in a way.
-- not so much just because there hasn't been -- that attacked recently.
And if there if there weren't -- than we -- talk about national security but but obviously the big issue is jobs and that and that's ballot.
But for policy is kind of way in the background and I think a lot of lot of people find that.
Disconcerting you talk to members of congress that as certainly who who serve on -- relevant committee the foreign affairs committee.
They they're -- point and then.
All right Bob -- let's get to a couple of the interesting things you have on this on the hill at the moment.
Big -- -- this is something that I always strikes me is because.
Amusing I guess that everybody I didn't congress is gonna run out early to get home to campaign.
Ally and it a -- which they have done next to nothing anyway.
Yeah.
That's right they got this is back and it's kind of that hello I must be going because once they get back to congress they want to go back home they wanna campaign.
With congressional approval ratings at.
Really low the lowest you've ever seen them.
They -- -- nervous they gonna get bounced a lot on that they can get bounced out of congress they wanna go back to their constituents.
All -- gonna do is fund the government for a short term extension into next year.
There's a farm bill that probably won't pass so once they pass this government funding bill they're -- -- here at the end of next week.
And then.
We we're seeing President Obama.
Trying to time -- governor Romney.
More to.
The last President Bush shoe was notably absent from the RNC two weeks ago.
Now you eat this is Canada a steamy scene from the White House where obviously Mitt Romney and it has not been office he can't really blame him personally.
For the ailing economy but they're tying him to George W.
Bush is also -- -- talk to Republican lawmakers who said.
Romney needs to distance himself from bush not to do it and it and -- bashing kinda way.
-- say he's his own man he's gonna do things differently than George W.
Bush who obviously is is not very popular still.
And this is a problem -- bomber has been able to effectively.
Tie the two together and Republicans are getting nervous about that.
And then a fine.
Lead Bob we've we've seen this new up -- would would book about the the budget battle between.
The White House and congress White House pushing back quite significantly on that.
-- this is a tough when Jonathan because you know when you pushing back against Bob Woodward such an accomplished journalist I mean that's going to be tough he can attack his credibility.
But in his book he takes some shots that at -- -- and an interview saying that that he need to be more patient with speaker John Boehner.
Asked did that show more leadership to get the deal and of course the White House -- blamed speaker John Boehner for the collapse of that so called grand bargain.
And and and Boehner has blamed the White House but what Woodward said is that it look at President Clinton look at President Reagan.
They were able to strike big deals historic deals with -- The -- -- party.
And were able to get things done so that the White House was playing defense yesterday pushing back on that notion saying that the president.
Did exhibit leadership and then pointed the finger at Republicans.
I -- like you say you do want to know where hesitates to criticize.
Somebody you luck involved -- -- but I -- Remember reading the the choice his book about the the race between Bill Clinton and ball dull and I remember reading that thinking.
Wow this guy really doesn't like Clinton rat Wright is like once you get into that kind of writing.
It's hard to completely hide your own feelings of may be involved would would.
Lean slightly right more than left.
You know that could be -- mean Nancy Pelosi has rejected the.
The part of his book where -- it it was reported by Woodward that he put she put on she put -- Obama on hold.
She has denied that.
Publicly so even when you're talking to the best of sources you gonna have different memories and as you say if you have a narrative of you have some type of bias and everyone has some bias.
It's gonna it's gonna change the narrative it's it's gonna push it.
In one way -- or another but but clearly you know both Republicans and Democrats talked at length with Woodward on the.
It's right and if I was 100 of the journalists that ball would would it is and was I'd be very very happy -- -- I second that.
-- -- -- -- -- of the hill -- -- dot com great to see you as always Bob thanks very much.
