WORDY (from 1/5/06)

Q Scott, you said some of the members of the Cabinet Hall of Fame who met with the President Wednesday morning had suggestions on how to go forward in Iraq. Did any of them challenge the President or have any questions about the wisdom of the overall strategy to date?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think there's a common commitment within that room to succeed in Iraq. Everybody in that room understands the importance of succeeding. It's important that we succeed in Iraq.

Q Did any of them tell him that --

MR. McCLELLAN: It was the right decision to go in there and remove that regime. And now it's important that we stay focused on what we're working to accomplish.

Q Did anyone at that meeting look at the President and say, you've made some mistakes, and mention any of them?

MR. McCLELLAN: Oh, I think they expressed some of their views on things that they think maybe we could do that we could do differently, or things that we could build upon.

Q What kind of things?

MR. McCLELLAN: I indicated earlier that I'll let them speak for themselves.

Q They told us to ask you.

MR. McCLELLAN: Actually, I think they spoke to the press out there; I don't think that's what they said. Nice try.

Q That's where they told us to ask you.

MR. McCLELLAN: Nice try.

DIRTY (from 1/4/06)

“And now Scott answers a reporter’s question regarding prominent Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who pled guilty earlier this week to fraud, corruption, and tax evasion, and who apparently has a horrible deformity in his perineum.”

Q Does Jack Abramoff have no taint whatsoever?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think we're taking the appropriate steps in terms of this individual.

ABSURDY (from 1/4/06)

Q  Regarding the President's speech on Tuesday at the Pentagon -- as far as terrorism and fighting terrorism is concerned, do you think that Osama bin Laden is still running al Qaeda?

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry, who?

Q Osama bin Laden.

WORDY

Q  What's the White House opinion on the military planting stories [that are positive for the United States] in Iraqi newspapers?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we've seen the reports. We have asked the Department of Defense for more information.  We want to see what those facts are.

Q At a time when the President talks about trying to build institutions, free institutions in Iraq, does this undercut that message?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the United States is a leader when it comes to promoting and advocating a free and independent media around the world, and we will continue to do so. We've made our views very clear when it comes to freedom of press. And in terms of this specific issue, again, what we want to do is find out what the facts are, and then we'll be able to talk about it more at that point.

Q Well, the military has admitted that they've been doing it. Does the White House find that acceptable, unacceptable?

MR. McCLELLAN:  What the Pentagon has said is that they don't have all the facts; they want to gather the facts and then talk about it further. We want to know what those facts are, too.

Q So this is a bit of a hypothetical, but should it be determined that, in fact, they have been doing this, would the President find that acceptable?

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm not going to engage in a hypothetical. Let's find out what those facts are.

Q So f you're concerned, that suggests that you would not approve of this.

MR. McCLELLAN: That's why we're seeking more information. 

Q How can we spend millions of dollars to plant positive stories in Iraq and nobody around here knows about it? How is that possible?

MR. McCLELLAN: This is based off some media reports. We want to find out what those facts are. 

Q But this isn't a separate world. It's your world.

MR. McCLELLAN: That's why we're trying to find out the facts.

Q  What would you find acceptable in terms of information operations? 

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, we need to see what those facts are. 

DIRTY – And now a reporter asks Scott if the President will receive a handjob from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

MR. McCLELLAN:  Go ahead.

Q Is the President going to get Gonzales to get him off again?

 

ABSURDY I (not funny)

Q Scott, some people say that three months after Katrina there are as many as 300 unidentified bodies still in trucks in St. Gabriel's Parish.

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry, that they are doing what?

Q There are still 300 bodies, unidentified, still in trucks, in St. Gabriel's Parish. Some of my colleagues are calling this disgraceful. Is the President aware of this?

MR. McCLELLAN: I haven't checked since we've been back in the last couple days.  In terms of the bodies, that is primarily a state responsibility -- is my understanding.

ABSURDY II (funny)

Q Scott? Scott?  Another subject.  Has the President been summoned for jury duty in Crawford? And if so, will he serve?

MR. McCLELLAN: We checked, and apparently, this summons was for Monday, December 5th. We have since called the court to inform them that the President has other commitments on Monday and that he would like to reschedule his jury duty.

Q When are you rescheduling it for? 

MR. McCLELLAN: But, one serious note, jury duty is an important civic responsibility, and it's important that people do serve.

Q Would he like to serve in the Cindy Sheehan case down there? (Laughter.)

ABSURDY III (also funny)

Q Defense Secretary Rumsfeld doesn't want to call the enemy in Iraq insurgents, claiming that title gives them a legitimacy that they don't deserve. As of Tuesday, he's groping for a term he likes. Any suggestions?

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry, what was the last part?

Q Any suggestions?

MR. McCLELLAN: As of -- as of Tuesday he what?

Q He was groping for a term.

MR. McCLELLAN: We appreciate all that Secretary Rumsfeld is doing.

 

WORDY

 

Q Scott, a question about the CIA leak case: What standard is the President using for whether he would dismiss any member of his staff for involvement in the CIA leak affair?

 

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we have an expectation on behalf of the President and the American people to adhere to the highest ethical standards.

 

Q And everyone who is currently working here has done that in this affair, is that the President's position?

 

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the nature of the investigation is that is it ongoing, and there is a legal proceeding that is ongoing as part of that investigation. And as part of that ongoing legal proceeding, we're just not having any further comment on it from this podium.

 

Q Everyone who is working at the White House currently, in the President's mind, has acted

appropriately in this matter?

 

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you're asking about this matter. This matter is ongoing.

 

Q Wait, wait, wait a second. It's ongoing, but that's not the point. Does the President feel that Karl Rove acted appropriately in this matter, given what he knows about his involvement?

 

MR. McCLELLAN: See, you're asking that question in the context of an ongoing investigation and an ongoing legal proceeding.

 

DIRTY

 

(And now, Scott discusses North America's attempts to fight sexual impotence and erectile dysfunction.) 

 

Q Will you have any time to talk to the Canadians about soft lumber?

 

MR. McCLELLAN: We always talk to the Canadians about soft lumber.  It's their favorite theme.

 

Q I mean during this summit.

 

MR. McCLELLAN: Right now we have no formal meetings set up with the Canadian Prime Minister, but they're in the same room, they talk a lot, they've been on the phone. So I'm sure if they have a moment together, softwood lumber will come up.

 

ABSURDY

 

MR. McCLELLAN:  Thank you.

1 Scott, wait a minute.

2 No, wait a minute.

MR. McCLELLAN: Thank you.

1 Scott, come on.

2 Tax simplification.

MR. McCLELLAN: Tax simplification.

1 I have to ask about Prince Charles' visit.

MR. McCLELLAN: All right. We'll go real quick. We'll

go real quick. We'll go real quick.

2 Which one?

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Connie.

1 Thank you.

WORDY 

Q Scott, did the President talk to Karl Rove two years ago about the CIA leak?

MR. McCLELLAN: Steve, I appreciate the question. That's a question relating to an ongoing investigation, and I'm just not going to have further comment while that investigation is underway.

Q Because the New York Daily News says the President rebuked Rove two years ago.

MR. McCLELLAN: There are a lot of news reports out there and I've seen a lot of conflicting news reports, and we're just not going to comment any further on an ongoing investigation.

Q It behooves you to.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, there's a special prosecutor doing his work, Helen, and we want him to come to a successful conclusion. And that's what we're doing, is cooperating --

Q This is a question that directly affects the President, and --

MR. McCLELLAN: -- cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

Q -- you should say it's true, or not true.

MR. McCLELLAN: As you have known for sometime now, we've been saying that while this is an ongoing investigation what we're going to do from the White House is cooperate fully with that investigation and let the special prosecutor do his work. We're not going to speculate or prejudge the outcome.

Q We're not asking you to speculate. We're asking you, is this report true or not.

MR. McCLELLAN: And I've already answered that.

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DIRTY

Q Scott, how personally interested is President Bush in Saddam Hussein's trial?

MR. McCLELLAN: Let me finish up on Greg and then I'll come to you, Bill.

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ABSURDY

MR. McCLELLAN:  Hurricane Wilma is a storm that is still four or five days away from possibly making landfall in Florida.

Q It's two days.

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?

Q Two days.

MR. McCLELLAN: What day is today, Wednesday? Saturday.
 
Q It's going to hit Saturday morning.

MR. McCLELLAN: I count that three.

OR

Q Senator Kennedy is proposing an increase in minimum wage, and I wondered if the administration thinks that might be one effective way of helping the working poor?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the President believes that we should look at having a reasonable increase in the minimum wage. But we don't want it to cost people jobs and stuff.

WORDY

Q The Senate has acted on legislation that would provide loans to some of the local communities who have been hard hit by the hurricane, to help them keep their payrolls going. I know the White House has been working on that issue with Congress, but is this an approach that the White House supports?

MR. McCLELLAN: We've been working very closely with members of Congress. I haven't seen the latest update, in terms of any passage of legislation.  But we have been out front working with members of Congress to provide important relief to people in the region.

Q There was some talk that disaster assistance would be made available to allow them to fund public payrolls -- but this would be different, it would be a loan approach. What's the White House thought on that?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, this is something that we have continued to work with Congress on; we've continued to have discussions. We've had very good discussions. We're trying to reach an agreement and a consensus with members of Congress.

Q All right, I'll just try one more time. Which is the approach that the White House prefer to take to fund --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, our approach is that we're working very closely with Congress.

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DIRTY

Q  There have been conservative voices who say that Harriet Miers should withdraw for the good of the President. So why is the President more confident now?  Does the President feel he needs to muscle it a bit more?

MR. McCLELLAN: He stands firmly behind her.

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ABSURDY

Q  It's been reported in several places that Rove is the point man to taking charge of the hurricane recovery. Is that the case?

MR. McCLELLAN: No. That's false.

Q Is there such a person?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think anyone ever checked that. It just was one of those things that started appearing, and no one ever bothered to check it.

Q Is anyone in charge?

MR. McCLELLAN: The President.

Q Almost had me forget what I wanted to ask. What do you mean --

MR. McCLELLAN: How about CBS, anyone in charge there? (Laughter.)

Q I'll get back to you on that. (Laughter.) 

WORDY
 
Q How is it going to help the people of Texas practically prepare for this storm that the President is going to fly in to take a firsthand look at preparations and show support for first responders? How is that going to practically help them do what they have to do?

MR. McCLELLAN: The President wants to go in there and be able to thank all those first responders as they are gearing up for the challenges that will be coming shortly thereafter. That's why we're going there first, for a short amount of time. And it will also give him a chance to see firsthand some of the preparations that are underway on the ground.

Q But it sounds like a bit of a photo op, one that he'd prefer over playing the guitar at the airport photo op before Katrina.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, let's correct the record on that. That was an event to go and thank our troops and talk about the war on terrorism.
Q He didn't pick up the guitar while the hurricane was rolling into Louisiana?

MR. McCLELLAN: The person that was entertaining our troops there presented a gift to the President. So I think you need to make that clear to everybody who's watching this or to your viewers. That picture was taken by some people way out of context.

Q The point was that he was over there and not --

MR. McCLELLAN: As you and I know, I had announced shortly before that that we were returning the next morning. The President spoke the day before. He spoke that day about the hurricane. So let's just set the record straight.

Q So the trip to Texas to take a look at the preparations and show support for the first responders is not a photo op?

MR. McCLELLAN: This is very much something that's in flux. I would describe it the way I did.

---------------------------------------------------------

DIRTY

Q Scott, has there been any institutional friction as of this morning?

MR. McCLELLAN:  The President has been in close contact on a number of occasions.

---------------------------------------------------------

ABSURDY

Reporter 1: Who makes up the list of reporters that the President is allowed to call on?

Reporter 2: Yes, where's Bianca? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Who makes up the list? It depends on the reporters that show up. I don't think she had a question. But the President --

Reporter 2:  Who is Bianca, anyway?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think the President had his most recent press conference this afternoon just a short time before I was out here, took questions from I think everyone who was there.

Reporter 1:  You count that as a press conference?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think it was a 30-minute briefing and several questions taken. I think I would call it a press conference.
 
Reporter 2:  Does anyone know who she is? 

WORDY

Q Scott, are you confident that the lessons learned from Katrina will be applied in the case of this hurricane?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, in terms of Katrina, that was a storm that was unprecedented in size and scope and devastation.  We want to make sure that we know exactly what worked and what didn't work.

Q Well, Scott, how is what you're doing for Rita different from what you did from Katrina?

MR. McCLELLAN: Sure. The President is focused on making sure we have the strongest possible coordination with state and local governments in the path of Hurricane Rita.  Coordination at all levels needs to be seamless, or as seamless as possible, and that's what we're working to do.

Q So you think that that's going to be an improvement over what was done in Katrina?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, in terms of Katrina, we're still focused on the immediate needs of the people in the region. We are determined to learn the lessons of Katrina, and that's why we have been assessing what's been working and what hasn't been working and taking steps to address those issues.

Q Well, can you distinguish what you're doing differently?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, I just talked to you about where the President's focus is and what we are doing. We want to make sure that we have the strongest possible coordination with state and local officials --

Q Which you didn't have before, right?

MR. McCLELLAN: -- as seamless as possible coordination with state and local officials.

Q In other words, better than the last time?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think I just answered that question, Bill.

Q No, not really.

MR. McCLELLAN: I just said -- I just said the very words that you're bringing up.

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIRTY

MR. MCCLELLAN: We will be putting out more here shortly.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ABSURDY

Q Has the President put estate tax changes and extending the tax cuts, making them permanent, has he put those on the back burner with the Treasury Secretary?

(Interruption to briefing.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Please, a reminder, everybody turn their beepers off before coming to the briefing room.
 

ABSURDY #2

Q Scott, Representative LoBiondo from New Jersey, Republican, is circulating a letter calling on the President to rescind the tax cut.  In light of the need that people have to be working and to be earning decent money on the gulf coast, is the President reconsidering this wage cut?

MR. McCLELLAN: Which tax cut?

Q The wage cut.

MR. McCLELLAN: In terms of tax cuts --

Q No, I'm sorry. I meant the wage cuts, didn't mean to say tax cuts --

MR. McCLELLAN: What do you mean, wage cuts?

Q The Davis-Bacon.

MR. McCLELLAN: The Davis-Bacon. Well, what --

Q Which is a wage cut.

WORDY:

Q: Does the President agree with his mother that the homeless taken from New Orleans to Houston are much better off now because they were underprivileged in New Orleans?

Scott: I think she was making a personal observation on some of the comments that people were making that she was running into.  I'm not sure that that's exactly what she said, but -

Q: I have it right here if you need it.

Scott: What we're focused on is helping these people who are in need.

Q: Does he agree with his mother?

Scott: People have gone through a lot of trauma and been through a very difficul and trying time.  And all of a sudden, they are now getting great help in the state of Texas from some of the shelters.

Q: She said, "It's scary that they're all coming to Texas."

Scott: Again, I think you can look at her comments.

Q: That is what she said, though.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIRTY:

Scott:  I want to finish on the military!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

ABSURDY:

coming soon....