Dana Peroxide Opens TheGaggle

MS. PERINO: It’s now been a week since the House passed a bipartisan economic growth package that would give our economy the boost it needs to deal with the challenges that our economy is facing. And while we understand that senators want to put their own “brand” on the growth package, we hope they will not treat this as a partisan exercise.

And Promptly Has Her Head Handed To Her

Q Is it a partisan act if the Senate wants to make changes in the stimulus package?

MS. PERINO: Well, what you see right now in the Senate is haggling over important issues, big issues — issues that we think largely need to be debated outside of an economic growth package.

[snip]

Q So I’m unclear then. Are you saying that they’re acting irresponsibly if they change the package at all?

MS. PERINO: No, we’re not saying that. We’re saying that they need to move quickly, that there’s no need for delay, that they have a package in front of them that they could move on, and we’re calling on them to do it quickly. They have a vote, I think, scheduled for tomorrow.

Q Isn’t that acting quickly?

MS. PERINO: It is not guaranteed that they’re going to pass it tomorrow, and pass it in a way that can actually make sense for the House to be able to come up to agreement with them quickly and get it to the President’s desk. I think that’s the concern that we have, that it gets bogged down in the Senate.

Screw Old People And Disabled Vets!

Q You mentioned on the stimulus package the importance of getting this done quickly. And I can understand unemployment, insurance extensions — that could be taken up separately. But what I don’t understand is if you want to boost consumer spending, why are you opposed to expanding the rebates to seniors and disabled veterans at a (inaudible) below $3,000 a year? Wouldn’t they spend money quickly?

MS. PERINO: What I said is that we believe that the House package that was worked out between Speaker Pelosi and Leader Boehner and Secretary Paulson is one that they think would stimulate the economy with as much — with about 1 percent of GDP, the amount of money that the President said was going to be necessary to have an effect.

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Fun WithOMB Director Jim Nussle.

Q In the big picture, isn’t the President leaving the next President a budget that’s in far worse shape than the one he inherited?

DIRECTOR NUSSLE: Well, if all you read was the budget that he inherited and this budget here today, you probably missed about eight years of pretty important stuff that was going on in the country.

More Fun With Nussle

Q Well, given those ongoing challenges and particularly the economic downturn right now, what do you say to those who say that the projection of a balanced budget is just not credible?

DIRECTOR NUSSLE: Well, budgets are, frankly, one-year documents. We project out five years, but they’re one-year documents and they project what we believe is the path in order to get back to balance — a credible path, not only to get back to balance, but also to deal with some of the long-term challenges.

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Tony Farto Eats Shit, Part I Q Can you comment on the new jobs report, and particularly the fact — if I have this right — that the number of jobs was actually cut, ending that consecutive streak of job growth that the President touts so often? MR. FRATTO: I can’t comment on the jobs report at this time in the morning. I think you’ll have a chance to hear from us later today — and that, of course, has to do with the long-standing rule of not commenting on economic data within one hour of release of that data. … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Tony Farto Says 2 x 15 = ∞ Q And on FISA, can you explain why the extension of — I think it’s two weeks — was deemed to be okay by the administration, but the 30-day proposal drew a veto threat; what’s the difference? MR. FRATTO: Well, clearly, 30 days wasn’t needed. What less than 30 days — I think the House and the Senate members settled on 15 days, which is a brief time. This Gaggle Was Held On Board Air Force One Flying To California; During This Chimp You Are Paying Chimpy ANd His Entourage’s Travel Expenses … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Dana Peroxide Says Blame Condi Q Thank you, Dana. Whose idea was it in the White House to give the appointment succeeding Senator Thompson as chairman of the key board to Paul Wolfowitz? MS. PERINO: Whose decision was it? Well, the President makes those decisions. Was it the — this is the board that Paul Wolfowitz is now on at the State Department? Q That he was made chairman of, succeeding Senator Thompson. MS. PERINO: Is it a few weeks ago? I think it was at the — I guess it was at the State Department. That’s what we were … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With [Yesterday’s] Gaggle

How ToDestroy The Constitution In Six Months

Q Senator Reid wants the President to support a one-month extension of FISA. Is he okay with that?

MS. PERINO: Well, the Senate has had six months in order to work on this bill.

[snip]

Q Yes. In theory, what is so odious about keeping the current law in place until all sides can hash out the various differences?

MS. PERINO: Well, look, there’s been six months to hash out the differences. Actually, we’ve been — there’s been a whole year-and-a-half worth of hashing out the differences on this bill.

Dana Says Math Is Hard

Q Can we finish with the budget deficits —

MS. PERINO: The economy? Okay.

Q — since we’re on that? What do you think of this new CBO estimate that shows the slowing economy having a pretty dramatic effect on increasing the debt?

MS. PERINO: Well, I don’t know how they come to their — all of the numbers at CBO. It’s a little bit — math is not my strong suit.

Question Of The day

Q Does it not worry you that the legacy of this administration is going to be hundreds of billions of dollars of extra debt?

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Thank God The President’s Advisors AreAdvising Him

Q Does he have any reaction to Harry Reid’s comment that Harry Reid thinks that the economy is sliding into recession?

MS. PERINO: Well, the President’s advisors are advising him that they are not forecasting a recession. But certainly there’s been a slowdown in the economy.

[snip]

Q Dana, does the President regret not backing or officially backing an economic stimulus package sooner?

MS. PERINO: Well, the President’s advisors advised him along the way. They get all sorts of incoming economic data. And at the appropriate time, they told the President they thought that was when action needed to be taken, and the President wasted no time in saying, well, then, let’s move forward.

[snip]

Q The description, Dana — about this economy, is again what from the economic advisors?

MS. PERINO: The economic advisors believe that the fundamentals of the economy are healthy, but that in the short run we were facing a potential downturn.

There’s A Hole In The Bucket

Q Thank you. Dana, how can the President give a great financial boost to help the ailing economy when it’s being held down by $9 billion a month to pay for the Iraq war? How is he going to really bring that together?

MS. PERINO: You know, we’ve been at war, as you know, since September 11th — the day after September 11th, when the President decided we were going to take the fight to the enemy. And during the past several years, both in Afghanistan and Iraq, during all — during those years that we’ve been at war, this economy has been very strong.

[snip]

The President does not apologize for spending money on national security. Going forward, what the President wants to do in this short-term package is to make sure that we get enough money moving in the economy so that we can avoid the potential risks of a downturn.

Q I’m not saying apologize, but that is a fact, that on your books, if you’re saying — you have a checkbook, you’re writing out your checks for the $9 billion a month — I mean, you still have other things — when you say you want to give incentives to businesses, financially I guess, and tax relief to consumers — how do you balance those books out to get this shot in the arm?

MS. PERINO: I think I would flip it around and say, I think that members of Congress might be able to find some of their pet projects and their earmarks that they could eliminate that could help with this package.

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Tony Farto Explains The President’s Lack Of Prescience

Q Back in August the President described the housing crisis as headed for a soft landing. Would he describe it differently now?

MR. FRATTO: I think what we are — I don’t know if that’s the way that we would describe it today. I think knowing the way the housing sector is dealing with this transition — we know a little bit more now than we knew three months ago and six months ago; I don’t think that’s a surprise.

I think in terms of a soft landing, it’s a — we could try to ascribe adjectives to how it’s going to play out.

Emails? Emails? What Emails

Q Tony, on the subject, could you address the missing White House emails and the law suit? It is a subject of reports this morning. Are there in fact the emails missing? What’s the likelihood of their recovery versus the —

MR. FRATTO: I think our review of this, and you saw the court filing on this, and our declaration in response to the judge’s questions — I think to the best of what all the analysis we’ve been able to do, we have absolutely no reason to believe that any emails are missing; there’s no evidence of that. There’s no — we tried to reconstruct some of the work that went into a chart that was entered into court records and could not replicate that or could not authenticate the correctness of the data in that chart. And from everything that we can tell, our analysis of our backup systems, we have no reason to believe that any email at all are missing.

Q So where are they?

MR. FRATTO: Where are what?

Q Where are part of —

MR. FRATTO: Which email? Look, no one will tell you categorically about any system — any system, whether it’s your system at Bloomberg or our system here at the White House, past and present, categorically that data cannot be missing. All of our review of it and all of the our understanding of the way that the backup system works, it’s a backup system that captures existing data, it captures things that are stored and archived. We have no reason to believe that there’s any data missing at all — and we’ve certainly found no evidence of any data missing.

Q So that would mean that if you were asked, you would be in a position to comply with a request to produce those documents?

MR. FRATTO: Yes, which documents? I mean, if someone has a specific request for documents and they would like us to search for particular emails, of course we could search for emails — and we have. And we have been responsive to requests in the past.

Q And they have been produced? They do exist?

MR. FRATTO: We have produced emails upon request, either for our own internal review or sometimes in response to investigations that have taken place on the Hill. I mean, we have been able to go back and find email. The question is, have we been able to find a large mass of missing email? No, we have not located somewhere in the system the absence of something. We have not been able to note the absence of anything in our databases.*

Q You’re saying they’re there, you just haven’t located them yet?

MR. FRATTO: No, I’m saying we have no evidence that shows that anything at all is missing. And you’re saying, well, have you found the missing emails — and we say we have no evidence that anything is missing.

Q So you’re saying that would include emails that were erased from the Republican National Committee system that was used by some White House officials?

MR. FRATTO: I can’t speak to the RNC’s system of archiving and storing email. All I can tell you is that the email on the White House computers, we have no reason to believe that any email or other data are missing.

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Dana Peroxide Proves That Hope Is Not A Plan Q Dana, you just said that the — that as a result of the conversations, OPEC would be encouraged to increase oil production — MS. PERINO: I said there is a hope. Q “There is a hope,” — okay, I’m sorry. Q Dana, I didn’t hear what you just said. MS. PERINO: I said there is a hope that as a result of these conversations, that OPEC may be encouraged to authorize an increase production to help deal with the tight supply problems in this time when we have growing economies … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Dana Peroxide Is AClueless Twerp Who Can’t Be Bothered To Keep Up With What’s Going On In The World Q On the Strait of Hormuz incident, do you have a current understanding of the details of what happened — how close they got, what they dumped overboard, what they said when they said it — that you could run over for us? MS. PERINO: No, I haven’t received any additional since we’ve been on the trip. Q And the questions raised about exactly what happened? MS. PERINO: No, I would refer you to the Pentagon for more. The Navy is … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With [Saturday’s] Gaggle

Ed “The Weasel” Gillespie Discusses Chimpy’s Efforts On Your Behalf Q One of the things on a lot of people’s minds back home is the price of oil. Has that come up, or does the President plan to bring that up with the King? MR. GILLESPIE: It has come up. It’s come up in different context. There’s been questions about — and again, I don’t know about the President’s conversation with the King; I’m talking more generally about conversations in the region. There was interest in reducing* — alternative fuels and the efforts there, and how that’s going. There has … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Dana Peroxide Chokes On The “I-Word”

Q Did the President read McGovern Sunday, calling for his impeachment?

MS. PERINO: No. I haven’t — well, I don’t know if he read it or not. I haven’t talked to him about it.

Q You haven’t. You don’t know if he has any reaction to that?

MS. PERINO: I think that we’ll just decline to comment on McGovern’s comments.

Where’s Osama?

Q Do we think that bin Laden is alive or dead?

MS. PERINO: I don’t think we have a reason to believe that he’s dead.

Q Pardon?

MS. PERINO: I don’t believe we have a reason to think that he’s dead.

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Helen Thomas Gives Tony Farto A Middle Eastern Wedgie

Q Does the President think it’s a good prelude for the Israelis to kill nine Palestinians, five in one family — as a prelude to his trip on the West Bank?

MR. FRATTO: I think what the President is concerned about is bringing peace to that region and allowing the forces of freedom and democracy to have the opportunity to thrive. And that’s one of the features of his trip. I think we’re concerned, whenever we see extremists, that are —

Q Have you explained to the Israelis about those killings?

MR. FRATTO: We talk regularly to the Israelis, and of course the President is headed there next week. But I think any time we see extremists who are looking to defeat the forces of freedom and democracy, we oppose that. And we understand Israel’s right to protect itself when —

Q It’s not extremist to kill nine people on the West Bank under occupation?

MR. FRATTO: I think what our focus on is having the Palestinians and the Israelis sitting down at the table and making the hard choices so that they can — so they can move to two states living side by side in peace.

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I’m back, and so isDana Peroxide. Helen Checks Dana’s List Q This begins President Bush’s final year in the White House. What would you say are his most important goals, his priorities, the things on his “must-do” list before he leaves the White House? MS. PERINO: Well, there’s a few things that we need to do with Congress on… the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — the FISA bill… No Child Left Behind reauthorization… modernizing the Federal Housing Administration… we have free trade agreements that are on the table, including South Korea, Colombia, and Peru… [snip] MS. PERINO: Helen. Q It’s … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Tony Farto Says The President Doesn’t Know What He Is Talking About Q At the risk of getting lost in the weeds here, what is the White House position on the argument that earmarks that are contained in committee reports do not have the force of law? MR. FRATTO: That’s something that the OMB Director will have an opinion on, and we’ll get an answer for you on that. Q The White House does not have — MR. FRATTO: I don’t have an answer for you on that. I don’t have an answer for you on that right now. Are … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Dana Felt Compelled To Respond To Her Misreading OfThe Times

Q Dana, can you tell us why you decided to put out this statement this morning about The New York Times story? Why did you feel compelled to respond?

MS. PERINO: Well, the subhead of the newspaper indicated that the White House — well, it says the White House role was wider than it said, implying that I had either changed my story, or I or somebody else at the White House had misled the public. And that is not true. And I heard now from The New York Times that they will retract that headline, and they are going to run a correction tomorrow.

Q But the underlying facts, four White House lawyers who are named knew about the destruction or the intent to destroy the tapes beforehand. Are you disputing that?

MS. PERINO: I have not commented on that — and when we are in that —

Q (Inaudible.)

MS. PERINO: Helen, I’m going to finish this answer. The White House has not commented on anybody’s involvement or knowledge, save for me telling everybody that the President had no recollection of being briefed on the existence or the destruction of the tapes before he was briefed by General Hayden. After that, I did not comment on anybody’s knowledge or involvement. So if somebody has information that contradicts the one thing that I’ve said, then this would be true — but it’s not. And that is why I asked for a correction and The New York Times is going to correct it.

Q So you’re disputing the characterization in that —

MS. PERINO: Absolutely, it’s wrong.

Q — not the underlying facts of the story.

MS. PERINO: I’m not commenting on the underlying facts of the story.

[snip]

Q You’re the one who’s drawing the implication. Would you have been happy if the subhead had read, “White House role was lighter than previously understood”?

MS. PERINO: I have not — what it says is that I had changed my story, and I have not.

Q It doesn’t say that.

MS. PERINO: It — that’s how I took it, and I am not —

Q It does not say —

MS. PERINO: — the only one.

Q It simply says that the White House does not comment on this, then it goes on to —

MS. PERINO: That is not — that’s not what it says in its headline, Bill. And there was editorial decision that led to this subheadline, because if they didn’t want to make this point to try to say that the White House had misled the public, why would they put it in bold face above the fold, and then not — and then it’s not supported by any of the facts or the contradictory statements in the article.

Q But that’s very difficult to judge when you won’t give us the facts.

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Dana Keeps Mum On All Things CIA

Q Dana, is the White House taking any steps to make sure the CIA does not destroy any tapes — any more tapes while these — judges look at things, Congress looks at things, the CIA — is the White House taking any steps to make sure there’s no more destruction?

MS. PERINO: I’m going to refer you to the Justice Department, who is working on the preliminary inquiry with the CIA.

Q Okay. You’ve previously not commented on the CIA tapes case by saying that you want to — you don’t to interfere with any investigations, you want to make sure they move forward. Why then on Friday did the Justice Department all of a sudden say they’re not going to cooperate with congressional investigations, any of the oversight that’s going on on the Hill?

MS. PERINO: I think that’s a question that is best put to the Justice Department, and the Justice Department will be able to answer for you.

[snip]

Q One last on that. Republican Congressman Pete Hoekstra is not satisfied and saying he’d be onboard with subpoenas — they may be voted on in the House Intelligence Committee as early as today. Would the White House comply with subpoenas if they come up in the CIA tapes case? Or would you, like you’ve done in other cases, not want to comply with them?

MS. PERINO: I’m going to refer you to the Justice Department.

Q But if they actually issued subpoenas to the White House, not the Justice Department, would you comply with that?

MS. PERINO: I’m going to refer you to the Justice Department on that.

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TorturingDana Over Torture

Q Did the questioning of al Qaeda leader Abu Zubaydah conform with the interrogation program approved by President Bush?

MS. PERINO: I can’t comment on any specifics. So you might want to rephrase your question. It’s not — what you’re asking me is not something that I can confirm or respond to in that way.

Q I’m asking if it was within the guidelines — the interrogation techniques, was that within the guidelines of these programs approved by the President?

MS. PERINO: I will say that all interrogations — all interrogations have been done within the legal framework that was set out after September 11th, and they are measures that have been tough and limited. They are safe, and they have been very effective in helping prevent terrorist attacks on this country. All of the — the entire program has been legal.

Q Are you saying that whatever was done in this case was not torture?

MS. PERINO: I am saying that the United States does not torture. The President has been —

Q No, I’m asking you if what was done in this case was not torture, in your opinion.

MS. PERINO: I’m saying the United States does not torture.

[snip]

Q But when you have a former CIA officer, John Kiriakou, now saying that waterboarding was used — since you’re saying the interrogations were legal; he’s saying on the record now, waterboarding was used in at least one case. You’re saying waterboarding is legal?

MS. PERINO: Ed, I’m saying I’m not commenting on any specific technique. I’m not commenting on that gentleman’s characteristics of any possible technique. I’ve given you a very general statement about interrogations being legal, limited and —

Q You just said it was legal.

MS. PERINO: I’m sorry?

Q You said it was within the legal framework.

MS. PERINO: Yes.

Q Everything that was done.

MS. PERINO: Yes.

Q So waterboarding is legal.

MS. PERINO: I’m not commenting on any specific techniques. And you can ask me all sorts of different ways, and we can go back and forth, but I’m not going to do it, Ed.

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How Fitting ThatDana Peroxide Would Open The Gaggle With This Announcement

MS. PERINO: Hello. I have one quick statement. Today is International Human Rights Day, and last week the President met with Syrian and Belarusian democracy activists.

Speaking Of Human Rights, How’s That Torture Presidency Working Out For You?

Q Can you comment on whether Harriet Miers did, in fact, know about the CIA tapes and whether she told the CIA not to destroy them?

MS. PERINO: No. No. It’s going to unfortunately be one of those briefings — I’m not able to comment on anything regarding that, except for what I said on Friday — which is now, and since then, the Justice Department and the CIA have started a preliminary inquiry. We are supportive of that. We are in the fact-gathering stage, and we are providing them information. So beyond that I am not able to comment or characterize.

Q Has the White House Counsel directed everybody here to preserve all the documents?

MS. PERINO: Yes.

Q Have the formal orders gone out?

MS. PERINO: Yes.

Q In what form? Was it a letter?

MS. PERINO: As they usually do, it’s a notice that goes to all employees.

Q And it’s — can you tell us what it says?

MS. PERINO: I don’t remember off — I don’t have it with me, I just — I received it and I believe it — preserve the documents, or preserve what you know — I just can’t remember exactly what the language was, but we’ll try to get it for you. It came out this weekend.

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Chimpy’s Legacy “Hail Mary”Shot Down At The UN

Q Can you tell us why the U.S. has withdrawn a resolution in the Security Council which praised the Israelis —

MS. PERINO: I checked right before I came out here. That has just happened up at the U.N. The quick answer that I got was that they didn’t think it was a necessary resolution to — in order to get the peace negotiations underway and launched, that was started earlier this week in Annapolis, and that’s all I have for you.

Q Why was it put forward, if it’s not necessary?

MS. PERINO: I don’t have anything on it.

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Chimpy, The Great Economic Prognosticator On “The Facts”, August 9, 2007:

Q What’s going on in the housing market, is it a correction or a crisis, in your view? Can you assess that?

THE PRESIDENT: Yesterday I did comment upon that, that there was a — I talked about the different scenarios that I had been briefed on about whether or not there would be a precipitous decline in housing or whether it would be what one would call a soft landing, and it appeared at this point that it looks we’re headed for a soft landing. And that’s what the facts say.

Dana Peroxide, Today:

Q The administration has released its updated economic forecast, cutting the 2008 growth. Many people are worried about the risk of a recession. What’s the White House’s take on that?

MS. PERINO: Well, Eddie Lazear, the President’s Chairman of the Council on Economic Advisers, did a conference call. The transcript will be out soon. I understand a lot of people weren’t able to listen to it because the news cycle came out as it did. But it’s been clear to everyone that the fall-out from the housing market is going to have an effect. And that’s not a surprise.

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Sigh. I GuessDana Thinks That Thirty Civilian Deaths Would Be OK Q Thirty-five Iraqis, including women and children, were killed by Americans yesterday. Do you still consider that we’re having a big success there? MS. PERINO: I don’t think that that number is correct, as far as I know. Obviously, we regret the loss of any innocent life. I know that our military takes great pains to make sure that they are protected in this war zone. I’d refer you to the Multinational Force In Iraq for more. Q — newspapers today — MS. PERINO: I don’t think that that … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Do They Have Fudgicles In Israel? I Bet He Would Go If He Knew They Had Fudgicles

Q Dana, is the President planning any trips to Israel and the West Bank?

MS. PERINO: He was asked — he made no announcements, in terms of travel, today. One of the things he said is that you don’t need to be in the region in order to help facilitate getting to this point. In fact, the President, as you know, has not traveled to Israel as President; he went as governor of Texas. And so he said that if there are plans and news of a future trip, that he’ll let us know.

Q But he doesn’t think that would send a signal that he’s fully engaged in this? I mean, he just doesn’t —

MS. PERINO: I think that you saw — what you saw today is that the President is fully engaged, and that it’s because of his actions — if you go back to 2002, where he — 2001, where he said, we are no longer going to stand for terror; in 2002, he calls for — he’s the first President to call for a Palestinian state.

[snip]

Q And then just back to his visit — or lack thereof — to Israel, is there a reason that he hasn’t gone to Israel during the course of his presidency?

MS. PERINO: No, not that I’m aware of. Obviously he’s — he has said several times that he really loved his trip to Israel when he was governor and that of course he would like to go again. If there can be an agreement and plans come together, then we’ll let you know.

[snip]

Q Dana, why do you think it is the President never has gone to Israel over the last six-and-a-half years? He has been a strong supporter; it is unusual for a President not to make a trip to that part —

MS. PERINO: I’m not going to speculate as to why he hasn’t gone. There could be a variety of reasons, including security. But I know that he would like to go again and if those plans come together he’ll let us all know.

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When WillDana Peroxide Simply State That Your President Is Not A Crook?

Q I have a question on executive action. This is specific to the Office of Government Ethics, and specifically, there’s a few provisions in here dealing with the disclosure of classified information to unauthorized persons, as well as making false statements about any knowledge of that. I’d like to know, since the President has authorized — and only the President is authorized to allow the disclosure of this information to unauthorized persons — why, when he became aware that this happened, did he not remove from office any members of the executive branch that either disclosed this information, or had knowledge that it happened?

MS. PERINO: Paula, we have gone through this so many times, I’m just — I don’t have anything to add to the public record.

Q Well, I just have to ask about the timing, because prior to the criminal investigation by Patrick Fitzgerald, the President said that anyone that was involved in the disclosure of the identity of Valerie Plame would not longer work for the White House. And it was only after that criminal investigation began that he changed the ground rules to anybody that commits a crime will no longer work for the White House.

MS. PERINO: Paula, the person who revealed her name has said so publicly, and that person did not work at the White House.

Q But there was also the person that told Scott McClellan that he was not involved. And he was.

MS. PERINO: Thank you.

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Helen Thomas Kicks Dana Peroxide’s Narrrow Ass

Q How many billions have we spent already for the Defense Department?

MS. PERINO: The Defense Department says that they need this funding in order to keep the war running, as well as to keep these civilians –

Q Maybe they don’t want the war to keep running.

MS. PERINO: Well, I think that that has been —

Q The country doesn’t want it —

MS. PERINO: I think that Americans have seen what our troops have been able to do this year, in trying — is starting to turn things around in Iraq. We’ve got a long way to go, but they have started to make some significant gains, and to pull the rug out from under them now seems to be — seems irresponsible.

Q To keep killing you mean.

MS. PERINO: Helen, every — the security situation in Baghdad is vastly improved, because of what our troops have been able to do, working alongside of the Iraqis. I can’t imagine that they would not want to fund these troops before they go home for Christmas. They have gone to Iraq, many members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats, have gone to Iraq. They’ve seen for themselves what’s happening on the ground there. They’ve had briefings from General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. They are working very hard to make sure that they — these trends that we’re starting to see can actually take hold and be cemented, and so that they can continue the progress —

Q More people are dying every day in Iraq.

MS. PERINO: There’s no doubt that there continues to be violence. But we do know that because of what we have been able to put in place as the result of the surge, we have less death, less violence, and we have some of troops starting to come home.

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Dana Peroxide Takes A Shot At Fran Townsend Q On Fran Townsend, when did she tell the President, or when was he informed that she was leaving? MS. PERINO: They’ve had conversations over the past several months. Obviously none of us would have wanted Fran to leave service. I think all of us felt safe because of her work.Of course she always says we are safer, but not yet safe.[emphasis added] No Deadlines For Anyone Other Than Saddam Q Dana, back on Pakistan. Does the President have any time frame in mind? How long is he willing to allow this … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Today It WasTony Farto’s Turn To Get Helenized

MR. FRATTO: I talked a little bit about this at the gaggle this morning, but I’m going to — as we saw now, the votes in the Senate this morning, Congress has now left for a two-week vacation without appropriating the necessary funding for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Once again, they tried to pass a bill that provides incremental funding, tries to micromanage the war from the halls of Congress. It includes an arbitrary withdrawal date, an aim that has absolutely no relevance to the significant successes we’re seeing on the ground in Iraq.

[snip]

In terms of the bigger picture of what our dispute is, what we see is a core constituency of the Democratic Party that is driving them towards sending the President legislation to appease the views of groups like MoveOn.org and CodePink, the ones who want us —

Q Oh, come on, the American people also.

MR. FRATTO: — simply to leave and to walk out of Iraq. And that is a — that is not a view that — that is not a small difference, that’s a pretty gaping difference. We don’t believe that we should have an arbitrary withdrawal date from Iraq, especially in the face of the success that we have seen over the past few months that is fairly indisputable.

[snip]

Q Why do you think that the President will not listen to the goal of people to get out of Iraq and stop the killing, stop the drain? More than a trillion dollars has been spent. You want to pour more and more money into a killing field.

MR. FRATTO: Helen, no, what we want to do is to give the people of Iraq the opportunity that they deserve when they went to the polls a few years ago to —

Q You invaded them, you occupied them, you killed them —

MR. FRATTO: — to have a democratic country. And that’s what we’re focused on.

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TodayDana Peroxide Tried (And Failed) To Express Chimpy’s Unwaivering Support For Musharraf

Q Benazir Bhutto made it sound like her conversations with U.S. officials are — that U.S. officials are trying to plan with her and perhaps asked her to participate in a post-Musharraf government. Is that what the administration is doing?

MS. PERINO: That I have not heard. Of course, we have been in communication with both President Musharraf and his officials, as well as opposition party candidates and leaders.

[snip]

Q But is there any planning, active planning for how to support a post-Musharraf government in Pakistan?

MS. PERINO: The President, who is in the best position to know what his policy is, is to support President Musharraf getting back to a constitutional government, where there could be moderation and stability, democracy and the prosperity that comes from it. And we are focused on getting back on that track immediately.

Q What’s the reaction to the appointment of a Musharraf ally — upcoming appointment — as prime minister?

MS. PERINO: I had — I have not heard about that development. What’s most important is that Pakistan get back on this path to democracy, and President Musharraf has the responsibility to help get his country back on a track that he had helped establish with a freer media, better education system, better public health system, and all the prosperity that comes from an improved capital market system.

[snip]

Q That’s all fine, but what are we going to do if he doesn’t do it?

MS. PERINO: Well, we are focused on helping them get back there and to do it, and so that all the moderate forces can work together so that they can establish it. Look, our — there needs to be a long-term stake of this country — on behalf of this country in terms of a partnership with Pakistan. Many Pakistanis are skeptical of our stated commitment to work with them because of what’s happened in the past. The President’s commitment is to help make sure democracy takes hold. They made a decision — President Musharraf made a decision the President didn’t agree with. We are disappointed with it, but the President doesn’t want to preemptively throw up his hands; he wants to help him get back on track.

Q Maybe they’re also skeptical of his willingness to do anything that the President wants him to do.

MS. PERINO: This is — the responsibility for getting back on track is President Musharraf’s. And I believe that he does have the Pakistanis’ best interests in mind.

Q But you said — you said the President is committed to helping President Musharraf get back on the path to democracy. Does that mean that the President is committed to Musharraf as the leader of Pakistan —

MS. PERINO: Pakistan is going to have to work that out. In terms of — if they get back on the path to democracy, and have the free and fair elections for the parliament, then that will be a significant step and one that President Musharraf has said he is committed to.

[snip]

Q I guess what I’m asking is, is sticking with Pakistan, does that mean sticking with Musharraf?

MS. PERINO: The Pakistanis are going to have to decide on their leadership.

[snip]

Q Wouldn’t it in fact make sense to plan for a post-Musharraf Pakistan? There’s a possibility that he might not, in fact, survive.

MS. PERINO: Well, I’ll give them your advice.

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TheAssministration Has No Clue About How To Respond To Pakistan Q Are you seeing any signs that the administration strategy towards dealing with this crisis [in Pakistan] is working? MS. PERINO: I think there have been some positive signs. For example, the President said that there would be elections. He did say he would take off the uniform. He did say the emergency order would be lifted; he just has not said when. And we continue to work with Pakistan. [snip] Q The administration has been urging Bhutto to work with Musharraf, for the two of them to cooperate and … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Third-String MouthpieceGordon Johd’oh Opens With A Statement FromThe President…

We join the people of Pakistan in their continued concern about the state of emergency and curtailment of basic freedoms. We urge Pakistan’s authorities quickly to return to constitutional order and democratic norms. All parties in Pakistan agree that free and fair elections are the best way out of the current situation there. Free and fair elections require the lifting of the state of emergency. We, therefore, continue to call for an early end to that state of emergency, and the release of political members and peaceful protestors who have been detained. We also continue to call on all sides to refrain from any violence, and to work together to put Pakistan back on the path to democracy.

…Leaving Himself Wide Open

Q Gordon, why doesn’t that statement mention Musharraf by name?

MR. JOHNDROE: Well, we call on all Pakistan authorities. We have talked about this with President Musharraf. He made some comments that we noted yesterday; it’s good that he clarified those for the people of Pakistan, that elections will be held early next year and that he will remove his uniform.

But there are certainly a number of people involved in the situation on the ground there, and so we call on all of them.

Q Is that an indication that the administration has given up on him doing what you’re desiring?

MR. JOHNDROE: No, absolutely not. I think his remarks yesterday were notable for calling for elections early next year, as well as removing the uniform. So we expect him to uphold those commitments that he’s made.

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