From Holden:
Well, the White House actually posted today’s gaggle transcript on time. The gaggle-obsessed are happy.
In today’s gaggle we saw the Good, the Great, and the Absofukinglutely Bizzare.
First, the Good, provided by a reporter I can’t identify: What about Osama?
Q Just a little question. Are you still looking for Osama bin Laden? Because — on WTOP Radio 15 — going on in Pakistan and according to the News 15, they said that intelligence officials here and in Pakistan are saying that — and some of the top officials in the Musharraf government are sympathizers to Osama bin Laden and they tip off whenever U.S. is about to catch Osama bin Laden, they tip off him and then he runs away —
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, we are continuing to pursue him and he will be brought to justice. We are also continuing to move forward on dismantling and destroying the al Qaeda network, and we have made great progress over the course of the last few years. But there is more to do. And we continue to stay on the offensive. We also continue to work to advance freedom in the world, because that’s the way you’ll ultimately defeat the ideology of hatred that leads to terrorism.
Next, the Great, provided by our hero Russell Mokhiber: War Crimes, Bitch!
Q Kofi Annan, in September, he said that the war in Iraq is an illegal war. If it’s an illegal war, then the 100,000 who have died there, according to the Johns Hopkins School, are victims of war crimes. Now, the President is going to Canada later this year, and the largest circulation newspaper in Canada yesterday wrote a column, printed a column titled “Should Canada Indict Bush?” — raising question of a war crimes prosecution. They have a war crimes law in Canada. And I’m wondering, has the general counsel —
MR. McCLELLAN: Do you have a question, or is this just a statement of opinion?
Q It’s a question. Has the White House Counsel looked at the President’s legal exposure to a war crimes prosecution?
MR. McCLELLAN: Russ, I think that it’s a ridiculous question that you bring up. You were out on the Nader campaign, I think, at the time when this issue came up, and we addressed it at that time. And I’m not going to go back through it again.
Finally, the Absofukinglutely Bizzare provided by – who else? – Les Kinsolving!
Q Since one of the President’s fellow guests at tomorrow’s Clinton festivities in Little Rock is Whoopie Goldberg, can you assure us that the President will not be giving Bill Clinton a pardon for “pardongate”?
MR. McCLELLAN: Les, let me just say that the President and Mrs. Bush look forward to attending the dedication ceremony tomorrow. It is — it will be a happy and historic occasion, and the President will be making some remarks there. This is to honor President Clinton and his service to the nation, and he — and the President looks forward to attending that dedication.