<downingstreetsays>
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316356" rowid="136533781" side="usa" srcid="316356" text=" MS. PERINO:  There is absolutely no quid pro quo for that.  And I was able to clarify that yesterday, and I was pleased that the President-elect's team clarified that as well.	But I think that the President of the United States believes that companies are responsible for finding solutions.	However, this is an industry, as I've said before, that's very important to the American people.  And there are a lot of regulations that the government has tried to place on these companies over the years.  And so Congress and the administration and the companies have an obligation to put their best minds towards trying to find out -- figure out what we can do to the greatest extent possible to try to keep these companies viable.	And if we can do that, we certainly will.  " title=" Q    And also, is there a quid pro quo on the Colombia trade agreement?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316360" rowid="136533789" side="usa" srcid="316360" text=" MS. PERINO:  I've seen the reports, Goyal.  I'm going to decline to comment now because I don't have further information.  Let me just take a last one from Mark.  " title=" Q    And second, in Pakistan, U.S. consulate was hit.  Do you think this is a warning for this ad" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272864" rowid="136530762" side="usa" srcid="272864" text=" MR. PRICE:  It is up to the leaders to, I think -- and then I'll invite Jim to comment -- the test of whether the MEM is or is not successful is not whether, at this stage in July, all 16 agree on a long-term goal.  This process will continue.  Certainly from our perspective, to reach an agreement on a long-term goal is desirable and something we think the major economies needs to work to.  Whether it is in a position to do so at this point, or make other statements about the long-term goal, that remains to be seen.  &lt;p /&gt; Let me invite Jim Connaughton to offer a comment on this.   MR. CONNAUGHTON:  Again, this goes to your -- the reason to get together.  Actually, there's a quite dynamic agenda to the major economies meetings.  A long-term goal is just one piece, but that's a long-term vision.  The more essential aspects of the discussion actually center on each nation's development of their own midterm plans and goals, and the structure by which those can be reflected in a new international agreement.  That goes to the core of what we're going to do now and in the mid-term.  &lt;p /&gt; In support of that, we've also initiated conversations about shared sectoral approaches, which is a bottom-up approach:  How do we get our steel sector, our aluminum sector, our transportation sectors focused on the best outcomes that each of our nations can achieve?  We do some things really well in America that aren't being done in India right now. If India can replicate that, they can make further progress on emissions.  So this is a very practical set of conversations on pushing for best practices in key emitting sectors.  &lt;p /&gt; With that, then, comes the ability to do much more technology exchange on the technologies that are central to solving the problem. It's coal-produced power, it's personal transportation, and it's forestry and land use.	These are the big drivers of climate-related emissions and activities.  The major economies are the ones that engage in most of that activity.  And so we've got very specific conversations going on on forestry, for example; a very specific conversation about more technology exchange on carbon capture and storage from coal.  We're even talking about how do we get large-scale renewable projects going, and how do we get nuclear energy going at a pace that far exceeds the current level of investment.  So these are very practical discussions that, really, this group of countries will make that happen.  &lt;p /&gt; Finally, you may have read a bit about just the issue of measuring emission reductions.  We do pretty good about measurement in America and a few of the other developed countries, but we've got an accounting system on greenhouse gases that is not as precise as it could or should be, and even getting common ground on measures is going to be important in order to demonstrate the success of different policies.  &lt;p /&gt; So just note, you'll see, as a result of this conversation, a fairly expansive set of activities that this group has generated in the near term that will help lead to an agreement next year, but also that will sustain a whole variety of other activities in support of an agreement next year.  " title=" Q    Are you suggesting they might actually reach one, then?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272860" rowid="136530754" side="usa" srcid="272860" text=" MR. PRICE:  I think it is fair to say that in respect of a certain number of these pledges, we are challenged in meeting them.  As I said, the United States has met its commitments as made in past G8s.	And it's important to demonstrate for the world and for the beneficiaries of these pledges that we are meeting the commitment; that we are not, year after year, simply making promises without looking back to see, are we fulfilling them.  And we think it would enhance transparency, credibility and reliability of what the G8 says to institute such a mechanism in respect of their core pledges.   MR. JOHNDROE:  One last question from Mark.  " title=" Q    But what animates the President's concern?  There must be -- are the G8 collectively not mee" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272867" rowid="136530768" side="usa" srcid="272867" text=" MR. PRICE:  I think the G8 and the African beneficiaries of PEPFAR know the commitment of this administration towards dealing with HIV/AIDS, as well as other diseases that have had such a debilitating effect on Africa.  No country's commitment is greater than that of the United States.  " title=" Q    Can I just follow, though?  Does it not weaken the President's hand that he doesn't go into " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316369" rowid="136533807" side="usa" srcid="316369" text=" Q    Choice is also some of the reason why the auto industry -- you're seeing stock prices way down, three, four and five dollars for many of these auto -- domestic auto companies.	And also you're seeing more foreign cars being sold in America, and that is some of the reason why we're in this -- we're seeing this auto industry problem.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, we need to be a country that is open to foreign investment and that is open to trade.  And that's one of the President's key messages that you'll hear from him tomorrow in his speech in New York and then at the summit this weekend, that we are a country that should be open for investment and that he encourages it.  We went through this on a whole -- another topic in February of 2006, when we talked about Dubai Ports, and you know what the President's position has been.  We should be open for trade, we should be open for investment, and we should have the confidence to believe that we can compete on a global scale, because we can.  &lt;p /&gt; Connie.  " title=" Q    Choice is also some of the reason why the auto industry -- you're seeing stock prices way do" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272859" rowid="136530752" side="usa" srcid="272859" text=" MR. PRICE:  I think the President has been fairly consistent in what he has sought in these G8 summits, in terms of addressing these critically important health and development issues in Africa; in addressing questions of global security; in addressing questions of the need to maintain open economies; the need to promote democracy and growth.  I think that at this G8 the President's messages will be consistent with those that he has carried to each G8 since he's become President.  " title=" Q    Dan, the President goes to this G8 as his last G8 summit and he goes with just seven months " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316377" rowid="136533823" side="usa" srcid="316377" text=" MS. PERINO:  I didn't say that.  I said that that determination about getting a loan from the Department of Energy through that program means that the company has to be viable.  And I'm not the judge of what is a viable company or not.  That would be made -- that would be a determination made by the Department of Energy and the Treasury.  " title=" Q    Dana, are you saying that the automakers are a bad investment?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316376" rowid="136533821" side="usa" srcid="316376" text=" Q    Dana, can I follow up on Jennifer's question and phrase it in a different way?  When the government stepped in with Fannie and Freddie and AIG, the definition of the bottom line was that they were deemed too big to fail.  Does that not apply to the auto industry, specifically to the Big Three?	Does the administration believe they do not fit that criteria that they're too big to fail?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm not saying that.  What I will focus on is the systemic problems that we felt we had with Fannie and Freddie and AIG and others because of the way that they're interconnected through the whole system, and that our capitalistic system is fueled by money moving through the system and it had ground to a halt.  And we've got those credit markets open again so that money is starting to flow.  And that's how our system works.  And so that -- those discussions and those efforts were focused on financial firms.  It wasn't focused specifically on any one industry or any one company.  &lt;p /&gt; Matt.  " title=" Q    Dana, can I follow up on Jennifer's question and phrase it in a different way?  When the gov" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316353" rowid="136533775" side="usa" srcid="316353" text=" Q    Dana, can I follow?  At the risk of -- you said we'll see what Congress puts forward on an unemployment extension if they come back. It seems to me in the past, you opposed that, saying that it encourages people to stay out of work longer.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  What we have said is that -- well, if you just look at the statistics, the historical data, that as soon as that last week comes about, that's -- it's like a hockey stick and people's employment goes up.  But it doesn't mean that we're not mindful of the fact that -- how distressed some people are because we realize how high unemployment is, how tough the economy is, and how it's taken a while to get people back to work.  And so, we'll just see if Congress comes back with anything.  " title=" Q    Dana, can I follow?  At the risk of -- you said we'll see what Congress puts forward on an u" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316370" rowid="136533809" side="usa" srcid="316370" text=" Q    Dana, on this issue but somewhat in another angle.  As this whole industry issue is being worked out, is it a simple -- is the situation just a simple -- for words to come from this house to say for the American public to buy domestic cars?  Even with the bad economy and people not buying cars right now as they were months ago, is one of the situations, one of the solutions, to just say, look, let's start buying more American cars?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  President Bush doesn't dictate what people should buy. They can make their own decisions.  And one of the things that we talked about yesterday and will continue to talk about is that we believe that we can compete on a global scale.  There are three free trade agreements currently in front of Congress that they could take up and they could pass easily.  It's the best way to open up markets and create jobs here in America.  &lt;p /&gt; We have big manufacturers, like Caterpillar, that try to sell into Colombia.  They do so, and their products are taxed.  When Colombian imports come into our country, they're not taxed.  We simply want to level the playing field.  That's something that if they do decide to come back for a lame-duck session next week that we would strongly encourage them to do, because if you're serious about opening new markets and creating jobs, we have the best way to do that right here in front of us, which are the free trade agreements.  &lt;p /&gt; Another point, though, is that the President thinks that consumers should be able to buy anything that they want to buy.  I mean, that's one of the reasons we're trying to improve the economy, get us back on a path to prosperity so that you have all the choice in the world.  The President of the United States has chosen down at his ranch a domestic vehicle, but that doesn't mean that he would dictate to anybody else what they should buy.  " title=" Q    Dana, on this issue but somewhat in another angle.  As this whole industry issue is being wo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316372" rowid="136533813" side="usa" srcid="316372" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would really want to see what they would put forward and how they would design it and how they would think about moving forward.  A lot of information -- or a lot of deal-making in Washington is made, but you can't really make any deals until you see what the other side is proposing.  And so far, we don't even know if they're actually coming back for a lame-duck session.  So I would refer you to the Speaker's office for more information about that.  " title=" Q    Dana, same topic.	Will the administration then accept an amendment from Congress to modify t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316374" rowid="136533817" side="usa" srcid="316374" text=" Q    Dana, what do you say to some lawmakers -- Senator Levin did an interview over the weekend with CNN and he said, &quot;These problems have been blossoming under the Bush administration.	If the domestic auto industry falls apart, it's going to be part of his legacy, so he has not only a responsibility, but a necessity to act.&quot;  Is there anything -- again, if what you're suggesting, that Congress could do -- if that doesn't happen, is there anything unilaterally the President can do? And is he concerned that this could become the capstone of his legacy -- companies like GM failing?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  People can blame the President of the United States for a lot of things, a lot of things land on his desk.	But the state of the automakers right now is not the President of the United States' fault.	And so I would encourage the media to go back and look at the history of these companies, decisions they've made over time that got them to where we are today.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, what they've had to deal with are a lot of changing consumer preferences.  That's one of the reasons that we accelerated the rulemaking after the Congress passed the appropriations to allow us to provide for loans so that they could retool their companies and their factories so that they could produce more energy-efficient cars, which is what consumers have been wanting.  We believe that American manufacturers can compete on a global level and they can produce some of the best products in the world.  That's one of the reasons we're such a great country today, because of the manufacturing sector.  &lt;p /&gt; But the state of these companies is not the fault of the President of the United States.  We are trying to help them in a variety of ways. I have told you that the Secretary of the Treasury, the Department of Energy, and others -- Department of Commerce -- have been trying to work with those companies, in regular contact with them, to make sure that we are doing all that we could given what Congress has allowed us to do.  &lt;p /&gt; And one thing that you should go back and look at are some of the restrictions that they have tried to place on companies over the years there in Congress.  So I think that a little bit of self reflection is needed here and not finger-pointing at the administration, when we have been trying to help them.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm going to go over here.  Mark, did you have one?  " title=" Q    Dana, what do you say to some lawmakers -- Senator Levin did an interview over the weekend w" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316379" rowid="136533827" side="usa" srcid="316379" text=" MS. PERINO:  We think the Congress was very wise in setting some limits on these loans because a viable company is something that you think that you would want to be able to help; a non-viable company is probably not something that you would want to help, because in the long run the taxpayers wouldn't get their money's worth.  " title=" Q    Do you think it would be helpful if they removed the language referring to the viability, to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316368" rowid="136533805" side="usa" srcid="316368" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not that I'm aware of, no.  &lt;p /&gt; Sam.  " title=" Q    Does the President believe any of the foreign policy situations we've had in the past few ye" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316364" rowid="136533797" side="usa" srcid="316364" text=" MS. PERINO:  Oh, really?  When?  " title=" Q    Earlier in the administration, the President opposed stricter CAFE standards on lighter fuel" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272872" rowid="136530777" side="usa" srcid="272872" text=" Q    Given the President's expression of strong support for the dollar, do you expect exchange rates to take any role in the discussions, and will the United States move to try to get the other G8 members to support some kind of exchange rate stability statement?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  I have no comment on that at this time.  " title=" Q    Given the President's expression of strong support for the dollar, do you expect exchange ra" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316373" rowid="136533815" side="usa" srcid="316373" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, one of the things that the President has said when he -- when we started down this road of government intervention was that that was not his natural instinct.  He has always been a free market guy.  But when you have -- when you're the President of the United States and you have your top advisors telling you that if we don't take this action, and that they thought that was the best course of action, that we could conceivably be facing something worse than the Great Depression, then you have an obligation to act.  And he trusted his advisors.  It was the right thing to do, because now we've got those credit markets moving again.  &lt;p /&gt; That doesn't necessarily mean that every individual company or every individual industry is going to be helped with taxpayer dollars. What we tried to do was prevent the complete and total financial collapse of our system.  And that's what we're trying to do, we're trying to implement that.  Secretary Paulson just spent an hour discussing how they're moving forward.	They're trying to be very transparent with the taxpayers' money, and they're trying to make the best investments, because we want to make sure the taxpayers either are made whole or that they can actually make some money on this deal over time.  But it's going to take us a while to get through this.  Secretary Paulson said that we're still in a very fragile situation.  It's going to take some more strengthening.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the things that we'll do this weekend, when the 20 leaders are here for the summit, is talk about what we can do to help prevent this from happening, or happening in the future, to such a severe degree.  And I should have mentioned, at 3:00 p.m. today, Dave McCormick and Dan Price will be here and they'll provide a briefing for you to give you an update on that meeting.  " title=" Q    I did.  I was wondering if your remarks reflect the President's view that industrial compani" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316358" rowid="136533785" side="usa" srcid="316358" text=" MS. PERINO:  Helen has a question.  " title=" Q    I think Helen had a question.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316383" rowid="136533833" side="usa" srcid="316383" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    I want to talk about automakers.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272863" rowid="136530760" side="usa" srcid="272863" text=" Q    If I could add a second question, which is the reassurance the President will give to Japan that the U.S. will never forget the North Korean abductions.  How does that square with the movement toward removing North Korea from the list of terrorist sponsors?  Some members of the Japanese Diet believe that that is an abrogation of promise.  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  I think you heard Dennis already address that, and you've heard Secretary Rice and the President address that last week when the North Koreans made their agreement and -- or presented their declaration --  " title=" Q    If I could add a second question, which is the reassurance the President will give to Japan " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316354" rowid="136533777" side="usa" srcid="316354" text=" MS. PERINO:  He know how important Detroit is, how -- its history, the industry, and how many people it supports, not just in Detroit, but all across our country, and the people all around the world who work for those corporations.  He's very mindful of it.  " title=" Q    Is he aware that Detroit won World War II by retooling in a matter of days to a wartime cond" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316355" rowid="136533779" side="usa" srcid="316355" text=" MS. PERINO:  Very well aware of it.  And he's been very concerned about it.  It's one of the reasons that he agreed to the UI extension from -- unemployment insurance extension that we provided in August. And we'll see what the Congress puts forward on that if they come back for a lame duck.  " title=" Q    Is he aware that Michigan has 9 percent unemployment?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316359" rowid="136533787" side="usa" srcid="316359" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's focused on the summit.  And what I'm going to try to do later today if I can -- and we'll try to release those remarks for you.  I don't know if we'll be able to accomplish that, but we'll get it for you as soon as we can.  " title=" Q    Is the Federal Hall speech -- is it just trade, or is it a broader message to Wall Street? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316363" rowid="136533795" side="usa" srcid="316363" text=" MS. PERINO:  I believe not, because I was here, I worked as the communications director for the Council on Environmental Quality, and he has long championed -- and he was the first to increase CAFE standards for SUVs and light trucks for the first time in a decade.  " title=" Q    It was I believe about four or five years ago.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272871" rowid="136530776" side="usa" srcid="272871" text=" MR. PRICE:  Issues relating to the global economy are on the agenda.  And when leaders get together they're, of course, free to discuss whatever it is they wish to discuss.  " title=" Q    It's not on the agenda, though, is it?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272861" rowid="136530756" side="usa" srcid="272861" text=" Q    Just one on the accountability issue that you talked about, Dan.  I'm just a little bit unclear about specifically what the President is seeking at the summit from the other members.  And secondly, is he -- are you going to be naming names of other countries that have not met their commitments?  Can you tell us today who those countries are?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  We, the United States, will not be naming names.  We -- and we're not naming names today and we don't intend to name names. That's not the point.  The point is for the G8 countries themselves to produce reports showing how each of them is meeting the pledges made in the G8.  " title=" Q    Just one on the accountability issue that you talked about, Dan.  I'm just a little bit uncl" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316365" rowid="136533799" side="usa" srcid="316365" text=" Q    Okay.  The President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Francis Cardinal George of Chicago, which is Obama's hometown -- (laughter) -- noted, in his express opposition to Roe v. Wade:  &quot;If the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision were still settled constitutional law, Mr. Obama would not be President.&quot;	And my question: Does the President agree or disagree with Cardinal George?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  All I would say is that the President has said that he thinks it was a wonderful and inspiring moment when President-Elect Obama won on Tuesday night, a week ago.  &lt;p /&gt; Paula.  " title=" Q    Okay.  The President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Francis Cardinal George of " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316367" rowid="136533803" side="usa" srcid="316367" text=" Q    On a different topic, the President-elect just announced that former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Congressman Jim Leach will serve as his representatives to the G20.  Has there been discussion about what role they might play?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I just saw the report myself, although I don't know if, in the discussions with the President-elect's team, there had been some discussion.  We think that that's a -- it's a good idea to make sure that there's good, fluid communication between his team and leaders who want to establish relationships with the new President and his representatives.  So we welcome it.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Les.  " title=" Q    On a different topic, the President-elect just announced that former Secretary of State Made" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316371" rowid="136533811" side="usa" srcid="316371" text=" Q    Same topic.  Does it enter into the President's thinking that the President-elect would be more amenable, apparently, to opening up the TARP?  And in light of the President's thoughts that there should be sort of a smooth, seamless transition, does what the next President would do on this same subject enter into his thinking in terms of --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, we're certainly talking to them, and as we said, we want to see what the Democrats would put forward.  And I would assume that Pelosi and Reid are talking to Senator  -- I'm sorry, the President-elect's team.  I could only assume that; we certainly are. And we are mindful of the fact that they're going to have to keep this baton and keep running with it, and they're going to have to implement programs.  But we also know that we're not going to move forward with something that Congress hasn't authorized us to do.  And so we're looking to see if Congress is going to make any changes.  &lt;p /&gt; April.  " title=" Q    Same topic.  Does it enter into the President's thinking that the President-elect would be m" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272869" rowid="136530772" side="usa" srcid="272869" text=" MR. PRICE:  As I said, the 10-point plan outlined by President Bob Zoellick has many points that are in common with the U.S. approach, so I do not see any conflict at all between	what the World Bank has suggested as the focus of considerations and what we are also focusing on.  " title=" Q    So do you back the World Bank's new deal, or not?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316381" rowid="136533831" side="usa" srcid="316381" text=" Q    So does that mean, bottom line, that what you would like to see is that either the tools that have been passed already or maybe something that Congress might do in the next week, that that could work? But what if it doesn't?  Are you -- is the administration willing to be more aggressive, to ask Congress for more, to do more on its own and not allow one of the automakers to go under?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  What I know and what I can tell you is that we're working with what we have.  And we've done that to the extent that we are able to under the authorization provided by Congress.  If they are going to amend or accelerate those funds, we will certainly listen to their ideas and work with them.  But I'm just not able to say hypothetically what will happen.  Hopefully the companies will be able to figure out a way to survive and it won't ever come to that.	But it's just too early to say, and I shouldn't speculate on it.  &lt;p /&gt; Jon.  " title=" Q    So does that mean, bottom line, that what you would like to see is that either the tools tha" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316366" rowid="136533801" side="usa" srcid="316366" text=" Q    Thank you, Dana.  Two questions.  Since you are the President's chief media officer, you are no doubt aware of the news that the Ombudsman of The Washington Post admitted in print that that newspaper showed extensive favoritism towards candidate Obama.	And my question:  Have you wondered why she waited until after the election to admit this, while blaming no one at the Post by name for this biased reporting and editing?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I won't comment on it, except to say that I read the Ombudsman column every weekend.  " title=" Q    Thank you, Dana.  Two questions.  Since you are the President's chief media officer, you are" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272870" rowid="136530774" side="usa" srcid="272870" text=" Q    Thank you, Mr. Price.  Earlier this year, at the last World Bank-IMF meeting here, President Zoellick spoke of a new deal, of putting more money directly into countries hit hardest by the food crisis, notably Haiti.	And he called for immediate and large aid.  Now, twice I have asked in this briefing, has the United States weighed in in support of the World Bank's new deal?  Will this come up at the G8 agenda?  And has the position changed from the U.S. at all, and does it support it now?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  Well, I think the issue of food aid will certainly be discussed among the leaders, and the United States is firmly supportive of the view that we need to meet immediate food aids.  We have midterm developmental goals that we need to seek to achieve in terms of boosting agricultural activity.	We've got infrastructure bottlenecks we've got to address, and we've got a set of policy questions that also need to be addressed.  So the issues that you raise will certainly be discussed.  " title=" Q    Thank you, Mr. Price.  Earlier this year, at the last World Bank-IMF meeting here, President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316375" rowid="136533819" side="usa" srcid="316375" text=" Q    The administration, the President in particular, did allow some airlines, major airlines to go into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after 9/11.	Is there any reason to believe that there's been a red line established that would not allow automakers to go in that direction?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to rule anything in or out.	It's just -- that's not appropriate for me to do.  You know the facts.  Certainly there are -- Chapter 11 exists, and some companies choose to go that route.	But I'm not here to speak for the automakers as to what they may or may not do.  " title=" Q    The administration, the President in particular, did allow some airlines, major airlines to " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272862" rowid="136530758" side="usa" srcid="272862" text=" Q    They didn't address whether or not there was an agreement between the United States and Japan that the U.S. would, in fact, hold off on this until the abductions issue was resolved.  Some Japanese think there was at least that understanding.  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  No, what the U.S. position has always been -- and the Japanese and everyone in the six-party process are well aware of this -- is that the United States would remain committed to the resolution of the abduction issue.  And I think President Bush and Prime Minister Fukuda had a very good conversation about this last week. Secretary Rice had a very good visit to Japan this past week, as well. And I think the Japanese government and the Japanese people should know that the United States will not forget the abduction issue.  And so the Japanese and the DPRK are involved in discussions, as well, and we want to see those progress.  &lt;p /&gt; We'll take two more and then we have to go.   MR. PRICE:  Mike, right?  " title=" Q    They didn't address whether or not there was an agreement between the United States and Japa" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272868" rowid="136530770" side="usa" srcid="272868" text=" Q    Two questions on HIV/AIDS.  First, the President's PEPFAR reauthorization is kind of stalled on Capitol Hill, so how can he go in there and ask the other G8 leaders to live up to their commitments when he's having trouble getting Congress to live up to his commitment here? And then, secondly, there have been some news reports that say the draft communique on HIV/AIDS doesn't even mention the $25 billion goal by 2010.  And so it that -- is this communique acceptable to the President?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  Let me start -- I'm not going to comment on the text of a draft communique that is not yet public.  Let me say that there is no intention by any G8 member of which I am aware to backtrack on any of the pledges that have been made.  And as I said, we believe it is important not only to make clear that we intend to fulfill our commitments, but to produce tangible evidence of that in the form of progress reports.  " title=" Q    Two questions on HIV/AIDS.  First, the President's PEPFAR reauthorization is kind of stalled" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272865" rowid="136530764" side="usa" srcid="272865" text=" Q    Two questions, if you will.  The first:  Why is it that the G8 and the major economies as a group is not a large enough group to reach some kind of understanding on a commitment to greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2050?  What's the point, if not -- what's the point of the meeting?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  Well, I think that there are a number of things that have come out of the major economies process; consideration of a long-term goal is one of them, and it's an important one.  It will be up to the leaders, as they sit there and discuss, to see how far they wish to go on quantifying a long-term goal.  " title=" Q    Two questions, if you will.  The first:  Why is it that the G8 and the major economies as a " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316361" rowid="136533791" side="usa" srcid="316361" text=" Q    Two questions.  One, according to The Washington Post, tomorrow Saudi Arabia had religious tolerance conference at the United Nations.  But Saudi Arabia doesn't tolerate other religions, and also rights of the woman and human rights.  And President and Dr. Rice also are going to be attending this conference.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Yes.  Tomorrow in New York City, the President will make remarks at the U.N. High Level Debate on Interfaith Dialogue.  This will be an opportunity for him to reaffirm his commitment to religious freedom and tolerance, and the importance of people of all faiths coming together.  He welcomes the opportunity to have this event and he believes that the King of Saudi Arabia has recognized that they have a long way to go and that he is trying to take some steps to get there. But this -- and this dialogue is a good way to bring people of all religions together.  And you'll hear more from the President tomorrow.  " title=" Q    Two questions.  One, according to The Washington Post, tomorrow Saudi Arabia had religious t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316382" rowid="136533832" side="usa" srcid="316382" text=" Q    We keep asking you either questions in the weeds of what will you or not do for the automakers, and also the broader question of will the administration let any one of the automakers fail,	And I want to go to the broader question, which is, will you allow one of the automakers to fail, or will you step in?  You keep saying they're important to the economy, but they have problems with their business model.  But what is the bottom line position?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  We want these companies to succeed.  We want all companies in America to succeed.  There are questions regarding some of the automakers right now in regards to their earnings.	You have seen them, and they've been transparent.  We have said for a while that we've been talking with the automakers.  You've known that the President has been meeting with them.  &lt;p /&gt; The President also championed through CAFE increases, which the companies were trying to deal with.  One of the ways to help deal with that was a law that was passed in December of 2007 through the energy bill that would allow for those companies to apply for loans.  It would help them retool their companies.  That was authorized in December of 2007, but no money was appropriated for it by the Congress until August of 2008.  As soon as that money was appropriated, we started working on the legislation -- I'm sorry, on the regulation that would govern how we would appropriate the money.  We set a land speed record to try to get that done.  It was done last week and they've started taking applications.  &lt;p /&gt; It won't necessarily be an immediate fix.  And what we've said we would do is we would look to Congress and ask them if they are willing to amend that legislation or figure out some way to accelerate those funds so that there would be a loan to a company.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, one thing that's very important, in that authorization language Congress very wisely said that the companies would need to be viable in order to receive taxpayer dollars.  I think everyone can agree that you wouldn't want taxpayer dollars going to something that would not be a longtime concern or something that could actually succeed in the future.  I know that those companies are working hard on that.  &lt;p /&gt; And we are going to work with Congress.  We're open to their ideas. We've seen -- we have a letter from Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid asking us to look at the feasibility and whether or not we would be able to use TARP funding for that.  We don't think that that was Congress's intent.  So we feel that we have done what we could with the statutes that have been authorized. But we are studying that letter, and Secretary Paulson -- I don't think he's responded yet.  " title=" Q    We keep asking you either questions in the weeds of what will you or not do for the automake" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316362" rowid="136533793" side="usa" srcid="316362" text=" MS. PERINO:  There was a National Academy of Sciences report that said that, yes.  And when you are working on CAFE standards, one of the things that you take into account is the safety of the vehicles.  And I don't think anybody in this room would suggest that we shouldn't do that.  &lt;p /&gt; Goyal.  " title=" Q    Well, wasn't the basis on less, smaller fuel-efficient cars weren't as safe as SUVs and -- " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316380" rowid="136533829" side="usa" srcid="316380" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  It would be up to people who write legislation and think about how it would work out.  I'd have to refer you to Speaker Pelosi's office and Leader Reid's office.  And hopefully they're talking to their Republican counterparts about if they do want to move forward, how they would do that.  " title=" Q    What does Congress need to do to accelerate the loan program under the DOE --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316357" rowid="136533783" side="usa" srcid="316357" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that he --  " title=" Q    Yes, I do.  You say the President is not at fault for the auto industry problem.  Do you thi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272873" rowid="136530778" side="usa" srcid="272873" text=" MR. PRICE:  Let me say that there's been a lot of discussion about whether the major economies leaders' meeting or G8 would establish a numerical long-term goal for emissions reductions.  And we've had good discussion really in both fora.  I think there's broad recognition among all major economies that having a long-term goal is desirable in pointing us all in the right direction and indicating the scale of the challenge we face.  &lt;p /&gt; There's also recognition that progress toward any long-term goal will require the efforts of all major economies, not just the G8. Indeed, with evidence mounting of rapidly rising emissions from emerging markets, action by the G8 alone will not be effective to address this problem.  That's why we believe that all major economies and indeed all parties to the U.N. convention need to be part of the discussion on setting a long-term goal.  &lt;p /&gt; To us, it is not appropriate for the G8 countries alone to set a goal or to pick a numerical target and then seek to impose it on major developing economies.  Those countries need to be part of the discussion, and they have been part of the discussion, through the major economies process.  &lt;p /&gt; The Bali Action Plan makes clear that in respect of the shared vision and long-term goal, it's for all to decide, and here leadership by all major economies is needed in coming up with that shared goal. What is important, and what has become important in these discussions, is that all major economies are moving toward a shared vision on how to achieve a low-carbon future, again recognizing that what each economy does will differ according to its national circumstances.  And we're making progress on this in the major economies process.  &lt;p /&gt; We've discussed a range of ideas on a long-term vision and goal, including a 50-percent reduction by 2050, and have been exploring in the major economies process the implications of particular goals for both long term and mid term.  We've advanced that discussion in the major economies process.  We expect that the advances in this discussion at the leaders' rep level will be reflected in the discussion among the leaders themselves, and no doubt reflected in the declaration next week.  &lt;p /&gt; Critically, ultimate agreement in the U.N. on a long-term goal will gain confidence through the work we do together on important topics like global technology R&amp;D, accelerating commercial deployment through clean technology, and the establishment of national mid-term goals and plans, and through work on sectoral approaches.  These discussions, whether in the G8 or in the major economies process, in July are not the end of the story.	These discussions will continue just as our work in the UNFCCC negotiations will continue, heading towards the meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009.  " title=" Q    Yes, I was interested to hear you talk about it's time for a long-term global goal.	Is there" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272866" rowid="136530766" side="usa" srcid="272866" text=" MR. PRICE:  I think leaders will want to discuss the issue of the rise in oil prices.  They may wish to discuss outcomes from the recent conference.  There's a whole set of issues that they may wish to talk about in connection with oil prices.  " title=" Q    You mentioned that oil prices are going to be on the agenda on Tuesday, I think.  What is it" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316378" rowid="136533825" side="usa" srcid="316378" text=" Q    You say that you don't think it was Congress's intention to use TARP funding for this, and yet, the administration has interpreted the use of the TARP funds in a very different way than the original stated purpose.  If you're concerned about the auto industry, why not allow some creative thinking to make additional room for them?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I disagree with that just a little bit, because while we were discussing the rescue package, the TARP funds, that was very much solely focused on financial institutions and making sure that we did not allow our financial system to collapse.  And the actions that we've taken so far are working.  So that's one side of it.  &lt;p /&gt; At the same time, Congress was talking about the 136 loans, as they're called, from the Department of Energy, and they asked us to accelerate those and we did that.  While the Secretary of the Treasury has a range of tools under this umbrella called TARP, of which he just spent about an hour talking about, there are a lot of different things that fall under that umbrella.	But helping specific companies or specific industries outside of the financial sector were not -- was not included in that discussion.  " title=" Q    You say that you don't think it was Congress's intention to use TARP funding for this, and y" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314316" rowid="136533576" side="usa" srcid="314316" text="     MS. PERINO:  The President has said that he   believes that immigrants who want to come to this country to -- want to work,   and they are often doing jobs that Americans have not decided to fulfill, that   they should have a way to do that through a temporary worker program.  But that   would mean a change in law, and it's certainly not going to happen in the next   77 days.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    And second, as far as economy is concerned,   you think  -- what President think about tha" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314340" rowid="136533600" side="usa" srcid="314340" text="     MS. PERINO:  Well, look, Wendell, you guys talk   about it all the time.  I mean, we're not immune to the questions of -- that you   ask almost daily about popularity, approval ratings.  We're aware of it.  But   this President has taken on really big issues, and he's been tested in many   ways, and this is a President who has done big things.  And often when you do   big things and you make tough decisions, they're not popular.  President Bush   understands that.  That said, he loves this country, he loves the people, he's   loved the job, and he'll be watching tomorrow night with great interest as the   returns come in.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    And that realism?&lt;/p&gt; " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314329" rowid="136533589" side="usa" srcid="314329" text="     MS. PERINO:  What Josh Bolten said last week is   that he had heard from both of them that they don't plan to   attend.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     John.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Any decision yet on the President-elect   attending the financial summit?&lt;/p&gt; " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314347" rowid="136533607" side="usa" srcid="314347" text="     MS. PERINO:  I'll just decline.  Look, there's a   lot of tension in Pakistan right now; they have a lot   of issues on their plate, from terrorists to their economy, to the concerns   about their future security and their politics situation, as they have a new   administration that's trying to get settled.  So they have plenty on their plate   to deal with, and we'll be there as partners to try to help them.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     I do think that the Pakistanis, and I know that the   Prime Minister recognizes the problem that they have with terrorism, and it is   something we're going to continue to have to work with them on.  And the next   President is going to have to work with them on it, too.  This is not a problem   that's going to go away instantly.  This has been decades in the making, with   entrenched hostilities with dangerous people, with dangerous weapons, that have   to be either reconciled or dealt with in another way.  And so that's what   General Petraeus was there to talk to them about.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     Jeremy.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    But is the White House receptive to that   message?  I mean, obviously, they don't seem pl" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314344" rowid="136533604" side="usa" srcid="314344" text="     MS. PERINO:  I think that in the -- I do think   there's been a tendency in the media to try to draw distinctions and   differences, even hostilities, between us and the French.  That is not the   case.  We are working in a cooperative spirit, trying to find the path forward   together, principles for reform.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     Could there be areas where we might be able to   agree and be able to move forward?  Yes.  But remember, this is not just a   meeting between the French and the United States.  We have invited the   leaders of the G20, which means that we have emerging markets here.  The   President wanted them to have a say in how we move forward, and so their voice   is going to be very important.  The President is not going to invite them here   and then ignore them.  So we'll let you know as we get closer how that agenda is   shaping up.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     Mark.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    But there does seem to be a bit of a   difference.  The White House and the administration" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314341" rowid="136533601" side="usa" srcid="314341" text="     Q    Can I follow that, Dana?  Is it a distinction   without a difference to say the Republicans are trying to make this election   about John McCain, when this election really is very much about President Bush   and about people wanting a distinct change --&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;     MS. PERINO:  I think people have tried to make it   about this President, but I think that whenever you are in America and   you're looking towards the future, you want to know who's going to be your   leader.  And George Bush will not be the President on January 21st.  The next   President will be taking over, and they'll have all the responsibility that   comes with that honor.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     The President -- President Bush remains hopeful   that John McCain will pull it out tomorrow night and will win the election, and   he thinks that Republican candidates all across America have the   right ideas when it comes to the economy and national security.  He'll be   pulling for them.  But he also is realistic about the political environment that   we're in.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Can I follow that, Dana?  Is it a distinction   without a difference to say the Republican" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314322" rowid="136533582" side="usa" srcid="314322" text="     MS. PERINO:  Yes.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Can I follow up on that?  &lt;/p&gt; " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314346" rowid="136533606" side="usa" srcid="314346" text="     MS. PERINO:  No, I'm going to go to Jeremy.  Go   ahead.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Can I just follow   --&lt;/p&gt; " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314323" rowid="136533583" side="usa" srcid="314323" text="     MS. PERINO:  I wouldn't put a time frame on it   because I just couldn't say.  It's more complicated than people would think when   you start digging into the issues as to who would be deserving.  And you can   imagine that one neighbor might feel slighted if they're making their payments   on time, but their other -- their neighbor gets a cut in their payments.  How do   you deal with all of that?  And we're mindful of it, and that's why we're taking   some time.  That doesn't mean that we're not moving with all due speed.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     I will tell you that, having been involved in a lot   of policy development processes over the years here at the White House, that   when it comes to these issues regarding the economy they have moved faster than   anything I have seen before.  And that's for good reason, because we're trying   to help people as quickly as possible and prevent as many home foreclosures as   possible.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     There will be some people who will not be able to   stay in their homes, that they won't be able to afford it, they got in too far   over their heads.  That doesn't necessarily mean that they won't be able to make   the payments in the future if they were able to improve their income.  However,   there will be some people who just won't be able to stay in their home.  And   foreclosure unfortunately happens all across America.  I   don't know the statistic, but hundreds of thousands of homes are foreclosed on   any given year.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     This year we might have a bigger problem.  But just   because you're under water with your mortgage, meaning that your house is now   less than you paid for it, doesn't mean that you're going to go into   foreclosure.  If you can still make your payments, you'll be able to pay it.  So   all of these issues are being discussed in the administration here at the White   House, and we're trying to come to a conclusion as to whether or not we would   support something and what it would be.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Can we expect something in the next few days,   the next week?  I know that this is an ong" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314336" rowid="136533596" side="usa" srcid="314336" text="     MS. PERINO:  I couldn't say yet.  I think that's   one of the things that will also be on the agenda, is talking about the path   forward and how many meetings we should have.  As I said, the President-elect   and his team will have input into the process.  And so it's just a little too   early to say how soon those meetings will take   place.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Can you -- it may be a little early, but can   you say how many is in a series?  Are we ta" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314324" rowid="136533584" side="usa" srcid="314324" text="     Q    Can you give us an update on the   administration working to in some way shore up homeowners, specifically   homeowners that may be under water?  There's been talk about hoping -- or   helping, rather, them rewrite those mortgages at least through the lenders,   maybe guaranteeing the mortgages through their lenders.  Where does those talks   stand right now?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;     MS. PERINO:  So there's a lot of different   proposals that are in front of us right now to try to help homeowners, in   addition to the tools that we already have.  Just to recap, those tools include   the private sector effort, HOPE NOW, which I think has helped nearly 2 million   homeowners** rewrite   those loans, just like you were saying, so that people could actually make their   payments and be able to afford them and be able to stay in their home -- because   that's the goal.  We also have FHASecure, and also Hope for Homeowners.  So   those are tools that we already have that we're using.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     But the question on the table is:  Do we need to do   more to help homeowners?  If that answer is yes, then there's a lot of other   issues that have to be analyzed.  So who would be helped?  How would you make   that determination?  What kind of help would it be?  How long would it be for?    And how do you protect the taxpayers?  All of those issues are being discussed   when it comes to each of the proposals that have come forward.  We have an   interagency process.  I don't have anything to announce for you right now.  But   what we're doing in the meantime is making sure that HOPE NOW, FHASecure and   Hope for Homeowners move forward on parallel tracks and try to help as many   homeowners as possible.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Can you give us an update on the   administration working to in some way shore up homeowne" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314349" rowid="136533609" side="usa" srcid="314349" text="     Q    Dana, does the White House yet, or the   administration as a whole, have a response to the changes the Iraqis have   proposed in the SOFA agreement?  And what do you say about the reports the   U.S. is now looking increasingly   toward having the United Nations mandate extended?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;     MS. PERINO:  We are working towards responding to   the Iraqis.  Our negotiating team, led by Ambassador Crocker, is finalizing that   and we expect to be talking with the Iraqis over the next week.  And I think   that their parliament is back in session starting next Tuesday, so hopefully   we'll make some progress soon.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     And I think reports about us looking at an   alternative are overwritten.  We are focused on getting this agreement done.  I   think the Iraqis recognize that it is in their interest, and it's certainly in   America's national security interest   for us to finalize it.  So we're working through all the requested changes that   they had, and there might be some that we can support, there might be some that   we won't be able to support.  I'll just let the negotiators work that out with   them privately.  &lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Dana, does the White House yet, or the   administration as a whole, have a response to the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314339" rowid="136533599" side="usa" srcid="314339" text="     MS. PERINO:  I'm not saying that he doesn't   recognize that there are people out there who want change.  They have been   looking for something new.  Look, when it comes to the economy, we can   understand that.  This President was asked -- asked Americans to take on a   really big issue and allow for $700 billion of taxpayer money to be reinvested   so that we could get our economy moving again.  That was a tough decision and a   very unpopular one.  It was very controversial.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     What keeps him going is knowing that he's done the   right thing.  When it comes to protecting this country, since the September 11th   attacks he's been able to do that.  Iraq is in a totally different place   than it was a year ago today.  We have made improvements across different   continents, from Africa to India.  We have better relations with   China than we inherited.  And when he   goes home to Texas, President Bush will be able to look in   the mirror and know that he was true to his values and true to his principles.    And that's what keeps him going.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Dana, how does he not take it as somewhat of a   personal rebuke?&lt;/p&gt; " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314343" rowid="136533603" side="usa" srcid="314343" text="     MS. PERINO:  Well, as we said   --&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Dana, we're duty-bound to ask:  Why is the   President out of sight today and tomorrow?  I" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314348" rowid="136533608" side="usa" srcid="314348" text="     MS. PERINO:  Well, I wasn't there, but again,   reports about these attacks are something that I've not commented on from here,   and so I will decline to do that, as well.  But as you know, we've had many   officials go to Pakistan and   we're working in a cooperative spirit with them to try to rid them of the   terrorist threat that threatens innocent Pakistanis, the region and certainly   here -- us here in America. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     So we continue to work with them.  It's appropriate   that General Petraeus went since he is now taking over CENTCOM and he'll be able   to look at this from a broader view, rather than just having been in   Iraq.  And when you have partners and   friends like we do in the Pakistanis, you can have frank exchanges of views and   that just means that you're stronger going forward as you continue to work   together.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Dana, what's the reaction from the White House   on the meeting between Pakistani official" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314337" rowid="136533597" side="usa" srcid="314337" text="     Q    Dana, you today and Ed Lazear last week have   now indicated that there are disagreements on what the underlying cause of the   financial crisis is.  At the risk of being one of those people in the media who   exaggerates tensions, possibly hostilities between you and the French, what are   the underlying causes?  (Laughter.)  What are the underlying causes of this   financial crisis -- just to set out where you guys are coming   from.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;     MS. PERINO:  I don't know what all the leaders will   come forward with, and I think there are -- for people like those here in the   administration, including the President, who was warning about the problems that   we had in our housing sector for many years, including the problems with Fannie   Mae and Freddie Mac.  That will be one problem.  I'm sure that there will be   others that come forward.  We'll have a meeting that is robust in its agenda --   hopefully robust in its principles for reform to move forward.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     What the President and the leaders agreed to was a   series of summits.  So I don't think anybody should expect next week that we're   going to walk away and have everything solved.  The reason that there's going to   be a series is because they needed to have more than one meeting.  I think it's   appropriate at the first meeting to set out the principles for reform, and then   task those working groups to go back, work with their financial experts in their   countries, work together to figure out a way that we can continue to move   forward and return this country to a path of prosperity, but also other   countries as well.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     These emerging economies have accomplished a lot   because of free market capitalism.  I don't think that they think that it's   dead; we certainly don't.  We believe in free enterprise.  But we also recognize   that there need to be some changes, especially when it comes to the interlocking   nature of the economy, where something that happens here could affect the rest   of the world.  So that's one of the reasons the President wanted to invite the   G20.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Dana, you today and Ed Lazear last week have   now indicated that there are disagreements " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314350" rowid="136533610" side="usa" srcid="314350" text="     MS. PERINO:  None that I heard, and I would be   surprised by it.  But since there's an investigation I'll let them do that.  But   none that I've heard.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     Anyone else?  Quiet day.    Kathleen.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Do you think there was any involvement in   putting that information out -- &lt;/p&gt; " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314345" rowid="136533605" side="usa" srcid="314345" text="     Q    Earlier today -- or looking towards next week   with this G20 summit here at the White House -- or here in Washington, French   President Sarkozy said he hoped that it would yield concrete decisions, swift   and concrete decisions on global financial regulation.  Is that a view the White   House shares?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;     MS. PERINO:  We'll see.  We think that there's a   lot of -- a lot to work through on the agenda, and our sherpas are all working   and talking amongst each other to figure out what the agenda will be, the   principles for reform.  That was -- the purpose of this meeting as it was set   out in the conversations the President had with all the leaders before he sent   the invitations was to organize with them the agenda, first of all, starting   with identifying the underlying causes of the problem.  That is something that   we all need to do so that we all understand the basis from which we want to work   to improve it.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     Secondly, reviewing progress to date, which has   been considerable.  In our country we've got a long way to go, but we're   starting to get there.  The credit markets are starting to thaw out, and that is   exactly what we are trying to do to try to solve -- help solve the problem.  And   then we said that we would outline principles for reform.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     Could there be concrete issues that could be agreed   to?  I don't know.  I would refer you to my briefing a week from now, a   prospective referral -- as we get closer.  (Laughter.)  We just need to get   closer to the meeting to see what we're going to be able to work   out.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Earlier today -- or looking towards next week   with this G20 summit here at the White Hou" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314335" rowid="136533595" side="usa" srcid="314335" text="     MS. PERINO:  I'll check for you.  I think nearly   all, but I'll just -- I just want to check.  I think that we're in good shape   for attendance, but we'll see if we can get something out today or tomorrow on   that. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     April.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Has everyone   RSVP'd?&lt;/p&gt; " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314327" rowid="136533587" side="usa" srcid="314327" text="     MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  I'm not on the   committee.  (Laughter.)&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    How's the house search   going?&lt;/p&gt; " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314342" rowid="136533602" side="usa" srcid="314342" text="     MS. PERINO:  Look, we are realistic about the   political environment that we are in.  President Bush has followed this campaign   with a huge amount of interest.  He's followed the issues, he's followed the   candidates, followed the tactics.  But he realizes that this election is not   about him.  It's the first time in 14 years that President Bush hasn't been on   the ballot, and that's a different role for him as in the past.  But we are also   cognizant that this campaign, the Republican Party wanted to make this election   about John McCain, and that's appropriate.  And that's what we've had between --   over the last several months, you've had John McCain and Senator Obama fighting   it out.  And now tomorrow the voters will get a chance to decide.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     The President encourages all Americans to cast   their vote.  He used his radio address this weekend to talk about that.  And   it's -- one of the great strengths of our democracy is that people get to have   their say tomorrow.  And we'll be here tomorrow night.  The President and Mrs.   Bush will be having a small dinner up in the residence tomorrow evening.  I'll   provide you as much color as I possibly can.  I wouldn't expect a ton of it, but   I'll try to provide you some little tidbits of   interest.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     And then, depending on the timing of the result   tomorrow night, I'll come here to the briefing room and provide a readout for   you of that.  But there might be a cutoff time.  One of the cameramen suggested   11:00 p.m.  I think that might be a good compromise.  So we'll see how it goes   and I'll let you know.  Regardless, I will try to provide you a reaction   tomorrow night, at least a written one.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Is he trying to stay out of   sight?&lt;/p&gt; " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314321" rowid="136533581" side="usa" srcid="314321" text="     MS. PERINO:  No.  Well, I think -- well, look,   President Bush would always do what he thinks is right.  But that doesn't mean   that the President-elect wouldn't have input as to what they might think about a   certain program or other, because they will inherit a lot of policies that this   administration has put forward, or previous administrations.  So everything   builds on previous experience.  We'll have input from them I'm sure, but I don't   think that any candidate would not want us to move forward to try to help   homeowners.  And for us to wait three months, I don't think that anybody would   support that.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     Victoria.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Is there any sense in which the election   outcome matters to your decision?  Are you in c" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314325" rowid="136533585" side="usa" srcid="314325" text="     MS. PERINO:  Me neither.  (Laughter.)  No, we'll   see.  I think that they're obviously going to have a place in Dallas, as well as the   ranch.  And so Mrs. Bush is -- she's conducting that search and then when she's   ready to announce something we'll try to get it to you right   away.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     Tom.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    No, no, no.&lt;/p&gt; " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314319" rowid="136533579" side="usa" srcid="314319" text="     MS. PERINO:  Those are the two main things.  And   let's just let Congress get back, and then we'll   see.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     Goyal.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    On the free trade agreements, outside of the   Colombia free trade and the other two, what" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314328" rowid="136533588" side="usa" srcid="314328" text="     Q    Thank you, Dana.  So much has been said in   this campaign, invoking the President's name and attacks on him from Senator   Obama's campaign.  Is he aware of this criticism?  And before he leaves office   is he going to say something about it?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;     MS. PERINO:  I think I've -- I don't know if you   were here earlier, but I think we've talked a lot about that.  The President   follows politics, news, and the campaign very closely.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;He's also been very busy.  If you -- think about what's   just happened in the past nine weeks in our country.  We had two of the biggest   hurricanes come through our country.  We also had the situation between   Russia and   Georgia.  And we had the most   disastrous financial crisis hit our country.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     So he's been extremely busy.  He always said that   he was going to sprint to the finish, and now we're -- he's making good on   that.  And he's very focused on trying to make sure that the taxpayers get paid   back as much as possible, that the implementation of the $700 billion rescue   package is efficient and effective and following the letter of the law, and that   it will work -- that it will thaw out those credit markets and that we can   return our country to a path of prosperity.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     I think that there will be a lot of political   analysts that look at this campaign, and I think that the best thing for us to   do is to let the talking heads do that.  And if the President decides to talk   about this campaign in the future, we'll see.  I mean, he's not one to look   back; he often looks forward.  And I think that what he'll do, starting January   21st, is really dig into the institute that he wants to create that would be   called the Freedom Institute.  It will be on the campus of SMU.  And he and Mrs.   Bush are very much looking forward to getting back to Dallas, where they can   pick up where they left off several years ago -- I think 14 years ago when they   left.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Thank you, Dana.  So much has been said in   this campaign, invoking the President's name " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314318" rowid="136533578" side="usa" srcid="314318" text="     Q    Two quick questions.  One, as far as situation   you mentioned in Afghanistan and Pakistan, I'm sure the President is briefing   both the candidates.  And what do you think they have been briefed on, or what   did their reaction of --    &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;     MS. PERINO:  Wouldn't you like to know.    (Laughter.)&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Two quick questions.  One, as far as situation   you mentioned in Afghanistan and Pakistan" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314326" rowid="136533586" side="usa" srcid="314326" text="     MS. PERINO:  And that -- would you have it any   other way?  (Laughter.)&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Well, from what I hear, there's only one   person on that committee.  (Laughter.)  That wo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314351" rowid="136533611" side="usa" srcid="314351" text="     MS. PERINO:  I've read reports about it.  I don't   know if the White House actually has a view.  I think that the Office of Personal* Responsibility at   the Department of Homeland Security is looking into it, and I think that's an   appropriate place for that to take place.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    What's the White House view of the information   going out about Senator Obama's aunt and " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314317" rowid="136533577" side="usa" srcid="314317" text="     MS. PERINO:  We try every day to capture Osama bin   Laden and bring him to justice.  And there's hundreds of thousands of people   across our government and around the world who are working to make that happen.    And when it comes to briefings on Afghanistan or Pakistan, or any other issue,   the briefings will be thorough and they'll know all of the issues, the good, the   bad and the ugly.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    When are you going to get Osama bin   Laden?&lt;/p&gt; " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314334" rowid="136533594" side="usa" srcid="314334" text="     MS. PERINO:  I think it might have been right   before that Cabinet meeting that we had here on the financial rescue   package.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    When was the last time President Bush talked   to -- by phone or vicariously, via Internet" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314333" rowid="136533593" side="usa" srcid="314333" text="     MS. PERINO:  April, I'm not going to answer that   question.  I feel like I have given you a lot about the feeling at the White   House, the mood of the White House, and how we're supporting this candidate, and   trying to be respectful of what they thought is the best way to run their   campaign.  So I'm not going to get into that.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Why so -- why such a gap, since he is right   now one of the main leaders of the Republica" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314320" rowid="136533580" side="usa" srcid="314320" text="     MS. PERINO:  Our focus has been on trying to get   this agreement done.  We think that the Iraqis recognize that they need it for   their own security.  And just this past week, even though they've made great   strides, they've had some terrible violence up in the Mosul area.  And we're   trying to help their security forces beef up enough so that they are competent   and confident enough to repel terrorists or insurgents who are trying to disrupt   the political system there.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     So we think that through Ryan Crocker's operation,   we'll be able to work with them, and we're hopeful that we'll be able to reach   an agreement.  I don't think anyone contemplates seizing operations.  I wouldn't   -- that's not something that -- it's not in our vocabulary.  We're focused on   trying to get the agreement done.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     Paula.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    With the Iraqis coming back again with more   changes to the security agreement, if you're" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314331" rowid="136533591" side="usa" srcid="314331" text="     MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to comment on that.    What I will remind you of is that this President did over 80 events this year,   or in this cycle, to help Republican candidates.  And I will tell you that after   the primary, at every single one, President Bush made the case for why John   McCain would be the best President to be elected in this cycle   tomorrow.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    Yes.  You say this administration, this   President has supported the candidate.  Do you t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314338" rowid="136533598" side="usa" srcid="314338" text="     Q    You haven't heard any reflections from him of   any different tone or character recently, as he's looking at election day where   it appears as though -- again, if you look at the polls, it appears as though a   lot of people -- record numbers of people may be going to the poll, you may have   a landslide in the works, you may have a -- all predicated on running away from   the President.  He has -- you haven't heard any sadness, reaction, any kind of   disappointment in his voice?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;     MS. PERINO:  The President is -- recognizes what   this election has been about.  I also think that that might be your   characterization of it.  I don't think that there are Republicans out there who   think that the President hasn't done a good job when it comes to keeping this   country safe, replenishing our military so that they can have the resources they   need to do the job.  The President has asked them to do tough jobs.  He made a   decision to go to Iraq; he still believes that that was   the right decision.  And the next President will inherit a fragile, but a   democracy in the heart of the Middle East   because of that decision.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     We have learned from mistakes.  We have -- we had   tremendous coordination this time around when we had two major hurricanes hit   our country, that we we're able to coordinate -- also one of those having hit   Louisiana.       &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     So a lot of things have improved.  And this   President was tested by a lot of different issues and I think he's taken those   issues head on, and we can be proud of how we've addressed them.  Everybody   would like to be popular.  You can all remember that back in high school,   everyone really wanted to be popular.  Some of us just weren't.  But that   doesn't mean that you don't have principles and values that you stay true to.    And that's what this President has done, and it's what he's taught a lot of us,   including me.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     Olivier.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    You haven't heard any reflections from him of   any different tone or character recently, " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314332" rowid="136533592" side="usa" srcid="314332" text="     MS. PERINO:  Sorry, has what?  Has supported the   candidate?&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q    You say this administration, this President   has supported the candidate.  Do you feel th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-03#entryid_314330" rowid="136533590" side="usa" srcid="314330" text="     MS. PERINO:  To date?  Yes.  Yes.  We have a long   way to go.  Remember, we've been working with both campaigns leading up to   tomorrow night, and then starting Wednesday.  For example, whoever the   candidates have identified for pre-clearance on their FBI checks -- I don't know   whether those are completed, but we've already got the process started.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     And that will be very important because we're   facing a transition where we want to make sure that other countries know that we   will have a peaceful transition and that the next crew that's coming in here   knows the tools that it has to help fight the war on terror, that it knows how   to prosecute the war on terror, since we -- that's our most important obligation   here.  They will also be getting a lot of briefings on Iraq and Afghanistan, Africa, issues on the financial summit.  I mean, there's a   lot of issues that have to be dealt with.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     But I do think that it will be one of the most   professional transitions to date.  And a lot of that is because of the law that   changed in 2004, but also because of this President's commitment.  Starting   about a year ago, the President asked the agencies to start working on their   transition plans and to make sure that senior career officials at those agencies   were shadowing the political appointees so that if there is a gap, a personnel   gap, and they need to take over for a while, that they would be able to do so   and do their job effectively and efficiently.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p /&gt;     So we feel good to date, and we'll keep you updated   as we move forward.&lt;/p&gt; " title="     Q  In terms of transition planning, does the White   House feel like the council has achieved a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-02-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-02-26#entryid_471190" rowid="136535271" side="usa" srcid="471190" text="
&lt;div class=&quot;legacy-para&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;THE WHITE HOUSE&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;legacy-para&quot;&gt;Office of the Press Secretary&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;legacy-para&quot;&gt;___________________________________&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;legacy-para&quot;&gt;For Immediate ReleaseFebruary 26, 2009&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;legacy-para&quot;&gt;WASHINGTON &amp;ndash; Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals for key posts at the Department of Defense: Jim Miller, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Policy, and Lt. Gen. Wallace &amp;quot;Chip&amp;quot; Gregson, Jr. (USMC, Ret), Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs.&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;legacy-para&quot;&gt;The White House today also announced that the following individuals will remain serving in their current posts at the Department of Defense: Mike Donley, Secretary of the Air Force; Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper (USAF, Ret), Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence; and Michael G. Vickers, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict and Interdependent Capabilities (SO/LIC&amp;amp;IC).&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;legacy-para&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;President Obama&lt;/strong&gt; said, &amp;quot;I am confident that these distinguished individuals have the commitment and expertise to help guide the Department of Defense at this critical time for our nation. Under the leadership of Secretary Gates, this group will help us maintain a strong and effective military to accomplish the fundamental goals of keeping America safe, advancing our interests abroad, and restoring American leadership in the world.&amp;quot;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;legacy-para&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;u&gt;President Obama announced his intent to nominate the follow individuals today:&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;legacy-para&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Jim Miller, Nominee for Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Policy, Department of Defense&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;legacy-para&quot;&gt;Miller is Senior Vice President and Director of Studies at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Previous positions include serving as Senior Vice President at Hicks and Associates, Inc. (2000-2007); Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Requirements, Plans, and Counterproliferation Policy (1997-2000); assistant professor at Duke University (1992-1997); and senior professional staff member for the House Armed Services Committee (1988-1992). He is a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Combating WMD Panel of DoD&amp;rsquo;s Threat Reduction Advisory Committee. He has served as an advisor to the Defense Science Board, as senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and as senior associate member at St. Antony&amp;rsquo;s College, Oxford. In 2000 he received the Department of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service. Dr. Miller received a B.A. degree with honors in economics from Stanford University, and Master&amp;rsquo;s and Ph.D. degrees in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;legacy-para&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lt. Gen. Wallace &amp;quot;Chip&amp;quot; Gregson, Jr. (USMC, Ret), Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;legacy-para&quot;&gt;Since 2006, Lt. Gen. Gregson (USMC, Ret) has been a foreign policy and military affairs consultant for WCG &amp;amp; Associates International. Previously he served as Chief Operating Officer for the United States Olympic Committee. From 2003 to 2005 he was Commanding General of the Marine Forces Central Command in the Pacific, where he led and managed over 70,000 Marines and Sailors in the Middle East, Afghanistan, East Africa, Asia and the United States. From 2001 to 2003 he was Commanding General of all Marine Corps bases in Japan, where he was awarded the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun, the Gold and Silver Star, and the Korean Order of National Security Merit Gukseon Medal. Prior to his time in Japan he was Director of Asia-Pacific Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense from 1998 to 2000. He has served in the Marine Corps since his graduation from the Naval Academy and the US Naval War College.&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;legacy-para&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;u&gt;The White House also announced that the following individuals will remain serving in their current posts at the Department of Defense:&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;legacy-para&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mike Donley, Secretary of the Air Force&lt;br /&gt;  &lt;/strong&gt;Donley is currently the Secretary of the Air Force, where he is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including the organizing, training, equipping and providing for the welfare of its more than 300,000 men and women on active duty, 180,000 members of the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve, 160,000 civilians, and their families. He also oversees the Air Force's annual budget of approximately $110 billion. Prior to assuming his current position, Donley served as the Director of Administration and Management in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. From 1996 to 2005, Donley was a Senior Vice President at Hicks and Associates, Inc., a subsidiary of Science Applications International Corporation, and a consultant to DOD and the State Department on national security matters. From 1993 to 1996, he was Senior Fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses. Prior to this position, he served as the Acting Secretary of the Air Force for seven months, and from 1989 to 1993 he was the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management and Comptroller). Donley supported two Presidents and five National Security Advisers during his service at the National Security Council from 1984 to 1989. As Deputy Executive Secretary he oversaw the White House Situation Room and chaired interagency committees on crisis management procedures and continuity of government. Donley served in the U.S. Army from 1972 to 1975 with the XVIIIth Airborne Corps and 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), attending the Army's Intelligence and Airborne Schools and the Defense Language Institute. Donley earned both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in international relations from the University of Southern California. He also attended the Senior Executives in National Security program at Harvard University.&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;legacy-para&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper (USAF, Ret), Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence&lt;br /&gt;  &lt;/strong&gt;Clapper is currently the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, where he is the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense regarding intelligence, counterintelligence and security matters. He also serves as the Director of Defense Intelligence and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence as his principal advisor regarding defense intelligence matters. Clapper previously served as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency director from September 2001 to June 2006; he was the first civilian director of the NGA. He retired as a lieutenant general from the U.S. Air Force in 1995, after a 32-year career. He earned a bachelor's degree in government and politics from the University of Maryland, a master's degree in political science from St. Mary's University, San Antonio, Texas, and an honorary doctorate in strategic intelligence from the Joint Military Intelligence College.&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;legacy-para&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Michael G. Vickers, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict and Interdependent Capabilities (SO/LIC&amp;amp;IC)&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;  Vickers is currently the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict &amp;amp; Interdependent Capabilities), where he is the senior civilian advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense on the operational employment and capabilities of special operations forces, strategic forces, and conventional forces. He is also the senior civilian advisor on counterterrorism strategy, irregular warfare, and force transformation. Prior to his appointment as ASD (SO/LIC&amp;amp;IC), Vickers served as Senior Vice President, Strategic Studies, at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA). He was a senior advisor to the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review, and Executive Director of the QDR &amp;quot;Red Team,&amp;quot; which provided an assessment of the QDR for the Deputy Secretary and Vice Chairman. In late 2005, Vickers conducted an independent assessment of special operations forces (&amp;quot;The Downing Report&amp;quot;) for the Secretary of Defense. From 1973 to 1986, Vickers served as an Army Special Forces Non-Commissioned Officer, Special Forces Officer, and CIA Operations Officer. During this period, Vickers had operational and combat experience in Central America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia. During the mid-1980s, Vickers was the principal strategist for the largest covert action program in the CIA&amp;rsquo;s history: the paramilitary operation that drove the Soviet army out of Afghanistan. Vickers received his B.A., with honors, from the University of Alabama. He also holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
    " title=" President Obama Announces More Key Department of Defense Appointments" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324105" rowid="136534708" side="usa" srcid="324105" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  You know, it's hard for me to speak to specific casualty numbers.  We have urged the Israelis to avoid civilian casualties.  But they are working on decreasing the number of Israeli citizens that are vulnerable.  And we know -- I believe someone died this morning, a couple of people a couple of days ago.	The Israelis are working to reduce the threat against their own people.  &lt;p /&gt; So they're going to continue, it appears at this time, to deal with this Hamas terrorist threat.  But ultimately, we want a sustainable and durable ceasefire.  &lt;p /&gt; Toby.  " title=" Q	-- I mean, is just going to rekindle radicalism, isn't it?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324090" rowid="136534693" side="usa" srcid="324090" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  The Israeli response is in response to the mortar and rocket attacks on its people.  " title=" Q	-- the Israeli response.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299743" rowid="136531574" side="usa" srcid="299743" text=" MS. PERINO:  Do you know what time we leave Monday?  " title=" Q	Afternoon, evening?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270096" rowid="136530377" side="usa" srcid="270096" text=" Q	And can you clarify something on the relationship between the incentive package and the sanctions?  I'm a little fuzzy on whether the United States now says, let's wait to see what the reaction is to the latest package of incentives and then we'll move ahead with fully implementing the last U.N. resolution, and the banking sanctions that were talked about the other day in Slovenia.  What --  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  Well, as you know, this dual-track process is not new.  This was really the process after 2003, when there was an active negotiation between the EU3 and Iran.  There was actually an agreement called the Paris Accord in 2004, where the Iranians suspended enrichment.  There was negotiation of a package of benefits that would help the Iranian people.  And those negotiations were broken off by President Ahmadinejad when he was elected in the summer of 2005.  &lt;p /&gt; We've tried to resuscitate that effort, get both of these tracks moving.  There's been a lot of effort and progress in sanctioning Iran. It was felt that what we needed now to do is to refresh the offer, if you will.  And that's what Solana will do.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think we will get a reaction fairly quickly.  The President Ahmadinejad has already ruled out acceptance of the package.  We'll see what happens when Solana goes, but I think you've heard a number of countries are getting ready and doing the internal processes required, so that should that package be rejected -- and a number of people believe it will -- we are ready to go to continue the sanctions effort that has already been well along.  As you know, there have been three U.N. Security Council resolutions.  We've taken a lot of action.  A number of European countries have also taken a lot of action.  &lt;p /&gt; Steven Lee.  " title=" Q	And can you clarify something on the relationship between the incentive package and the sanctions" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324089" rowid="136534692" side="usa" srcid="324089" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  It's not for me to comment on the Israeli political -- their elections, their election season.  But it appears to me that they're responding to the hundreds of rockets that have fallen on southern Israel in the last few days.  &lt;p /&gt; Elaine.  " title=" Q	And do you think it has anything to do with the --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324103" rowid="136534706" side="usa" srcid="324103" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Well, that's really, in my opinion, a hypothetical question.	Israel is going after terrorists who are firing rockets and mortars into Israel, and they are taking the steps that they feel are necessary to deal with the terrorist threat.  Now, no one wants to see violence.  But what we're going to need to see in order to end this is Hamas needs to stop firing rockets into Israel and we all need to get to a sustainable ceasefire.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  " title=" Q	And how long before the United States might come out and call for restraint from Israel on the ai" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324098" rowid="136534701" side="usa" srcid="324098" text=" Q	And so no comment at all about whether or not there are suggestions on the part of the U.S. to Israel to somehow narrow the scope or - as John was talking about the length of the attacks because of the concern of the casualties?  The U.S. basically suggested to Israel that as more and more of these strikes happen, and civilian casualties are mounting, that the response is appearing, at least to some, to be disproportionate.  Has the U.S. expressed that concern?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  I've seen various casualty figures.  It's not for me to say what they are.  All I can say is that we've seen innocent Israelis die, as well.	We want civilian casualties to be avoided, period.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q	And so no comment at all about whether or not there are suggestions on the part of the U.S. to Is" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299750" rowid="136531581" side="usa" srcid="299750" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't have anything on coverage of the Opening Ceremony.  I have the -- we'll see what we can do for you.  We've been working as hard as we can to be able to --  " title=" Q	And what's the latest you're hearing about coverage of the Opening Ceremony?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324198" rowid="136534739" side="usa" srcid="324198" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Yes.  You know, I know the President, 20 days from now, will return to Texas.  They'll spend a lot of time in Dallas, but I also expect they'll continue to spend time down here in Crawford on the weekends, and, you know, possibly during the holidays.	I know that he and Mrs. Bush have found their time here in Crawford to be exceptionally good.  This was a place they could come and relax, get out of the spotlight a little bit -- although the presidency follows you everywhere -- just look, we're all standing here just a few miles from the ranch.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think this has been a place where they've been able to get away from it a little bit.  And I think that they look forward to coming back to Texas in just less than three weeks.  &lt;p /&gt; But we'll always have fond memories of everything that took place here in Crawford during the presidency -- all the various world leader meetings, and standing in an auditorium, I think, with Tony Blair one time, and Vladimir Putin one time, here, speaking to the school children at Crawford, Texas.  So I think they'll always have very, very fond memories of their time as President and First Lady here in Crawford. And then they'll continue to come back here and Dallas when it's all over.  " title=" Q	Any thoughts that the President has -- obviously the Western White House -- the sun is setting on" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299754" rowid="136531585" side="usa" srcid="299754" text=" MS. PERINO:  As I said yesterday, we d&amp;#233;marched our Ambassador in Beijing to express our concern and complaint, and to ask that the Chinese reconsider this.  I don't have an update, though.	It's slower than we would like, but -- and they're actually running out of time to be able to rectify it, but we continue to press them.  " title=" Q	Anything that the White House or the State Department is doing in regards to Joey Cheek?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324086" rowid="136534689" side="usa" srcid="324086" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No, the United States is not involved in this action in any specific way.  The United States has provided millions of dollars of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, and so we are certainly encouraging countries in the region to continue their efforts to bring medical and food supplies to the people of Gaza.  " title=" Q	Aside from the Secretary Rice phone call, is the United States taking any other action?  Are you " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270080" rowid="136530361" side="usa" srcid="270080" text=" MR. HADLEY:  I'm sorry?  " title=" Q	British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270079" rowid="136530360" side="usa" srcid="270079" text=" MR. HADLEY:  You know, this is an idea that has kind of sprung on the international scene, and of course the President's first question is, what are we going to try to accomplish?  Because if you're going to have a meeting like that, there's obviously going to be great expectations that something will come of it that will have an impact on oil prices to reduce them and stabilize markets.  So there are expectations that have been generated, and it is important that those expectations not be unrealized, because that in itself will have an effect on oil prices in the market.  So one of the things the President has asked is our folks back in Washington to start looking at what we might try to accomplish.  We will be actively engaged with the sponsors to try and develop a plan and a set of outcomes that might come from that meeting.  &lt;p /&gt; At this point, that work is very preliminary.  The President has an opportunity to discuss this with his fellow leaders during this trip. He will then go back to Washington and take stock about how the summit -- how the meeting is shaping out, what might be able to be accomplished, and at that point make some decision about who are the appropriate representatives of the United States.  &lt;p /&gt; Sir.  " title=" Q	British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that he plans to attend the oil summit in Saudi Arab" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270090" rowid="136530371" side="usa" srcid="270090" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Well, one of the things that the President talked about in his speech at the Naval Academy and his speech at the U.S. Institute of Peace is he made that contrast; that because of the level of destruction and all the rest, and the way World War II ended, we went -- I remind you, the war ended in '45 and there were a lot of editorial commentary that the post-war effort in Europe was floundering, and that we were not building the institutions of a democratic society that would lead to a prosperous Europe and a peaceful Europe.  &lt;p /&gt; And the Marshall Plan was announced in '48, really got underway in '49. It was an effort to focus security having been brought on the need for reconstruction development.  One of the things the President said at his Naval Academy speech and the U.S. Institute of Peace speech is, this is different.  We now -- the challenge of the 21st century is going to be states that are under siege, under siege because they are either emerging from conflict or because they are under pressure from international networks of terrorists, drug traffickers, organized crime -- that puts great pressure, and you can see this in Latin America. Look at Central America -- the pressure they are under from drug traffickers and terrorists who have resources, weapons and money that actually outstrips the resources of those individual countries to deal with that problem.  &lt;p /&gt; That's why we've talked about the Merida Initiative, which is so important for Congress to fund, which is a regional approach for Central America, with Mexico and the United States, to deal with these challenges.  The problem is there are transnational challenges that are pressing on states that are under siege that do not have the kind of strong democratic institutions that they need to deal with it.	That's what you see in Afghanistan, Iraq, Colombia, Central America.  &lt;p /&gt; And the challenge for the 21st century is finding ways to bring security to these countries and build these institutions, because we all know that while the first step is to bring security to -- security over the long term, it will only occur when there are democratic institutions and prosperity and reconstruction that gives the people in the country an alternative to the terrorists.  &lt;p /&gt; So it is a -- it is similar in this respect:  It's a huge challenge; it's going to require a major commitment of resources;  it's going to require us to work closely together with the Europeans; and it's going to require us to rely once again on the power of freedom and liberty -- those ideals we talked about.  But it is different in the sense that in some sense it's harder because we're going to have to help strengthen these governments while they are under siege and under fire, if you will.  And that's a big challenge.  " title=" Q	But the Marshall Plan -- the war was over.  I mean, you're still -- there are still wars raging. " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324092" rowid="136534695" side="usa" srcid="324092" text=" Q	Can I just be clear about something.  When you said that Israel has been clear that they don't want to retake Gaza, was that in public pronouncements, or did they assure the United States privately that they weren't looking to retake Gaza?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  I've heard it both places; both publicly in the press, as well as that's the message that they're passing along.  &lt;p /&gt; Deb.  " title=" Q	Can I just be clear about something.  When you said that Israel has been clear that they don't wa" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324202" rowid="136534743" side="usa" srcid="324202" text=" Q	Can we go back to India and Pakistan?  I'd like a little bit more information on the President's conversation.  The reports out of Islamabad is that a Pakistani militant has confessed to his involvement in the Mumbai attack last month.  Did the President talk about whether or not this individual should be extradited, go to trial, to India, and get --  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  I'm not going to get into details.  I don't recall that specific issue coming up, that specific element coming up.  The calls he had with Prime Minister Singh, and separately with President Zardari, were encouraging the sides to cooperate not only on the Mumbai investigation, but also on counterterrorism in general.  And I'll leave it at that.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay, all right.  Well, Happy New Year's Eve.  " title=" Q	Can we go back to India and Pakistan?  I'd like a little bit more information on the President's " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299758" rowid="136531589" side="usa" srcid="299758" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q	Can you clarify -- tomorrow is pool only, everything?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324094" rowid="136534697" side="usa" srcid="324094" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I don't have a whole lot of specifics on that.  I know the President-elect receives daily intelligence briefings from the intelligence briefers that are there with him.	I know that he's spoken with Secretary Rice to get an update on this situation, and I think some other situations around the world.  And we will continue to stay in touch with his staff as events warrant it.  &lt;p /&gt; Toby.  " title=" Q	Can you just tell us a little bit about how you're keeping the President-elect abreast of the sit" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270094" rowid="136530375" side="usa" srcid="270094" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Well, the President has given a number of speeches. I think there's no -- I think you'll find it's the kind of speech that could be given a number of places, but it's obviously particularly fitting to give it in Paris because, as you know from the history, France is our first and oldest ally and very helpful at the time of our own independence.  And therefore it seemed a fitting place for the President to give this speech -- which, in addition to all the things I talked about, will also look back a little bit, using the opportunity of the 60th anniversary of the Marshall Plan to show and remind everyone in the United States and Europe how far the United States and Europe have come working together to build a Europe that is whole, free and at peace, and is economically prosperous, really rising out of the ashes of the Second World War.  &lt;p /&gt; Jennifer.  " title=" Q	Can you talk about the symbolism or the significance of having the speech in Paris, as opposed to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324206" rowid="136534747" side="usa" srcid="324206" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Changing topics?  " title=" Q	Changing topics?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299753" rowid="136531584" side="usa" srcid="299753" text=" MS. PERINO:  There's like 300 attendees.  " title=" Q	Dana, what's your understanding about the lunch tomorrow?  Did I hear you right that it's a lunch" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324210" rowid="136534751" side="usa" srcid="324210" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I'm not going to get into the specifics.  They both committed to wanting to see an end to the violence right away, and they both realize an end to the violence will come when Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q	Did he ask for a 48-hour cease-fire?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324216" rowid="136534757" side="usa" srcid="324216" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Asking about timing of air strikes, or the cessation of air strikes.  They talked about the ongoing operation, and again, Prime Minister Olmert's assurance that they're seeking only -- or targeting only Hamas operatives, those affiliated with Hamas.  But there's not a timetable that I can get into, nor did they really get into specific timetables, because what's more important is the goal.  &lt;p /&gt; As I said, we all want to see an end to the violence as soon as possible.  President Bush wants to see an end to the violence.	I know Prime Minister Olmert wants to see an end to the violence.  But I think probably from the Prime Minister's perspective, an end to the violence first means that Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel.  And then Israel won't need to go after the rocket launchers.  &lt;p /&gt; And so I think we want to see a cease-fire that's durable and lasting.  And the most important thing is that Hamas respect it.  They had a cease-fire up until about December 19th.	Hamas sort of respected it.  They fired rockets from time to time.  There was about four months of calm.  But then they failed to renew the cease-fire, and substantially increased the rockets to a level that forced Israelis in southern Israel to live in -- spend a lot of time in bomb shelters, to a level that was unacceptable to them.  So the onus is on Hamas.  &lt;p /&gt; They also discussed the humanitarian shipments going into Gaza. Israel has permitted dozens of truckloads.  And so we're seeing a good flow of humanitarian goods, medical supplies, food into Gaza from various ports of entry.  President Bush is certainly concerned about the innocent people of Gaza, and wants to make sure that they have the supplies they need.  &lt;p /&gt; Anne.  " title=" Q	Did President Bush and Olmert discuss any kind of timing for when the air strikes will stop?  Did" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324221" rowid="136534762" side="usa" srcid="324221" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  They discussed what steps could lead to a cessation of violence.  I don't want to get into too many details, but no matter what the details are, it all begins with Hamas agreeing to stop firing rockets and to stop targeting Israel.  &lt;p /&gt; Laurent.  " title=" Q	Did the leaders discuss the idea of a 48-hour truce in Gaza?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324220" rowid="136534761" side="usa" srcid="324220" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  As I said, I'm not going to get into too many details of their conversation, but I don't look at a -- a ground offensive is a very -- it's a large -- it's a term that encompasses a lot of things.	It probably means different things to different people. And I think it is just part and parcel of the overall operation that Israel is undertaking to rid Hamas of its ability to fire rockets into Israel.  &lt;p /&gt; Deb.  " title=" Q	Did they also discuss the possibility of a ground offensive by Israel in Gaza?  And how much is t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324096" rowid="136534699" side="usa" srcid="324096" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  You know, there is an Egyptian brokered ceasefire that was in effect until December 19th.  It was a bit of a shaky ceasefire, considering Hamas continued to fire rockets during that period of time.  &lt;p /&gt; But last week, they refused to renew the ceasefire, and substantially increased the rocket and mortar attacks into Israel.  So I don't expect them to speak right now.  But I think that the rockets need to stop, and then the violence will stop, and then there will be an opportunity to renew the ceasefire.  " title=" Q	Do you expect Israel to negotiate with Hamas?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324207" rowid="136534748" side="usa" srcid="324207" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  We'll have to see.  Hamas hopefully realizes that they are in a situation that is not helpful to their own people.  I mean, their own people are dependent on supplies from the United States and other countries.  And so hopefully the Hamas leaders will realize that that is not a -- that sort of situation doesn't lead to a viable, independent state.  So we'll see.  &lt;p /&gt; Anne.  " title=" Q	Do you feel like you're any closer to a durable cease-fire than you were when the fighting began " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299748" rowid="136531579" side="usa" srcid="299748" text=" MS. PERINO:  That's the --  " title=" Q	Do you know if the Zhongnanhai event is going to be pool, as well?  Are we going to be able to se" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324087" rowid="136534690" side="usa" srcid="324087" text=" Q	Does he not think it would be helpful at this point in time for him to actually come and make this statement?	Because obviously what you've said this morning just varies slightly from what we heard a few days ago when this started.  Does he think it would just not be helpful at this juncture for him to --  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  At this point, we don't have any plans for the President to make a statement on this.	We will continue to monitor the situation.  I mean, he's staying in touch with the National Security Advisor, as well as the Secretary of State, and we'll see.  &lt;p /&gt; Toby.  " title=" Q	Does he not think it would be helpful at this point in time for him to actually come and make thi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324222" rowid="136534763" side="usa" srcid="324222" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I think President Bush thinks that Hamas needs to stop firing rockets and that is what will be the first steps in a cease-fire, and that Hamas needs to agree not only to stop firing rockets now, but to not fire any rockets in the future, stop smuggling weapons in so they don't even have the ability to fire rockets, which also shows a good intent that they don't intend to continue to target Israel.  So I think they're certainly on the same page on that.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q	Does the President agree with Israel that the time is not right for a cease-fire right now?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324200" rowid="136534741" side="usa" srcid="324200" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  President Bush's message to the people of Cuba is that we stand with you.  We want to see them live in freedom.  And the United States will continue to stand with the people of Cuba.  The Castro brothers have not treated their people particularly well.  Many political dissidents are in jail.  The economy is suffering and not free.  And the United States will continue to try to seek the freedom of the people of Cuba, and support them.  " title=" Q	Does the President have a message for the people of Cuba, given that it's the 50th anniversary of" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299756" rowid="136531587" side="usa" srcid="299756" text=" MS. PERINO:  It says pool here, but I will double-check.  &lt;p /&gt; Do you know, Carlton?   MR. CARROLL:  I'm sorry, I couldn't hear --   MS. PERINO:  Tomorrow morning's embassy greeting, is it open press or pool?   MR. CARROLL:  It's open press.   MS. PERINO:  It's open press.  " title=" Q	Even the embassy reception is closed?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270095" rowid="136530376" side="usa" srcid="270095" text=" Q	Follow up.  Assuming they reject it ,s they signaled they would, when do you expect to see the next diplomatic steps?  I mean, will there be an additional meeting of the P5-plus-1?  Will there be a Security Council resolution?  I mean, what and how soon do you expect to see --  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  Well, we'll see.  I mean, look, what we ought to do is we ought to -- you know, one of the things we want to make clear is that this is a genuine offer and we hope the Iranians accept it.  So the more we're very visible about, well, we're going to get ready for this meeting and talk about moving forward on sanctions, I think our concern is that it would suggest to some -- Iranian people, for example -- that this was not a genuine offer and was not a genuine effort to resolve this issue in a positive way for both the Iranian people and for the international community.  &lt;p /&gt; It is a serious effort, and that's one of the reasons we have refreshed the offer.  That's one of the reasons we want Solana to go, notwithstanding the comments that we've heard from President Ahmadinejad.  Let him speak directly to the leaders of Iraq.  He will have an opportunity to speak to the Majlis.  Hopefully he will have opportunities to speak to the Iranian people.  And let's see what impact that has.  Let's let him go.  Let's let him come back.	We'll have an opportunity to see what he learns on that trip and to see what the response of the Iranian government is.  &lt;p /&gt; But at this point we want to make it clear to the Iranian people this is a genuine offer and a genuine way out for them that will provide a better life for the Iranian people if their regime will only let them take it.  " title=" Q	Follow up.  Assuming they reject it ,s they signaled they would, when do you expect to see the ne" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324219" rowid="136534760" side="usa" srcid="324219" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  You asked -- the question is, is the U.S. still asking Israel to accept a cease-fire?  I don't recall any specific announcements or requests that we've made on that front, except to say that we want to see a cease-fire that is durable, that is lasting, and that, in particular, is respected by Hamas.  And that's --  " title=" Q	Gordon, can you repeat the questions, because we can't hear the questions, okay? So this might ha" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324197" rowid="136534738" side="usa" srcid="324197" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No, I don't have any specifics yet, but as we get closer, we will let you know.  &lt;p /&gt; Nelson.  " title=" Q	Gordon, do you know, when they return to Texas in 20 days, whether they go to their new home in D" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324097" rowid="136534700" side="usa" srcid="324097" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  The United States understands that Israel needs to take actions to defend itself.  " title=" Q	Gordon, I don't think you answered John's question earlier.  Is it accurate to say that the U.S. " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324071" rowid="136534674" side="usa" srcid="324071" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No, no, you heard the rest of that sentence, which was -- and, Mark, you heard what I said -- that Hamas has indicated they would actually like to see Israel destroyed.  They say that from time to time.  &lt;p /&gt; Anyway, my point is --  " title=" Q	Gordon, I'm sorry -- you said, &quot;I don't think anyone wants to see anyone destroyed,&quot; but if Hamas" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324073" rowid="136534676" side="usa" srcid="324073" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I think that's a question I'm not going to go down -- a road I'm not going to go down.  I don't think anyone wants to see anyone destroyed, although Hamas has indicated sometimes they'd like to see Israel destroyed.  But I think what people want is just peace on the ground and end to the violence, so that people can go about and live normal lives.  And this is especially true of the people of southern Israel who end up having to spend so much of their time in bomb shelters.  It's unacceptable.  &lt;p /&gt; Thank you all.	 One more.  " title=" Q	Gordon, in the U.S. view, would the Israelis be justified in seeking to destroy Hamas, so long as" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324209" rowid="136534750" side="usa" srcid="324209" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  The Quartet statement says an immediate cease-fire that is fully respected.  I think those statements are very consistent. I've been talking about the need for Hamas to fully respect a cease-fire since Monday, or otherwise it won't be worth anything, no matter whether it's immediate or not.	So we all want to see an end to the violence. It has to be a respected cease-fire.  I think that we're all on the same page.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q	Gordon, is there a disconnect between the Quartet call for an immediate cease-fire and what you h" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324208" rowid="136534749" side="usa" srcid="324208" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  You know, there's nothing wrong with a cessation of violence.  But at the end of the day, we still need to see a cease-fire that will be an agreement that is lasting and durable.	So a pause in fighting, you know, I don't have any issue or concern with that.  But there can't be a pause in fighting that, you know, is that -- is a pause, and all of a sudden Hamas arms up again, fires another 150 rockets into southern Israel.  So we'll just have to see.  We'll have to see.  &lt;p /&gt; Nelson.  " title=" Q	Gordon, what's wrong, though, with a cease-fire, even if it's not one with complete terms, it wou" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324102" rowid="136534705" side="usa" srcid="324102" text=" Q	Gordon, you said that Israel has made it clear that they don't want to retake Gaza.  But Deputy Prime Minister Ramon came out today and said that the goal of the operation is to topple Hamas.  Is that consistent with not retaking Gaza?  Is it consistent with U.S. objectives?  And how would you expect Hamas to accept a sustainable and durable ceasefire if the goal of the operation is to knock them out?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  Well, I haven't seen his comments.  I'm referring to the Israeli Foreign Minister comments from yesterday that she made on a variety of television programs, that their goal is to deal with Hamas in a way that will ultimately protect the Israeli people.  &lt;p /&gt; Hamas has an opportunity to be a partner in the peace process. There has been a role laid out for them for quite some time.  They can recognize Israel's right to exist, renounce violence, and live up to previous commitments made by the Palestinians.	Hamas, instead, is choosing to fire rockets into Israel.  So, as I've said before, as many people have said, Hamas has a choice to make.  Right now they are choosing to be a terrorist organization that fires rockets into Israel. That is not going to lead to a sustainable ceasefire.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q	Gordon, you said that Israel has made it clear that they don't want to retake Gaza.  But Deputy P" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324212" rowid="136534753" side="usa" srcid="324212" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I don't know what Hamas needs to study.	I mean, I'm not sure -- I don't get what Hamas needs to study.	Hamas needs to stop firing rockets into Israel.  It's very clear.  &lt;p /&gt; Patty.  " title=" Q	Hamas today said that they were prepared to study proposals for a cease-fire.  Basically, the Uni" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324217" rowid="136534758" side="usa" srcid="324217" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  President Bush is disappointed that Hamas continues to fire rockets onto the innocent people of Israel.  &lt;p /&gt; Toby.  " title=" Q	Has President Bush expressed any reservations that they haven't accepted this thus far?  I mean, " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324215" rowid="136534756" side="usa" srcid="324215" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Have I seen any ramped up activity from Iran towards Israel.  I've seen no change in their position in their desire to wipe Israel off the face of the earth, which they have stated a couple of times before.  So I haven't seen anything new on that front.  &lt;p /&gt; I think Hamas is pretty well-supplied by Iran, and to a certain extent, Syria.	I mean, these two countries, Iran and Syria, supply Hamas and Hezbollah.  I mean, they're basically their proxies in the region and in other parts of the world.  And so I don't think Iran or Syria -- neither Iran nor Syria have been playing a helpful role, they are not playing a constructive role in this current crisis, which is pretty typical for their actions with regards to Hamas and Hezbollah. They continue to supply them.  " title=" Q	Have you seen any ramped up activities from Iran towards Israel? President Ahmadinejad today said" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324213" rowid="136534754" side="usa" srcid="324213" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I'm not going to get into any specifics on supplies from Iran and Syria that we've seen over the last few days, but there is no doubt that Iran and Syria are the ones who have assisted Hamas with their weapons acquisition, and that's a problem.  " title=" Q	Have you seen supplies increasing to Hamas during the current crisis?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299744" rowid="136531575" side="usa" srcid="299744" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know what time the baseball game is, but, yes, we do leave Monday for a long trip home.  " title=" Q	He'll be flying out right after the baseball game on Monday?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299741" rowid="136531572" side="usa" srcid="299741" text=" MS. PERINO:  On Sunday?  " title=" Q	He's not making any public appearances with the Chinese leaders, Hu -- I mean, on Sunday?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270088" rowid="136530369" side="usa" srcid="270088" text=" Q	I beg your pardon if I go back to the 5-plus-1 issue, because according to some Italian officials, America favors the extension of the 5-plus-1 group to Italy.  Now, my question is, does the President support the Italian wish to be part of the 5-plus-1?  And did he raise the subject with Chancellor Merkel, and does he plan to do it with President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Brown?  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  It came up in the discussions with Chancellor Merkel. It will probably come up in the other discussions.  I think it will probably come up tomorrow.  And as I said, the President is listening to the arguments.	There are some questions of the sort that I described before, and the President is in a listening mode.  &lt;p /&gt; But I think the bottom line is Italy is very much a partner in this effort with dealing with Iran, and Italy has -- very much has responsibilities in dealing with it.  As you know, Italy has a very robust set of commercial relations with Iran.  This is always a problem for countries when their commercial ties sometimes seem to be at variance with their national security requirements.  &lt;p /&gt; And the message that the President is taking to all countries in Europe is, this is a real threat to the security of the Middle East and potentially to the security of Europe -- the prospect of Iran with nuclear weapons.  And we all need to make the tough decisions to, in some sense, look past our commercial ties and put the kind of pressure on Iran that is going to be required if they're going to make it -- are willing to make a strategic decision to stop their enrichment programs, suspend their enrichment, come to the table, and negotiate.  &lt;p /&gt; It is going to require us to make some tough decisions that are contrary to commercial interests.  This is an issue that the President is going to be talking about at every stop.  This is something that all of us are going to have to do together if it's going to succeed, and Italy is going to have a very important role in that.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, sir.  " title=" Q	I beg your pardon if I go back to the 5-plus-1 issue, because according to some Italian officials" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324070" rowid="136534673" side="usa" srcid="324070" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  The point is I'm not going to -- it's impossible for me to answer the question about Israeli intentions, which was what I was asked.  But I said that I believe everyone's ultimate goal is not for the destruction of each other -- although the terrorists have indicated sometimes that they would like to see the destruction of Israel -- their ultimate goal is for the people to be able to live in peace.	And what I also said is right now the people of southern Israel are not able to live in peace; they have to live in bomb shelters a lot of the time.  And that's unacceptable.  " title=" Q	I heard that, too, but that doesn't really go to the core of the answer.  I mean, you're right, t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299739" rowid="136531570" side="usa" srcid="299739" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's Saturday.  Sunday is also this social lunch, though, as well -- well, hold on.	I'm sorry, okay, it's noon -- I'm sorry, I'm getting my days mixed up -- Sunday.  It will probably be pool at the end, but it says to be determined, to be announced.	So let us continue to work with them to make sure that we can get it solidified.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay, thanks.  " title=" Q	I thought that Sunday was the bilateral.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324080" rowid="136534683" side="usa" srcid="324080" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  You know, it's difficult for me to say right now about President Abbas.	I think what strengthens President Abbas's position is when he delivers for the Palestinian people.  And that is what he is trying to do, and succeeding in some parts of the West Bank -- greater Palestinian security forces, greater investment we've seen in security forces in Janin, greater investment in Nabulus and other cities like that on the West Bank.  &lt;p /&gt; You know, the people of Gaza could have that, as well, but instead Hamas has chosen to take a different course of action, and that's to fire rockets into Israel.  &lt;p /&gt; Elaine.  " title=" Q	I want to go back to Abbas.  Do you think that this situation weakens or strengthens his position" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270091" rowid="136530372" side="usa" srcid="270091" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Yes.  " title=" Q	I'm having a little trouble understanding the analogy that you just talked about, the -- it's a c" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270093" rowid="136530374" side="usa" srcid="270093" text=" Q	I'm just trying to get my head around this sort of looking back and making an assessment now.  If you're looking back to the Marshall Plan and the Berlin Airlift, the suggestion is that the United States now is again trying to pull Europe into a new era or a new place or approach or a new viewpoint.  Is that the suggestion that's -- the implication that's meant?  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  The President four years ago talked about the need for a new era in transatlantic relations.  Why did he do that?	Because after 9/11 it became clear that he had a lot of different challenges in terms of the war on terror, in terms of what we needed to do in Afghanistan in connection with that war on terror to make sure Afghanistan never again became a safe haven for the terrorists.  &lt;p /&gt; We saw the challenge faced in the Middle East, for example, more generally about how the lack of freedom and democracy and hope in the Middle East gave rise to a condition that resulted in terrorists striking the American homeland and also striking in Europe.  And that, of course, made it important not only for the propagation of our general commitment to freedom and democracy, but also for our own security to engage those issues in the Middle East -- both through the United States and Europe.  And that is why we're so concerned and working together on Iraq, why we're concerned about Iran, why we're trying to support Lebanon, why we're encouraged -- why it is so important to try and find a Middle East peace.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think what the President four years ago, looking out and said, there's a whole new set of challenges that threaten both the United States and Europe that can only be confronted effectively if we do it together; and that is going to require Europe to focus not just within Europe, but to focus outside of itself, in terms of its policies and actually in terms of its deployments of its forces.  &lt;p /&gt; So what the President I think is doing is a little bit of a stock-taking four years later.	How have we done in forging this new era of transatlantic relations in working together to address these new challenges?  And I think as you can see from the press briefings that these leaders have had, we're doing pretty well.  Huge challenges remain, but we are working together.  We have a common, I think, approach on most of these issues.  So it's kind of a progress report four years after.  &lt;p /&gt; And I think the other thing that he wants to do in this speech is to remind everybody that the freedom agenda is a challenging agenda; helping countries recover from conflict and from challenge, particularly states that are trying to build their democratic institutions while under pressure from the terrorists is a challenging job; just like the reconstruction of Europe after World War II was a challenging job.  And it takes a long time.  &lt;p /&gt; But we can be confident in success.  We did it before, together, after World War II in Europe.  The President believes we can do it again in the Middle East as a way of dealing with that challenge, because if we are true to our principles, if we hold fast the principles of liberty and democracy and freedom that are the ideologies that will win over the terrorists, and if you make a commitment to the kind of sustained engagement that we need to do -- and it's going to be a challenge.  It's going to require resources and commitment, and his speech tomorrow will be a call for both.  " title=" Q	I'm just trying to get my head around this sort of looking back and making an assessment now.  If" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299745" rowid="136531576" side="usa" srcid="299745" text=" MS. PERINO:  We'll see.  One, I don't even know if it's going to happen, but if it does we'll see on coverage.  Usually the biking is not open to the press.  I know there's going to be interest, and we'll check.  " title=" Q	If he does do that -- like any kind of cameras, still photo, something?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324223" rowid="136534764" side="usa" srcid="324223" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Prime Minister Olmert assured President Bush that Israel is taking appropriate steps to avoid civilian casualties.  That was something the President asked for an update on, and got a -- President Bush got an assurance from Prime Minister Olmert that Israel is, as they have said they are doing, only targeting Hamas and that terrorist organization, and people involved with Hamas, and that they are working to minimize any civilian casualties.  &lt;p /&gt; I think the purpose of the call in general was to get an update from Prime Minister Olmert on where he sees the current situation right now as it relates to Gaza, and to think about what the future steps are.  " title=" Q	In the call to Olmert, what was the substance of -- was the President asking him to do anything? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270078" rowid="136530359" side="usa" srcid="270078" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Well, at this point, you know, we're still trying to figure out what it is and what can be accomplished.  You know, if you know the President, the first question is, what's the meeting going to do, what's our strategy to get a good outcome, and we'll make kind of form follow function at that point, who's the best -- what's the best delegation to send to represent the United States.  And that's where we are at this point.  " title=" Q	In your last answer you just gave, you did not say explicitly whether he was open to going himsel" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299746" rowid="136531577" side="usa" srcid="299746" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know yet, but -- he'd like to, but I don't know if it's going to work into the schedule.  So we'll let you know if it changes.  " title=" Q	Is he going to be biking on the course?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324100" rowid="136534703" side="usa" srcid="324100" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I'm not going to speculate on a ground operation. Let's just take this one day at a time, all right.  &lt;p /&gt; Elaine.  " title=" Q	Is it fair to say that the U.S. would prefer not to see a ground operation, but defends Israel's " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324093" rowid="136534696" side="usa" srcid="324093" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No.  And to clarify in case I wasn't clear, he spoke to Abdullah of Jordan this morning.  He spoke to Abdallah of Saudi Arabia on Saturday.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  " title=" Q	Is Saudi King Abdallah the only foreign leader that President Bush has spoken with about this?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324204" rowid="136534745" side="usa" srcid="324204" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I'm not aware of any travel by the Secretary at this point, but we'll keep you updated if that changes.  I would say -- I think you've heard from the State Department -- Secretary Rice has been working the phones almost non-stop since Saturday.  She's spoken to many, many leaders in the region and Europe and around the world on this issue, which is -- and the goal of her phone calls, the goal of the President's phone calls, the diplomacy the administration has engaged in, is to work with other countries to pressure Hamas, make them understand that a lasting, durable and respected cease-fire is the best thing for their own -- for the people of Gaza.  &lt;p /&gt; Laurent.  " title=" Q	Is the President contemplating sending Rice either to the region or to, say, Europe to consult wi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324195" rowid="136534736" side="usa" srcid="324195" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  We'll check with him in the morning, but I would -- I'm not sure.  I'm not sure about that.  I think he's more likely to be an early riser for the first of the New Year rather than to see the old year -- to see the old year out.  " title=" Q	Is the President going to stay up until midnight tonight?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270085" rowid="136530366" side="usa" srcid="270085" text=" MR. HADLEY:  -- we generally don't get into the details of the conversation.  I think it's right to say that the President's mind is open.  And I think, you know, the first issue is, do we have an understanding with all the key countries that this is the path we're on, this two-track strategy?  And if Iran rejects -- the Iran regime, rejects this offer that Solana will take, then we have to be willing to make some hard decisions, even though they go against the commercial interest.  &lt;p /&gt; That's the issue.  That's the strategy question.  We can deal with the process issues.  But I think the President is going to be focusing first and foremost on, do we have a common commitment to the strategy to make the hard decisions, and then he will be listening on these process issues.  That's really all I've got to say on that issue.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, sir.  " title=" Q	Is there a --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324095" rowid="136534698" side="usa" srcid="324095" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Well, he's the President of all the Palestinian people.  And I know that he wants to bring Gaza and the West Bank together.  We've all said this is a two-state solution, not a three-state solution.  So we'll just see where it goes.  &lt;p /&gt; Deb.  " title=" Q	Is there a role for President Abbas in all of this?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324091" rowid="136534694" side="usa" srcid="324091" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No, I believe -- if you were saying the timing of the attacks, do you think Hamas started its substantial increase of rockets and mortar attacks, do you think Hamas started its substantial increase of rockets and mortar attacks because of the Israeli elections?  " title=" Q	Is there any indication that the timing of the attacks are linked in some way to the Israeli elec" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324082" rowid="136534685" side="usa" srcid="324082" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Toby, I understand your question -- at this point, we understand that they're taking efforts to defend their people in the face of just hundreds of rockets.  &lt;p /&gt; Nelson.  " title=" Q	Is there going to be a point when the United States will come out and urge restraint on this Isra" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324199" rowid="136534740" side="usa" srcid="324199" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Is this my last briefing from here?  It is probably my last briefing from here forever.  " title=" Q	Is this the last briefing from here?  Are you briefing tomorrow?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324101" rowid="136534704" side="usa" srcid="324101" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  The discussions that we've had with the Israelis are ones that everyone needs to recognize that the ultimate goal here is to get to a ceasefire.	I can't speak to any potential ground operation. I think that any ground operation, according to the Israelis, would be part and parcel of the overall operation, given their statements saying that they don't want to retake Gaza, that they simply want to protect their people.  &lt;p /&gt; So we'll just have to see how this unfolds.  Obviously, as I've said, we don't want them -- we want civilian casualties to be avoided. But it's is unfortunate as Hamas, as we've seen in the past, tends to base its people and some of its rockets in civilian areas.  So we'll see.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q	Israel is amassing tanks and troops along that border. Is the President urging them not to launch" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324218" rowid="136534759" side="usa" srcid="324218" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Look, we all want to see an end to the violence. We absolutely all want to see an end to the violence as soon as possible.  But we also don't want to see it start up again in two days, three days, two weeks, three weeks, two months, three months.  There needs to be a sustainable and durable cease-fire that Hamas respects. That's what we want to see.  " title=" Q	It joined with the U.N. yesterday -- it joined with the U.N. yesterday, and the EU, and all the o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270092" rowid="136530373" side="usa" srcid="270092" text=" MR. HADLEY:  I don't think that -- it's quite the contrary.  If you listen to what he's saying, he's saying the United States and Europe together succeeded.  And we have a Europe whole, free and at peace. That's the message.  It is not that they need to be rescued again, it is that Europe has succeeded in a Europe whole and free and at peace, a Europe that increasingly is confident and is increasingly taking a leadership role in the world.  And what he's saying is, we celebrate that, we want a strong Europe, we want a strong EU -- not only because it's good for Europe, but because we need a strong partner to deal with the common challenges that this time are outside Europe that threaten both the United States and Europe.  That's his message.  &lt;p /&gt; Sir.  " title=" Q	It just sounds like he's making a historical reference -- it just leaves the impression that he t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299742" rowid="136531573" side="usa" srcid="299742" text=" MS. PERINO:  -- I don't know.  I'm not for sure.  So obviously sometime in the afternoon.  " title=" Q	It's in the mid-afternoon.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324077" rowid="136534680" side="usa" srcid="324077" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  That's why we talk with other leaders in the region who do speak with Hamas and have been the interlocutors, so to speak, with Hamas.  The ceasefire was Egyptian-brokered, the one that was just -- that Hamas failed to renew last week.  And so that's how we deal with Hamas.  " title=" Q	It's my understanding that no one from the U.S. is speaking with anyone from Hamas.  Well, how ca" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324211" rowid="136534752" side="usa" srcid="324211" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  They discussed their mutual desire to see an end to violence, but they also discussed that there is a need for a lasting and durable cease-fire that Hamas respects.  I think most countries understand the need -- that a cease-fire that Hamas doesn't agree to isn't a -- they may agree to it, but a cease-fire that they don't respect is not worth the paper that it's written on, because then we'll see violence flare up again in a couple days, a couple weeks, a couple of months.  &lt;p /&gt; So President Bush wants an end to the violence, but he also wants a durable and lasting peace.  " title=" Q	It's my understanding that the U.S. signed on to this Quartet statement calling for an immediate " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299749" rowid="136531580" side="usa" srcid="299749" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I would assume that AP has -- I know that you're -- if the President is going, but I'm assuming AP has position and other outlets have position there to cover the Opening Ceremonies.  But for our personal press pool, I just -- I wish we could do more.	I don't know how much we're going to be able to do, unfortunately.  &lt;p /&gt; Everyone tuckered out?  " title=" Q	It's still being worked?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324074" rowid="136534677" side="usa" srcid="324074" text=" Q	Just coming back to something I asked before, but maybe not cleverly enough.  Was there no -- Olmert did not reach out to the President prior to the attack?	There was no warning?  You've relied entirely on the public actions of the Israeli cabinet?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  I'm not going to speak to all the private conversations we've had.  I'm not aware of any conversations that President Bush and Prime Minister Olmert have had in the last couple of weeks.	We have pretty regular contact with the Israeli government, so I don't have any specifics for you on that.  &lt;p /&gt; My point in my answer was that this was a very public action that they took earlier in the week in signaling that the rocket attacks were not acceptable.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q	Just coming back to something I asked before, but maybe not cleverly enough.  Was there no -- Olm" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270084" rowid="136530365" side="usa" srcid="270084" text=" MR. HADLEY:  That's really all I've got to say on that issue.  " title=" Q	Just to follow on Iran -- I'm sorry, on Iran --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324194" rowid="136534735" side="usa" srcid="324194" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No, amidst all the phone calls and intelligence briefings and New Year's Eve plans, I forgot to see what's on his reading list.  But I'll check tomorrow.  " title=" Q	Last question.	You said you'd check today on what book the President was reading.	Did you --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270098" rowid="136530379" side="usa" srcid="270098" text=" MR. HADLEY:  That issue didn't come up.  Neither of those issues came up specifically with President Napolitano.  They have been, of course, the subject of discussions between the two countries.  They may come up tomorrow.  On both of them, the -- there is a group of countries that have been for the last three years leading the discussions with Iran, representatives from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, China and Russia.  That group certainly has been in the lead, but it has in some sense been imbedded in a larger group of countries.  As you know, one of the issues in terms of dealing with Iran is to increase pressure and increase sanctions.  And that of course requires potentially action by the European Union, of which Italy is a part.  &lt;p /&gt; So Italy has been very much a part of the consultation process. There has been an issue of whether the core group of six should be expanded.  It's an idea that has been raised.  I think there will be more discussions about it.  The President will want to obviously talk to various leaders about it.  It came up in Germany, and I think it will come up again over the course of the trip.  I think no decision has been made, and the President is aware that this has been an issue.  And I'm sure it will be something that will be talked about.  &lt;p /&gt; I think the other thing, though, that will be emphasized is that all of us need now to focus even more intensely on the issue about Iran. They have clearly made progress in their enrichment program.  As you know, the problem with their uranium enrichment program is that it is a route to giving Iran the indigenous capability to make the material for a nuclear weapon.  It is a potential route for Iran to a nuclear weapon. I don't think anybody really thinks that's a good idea for stability in the Middle East, and it runs the risk of provoking something we have tried to avoid, working with Europe for decades, which is a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.  &lt;p /&gt; So there is room for all countries now to put a greater focus on Iran.  I think you can see in the conversations that there's a greater appreciation of the risk, and all countries are going to need to do more.  &lt;p /&gt; There is a dual-track strategy, as you know.  Mr. Solana, on behalf of the so-called EU3-plus-3, will be meeting with Iranian counterparts, putting on the table an enhanced offer to the Iranian regime, that if they will suspend their enrichment activities, there is the prospect for a series of diplomatic, economic, and other benefits that would benefit the Iranian people, including assurances of a peaceful civil nuclear program.  &lt;p /&gt; So that is one track, and we would hope that the regime would respond positively and let the Iranian people have the benefits of that package.  But if they do not, I think there is an increasing recognition that there then needs to be an increase in sanctions and economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran.  And if that offer is rejected, that's where, I think, the discussions will go -- and there's certainly an important role for Italy to play in that process.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, sir.  " title=" Q	Mr. Hadley, two questions.  One, what's the upshot of the discussion about including Italy in the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270089" rowid="136530370" side="usa" srcid="270089" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Sir.  " title=" Q	Mr. Hadley.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299757" rowid="136531588" side="usa" srcid="299757" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  " title=" Q	No open events?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270083" rowid="136530364" side="usa" srcid="270083" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Sir.  " title=" Q	No, on Iran, not on Italy --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324205" rowid="136534746" side="usa" srcid="324205" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No.  &lt;p /&gt; Deb.  " title=" Q	No.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324068" rowid="136534671" side="usa" srcid="324068" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No.  &lt;p /&gt; Holly.  " title=" Q	No?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324201" rowid="136534742" side="usa" srcid="324201" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  How can I help you?  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q	Oh, I didn't know you were ending this.  Does the President --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299751" rowid="136531582" side="usa" srcid="299751" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q	Okay, so other foreign leaders will be expected?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324075" rowid="136534678" side="usa" srcid="324075" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  All I have is some of the general numbers the U.S. provided the U.N. Relief and Works Agency:  $57 million in 2008 for the Palestinian people; another $12 million to $14 million through the International Committee of the Red Cross.  I don't have any specifics about how that money has been used for the people of Gaza as it relates to the current situation.  I know that Egypt and Jordan, as well as Israel, are working to make sure that humanitarian medical and food supplies get to the people of Gaza.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  " title=" Q	One more -- you said that the U.S. is behind humanitarian aid.  Can you give us any specifics of " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270081" rowid="136530362" side="usa" srcid="270081" text=" MR. HADLEY:  There have been conversations.  Our Ambassador, Ambassador Patterson, has met with Pakistan's foreign secretary to discuss the incident.  You know, one of the problems is that it is still not exactly clear what happened.  What we believe is that there was an operation on the Afghan side of the border by anti-coalition forces that threatened our people; that those forces went back into Pakistan, and that we tracked and struck those forces.  That's what we believe happened.  There have been reports in the press and there have been clearly claims by Pakistani authorities that in that process, Pakistani military forces -- individuals in service were killed.  &lt;p /&gt; Quite frankly, at this point we have not been able to corroborate that.  Should it be true, obviously we would be very saddened by that loss.  Pakistan has been an important ally and will continue, we hope, to be an important ally in the war on terror, and we want to help this new democratic government in Pakistan.	But at this point, we're still trying to get to the bottom of what happened.  And the reports, quite frankly, even from sources within the U.S. government, are conflicting at this point.	I've got nothing new for you.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes.  Yes, ma'am.  " title=" Q	Pakistan, as you know, is very unhappy with the raid which resulted in casualties.  Have you had " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324079" rowid="136534682" side="usa" srcid="324079" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No, I haven't seen those comments, and, no, I'm not.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes.  " title=" Q	Senator Sherrod Brown said yesterday that President Bush is in a politically weakened state, and " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270086" rowid="136530367" side="usa" srcid="270086" text=" Q	So it is exactly for that that Italy wants to play an active role within the 3-plus-3.  And it seems from what you've just said before that the President has not made a decision.  Can you tell us what Merkel said, if they discussed about that?  Was she open about the idea?  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  You know, we generally --  " title=" Q	So it is exactly for that that Italy wants to play an active role within the 3-plus-3.  And it se" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270097" rowid="136530378" side="usa" srcid="270097" text=" MR. HADLEY:  As I said, it was raised with the President in Germany; it's something the Secretary of State has talked to the President about.  One of the questions is, well, if you let in an additional country, who else wants to come in?	And then it goes to the issue of, well, how big does the framework get?  And it has been a group that has been useful to keep small; it's been fairly responsive.  But as I say, not all the action is there, because that group of the so-called EU3-plus-3 is embedded in an ever larger set of circles that goes to the point, for example, of the IAEA, the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors, which is 40 countries; it goes to the U.N. Security Council, which is 15 countries.  So there are a lot of groups involved in this effort.  Italy participates in those groups, is a very important member of a number of those groups.  And of course, we have talked very intensively with Italy on this subject.  &lt;p /&gt; So the narrow issue of do you expand the EU3-plus-3 raises a lot of questions that need to be thought through, and at this point the President hasn't made up his mind.  He's going to listen to his Italian colleagues here during this visit and listen to the leaders of the other countries during the course of this trip.  " title=" Q	Steve, what is the U.S. position on including Italy in the P5?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299747" rowid="136531578" side="usa" srcid="299747" text=" MS. PERINO:  To be determined.	So I don't know yet.  That's for that and also for the other meetings that he has with the Vice President and with the Premier.  " title=" Q	That's the thing on Sunday.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299755" rowid="136531586" side="usa" srcid="299755" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, the dedication is pool.  The opening --   MR. CARROLL:  The opening is open press.  The embassy greeting is closed press, as usual.   MS. PERINO:  Okay.  Sorry.  " title=" Q	The embassy opening is open press?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270087" rowid="136530368" side="usa" srcid="270087" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Right.  " title=" Q	The fact is that Italy is the strongest partner, as you said, but is really the strongest trade p" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324078" rowid="136534681" side="usa" srcid="324078" text=" Q	The President, earlier this year - well, I guess last November during the Annapolis process, had hoped that there would be a peace deal before he left office.  Obviously that's not going to happen. So what is his feeling now, given what's occurring right now over there, about the prospects for a peace deal in the future?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  You know, this is a very similar situation that the President found when he took office in early 2001, with increased violence on the ground.  I know that his goal is that this violence come to a, as I've said, sustainable, durable and end with a ceasefire, but a ceasefire that's respected by Hamas, so that then all the parties could come together and work towards the goals in the road map and the goals of the Annapolis Conference.  The Annapolis goals are ones that have been widely accepted.  We saw a good U.N. Security Council Resolution 1850 within the last couple of weeks.  &lt;p /&gt; Everyone -- what I think is different from eight years ago is that everyone recognizes that the two-state solution is the right way forward.  And so I think the President feels that he has laid good groundwork that will ultimately lead to a two-state solution, but clearly, with the Hamas actions in the last few days, it's not something that's going to advance in the immediate near term.  &lt;p /&gt; Patty.  " title=" Q	The President, earlier this year - well, I guess last November during the Annapolis process, had " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299752" rowid="136531583" side="usa" srcid="299752" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q	This is at the Great Hall of the People?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270082" rowid="136530363" side="usa" srcid="270082" text=" Q	Two questions on Afghanistan, the Donors conference.  First, why is it the First Lady that's representing the United States there?  And secondly, do you think you'll have any more luck getting more financial commitment to Afghanistan than you've been getting more military commitment out of NATO?  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  The First Lady and the Secretary of State represented the United States there.  Secretary of State, because that's, of course -- it's a ministerial-level meeting; it's appropriate for her to be there.	And the First Lady offered to go, and the President and all of us thought it was a great idea, because she has been very active in Afghanistan, committed to the policy of helping Afghanistan -- particularly women in Afghanistan -- take advantage of the opportunity that is there for them; she's been very articulate about that.	And we just thought it was terrific that she would be willing to share her views and speak on behalf of the country.  &lt;p /&gt; Second, we think we are making some progress on the security end, you know, and I won't go through that.	You know what came out of Bucharest.  One of the things that was particularly helpful is France has decided to increase its role; put a additional battalion of combat corps into the east, which is going to allow us to move some forces into the south.  There have been other increases that have been made.  &lt;p /&gt; There's a lot more to do, there's no doubt about it.  We've got to do more to support the Afghans.  The Afghans need to do more.  And one of the questions that is being discussed is, do we need to expand the Afghan army, which is now projected to go to 80,000 -- do we need to look at something more like 120,000?  &lt;p /&gt; Another thing that is going to be talked about on the security side is to do more, in terms of police training.  And some countries have stepped up to that.  &lt;p /&gt; So we think that we have made some progress on the security side. We need to do more.  I think we will make some progress on the economic side.  But we have to recognize that we're in this for the long haul. This is going to be a commitment that is going to require us to be steadfast and committed and to work this problem over a number of years. There's going to be no quick victory here.  &lt;p /&gt; Bill.  " title=" Q	Two questions on Afghanistan, the Donors conference.  First, why is it the First Lady that's repr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324083" rowid="136534686" side="usa" srcid="324083" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Well, their cabinet voted earlier -- sort of middle of last week on this.  So it was a very public indication that they were likely to take action.  " title=" Q	Was planning the operations or --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324088" rowid="136534691" side="usa" srcid="324088" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  We'll just have to see.	We'll have to see.  " title=" Q	What are the chances that the President, himself, might comment and weigh in on camera about this" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324106" rowid="136534709" side="usa" srcid="324106" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Israel is responding to a barrage of rocket and mortar attacks that increased substantially last week, following Hamas's refusal to renew the ceasefire.  Israel has made clear that they do not want to retake Gaza, that they simply want the people of southern Israel to be able to live in peace, free from this barrage of rocket attacks.  &lt;p /&gt; And that's what we expect.  We also want to see, as I've said, the ceasefire restored in a sustainable and durable fashion, so that we can get back on the road map, work towards the goals of the Annapolis process, which, again, is two states living side by side in peace.  " title=" Q	What does Israel hope to achieve by this?  I mean, what's the end game?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324099" rowid="136534702" side="usa" srcid="324099" text=" Q	What is the message to the broader Arab world out there. In the official statement that was released by the Jordanian news agency about the phone call that you mentioned this morning, they used the phrase, the discussion was about stopping the &quot;Israeli aggression&quot; on Gaza.  What is the U.S. message with this rising Arab anger?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  The President's message to King Abdullah, his overall message, is that we want to see the violence stopped, but in a way that leads to a durable and sustainable cessation of violence.  We can't have the violence stopped now only for it to start up again in the near future.  That would be unacceptable to all parties involved, and certainly doesn't help the Palestinians achieve their goal of a viable independent state.  &lt;p /&gt; So we're obviously very familiar with the Arab position.  But I think ultimately they want to see a peaceful end to this that leads to a Palestinian state.  " title=" Q	What is the message to the broader Arab world out there. In the official statement that was relea" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324072" rowid="136534675" side="usa" srcid="324072" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  What is the President doing today?  After his phone call with Abdullah and his intelligence briefing, he went to his office to work on paperwork and a variety of things.  And I expect he'll probably ride his bicycle today and spend time with Mrs. Bush.	And we'll -- I expect he'll also probably receive updates on the ongoing situation in the Middle East, as well.  " title=" Q	What is the President doing today?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324203" rowid="136534744" side="usa" srcid="324203" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I think because the President has worked so closely with Prime Minister Olmert, with other leaders in the region, to include President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad, the President is someone, President Bush is someone that these leaders listen to, they appreciate his support and his understanding.  And so I think that one thing that's clear is that he's established relationships that allow him to pick up the phone, give these leaders a call, and have a very frank, honest, and open discussion.  &lt;p /&gt; I'll also say even in a transition, the United States is a country that is always looked to during times of crisis, and during times of peace as well.	Everyone in the world is constantly interested in what does the United States think, and what does the United States want to do about this.  And I think that was true before President Bush, and it will be true after President Bush.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay, next subject.  Anne.  " title=" Q	What is your assessment on the influence that the President or this administration has on the Pri" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324084" rowid="136534687" side="usa" srcid="324084" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  That Israel planned --  " title=" Q	When did the United States -- when did the President first know that Israel planned these operati" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324214" rowid="136534755" side="usa" srcid="324214" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Weapons.  Weapons.  So we'd like to see -- there are some Arab states that are stepping forward and saying, we want peace in the Middle East.  You have Egypt playing a positive role; Jordan; Saudi Arabia is very concerned.  And then you have countries on the other end -- Iran and Syria -- who seem to want to continue to foment violence.  And we'll see.  &lt;p /&gt; Laurent.  " title=" Q	When you say &quot;supply,&quot; what are you talking about -- supply them with what?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324076" rowid="136534679" side="usa" srcid="324076" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  You know, it's hard for me to get into the minds of a -- get into the mind of terrorists.  I don't know why they would rather fire hundreds of rockets and mortars into Israel rather than work for the good of their own people.  It's impossible for me to answer.  " title=" Q	Why -- in your estimation, why did Hamas break the ceasefire?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324085" rowid="136534688" side="usa" srcid="324085" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I'm not aware of their contacting him.  I know Secretary Rice has spoken to the Prime Minister of Israel, as well as the President of the Palestinian Authority.*  But I'm not aware of any contacts that have been made to President Bush on that front.  If that changes I'll certainly let you know.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  " title=" Q	Why hasn't President Bush spoken with Israeli and Palestinian officials?	I mean, I would assume t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324069" rowid="136534672" side="usa" srcid="324069" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No.  " title=" Q	Will either Hadley or Rice be coming to Crawford?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299740" rowid="136531571" side="usa" srcid="299740" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, it will be -- on Saturday after he has his bilat, there's pool at the end.  " title=" Q	Will they make statements, take questions, that kind of thing?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-31#entryid_324196" rowid="136534737" side="usa" srcid="324196" text=" MR. JOHNDROE: We talked about that this morning.  I expect he and Mrs. Bush will get up to see the sun rise on the New Year.  It's been a tradition they've had for I think for almost their entire presidency down here -- they've woken up and gone for a sunrise walk on the ranch. It's something they've always enjoyed doing and look forward to doing tomorrow.  " title=" Q	You mentioned that the President might be ringing in the New Year by waking up at dawn to see the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324104" rowid="136534707" side="usa" srcid="324104" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Well, the U.S. goal is for the sustainable ceasefire, as I've discussed.  Secretary Rice has been on the phone throughout the weekend with various heads of state, primarily foreign ministers, to try and urge the various parties involved to get behind a sustainable ceasefire.	That is what the United States is working on right now.  Secretary Rice has been the primary interlocutor on that, and that's our goal.  " title=" Q	You said in your opening statement that the President was updated on U.S. actions.  What are thes" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-29#entryid_324081" rowid="136534684" side="usa" srcid="324081" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I think that's the appropriate response at the moment from the United States, and I think we've heard the same thing from the European Union and others.  We will talk to all the various parties involved and urge a return to the ceasefire, but a ceasefire, as I've said, that is sustainable and durable and is respected.  " title=" Q	You say that you're working towards helping a cease-fire being restored.  Is there anything beyon" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298604" rowid="136531430" side="usa" srcid="298604" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, there's nothing public yet, so we don't have anything -- no public events on the President's schedule.  But we'll keep you updated as things change, because sometimes that's the way it is up here.  He's looking forward to coming up to Maine to be with his family. His mom and dad are here, his brothers -- his brother and sister I believe will be here, as well.	At least one brother that I know of. And they'll spend some time getting together.  They'll hopefully be outside if it doesn't rain and spend some time in his last summer that the President is President of the United States.  " title=" Q      Okay.  And what plans does he have -- I was told there was a tent set up at the house.  Is t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273730" rowid="136530927" side="usa" srcid="273730" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  We got more than we imagined or called for on the near-term actions, and that was a happy surprise.  " title=" Q    &quot;Got more&quot; -- say that again.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-28#entryid_267824" rowid="136530105" side="usa" srcid="267824" text=" MS. PERINO:  His question was, had I ever heard such concerns?	And I said, &quot;Never.&quot;  " title=" Q    &quot;Never&quot; to have what?  I didn't hear it all.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-30#entryid_324136" rowid="136534713" side="usa" srcid="324136" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Clearing brush, working on trails.  &lt;p /&gt; Elaine.  " title=" Q    &quot;Working on trails,&quot; does that mean clearing trails, is that the same thing?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-27#entryid_312733" rowid="136533386" side="usa" srcid="312733" text=" MS. PERINO:  I was not in attendance, but I'll check for you and I'll have Gordon get back to you; he was there.  &lt;p /&gt; Roger.  " title=" Q    (Inaudible) -- did discussions were the main issue between Athens and Skopje send a solution o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-17#entryid_310363" rowid="136533178" side="usa" srcid="310363" text=" MS. PERINO:  On the Visa Waiver Program.  " title=" Q    (Inaudible) are you talking about?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279923" rowid="136531151" side="usa" srcid="279923" text=" MS. PERINO:  I mean, let's let the meeting take place and then we'll see -- and I'll be available afterwards for you.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Goyal.  " title=" Q    (Inaudible) inter alia.  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-13#entryid_270271" rowid="136530389" side="usa" srcid="270271" text=" MRS. BUSH:  He does say very pro-American things, and I appreciate that a lot.  I think all Americans do.  He was -- our ambassador, when I was there earlier this week and staying with him, told me of an occasion he had been to recently when our ambassador happened to be on the back row because he was sort of late, and the President Sarkozy said very pro-American things, and our ambassador knew it wasn't for his benefit, because he didn't think President Sarkozy knew he was there, because he was at the back.  But -- so I appreciate that, and I know the American people do.  " title=" Q    (Inaudible) you know, he's really pro-American.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280823" rowid="136531316" side="usa" srcid="280823" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look, we're going to try to get it done as quickly as possible.  The President's schedule is packed, and we don't have a signing ceremony for every bill.  So we'll sign it and get it into law.  " title=" Q    (Inaudible.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326569" rowid="136535024" side="usa" srcid="326569" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  (Laughter.)  &lt;p /&gt; Ken.  " title=" Q    (Inaudible.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308307" rowid="136532952" side="usa" srcid="308307" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay, Les, that's enough.	We're going to move on.  &lt;p /&gt; Connie, go ahead.  " title=" Q    -- &quot;on terrorist bombings.&quot;  If John McCain had a long association with a guy who had bombed a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-14#entryid_321822" rowid="136534499" side="usa" srcid="321822" text=" MR. HADLEY:  The transition will then go, in terms of handing over provinces, and we expect that all to be done, as we said, by the end of 2011.  " title=" Q    -- 16 months?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-16#entryid_304990" rowid="136532386" side="usa" srcid="304990" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  That's statewide, that's correct, 21 percent, yes, sir.  " title=" Q    -- 2.2 million people, though, that's still 21 percent of the state of Texas, isn't it?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-31#entryid_314005" rowid="136533559" side="usa" srcid="314005" text=" MR. FRATTO:  In that range.  I think it's averaged at about 90 -- 93 or so.  You could check in with OMB.  They have the statistics for you; they'd be happy to share them.  &lt;p /&gt; April.  " title=" Q    -- 90 every three months?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322355" rowid="136534533" side="usa" srcid="322355" text=" MS. PERINO:  Are you suggesting that Prime Minister Maliki was not elected by the people of Iraq?	That's preposterous.  " title=" Q    -- a bunch of people self-picked by us who run the country.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305140" rowid="136532395" side="usa" srcid="305140" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think there's -- I think you have a disconnect, actually, because in this legislation they're moving forward to increase taxes on the American people, lock up resources, and deny states the right to share in the revenue.  They don't have -- they don't address nuclear power.	They don't even allow for debate on the bipartisan bill that was put forward in the House, that was presented by Congressman Abercrombie and I can't remember the other.  &lt;p /&gt; But they have bipartisan legislation in front of them that is quite comprehensive that everyone could actually have a good, robust debate on.  They've chosen not to, so it's -- my worry is not that Congress is going to send a bill to the President that he would have to veto; I think our worry is that the Congress, after all of this debate and all of this rhetoric, they are not even going to produce a bill that they could pass.  " title=" Q    -- a disconnect here?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278845" rowid="136531013" side="usa" srcid="278845" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I don't think it's going to happen under this President.  " title=" Q    -- a follow-up on the same one.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-15#entryid_300850" rowid="136531734" side="usa" srcid="300850" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  We'll let you know, but I would expect most likely a statement, but we'll let you know.  " title=" Q    -- a photo op?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317892" rowid="136534042" side="usa" srcid="317892" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's 13 plus seven, is the way I would look at it.  " title=" Q    -- a potential total of 20.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-20#entryid_310962" rowid="136533204" side="usa" srcid="310962" text=" MS. PERINO:  I have not heard anything, no.  " title=" Q    -- a sense of him or anything?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322365" rowid="136534543" side="usa" srcid="322365" text=" MS. PERINO:  Others -- not you, but there was another outlet here, I won't name them -- who told me it was supposed to be today.  Look, I just don't have an announcement for you today right now, or even this afternoon.  " title=" Q    -- about Wednesday.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-17#entryid_270692" rowid="136530435" side="usa" srcid="270692" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Goyal, I don't think President Karzai's comment was a threat.  I think President Karzai is dealing with a very difficult situation on his border.  He is a strong leader of that country, and he's interested in protecting his people and his citizens from these forces who want to attack them.  We'd like to see President Karzai and the Afghans and the Pakistanis work out, on their own, ways to help improve security on the border region.  We think they're going to do that.  We want to help them do it.  And certainly our troops are on the ground doing that.  " title=" Q    -- also, as far as the new Pakistani ambassador to the U.S. is concerned, speaking at Atlantic" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306598" rowid="136532676" side="usa" srcid="306598" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay, I'll check.	Obviously we've been working very hard.  I know the President plans to talk to Gordon Brown about Iran today and we've been trying to make the point to our U.N. Security Council partners that we have to continue to push forward to respond to Iran's non-response; that there are negative consequences for not answers the demands of the international community.  So I will check.  " title=" Q    -- Ambassador was --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304209" rowid="136532254" side="usa" srcid="304209" text=" Q    -- and I just wondered, one of them deals with prohibiting private contractors to interrogate detainees.  And I wondered why the White House would threaten to veto a provision that would limit interrogations to either the Defense Department or the intelligence --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think that's SAP yesterday was about 18 pages long.  I'll refer you to that and see if I can get you any more, but I don't know it in detail.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    -- and I just wondered, one of them deals with prohibiting private contractors to interrogate " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269189" rowid="136530280" side="usa" srcid="269189" text=" MS. PERINO:  Did you say Cheney and Olmert?  No, I don't have anything on that.  No, I don't.  " title=" Q    -- and missile defense cooperation?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310111" rowid="136533152" side="usa" srcid="310111" text=" MS. PERINO:  One of the briefings they got yesterday was on the economy by Keith Hennessey.  " title=" Q    -- and so I think a logical follow-up --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270997" rowid="136530501" side="usa" srcid="270997" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I think you're asking the wrong person about a report that -- if it hasn't been released -- and what the EPA Administrator would do, but I'd love to hear what Steve Johnson would have to say about that when he's ready to say something about it.  &lt;p /&gt; But don't forget that for the first time in 30 years last year, we aggressively increased corporate economy fuel standards, okay.	I mean, this was something the President called for, and we were able to get it done.  And the President aggressively called for the use of more alternative fuels, and we got that done.  In fact, we were pushing further than Congress was prepared to go in this.  " title=" Q    -- and the suggestion is that the EPA Administrator probably will not release that, though the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279931" rowid="136531159" side="usa" srcid="279931" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that the President said that they represent America and those are values that we represent, and he was very proud to have them today.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q    -- and this isn't exactly what the President said he wasn't going to do?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318554" rowid="136534165" side="usa" srcid="318554" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, look, we've been trying -- we've tried to be focused on all of the efforts that we've taken to support the economy, certainly over the past year.	We've done one large stimulus package already.	We've taken historic actions with respect to the housing sector to prevent millions of foreclosures.  We've taken historic efforts with respect to the financial crisis and the $700 billion plan and all the efforts that the Fed and the FDIC are doing to shore up our financial system.  &lt;p /&gt; That's what we've been focused on for now.  For right now that is the most important thing we can do for the economy is to put those appropriated funds to use in a way that will support credit in our system and allow the economy to function.  &lt;p /&gt; The next administration has a lot of decisions to make.  And they have policies that they are looking at, but what we're focused on right now are implementing the authorities that we have to support the economy in the best way possible.  " title=" Q    -- another stimulus bill in the neighborhood of $500 billion, maybe $600 billion.  Does this a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-12#entryid_304567" rowid="136532302" side="usa" srcid="304567" text=" MR. FRATTO:  The McCain campaign will run the McCain campaign.	We don't -- I don't have anything more on that.  " title=" Q    -- appear together?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268796" rowid="136530234" side="usa" srcid="268796" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, it's not friction, and obviously we're going to have statements at the top.  It just took a while for us to settle when he was going to be able to come over, what time it was going to fit into the President's schedule, and what type of media coverage would take place.	And it's going to be, traditionally, as we have done in the past, pool at the top.  " title=" Q    -- are you trying to downplay this visit?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306603" rowid="136532681" side="usa" srcid="306603" text=" MS. PERINO:  Those are the very problems that we're trying to solve.  And I think if you look at the reaction that we had from the vast majority of people who have looked at this problem, who understand it, think that we have a package that could help stabilize the markets.  That's what we're trying to do.  " title=" Q    -- aren't you creating a crisis of confidence?  And aren't you --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-11#entryid_269901" rowid="136530340" side="usa" srcid="269901" text=" MS. ANSLEY:  Yes.  And also when the EU has to make its decisions, obviously Italy will be a key player in whether or not the EU goes forward in implementing 1803 and adopting additional measures.  &lt;p /&gt; Thank you.  " title=" Q    -- as a major economy with trading relationships would be --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-26#entryid_302149" rowid="136531877" side="usa" srcid="302149" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Nothing specific that I can relate, that I'm aware of.  " title=" Q    -- as a result of the overnight developments?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279344" rowid="136531098" side="usa" srcid="279344" text=" MS. PERINO:  As I said, there is no negotiation here.  We are going there.  Under Secretary Burns will be there as a part of the international community showing our unison that we are going to provide two paths for the Iranians from which to choose -- one, that they could accept the incentives package, and then if it's verified that they have halted their uranium enrichment, then there will be negotiations.  And that's what I would seek to explain to the American people.  " title=" Q    -- as an appeaser?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272606" rowid="136530718" side="usa" srcid="272606" text=" MS. PERINO:  Do you want me to answer the Afghanistan question first or the Pakistan question?  " title=" Q    -- as far as cross-border terrorism is concerned, Pakistan has launched a new campaign against" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-06#entryid_269326" rowid="136530305" side="usa" srcid="269326" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, while the President has always said that he, as Commander-in-Chief, would never take any options off the table, I wouldn't read anything into that.  We are trying to solve this diplomatically.  " title=" Q    -- asked Israel to do so, has it?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267021" rowid="136529958" side="usa" srcid="267021" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, one -- I think if you look at their announcements, one of the things that they said is that they will have to -- that the condition is that they have to loosen their support for Hezbollah and Hamas and to end their terror.  I mean, that was not unlike other things we've said before.  " title=" Q    -- attempt to engage with the sponsors of terror?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304237" rowid="136532282" side="usa" srcid="304237" text=" MS. PERINO:  Can I just -- anybody else want energy?  Okay.  " title=" Q    -- back on 9/11.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303429" rowid="136532104" side="usa" srcid="303429" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, all I can tell you is that I am going to decline to comment on reports about that incident.  &lt;p /&gt; Paula.  " title=" Q    -- bad timing because of the Pakistan presidential elections coming up?  Is it -- what's the -" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303261" rowid="136532060" side="usa" srcid="303261" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know if there's too much different between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., and there's a big difference, especially for the press office staff that starts at 6:30 a.m. in the morning.  We are in back-in-back meetings until 9:00 a.m. -- and then to gaggle at 9:30 a.m., which has really become a briefing, and then turn around two-and-a-half hours later and do it again is just -- it's not working as well for everybody.  So I'm going to give a shot.  And again I really welcome the feedback from the press.  And we'll see how it works.  " title=" Q    -- because like 11:30 a.m. gets more time -- you know, more stuff to roll in if we've got one " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-27#entryid_267598" rowid="136530072" side="usa" srcid="267598" text=" MS. PERINO:  I have no idea, Roger.  " title=" Q    -- because of fuel costs.	Does it still cost $68,000 an hour to operate Air Force One?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270991" rowid="136530495" side="usa" srcid="270991" text=" MR. FRATTO:  That's not speculation.  I mean, if you know what the sources of oil production are going to be over the course of, say, 5, 10 or 15 years, and you have a general trend rate of what demand is going to be for global use of something, that's not speculation.  That's just trying to have an understanding of -- and trying to price something based on supply and demand.  That's an analytical judgment; that's not a speculative judgment.  &lt;p /&gt; There is speculation on any given day out there, but that's not -- but looking at the future and looking at supply and demand and making an investment decision, that's not speculation.  That's just an investment decision like millions of people every day.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, if you're not basing it on those things and you're basing it on the direction of market movements out there where you see unusual trading, that's something different.  That's the kind of things that Walt Luken over at the CFTC is looking into.  But there's absolutely no denying that the overall source of price increase in oil globally, and gasoline here at home, is a function of supply and demand.  That's the overwhelming reason, that's the core reason.  &lt;p /&gt; There could be other factors in there.	No one is saying that there aren't other factors that could have an impact.  But the largest and most significant reason is supply and demand.  &lt;p /&gt; Ann.  " title=" Q    -- because they'll know that there will be an increase in future supply.  But at the same time" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-16#entryid_304967" rowid="136532363" side="usa" srcid="304967" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Before he left Washington would be accurate.  " title=" Q    -- before he left Washington?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279964" rowid="136531192" side="usa" srcid="279964" text=" MS. PERINO:  As I just said, there will be an aspirational time horizon where there might be -- for example, something that says, we believe that by X date the Iraqis should be able to take care -- take over security control of Y province.  That could be the type of dates we're talking about.  " title=" Q    -- but dates will be set, nonetheless.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-25#entryid_301990" rowid="136531866" side="usa" srcid="301990" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I believe Georgia and Azerbaijan had already been on their -- on the trip as they planned the trip before the conflict in Georgia.  Since then Ukraine was added.  " title=" Q    -- Cheney's schedule.  As I understand it, he has accepted the Italy conference thing -- that " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301166" rowid="136531780" side="usa" srcid="301166" text=" Q    -- clarification.	the Russians seem to think that the agreement says that Georgian forces need to go back to their barracks, and they seem to be using that as an excuse to seize Georgian forces that they find on the roads, and again, as an excuse for patrolling the roadways in Georgia.  Does the agreement say that Georgian troops have to return to their barracks?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  I don't have the specific language.  The forces on both sides need to return to their locations of August the 6th and hostilities need to stop.  But I don't have the specific language.  " title=" Q    -- clarification.	the Russians seem to think that the agreement says that Georgian forces need" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273738" rowid="136530935" side="usa" srcid="273738" text=" MS. PERINO:  Feelings that run deep like that don't necessarily change overnight.  And as I said, I think that the comments from that ministry have been similar in the past.  " title=" Q    -- comes out with this --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306621" rowid="136532699" side="usa" srcid="306621" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that I'd be careful.  We don't know all the details and all the discussions that are ongoing, because we are not negotiating in the press.  So I don't know exactly how Republicans are framing this and putting forward their considerations.  I know that Minority Leader Boehner has just sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi that outlines some of their concerns and asks for consideration.  We will be considering those issues, too.  And that's what we're doing up there right now.  " title=" Q    -- consider something the Secretary already said won't work?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311202" rowid="136533236" side="usa" srcid="311202" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think you need to go back to the fact that there were, at one point, upwards of 600 detainees at Gitmo.  We now are down to about 272.  And that's because we've been able to return a lot of them back to their home countries, or to a third country, where we get the assurances that we seek.  &lt;p /&gt; That's the main thing that we were trying to do.  And we've cut it down by two-thirds, and we've got a ways to go.  We have also some very dangerous people there.  Remember, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is in Guantanamo Bay.  So it's not as easy as just snapping your fingers and figuring out where else to put them.  &lt;p /&gt; There are also immigration laws.  One of the big concerns that we have with the Judge Urbina decision from two weeks ago is that it created a whole third -- a whole other category of immigration without consulting Congress.  So for example, in our country we have legal aliens who are here with documentation.	They might have a work visa or a green card or they might be applying for citizenship.  &lt;p /&gt; Then you have aliens who are not here legally, also called undocumented.  What Judge Urbina did was create a whole third category that would say you can legally be here in the United States without any background checks, and without any documentation, and just be released into the United States.  And that's why I believe that the courts have agreed with us that that decision should be stayed.  &lt;p /&gt; These are issues that are complex.  We are working towards them.  But you can't -- if you care about innocent people, and the President does, you can't just snap your fingers and let these detainees back out into the world without some sort of assurance that they're not going to be able to hurt innocent people again.  " title=" Q    -- considering holding these people, for example, in Afghanistan, where many were picked up.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304069" rowid="136532224" side="usa" srcid="304069" text=" MS. PERINO:  We would listen to their ideas, but that doesn't mean we would -- that the President would sign a bill into law if it wasn't going to stimulate the economy, no.  " title=" Q    -- correct?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-16#entryid_304977" rowid="136532373" side="usa" srcid="304977" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  Right.  They're having their first meeting today.  We know it's an issue we have to deal with, but now is the time to start.  " title=" Q    -- decision yet to come yet on the --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305146" rowid="136532401" side="usa" srcid="305146" text=" MS. PERINO:  Go ahead, Andre.  " title=" Q    -- do try, and I appreciate --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298614" rowid="136531450" side="usa" srcid="298614" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would assume so.  Sometimes it takes a while for them to be able to review it all and make a decision.  But we disagree with it, and I'm not going to prejudge a decision whether or not to appeal.  " title=" Q    -- do you expect it to be a day or two?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280148" rowid="136531210" side="usa" srcid="280148" text=" MS. PERINO:  Do I think it's okay for --  " title=" Q    -- do you think the White House would find it appropriate for a foreign politician running for" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318533" rowid="136534146" side="usa" srcid="318533" text=" MR. FRATTO:  They talk as frequently as any two people in town, I think.  As I understand it from Secretary Paulson, he and Tim speak frequently.  He and Ben Bernanke and Tim Geithner speak frequently.  And that's what you would expect, and that's not unusual from any -- actually from any previous Treasury Secretaries speaking with New York Fed Chairmen.  " title=" Q    -- does that as New York Fed, but I'm talking about Secretary Paulson.  Does Secretary Paulson" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268279" rowid="136530149" side="usa" srcid="268279" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would refer you to the Department of Commerce on that.  I don't have anything specifically here.	I know that they are looking into the matter over there, and for security reasons we don't comment on particular matters that are being investigated.  " title=" Q    -- does the White House have any response or further response to the allegations of the Commer" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-15#entryid_304840" rowid="136532346" side="usa" srcid="304840" text=" SECRETARY PAULSON:  Let me say, what is going on right now in New York has got nothing to do with any bridge loan from the government.  What's going on in New York is a private sector effort, again focused on dealing with an important issue that is, I think, important that the financial system work on right now.  And there's not more I can say than that.  " title=" Q    -- Federal Reserve giving AIG a bridge loan?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298609" rowid="136531440" side="usa" srcid="298609" text=" MS. PERINO:  In the fourth quarter of last year?  " title=" Q    -- figures this morning showed that economic growth is a lot slower than what you've --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302645" rowid="136531913" side="usa" srcid="302645" text=" SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yes.  And I think the same thing for Azerbaijan.  Ukraine, all I'm aware of is that he went there as a congressman at some point in time.  " title=" Q    -- first ever trip to Tbilisi?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320569" rowid="136534386" side="usa" srcid="320569" text=" MS. PERINO:  -- over this past few days that's occurred.  I'll see if I can get some more detail for you on that because I don't know -- none of us know, can know for sure, the discussions that have been going between Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas as they work on this issue.  So let me check on it.  Obviously we want -- we don't want people to be suffering, but we also recognize that Hamas is the one who has put the people who are living in Gaza in this position.  And so let me see if I can get more for you.  " title=" Q    -- food and fuel.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267066" rowid="136529935" side="usa" srcid="267066" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  " title=" Q    -- for limiting oil supplies and colluding on prices.  And my question:  Does the President be" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-13#entryid_326198" rowid="136534963" side="usa" srcid="326198" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Lester, we've been through this many, many times.  " title=" Q    -- had to spend thousands of dollars for that suite at the Hay-Adams.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266852" rowid="136529911" side="usa" srcid="266852" text=" MS. PERINO:  That's what we're checking, because we don't believe that taxpayer dollars should be used to help lenders or speculators.  We think that we should be able to help Americans who want to stay in their homes and can afford to stay in their homes find a way to do that without using taxpayer dollars.  But that specific point is what we're analyzing right now in the bill.  &lt;p /&gt; Bill.  " title=" Q    -- has been the use of taxpayer funds, he didn't want to do that.  But by taking the profits f" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322338" rowid="136534516" side="usa" srcid="322338" text=" MS. PERINO:  A two-month payroll tax holiday?  " title=" Q    -- has proposed a two-month payroll tax holiday.  Does the President agree or disagree?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-26#entryid_319112" rowid="136534190" side="usa" srcid="319112" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I think on instruction from White House Counsel I have to refer all turkey pardoning questions to the Office of the Pardon Attorney.  (Laughter.)  &lt;p /&gt; Has he ever considered not -- you want that turkey, don't you?  " title=" Q    -- has the President ever considered not pardoning the turkeys?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303263" rowid="136532062" side="usa" srcid="303263" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think I'm going to target 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  I'm a little bit of a creature of habit.  If I say I'm briefing at 12:30 p.m., it's usually 12:30 p.m. every day, maybe 12:40 p.m.  But I think 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.  I do think that because of the amount of questions that come in in the morning, I hope that the press will be better served by this because I'll have more time to track down and get answers that have come in overnight and in the early morning.  So that's my hope and we'll give a shot.  " title=" Q    -- have to be 10:30 a.m. or sometime between 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-25#entryid_301983" rowid="136531859" side="usa" srcid="301983" text=" MR. FRATTO:  That he is a great statesman?  He's done tremendous work over a long period, and I know he has been supportive of Secretary Rice's State Department.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  " title=" Q    -- her assessment, though, that he is a great statesman and a true patriot?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279920" rowid="136531148" side="usa" srcid="279920" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay, Connie, one question.  Go ahead.  " title=" Q    -- I've been trying to follow up on Iran and Iraq.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313254" rowid="136533452" side="usa" srcid="313254" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  In general, that has been a concern they have expressed.  And their spokesperson, my counterpart, said the very same on Monday.  " title=" Q    -- in recent days?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322359" rowid="136534537" side="usa" srcid="322359" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, the only thing that he's -- what he said publicly is what he said privately to Prime Minister, was, don't worry about it, that he was fine.  " title=" Q    -- in the aftermath concerning the punishment?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300602" rowid="136531673" side="usa" srcid="300602" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not that I'm aware of.  " title=" Q    -- in the area?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279938" rowid="136531166" side="usa" srcid="279938" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  Look, we'll see if -- we usually never get that specific when we're talking about possible sanctions.  But I'll check on both questions.  " title=" Q    -- in the mix of sanctions?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-27#entryid_267599" rowid="136530073" side="usa" srcid="267599" text=" MS. PERINO:  Maybe you should look at your reporting from last year, because -- or in 2006 cycle.  We had the exact same conversations over and over again.  So I'll try to get it for you right now, but --  " title=" Q    -- in the next couple days since -- get a sense of which part of the trips?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306606" rowid="136532684" side="usa" srcid="306606" text=" MS. PERINO:  Let's let them have the meeting today and find out.  I think that the G7 ministers have had good conversations; they've been very supportive of the action that we have been trying to take over the past week.  So let's -- let us have the meeting today and then we'll see if there's any more we can add.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Roger.  " title=" Q    -- is the President open to giving international organizations --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-25#entryid_318802" rowid="136534177" side="usa" srcid="318802" text=" MS. PERINO:  I wasn't on the phone call.  But I mean, they're talking all the time.  " title=" Q    -- know it for a fact?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-12#entryid_304570" rowid="136532305" side="usa" srcid="304570" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Yes, I mean in the -- I think there's at least -- I believe there's at least one more in this same kind of, you know, McCain leadership committee fundraiser.  But I don't -- I don't have the date of it right now.  " title=" Q    -- McCain?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-31#entryid_313976" rowid="136533534" side="usa" srcid="313976" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Yes, it's a round table.  People sit around and discuss these things.  " title=" Q    -- metaphorical table, right?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300558" rowid="136531629" side="usa" srcid="300558" text=" Q    -- Mikhail Gorbachev wrote also, &quot;What happened on the night of August 7th is beyond comprehension.&quot;  What is your assessment for that specific night when Georgia military attacked the capital of South Ossetia and Russia responded by force?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Again, that's what I -- I don't know if anybody really knows exactly what happened on that day.  So until we have more clarity I'll decline to comment.  " title=" Q    -- Mikhail Gorbachev wrote also, &quot;What happened on the night of August 7th is beyond comprehen" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267020" rowid="136529956" side="usa" srcid="267020" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would not put it that way.  I think that we'll see how this goes.  We appreciate that Turkey is trying to play a constructive role in the discussions, but we do believe that Syrian support needs to end for terrorism, and that includes their intervention in Lebanon.  " title=" Q    -- model for us, though?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-20#entryid_271384" rowid="136530548" side="usa" srcid="271384" text=" MR. FRATTO:  We just passed an energy bill last year that's aggressively increasing the fuel economy standards for automobiles.	Now, some of that takes time, obviously.	You have rolling stock out there in the economy that you need to work through, but Americans are making their own choices.  I think we saw some data out this week in terms of consumption demand from Americans in terms of how much less gasoline they're using, either because they're choosing not to drive as much, or driving shorter distances, and they're making their own choices, or purchasing automobiles that are more fuel efficient.  &lt;p /&gt; So Americans are making those choices.	We've also made -- helped to make those choices for the nation structurally in terms of our fuel economy standards, our increase in alternative fuels for automobiles, and the promotion of hybrid vehicles.  " title=" Q    -- more that you can do.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-10#entryid_274061" rowid="136530971" side="usa" srcid="274061" text=" MR. FRATTO:  That's for your industry to work out.  " title=" Q    -- no -- to have all censored what The New York Post reported as the threat of castration?  (L" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-15#entryid_300859" rowid="136531743" side="usa" srcid="300859" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  -- but this is based on -- we are working with these countries because of the actions that Russia has taken.  So these are the natural allies that we would work with and that we're standing with to deal with the situation with Russia.  " title=" Q    -- not Russia in the G8?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315626" rowid="136533687" side="usa" srcid="315626" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, we'd want to see what those ideas are.  What we're focused on are the things that we think will have the biggest impact on the root causes of the economic downturn right now, which is credit and housing.  And we're working feverishly on both of those things.  Those are the -- it's the root cause and that's what we think can get done, and we also think it has a stimulative impact in the economy over a period of time.  &lt;p /&gt; I promised to come back to Jim.  " title=" Q    -- nothing more can be done?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-15#entryid_304834" rowid="136532340" side="usa" srcid="304834" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think that it's -- no, I don't know of any change.  I think what we want to -- what we want is a stimulus bill that would actually be stimulus, and that doesn't necessarily mean it has to come in the form of a stimulus two package.  It could come in the form of energy legislation, and that's what we will be focusing on.  And thankfully, the House is going to take it up this week.  However, it's just not in the format that we would like to see, and in fact, I don't know even if the Democrats have solidified behind a final product yet that they're going to push forward.  I think that the Republicans and many others think that it falls short of what we could do for this economy to actually stimulate it in the area of energy.  " title=" Q    -- on an economic stimulus?  Has it changed any since before?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298441" rowid="136531417" side="usa" srcid="298441" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay, so then I think that -- but remember, in Congress there's also a two-step process.  The House would have to move, as well, and without that type of action, I don't think we'll be satisfied, and I don't think the American people will be satisfied either, and for good reason.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Jeremy.  " title=" Q    -- one of the four that they -- that the Republicans --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303111" rowid="136532037" side="usa" srcid="303111" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    -- one on the subject.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320425" rowid="136534378" side="usa" srcid="320425" text=" MR. STANZEL:  That's a decision that the Secretary of Treasury has said he will make.  He will continually evaluate where they are in terms of implementing the program.  If he decides that those funds are needed, that is a request that he won't be shy about making to Congress.  " title=" Q    -- passed in October, or signed into law in October.  Where are you all in the evaluation of a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-27#entryid_302323" rowid="136531907" side="usa" srcid="302323" text=" MR. FRATTO:  There was a phone call, yes.  " title=" Q    -- phone call?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326709" rowid="136535068" side="usa" srcid="326709" text=" MS. PERINO:  -- Hamas, which is a terrorist organization, hides amongst innocent people and uses them as human shields.  " title=" Q    -- populated area?  That's a false statement.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-24#entryid_271793" rowid="136530621" side="usa" srcid="271793" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I'll refer you to the State Department for any ideas that are floating over there.  But what I would say is that we seek opportunities to talk directly to the Iranian people wherever and however we can.  And that includes sometimes through radio broadcasts, or through Internet broadcasts, or through newspapers if we can, and also just by speaking directly when the President is at a podium.  Whenever he talks about Iran, I think you can go back and look, that he always takes the time and the care to make sure that he speaks directly to them.  &lt;p /&gt; Matt.  " title=" Q    -- potentially be a way to do that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-12#entryid_304576" rowid="136532311" side="usa" srcid="304576" text=" MR. FRATTO:  The State Department responded to Bolivia's actions yesterday.  I don't have anything to add to what they said.  " title=" Q    -- recalling of ambassadors.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300579" rowid="136531650" side="usa" srcid="300579" text=" MS. PERINO:  I said on all sides.  I think that you need to remember --  " title=" Q    -- Rice told him not to respond to provocations --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280858" rowid="136531323" side="usa" srcid="280858" text=" DIRECTOR NUSSLE:  And I acknowledge in my statement that this is going to be a challenge, particularly given the atmosphere on Capitol Hill to spend more.  Most of the bills, most of the proposals on the Hill have been to spend more, have been to obligate more.  It's going to be a challenge, particularly given the fact that if you see more tax increases that could slow the growth and the economy.  These are all challenges that need to be factored in.  &lt;p /&gt; So we acknowledge, both because of the small changes since the MSR was finished, as well as what we have not yet seen in the 19 days -- 19 legislative days that remain for Congress in this fiscal year, there are a number of pressures.  Most of those pressures are upward pressures on the deficit, not downward pressures.  And each one of those, every dollar that is added to that bottom line makes it more difficult and takes away the cushion that we have in 2012 and '13.  We do have some cushion, but not enough to squander that with excessive spending programs.  " title=" Q    -- robust recovery.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308542" rowid="136532997" side="usa" srcid="308542" text=" MS. PERINO:  April, I haven't spoken to him firsthand today.  This is taken from my briefing after somebody else saw him.  " title=" Q    -- said anything?	You used the word &quot;despicable.&quot;  What were the words that he used when he fo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-04#entryid_268986" rowid="136530245" side="usa" srcid="268986" text=" Q    -- said that during this trip President will be discussing Palestine and the terrorism problem in the area.  Many think tanks are saying that -- coming from Pakistan and also here -- that unless you solve the problem in Pakistan, stable Pakistan is good for Afghanistan, good the region, good for India, and good for the U.S.	How can you bring the stability in Pakistan, because so many -- (inaudible) -- are going on in every direction at this time under the new government since they have democracy now, and we have to encourage it.  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  I would add to your question, it's also good for Pakistan, progress on the terror issue.  And one of the things -- we've been heartened recently by statements out of the new Pakistani government, the democratic Pakistani government, that they see that terror in the region -- in Pakistan is a threat to Pakistan, first and foremost, and that they have a responsibility to deal with it.	That is in Pakistan's own interest.  It isn't a favor that they do to the rest of the international community; it's something the leaders in Pakistan understand is very important for the future of their own people and the stability of their own country.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, they have enormous challenges in terms of what's going on in the tribal areas.  They have -- are looking at a mixture of pressure and activities and also negotiations.  We've -- there have been a lot of discussions, public discussions, about the character of those negotiations.  We think it's very important that they result in not only a cessation of attacks in Pakistan, but also a cessation of any attacks across the border into Afghanistan.  Otherwise there will not be stability in the region.  &lt;p /&gt; So it is something that we've been clear about and -- in our discussions with the Pakistani government.  But I think we have to give them some time to try and sort their way through and develop a strategy for what is a very difficult problem.  " title=" Q    -- said that during this trip President will be discussing Palestine and the terrorism problem" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306612" rowid="136532690" side="usa" srcid="306612" text=" MS. PERINO:  What I just said is that I think that it was useful to have everybody at the table yesterday so that we knew where we stood and that we could go forward and try to get a deal.  " title=" Q    -- saying it was a bad idea to have the meeting yesterday --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272631" rowid="136530743" side="usa" srcid="272631" text=" MS. PERINO:  We will press for strong action by the United Nations, but we could also act unilaterally.  It could come in multiple ways. Obviously sanctions work best when there are multiple parties working in concert, like we are with the European Union when it comes to getting Iran to halt its uranium enrichment so that we can have talks with them.  " title=" Q    -- seeking other -- seek other forums where those sanctions will be implemented?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312289" rowid="136533300" side="usa" srcid="312289" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to answer it.  Ann.  " title=" Q    -- Senator Obama would not be qualified to be his own bodyguard.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302503" rowid="136531961" side="usa" srcid="302503" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think it's too premature to say.  We'll just continue to watch it, do what we need to do to make sure that all the plans are in place to make sure evacuations are implemented, that we provide for the other types of materials that they need, or -- in terms of wood, or if they need ice -- wood for boarding up windows.  So that's where our focus is.  I think it's premature.  I know that everyone is very interested to see whether or not there will be a scheduling change.  I just don't have one to announce right now.  " title=" Q    -- sensitivity?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301174" rowid="136531788" side="usa" srcid="301174" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  You'll have to check with the Department of State about her exact schedule.  Since this is a presidential delegation, we needed to make that announcement from here.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Deb.  " title=" Q    -- she's going to be somewhere, like monitoring the situation this weekend?  Or is it just too" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269180" rowid="136530271" side="usa" srcid="269180" text=" Q    -- since Saddam was removed.  This has been a really big, top issue for this administration -- Vice President Cheney brought it up, et cetera.  Do you have a reaction to the UAE decision, and what's your message to other Arab countries?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  We absolutely appreciate what the UAE has decided to do today.  To say that they are going to be able to send an ambassador to Iraq says a lot of things -- one, about Iraq.  It says that it has improved enough that the UAE feels that it can take this step.  But it also says something about Iraq and its neighbors, and hopefully getting back on a path to normal and good relations with its neighbors in the region, and it's very exciting for Iraq to be able to be recognized in this way.  And we hope that other countries would follow suit soon.  &lt;p /&gt; Victoria.  " title=" Q    -- since Saddam was removed.  This has been a really big, top issue for this administration --" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320123" rowid="136534300" side="usa" srcid="320123" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look, you know how I feel about immigration; we've talked about it before.  The President has put in strong interior enforcement measures, but we also think that we should have a compassionate side to the United States and to think about putting in place a temporary worker program so that we can help safeguard our economy, but also help those individuals.  " title=" Q    -- so many U.S. jobs and receive many U.S. government benefits?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-12#entryid_304572" rowid="136532307" side="usa" srcid="304572" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'm sorry?  " title=" Q    -- still be doing quite a few fundraisers that he's going to be attending?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325255" rowid="136534914" side="usa" srcid="325255" text=" MS. PERINO:  First and foremost, the Israelis did not ask the United States' permission.  I do not believe that the --  " title=" Q    -- stop the bombarding of the innocent Palestinians.  The U.S. has not called for anything and" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317624" rowid="136533994" side="usa" srcid="317624" text=" MS. PERINO:  We take -- I think that circumstances are different for lots of different homeowners, and that's one of the reasons that this problem is hard to solve.	There's not a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to helping homeowners keep their homes.  And so we're taking all of that into consideration.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    -- that one of the concerns is that the economic impact of losing a home would be worse than k" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-12#entryid_304583" rowid="136532318" side="usa" srcid="304583" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Oh, you're talking about, I think, a number of different things.  And you're talking about -- I think you're talking about financial markets, but you're also talking about banks.  And just to put banks into perspective, when you're talking about depository institutions like banks, those deposits are federally insured.  The FDIC has oversight of the depository and thrift institutions with their insurance, and no depositor who had insured deposits has ever lost a dime since the FDIC was created.  &lt;p /&gt; Also, I want to put something into perspective.  Also, as people talk about failed depository institutions, they are dealing with a challenging environment, but if you talk about those kinds of institutions, some people try to compare it to the savings and loan crisis.  &lt;p /&gt; And I'll just remind you, the savings and loan crisis was a very different kind of crisis, especially even in scope, in terms of the numbers of banks, where the numbers of banks that were failing on an average year were between 200 and 300, and as high as over 500 banks in a given year that were failing.  And that's not what we're seeing today.  " title=" Q    -- that the administration could do to reassure the depositors who have been seeing more of th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-11#entryid_269905" rowid="136530344" side="usa" srcid="269905" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes, this is part of an ongoing series of briefings that we have offered.  They have been constant, there's not been a break in them, and we are going to continue to do that.  &lt;p /&gt; Then I would point you to what the President said, in terms of the goals of the deal, and part of it is, just remember, that as of December 31st at midnight our troops aren't going to be under U.N. mandate anymore and they are going to have to have some sort of legal mechanism in order to continue to operate there.  We know the Iraqis want us there.  Is there a question of how that agreement is going to shape up at the end of the negotiations?  Yes, there is.	But I think one of the things the President pointed to that was most positive is that what you have is democracy breaking out across Iraq, and you have people from different parties voicing their opinions and using politics and using the press as a way to get their message out -- which we think is a very positive thing.  Of course we don't think of it as colonization -- that might be some others' view.  &lt;p /&gt; But I think the best person -- the best two people to look at this agreement from their perspective, in terms of the big picture vision, is President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki, who are working with their governments -- us with our Congress and he with his parliament -- and his cabinet, because they have a coalition government; that's the best way to look at it.  And I think that we will be able to get an agreement.  There's a lot of hard work ahead and the negotiations go back and forth.  And we have Brett McGurk, who is our special assistant to the President, who is on the front lines for the President on this, and he is back and forth to Iraq often -- he was there at the Senate Armed Services Committee -- he'll be back in Iraq soon.  " title=" Q    -- that they had yesterday?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321338" rowid="136534480" side="usa" srcid="321338" text=" MS. PERINO:  We feel that the legislation that we have provides for this individual to make the tough decisions necessary on behalf of the taxpayers in order to protect the taxpayers and help protect the economy.  It doesn't mean that they're going to be making the decisions as to what the concessions would be, but they would at least be able to rule on something being in or out of bounds.  And I think that that is a reasonable way to go.  They're not going to be sitting down in the boardroom making the actual decisions on behalf of the company, but they are going to be making sure that they're reviewing those decisions and then making a ruling at the end of the day about long-term viability. And if the company cannot prove long-term viability at that point, then they pay the taxpayer back for the short-term financing, and they don't get any more long-term help.  &lt;p /&gt; Toby.  " title=" Q    -- that they say this is concentrating too much control and power --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317285" rowid="136533938" side="usa" srcid="317285" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't see that right now.  And in addition, Deb, there's just no appetite for it in the Senate, as well.  I don't think they could actually even get that bill through the process.  And we are in a situation where we need to move very quickly.  So it seems prudent to me, and reasonable and sensible, to move forward to amend the bill that's already in place.  And we could try to get that $25 billion that's right there for the taking into play to help these companies for the next little while, until they can get on a better path to prosperity.  " title=" Q    -- that would be the compromise, not any kind -- you don't see room for any kind of compromise" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-23#entryid_305983" rowid="136532585" side="usa" srcid="305983" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Like I said earlier, I'm not going to get in the way of Secretary Paulson's negotiations with the Hill.  He and his staff will have those discussions on specific elements and I'm not going to lay those lines out right now.  " title=" Q    -- the bankruptcy laws.  Are those deal-breakers for the White House or are you open to talkin" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-17#entryid_270699" rowid="136530442" side="usa" srcid="270699" text=" MR. FRATTO:  No, the White House policy is what I told you, which is that we do not abuse and we treat detainees humanely and comporting with the law.  " title=" Q    -- the bar is not whether or not you die.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310097" rowid="136533145" side="usa" srcid="310097" text=" Q    -- the federal budget.  There was talk about a freeze in federal spending, but I know the President himself, as many Presidents are, is an advocate of a line-item veto.  Does the President have any thoughts that he would pass on to his successor on whether that could be trimmed from the federal budget right now?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, we've proposed budgets for the last seven and a half years, and showed where cuts could be made.  And I don't think that will necessarily change coming into next year.  But as tempting as it is to get involved in the politics, I'm just going to have to refrain.  " title=" Q    -- the federal budget.  There was talk about a freeze in federal spending, but I know the Pres" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317319" rowid="136533972" side="usa" srcid="317319" text=" MS. PERINO:  Absolutely not.  First of all, if somebody wants to come -- if the next administration decides that somebody shouldn't be in a particular job, they can make a decision to not have them in that job anymore.  But in addition to that, I think there's a real difference here.  When you have people who -- you have a certain amount of slots, of political slots.  We're not taking those away from anybody.  The Obama administration will still be able to have -- to fulfill their slots as they see fit.  So we're not suggesting that; we're not trying to dictate the process.  &lt;p /&gt; But there are people in the federal government who -- and you should want people who have worked in the administration who think that they might want to make their careers in government.  We have a lot of smart people all across the government with a lot of expertise -- in the financial sector, in the energy sector, in the environmental sector, the Labor Department, et cetera.  &lt;p /&gt; What we have done is follow the OPM guidelines -- just like the Clinton administration supposedly did -- and our conversions, as I said, are about 20 this year, compared to 47 in the last year of the Clinton administration.*  " title=" Q    -- the incoming administration of --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-29#entryid_302710" rowid="136531989" side="usa" srcid="302710" text=" MS. PERINO:  But this President knows better than almost any politician in America what it's like to face criticism.  He watched his dad as vice presidential candidate for two terms go through that, and then when his dad ran for President, he saw it again, and then in his own campaigns, the two national elections. He knows what it's like in high political season, and he's not going to respond to every attack.  &lt;p /&gt; But some of the attacks are just out-and-out false; for example, suggesting that the Bush administration hasn't invested in alternative or renewable energies.  Everybody in this room knows that that's not true.  So we're in high political season.	We're not going to let it get to us.  We're going to focus on the big picture.  And most importantly, President Bush will be working to make sure that John McCain is the next President of the United States.  " title=" Q    -- the President has taken a great deal of criticism.  Every speaker it seemed at the Democrat" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273428" rowid="136530857" side="usa" srcid="273428" text=" Q    -- the President tried to encourage African leaders to consider sanctions as a way forward to deal with the situation in Zimbabwe but found that not all the leaders are accepting of that idea?  Would that be a fair summarization of that issue in this meeting?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  No, it wouldn't, because that suggests the discussion was focused on trying to persuade -- on some people trying to persuade others to adopt a particular tool.  That wasn't the nature of the discussion.  It was a broader discussion about the situation in Zimbabwe; how it is grave; how the international community needs to come together to, as I said, try to find a solution that reflects the will of the people of Zimbabwe who voted for change and brings lasting peace to that country.  " title=" Q    -- the President tried to encourage African leaders to consider sanctions as a way forward to " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_325023" rowid="136534892" side="usa" srcid="325023" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay, sure.  " title=" Q    -- the Presidents and the President-elect.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279960" rowid="136531188" side="usa" srcid="279960" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not if it based on conditions on the ground.  So, as I said, say that there's some date in the future -- I won't say which one it is -- say that there's a date in the future and as you get nearer to it something has changed on the ground, or the Iraqi security forces that we thought were going to be ready aren't, or there's some other sort of change, then it could be reevaluated and pushed back.  " title=" Q    -- the U.S. government's mind?  And --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-10#entryid_309006" rowid="136533081" side="usa" srcid="309006" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think so; shouldn't be -- might just have updates on the coverage part of it.  And then --  " title=" Q    -- the week ahead, is there anything additional --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-20#entryid_305670" rowid="136532548" side="usa" srcid="305670" text=" MR. HADLEY:  I think we have a good understanding with the government, but recognizing this is a difficult situation.  The Pakistani government has a difficult challenge.  They are a new government.  They are a democratically elected government.  They obviously are very concerned about Pakistani sovereignty and having that sovereignty respected.  That's one point.  &lt;p /&gt; Point two:  They also recognize there is a serious terrorist threat, and I think the government is increasingly recognizing it is a threat to Pakistan; that dealing with that terrorist threat is not a favor they're doing to Afghanistan or a favor they're doing to us -- it is something that is essential to their survival.  &lt;p /&gt; I think, thirdly, the Pakistanis understand that in the short run they have limited capability to deal with that problem.  Look how long it took us to learn how to deal with the counterinsurgency threat in Iraq.  It's a daunting challenge and it will be very challenging for the Pakistanis.  &lt;p /&gt; And finally, I think they also recognize that while we work with them to enhance their capability to deal with this problem, it is in their interest and our interest to try to make sure that there are not terrorist attacks that can kill Pakistanis.  Remember, you know, former Prime Minister Bhutto was killed from an attack that emanated from that area, and I think they understand that if, God forbid, there was an attack from that area, that -- to the homeland of the United States, it would be a disastrous blow for U.S.-Pakistan cooperation.  &lt;p /&gt; So there are real dilemmas and contradictions for the United States in dealing with this problem, for Afghanistan in dealing with this problem, and for this new Pakistani government.	And we are working closely with them to try and navigate what is a very difficult situation.  And that's really all I can say.  " title=" Q    -- then why would they say that we could --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-05#entryid_273376" rowid="136530843" side="usa" srcid="273376" text=" MR. WILDER:  I'm saying the end of next week is probably the earliest they can occur.  " title=" Q    -- this upcoming --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273728" rowid="136530925" side="usa" srcid="273728" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Yes.  And you'll see in the leaders' declaration there is a series of more -- on forestry -- there's a whole list of them, and I gave you the highlights.  " title=" Q    -- those four items.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305153" rowid="136532408" side="usa" srcid="305153" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I hear you on that and I will update you as soon as possible as to when you would hear from the President on the economy again.  " title=" Q    -- through January 20th at noon.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306406" rowid="136532637" side="usa" srcid="306406" text=" MS. PERINO:  -- because if their participation can help drive this to a conclusion, that that would be for the better for all Americans.  " title=" Q    -- to build support on the Hill?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305183" rowid="136532438" side="usa" srcid="305183" text=" MS. PERINO:  A resolution trust corporation, I think it's called.  We're going to hear a lot of proposals in the coming days as we try to work through this.  We have an open mind.  We'll always review things that will strengthen the economy, but we're still working through a lot of those ideas that are coming forward.  So I don't have an outline for you yet as to what we would --  " title=" Q    -- to deal -- yes, an RTC-like office.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-20#entryid_301282" rowid="136531803" side="usa" srcid="301282" text=" MR. CONWAY:  Well, the important point here is, restore them to be commensurate with the population that returns.  &lt;p /&gt; I'll give you an example.  On Monday, the state of Louisiana released its master plan for schools.  Before Katrina, the schools in New Orleans had an estimated $1 billion in deferred maintenance.  This is before the storm.  After the storm, the state of Louisiana would tell you that the impact and devastation on the schools was an additional billion dollars.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, you've had a large decrease in the student population.  Going back to the 1970s, you see the numbers come down from over 100,000 to about 33,000 now.  But that deferred maintenance was an important point, because as the school system sat back and they worked with stakeholders to figure out what would a new education system look like, what they've done is they put forward a plan that Paul Pastorak, the Superintendent of Schools for the state of Louisiana, says represents the potential for the greatest change in 100 years.  What's in the plan?  The plan calls for the potential shutdown or reuse, new use, of 50 different school facilities.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, when we talk about bringing New Orleans back to what it was before, the real relevant question was, what was it before?  And it was a city that was marked by high crime, poor school performance, lack of choice for parents in the school systems.	So on the reform agenda, what you see are all these sectors trying to come out to meet where they think the population will be and what the population will demand on schools -- especially parents.  Parents want more choice.  &lt;p /&gt; You have -- over the half the schools in the city of New Orleans now are charter schools.  That's an important thing.  It's the most unique number in the country, okay?  That shows you that there is a market; it's consumer-driven.  Parents are very interested in educational excellence, and that's what they want.  They don't necessarily want to go back to what was.  That didn't help anybody.  It was low expectations, neighborhoods with very poor school populations and not enough money to keep books on the shelves.   MR. JOHNDROE:  Thank you.   MR. CONWAY:  Thanks a lot, you guys.  " title=" Q    -- to restore all these sectors -- housing, schools, everything?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304056" rowid="136532211" side="usa" srcid="304056" text=" MS. PERINO:  You raise good points; so does she.  And I'll let the campaign and all the other pundits sort it out.	I'm not going to comment.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Yungi.  " title=" Q    -- treat Obama's admitted and apparently heavy youthful drug use as if it were off limits.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-31#entryid_314018" rowid="136533572" side="usa" srcid="314018" text=" MR. FRATTO:  To what?  Or to remove regulations.  We're hearing all kinds of things about it.  And it's put in the context of &quot;just like every other administration,&quot; this administration is trying to rush regulations at the end and get them in place before they leave.  So I just want to take a minute to talk about exactly what we are doing with regulations and give you a little bit of background.  &lt;p /&gt; Back in May -- actually, let me back up even further and go back to January 21st of 2001, when then OMB Director Mitch Daniels issued an order after the President was sworn in to halt action on what was, in fact, a flood of regulations that had been put in place at the very end of the previous administration.  This was done because a lot of these regulations have not received the full regulatory review in regular order as this administration coming in thought they should have.  And in fact there was a rush of regulations.  &lt;p /&gt; I haven't had a chance to look back at administrations that preceded the end of the Clinton administration, but certainly at the end of that administration in the post-election period, November to January, there was in the end of 2000 and January 2001 a more than 50-percent increase in the number of regulations that were issued, compared to the November-to-January period in the previous years of the administration.  So there was a really dramatic increase.  &lt;p /&gt; We're not doing that in this administration.  The number of administration -- the number of regulations under review has remained fairly constant.  There's no great increase in the number of regulations that we're reviewing right now over -- if you go back six months or 12 months or 18 months, the numbers stay pretty much steady.  &lt;p /&gt; And go back to early this year, the current Chief of Staff, Josh Bolten, issued a memorandum to the heads of departments and agencies on how to deal with regulations.  In fact, what the Chief of Staff wanted to avoid was this very charge that we would be trying to, in the dark of night in the last days of the administration, be rushing regulations into place ahead of the incoming, next administration.  &lt;p /&gt; So what he did is he set out a timetable for the consideration of regulations, when they could be approved, when final regulations should be brought forward for regulatory review, and to do it in a way that preserves all of the integrity of the regulatory review process -- all the transparency, the public comment period, the internal agency review, the ability to listen to interested parties who have concerns over the regulation to come in and voice their concerns and express their points of view on proposed regulations, and then to issue them in a timely and orderly way.  That's exactly what we're doing.  &lt;p /&gt; So just to hammer home the point on this, we're trying to avoid that situation where there is a rush of regulation, or the regulation is being put forward in a way that is counter to the very appropriate goals of a system that's characterized by integrity and transportation and public -- I'm sorry, transparency and public comment and agency review of the regulations.  &lt;p /&gt; So that's what we're trying to do.  If you look at these stories or if you have interest in further looking at how we're dealing with regulations, feel free to come to us.  I know there's some from -- you get a little bit from Wendell's quote about removing regulations -- some of the bias in reporting of what we plan to do with regulations -- the sense is that we would try to -- that we're trying to weaken regulations that have a business interest.  &lt;p /&gt; Some of the regulations that are coming through I think are not -- maybe not particularly welcomed by members of the business community.  I'm not saying one way or the other whether that's a goal or not, but we're implementing regulations and we're trying to do them in the best way that protects the interest of the nation.  And we're trying to do it in the appropriate way and in regular order.  &lt;p /&gt; So I hope you notice that, and if you have more questions feel free to come back to us on that.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Jennifer.  " title=" Q    -- trying to remove regulations.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308062" rowid="136532913" side="usa" srcid="308062" text=" MR. STANZEL:  You guys are all great at reading body language.  " title=" Q    -- we might hear from him when he gets back -- I mean, that's the body language I took from yo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301180" rowid="136531794" side="usa" srcid="301180" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No.  Russia invaded a neighbor; has said it would withdraw; hasn't withdrawn.  I think they need to.  So does the rest of the international community.  So nothing really one-sided about that.  " title=" Q    -- we're being unfair or one-sided at all in our reaction to this -- the United States?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-29#entryid_306851" rowid="136532713" side="usa" srcid="306851" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Sure.  Yes, absolutely.  I think that is a big part of the case is for everyone to understand.  People have an image of this that this money is going to support executives on Wall Street, and what we're really trying to do is to fix a systemic problem in our economy.  &lt;p /&gt; By the way, it's a problem that already exists.  We want to prevent it from getting much, much worse in a way that would shut down our economy.  But you can go out and look at regional newspapers across the country and see what's happening with especially small businesses who may have more limited options for obtaining financing, and they are having difficult times getting the credit that they need to be efficient in operating their businesses.  And some are not getting the credit at all.  " title=" Q    -- what is he saying to them to make his case?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278861" rowid="136531029" side="usa" srcid="278861" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we believe that -- the reason that the President would veto the bill has nothing to do with the GSE regulator, which is something that the President has called for since 2003.  Arguably, that's the most important part of this legislation.  Second to that would be the modernization of the Federal Housing Administration.  &lt;p /&gt; But the reason the President said that he would veto the Community Development Block Grant provision was because it was $4 billion that would go to help lenders and banks, not homeowners.  And the President doesn't think that that $4 billion needs to be spent in that regard.  So as far as I know, the veto threat still stands.  " title=" Q    -- what's the status of the veto threat against that housing measure?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-15#entryid_300848" rowid="136531732" side="usa" srcid="300848" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Okay.  " title=" Q    -- when you know, okay?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266866" rowid="136529925" side="usa" srcid="266866" text=" Q    -- when you say that the White House's preference is to solve this through peaceful, diplomatic means.  That still leaves the door open, though, to planning an attack.  I'm not saying you are planning an attack, but by your specifically saying that your preference is to have a peaceful, diplomatic means, doesn't that leave the door open to still --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't see how that changes -- I don't think that what I said today in response to a Jerusalem Post article that quotes an Army Times* piece that quotes unnamed officials who were quoting unnamed officials -- seems a little bit less than ethical to run that as a big story on their website.  So what I said in there was I was restating longstanding Bush administration policy, which is to work with our international allies on a multilateral way to get the Iranians through diplomatic means, bringing economic and diplomatic pressure to bear on the Iranians to get them to change their behavior so that we could sit down at the table with them.  And until they halt that nuclear enrichment we're not going to sit down with them.  &lt;p /&gt; But what I said in terms of, as the President said before, no President should take options off the table when dealing with any situation.  So -- but I don't think I said anything different from what I've said before.  " title=" Q    -- when you say that the White House's preference is to solve this through peaceful, diplomati" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305175" rowid="136532430" side="usa" srcid="305175" text=" MS. PERINO:  I did answer it the way that I was going to.  " title=" Q    -- whether the fundamentals of our economy are sound.  You're not answering that question.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324673" rowid="136534833" side="usa" srcid="324673" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Let me give you a couple of examples.  One area of very high importance, especially in the Northern Marianas Island chain, but also in Samoa, was being able to make provision for traditional indigenous practices.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, there's very, very limited intersection with these remote resources by the indigenous peoples, but they have a strong cultural heritage -- these are places of high importance to them culturally.  And I think one of the highest priorities for the governments was to be sure that we were, as the federal government, respectful of those practices -- as we are routinely across the land part of the United States.  &lt;p /&gt; And so we were able to come up with an approach that would allow for that, very similar to what we did in Hawaii, by which the local government will be sure to sort of pay close attention to the desire of people to engage in indigenous practices in these areas and be sure that those are legitimately undertaken.  So that's one example.  We just needed to work through that until we spelled it out -- you know, folks were going to wait to agree until we spelled it out.  &lt;p /&gt; Another example was the issue of minerals.  There was a concern that there would be a conflict between the potential for minerals development and the conservation actions we wanted to take.  As we learned from the assessment, in close consultation with the scientists who had been working the area, the places where the minerals are likely going to be are not the places that we are looking to conserve.  So there's not a significant potential or identifiable potential for mineral resources up in and around the three Northern Islands.  There isn't significant potential for recoverable resources in the Mariana Trench.  And as a practical matter, nobody in their right mind is going to go looking for minerals in the middle of a volcano that's active or in the middle of a thermal vent with a pH of one.  So this is a great example where having done the science we were able to actually take an issue off the table because it wasn't relevant.  &lt;p /&gt; Let me give a third one.  We were very interested in protecting the geologic and natural resource features of the seabed in the trench and the volcanoes.  As indicated, there's an amazing amount of marine life in and around these volcanoes and on these vents.  &lt;p /&gt; There was a question as to whether there would be a commercial fishing restriction, with respect to those areas.  But commercial fishing wasn't really relevant to the resource we were working to protect.  And, in fact, most of these areas are not very productive for commercial fishing in any event.	And so there was a fear that we'd be getting into commercial fishing restrictions outside of the Magnuson process, where it was actually completely unnecessary to assure full protection of the resource we were seeking to protect.  &lt;p /&gt; So those would be three examples.  You know, they all are a bit complicated each in their own rights.  We just have to work through it.  And again, I want to underline, the Governor of the CNMI, the Speaker of the CNMI, and the Senate President of the CNMI all worked very well together with us and carefully, you know, got up to speed on all the same science we got up to speed with, and have, you know -- I think you'll find them coming out fully supportive of this conservation outcome.  " title=" Q    -- whether this was either in the area that's covered, has been scaled back, or in the activit" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_324992" rowid="136534861" side="usa" srcid="324992" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look, we've gone over this many times.  The President thinks it's very important for us to continue to go after and seek out and bring to justice Osama bin Laden.  So we continue to work towards that.  " title=" Q    -- whether we have him will make a difference or not?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-17#entryid_310360" rowid="136533175" side="usa" srcid="310360" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't do a couple things:  I don't comment on the 2008 election, nor do I comment on things that Jesse Jackson says.  So I'm not going to comment.  " title=" Q    -- who does control foreign policy, have to say about Mr. Jackson's anti-Israel statement?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-18#entryid_305342" rowid="136532475" side="usa" srcid="305342" text=" MS. PERINO:  The President, as you know, cancelled his travel for today.  He wanted to be here to be able to deal with things firsthand.	He spoke to Secretary Paulson last night and then again this morning by phone.  He plans to meet with him later today -- I don't have a time for you yet, but I'll see if I can update you pretty soon.  &lt;p /&gt; He wanted to speak to the American people today to remind them that their federal government is working to make sure that all necessary steps are taken to limit broader damage to the economy.  He does always keep an eye on the markets and he wants to keep updated on that throughout the day, every day.  So certainly he's doing that today.  &lt;p /&gt; And then Keith Hennessey and Ed Lazear, Josh Bolten, and Joel Kaplan are nearby the President for most of the day to provide him information, but also there are times when they need to go and do their work, as well.  The President also got his regular intelligence briefings and there are other items that are pressing in front of the country, so he's dealing with those, too.  " title=" Q    -- with regularity, and is the bulk of his day devoted to this economic issue?  What can you t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326693" rowid="136535052" side="usa" srcid="326693" text=" Q    -- with the President.  And also, in the conversation that you had I think with Mr. McCurry that you referred to, you made an offer to the Georgian President to be a guest at the President's institute, and some people in Georgia took this as an opening for him to leave his current position.  Was that meant?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  No, no, no, no, no.  (Laughter.)  I was asked a question about the President's plans for his freedom institute, and one of the examples he has used is that leaders like Mikheil Saakashvili would be somebody who would maybe come and provide a lecture to the students at Southern Methodist University at some point.  But it certainly wasn't an invitation to leave the country or his leadership position.  " title=" Q    -- with the President.  And also, in the conversation that you had I think with Mr. McCurry th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270989" rowid="136530493" side="usa" srcid="270989" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'm sorry?  " title=" Q    -- without Congress lifting the ban?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315264" rowid="136533634" side="usa" srcid="315264" text=" MS. PERINO:  It happens a lot, in terms -- that's how you do negotiations.  And we'll see.	I just think that -- they have to figure out what they want to do first, before they can expect us to sign on to something.  We're signing on to thin air at this point.  &lt;p /&gt; Elaine.  " title=" Q    -- would the President --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-09#entryid_325881" rowid="136534931" side="usa" srcid="325881" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Which is -- we have a full tactic, full panoply of tactics that we use, on the diplomatic side, on the defense side, on the homeland security side, and terrorist financing side.  So the President is very proud of his record in defending this country and taking the fight to terrorists for the past two terms.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p /&gt; Yes, sir.  &lt;/p&gt;" title=" Q    -- you can try a different tactic.  &lt;/p&gt;" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-02#entryid_319782" rowid="136534256" side="usa" srcid="319782" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think $25 billion is quite generous, and not necessarily something that I would consider to be &quot;stuck on&quot; anything. But we would like -- but we are sticking to our guns that the companies have to prove that they are viable before the taxpayer dollars should be given to them.	So I think we just need to see what they -- how they proceed.  &lt;p /&gt; The companies have continued to be okay.  I realize that they say that they're teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.  We've said that we wanted to support them, and we've provided what we think is a bipartisan way to do that.  " title=" Q    -- you guys were stuck on the $25 billion.  That's your position right now, right?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311459" rowid="136533266" side="usa" srcid="311459" text=" MS. PERINO:  Because I'm not going to talk about it, but I have let you know that we've kept them informed about very important issues along the way.  " title=" Q    -- you said you just informed -- why not?	You said you informed --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298607" rowid="136531436" side="usa" srcid="298607" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I remember believing -- I remember believing, and I believe I said, that we were expecting growth to be pretty flat.  And we were pleased --  " title=" Q    -- you were going a lot slower, you didn't say flat.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273165" rowid="136530790" side="usa" srcid="273165" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I'm not.  And that's what the President has said before, which is he believes he's going to China to support first and foremost our athletes; he sees this as a sporting competition.	But at the same time, just as he will this week when he sees President Hu, he will talk to him about these important issues of human rights and especially religious freedom.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay.  Lambros.  " title=" Q    -- you're not connecting them, they're not conditional.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304048" rowid="136532203" side="usa" srcid="304048" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think so.	I'll check.  There are no travel plans on the President's calendar right now.  &lt;p /&gt; Jennifer.  " title=" Q    --entertain a trip --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317894" rowid="136534044" side="usa" srcid="317894" text=" MS. PERINO:  Let me just read what I have here.  So it's seven weeks on top of 13 that you already get, plus an additional 13 weeks for high unemployment states.  " title=" Q    A clarification on the unemployment extension.  Is it a possible total of 13 additional or 20 " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317050" rowid="136533917" side="usa" srcid="317050" text=" Q    A couple days after the economic summit, I'm wondering if you feel like or the President feels like it was a productive session, that it really helped the economic crisis that we're in, and does he wish that perhaps the next meeting could be sooner?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, we put this G20 meeting together in 23 days.  I think it was quite remarkable to get 20 leaders here.  We think that it was the first time that many leaders had all gathered in the White House at one time for that -- when we had them here for the dinner on Friday night.  &lt;p /&gt; We think it was a very successful summit.  We accomplished a lot in a short period of time.  The declaration addresses President Bush's priorities and it has 47 specific concrete actions that the countries agreed to take together.  I think that having the meeting on March 31st of 2009* is actually very ambitious and it will require people to work very hard to dot the I's and cross the T's and work out how they will address these measures on accounting and transparency, on the college of supervisors, et cetera.  &lt;p /&gt; So we are very pleased with the summit.  We believe that there was a common understanding that all of us shared there, that the free market is the best way to lift people out of poverty, to provide for a path of prosperity.  And there was a strong commitment to capitalism in the room, as well, sometimes from people that you wouldn't necessarily think would have that type of feeling.  So we think it was a successful summit, but we have a long way to go.  Now that that part is over, implementation is even more important.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm going to go to John.  " title=" Q    A couple days after the economic summit, I'm wondering if you feel like or the President feels" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303870" rowid="136532163" side="usa" srcid="303870" text=" Q    A couple for you.	First, following up on Jeremy's question about the India nuclear deal, is there an explicit or even implicit understanding between the United States and India that a nuclear test by India would void the agreement, put it on hold, or in any way affect it?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm going to -- I'll just have to get back to you on that one.  " title=" Q    A couple for you.	First, following up on Jeremy's question about the India nuclear deal, is th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-28#entryid_312997" rowid="136533417" side="usa" srcid="312997" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would say both of those things, but possibly other things, too.  I'm not saying we have new policies that we're going to announce, but I'm not involved in the discussions at that level.  But I think there have been very -- obviously the automakers have been very interested in the Energy Department program, which was passed last December and then finally got authorization* in August.  The automakers were very instrumental in trying to get that passed, so that when Congress provided that authorization, then the administration could do what Congress wanted, which was to start moving forward on that.  &lt;p /&gt; So that's one of the issues, and I'm sure they're talking about the Troubled Asset Relief Program, as well.  I just don't have the details.  " title=" Q    A couple of follow-ups on the autos, Dana.  You said that the automakers have been in contact " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-10#entryid_300066" rowid="136531600" side="usa" srcid="300066" text=" Q    A couple of follow-ups.  Did he bring up any individual cases, as a lot of people called on him to do, gave him various lists, amnesty or people in Congress -- and can you expound a little bit on what you said about President Hu suggesting perhaps the door may be open?  What did you think he meant when he said that?  And then if I could ask a follow on Iran.  &lt;p&gt; MR. WILDER:  Sure.  We may want Ambassador Jeffrey to deal with the Iran question.  Go back to the first one -- you threw me off with Iran, I'm sorry.	(Laughter.)  " title=" Q    A couple of follow-ups.  Did he bring up any individual cases, as a lot of people called on hi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298605" rowid="136531432" side="usa" srcid="298605" text=" MS. PERINO:  I will gaggle tomorrow, probably around 10:30 a.m.  " title=" Q    A couple of housekeeping -- are you gaggling tomorrow?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304232" rowid="136532277" side="usa" srcid="304232" text=" Q    A couple of questions involving the President's meeting with President Talabani today.  How much of his decision to order a fairly conservative troop withdrawal from Iraq was determined by the fact that the coalition of the willing will all but cease to exist next year?  And just exactly how many members of the coalition do you expect to negotiate their own SFAs with Iraq?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't know how many, and I'll let the Iraqis, or MNFI address that.  I don't know how many.  But there will certainly be many countries that have already announced that they're going to be ending their operations in Iraq this year.  They're basically able to do that because of the success that we've had working with them, and because of the President's decision to send in more troops and to fundamentally change our approach, in terms of protecting the population and making sure that we did not lose Baghdad.  &lt;p /&gt; The President's decisions about troop levels were based on the recommendations from the Department of Defense, who I'm sure took into account all of the other aspects of the conditions on the ground, including how many other coalition members would be there.  " title=" Q    A couple of questions involving the President's meeting with President Talabani today.  How mu" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278842" rowid="136531010" side="usa" srcid="278842" text=" Q    A couple of weeks ago, the Mexican authorities released a video of police being trained for torture.  Some members of the U.S. Congress are worried that the President already signed into law for giving Mexico $400 million to train police and military officers in Mexico.  Is there any word by the President that that agreement and money could be used to train another police --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I have no -- I would need to check into it.  I -- obviously we were grateful to get the money for the Merida Initiative.  We think it's very important for improving law enforcement, especially along that border region where it's been a lawless situation for a long time.  &lt;p /&gt; But President Calder&amp;#243;n has been dedicated to trying to improve the situation and we will help him there.  I would actually point you back to the government authorities in Mexico, who had some things to say about that video in terms of the training issues.	I don't want to get in the middle of that because I'll let them speak for themselves when it comes to that.  &lt;p /&gt; But when it comes to the Merida Initiative, we're pleased to be able to work with them and we are going to be sharing a lot of intel -- not just intelligence, but also a lot of human capacity building.  We're going to help with a lot of training down there, which we think is essential to improving the situation.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    A couple of weeks ago, the Mexican authorities released a video of police being trained for to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-02#entryid_324416" rowid="136534789" side="usa" srcid="324416" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  You know, we've been in regular contact with the Israelis -- President Bush spoke to Prime Minister Olmert.	Secretary Rice, as she just said, has been in regular contact with her counterparts, as well as Prime Minister Olmert.  What we have talked to the Israelis about is the need to be mindful that any of the actions that they're taking in Gaza avoid unnecessary civilian casualties, and also to help continue with the flow of humanitarian goods.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think any steps they are taking, whether it's from the air, or on the ground, or anything of that nature, are part and parcel of the same operation -- an operation that Israel has decided to undertake because they were no longer willing to put up with the barrage of rockets that Hamas has been raining down on them for the last few days since they refused to renew the cease-fire.  I mean, they continued to fire rockets even while there was the cease-fire, the state of calm up until December the 19th.  But then they substantially increased that last week.  And Israel had to take action, and you're seeing that now.  " title=" Q    A couple questions on Gaza.  How concerned is the administration about a possible Israeli grou" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317320" rowid="136533973" side="usa" srcid="317320" text=" Q    A couple questions.  First of all, just to follow up on the last question.  So as far as these appointees, I mean these political figures being slotted into government jobs, so you don't feel that that is any way obstructionist at all, depriving the Obama --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Absolutely not.  " title=" Q    A couple questions.  First of all, just to follow up on the last question.  So as far as these" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-02#entryid_324413" rowid="136534786" side="usa" srcid="324413" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Well, we're not seeing Hamas stop its rocket attacks.  And that's something that we're going to need to see them do.  And I know that we've been engaged in a lot of diplomacy.  I know that Foreign Minister Livni is traveling in Europe right now, and they've signaled that this is not an operation that they're going to stop right now because they have to protect their people.  Israel has a right to defend itself from these rocket attacks.  &lt;p /&gt; And so we'll see.  We want a cease-fire as soon as possible, but we want one that is durable and lasting and won't be broken right away again by Hamas, one -- a cease-fire that Hamas respects.  " title=" Q    A couple questions.  One, is there any progress to report, incremental or otherwise, of reachi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315647" rowid="136533708" side="usa" srcid="315647" text=" MR. FRATTO:  No.  You can check in with Treasury on that.  If you're looking for hints for who will be members of the Obama economic team, I won't be able to help you with that.  " title=" Q    A couple questions.  You said that Paulson has been talking with the Obama folks.  Can you pro" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-01#entryid_319647" rowid="136534250" side="usa" srcid="319647" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that the intelligence community is still assessing all aspects of attack -- the motivation, the plotting and planning, and the operational details of it.  So I don't have anything that I can provide for you.  &lt;p /&gt; Obviously we are very distressed that it happened in the first place.  These were horrific attacks -- attacks against over 200 people, I think now -- or just about 200 people confirmed dead.  That death toll might go up as they continue to go through the hotels in the other areas.  American lives were lost, as well as I think it was 10 nationalities, from 10 different countries were killed.  &lt;p /&gt; We stand with the people of India.  We express our solidarity with them.  That's one of the reasons that President Bush wanted Secretary Rice to continue on in her travels to go to India.  And one of the things Secretary Rice said this morning is that in the investigation we expect that all leads will be followed and that they will be carried out to the end, wherever that may lead.  " title=" Q    A couple things.  First, what's the best information here, within the White House, about what " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323445" rowid="136534623" side="usa" srcid="323445" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  Well, the loan terms are to the manufacturers.  The lender is the Treasury; the borrower is the auto manufacturer.  Treasury continues to be in discussions with the auto manufacturers, but I would say those are on technical elements of the term sheet, not on the fundamental issues that I just laid out.  " title=" Q    A couple things.  You explained the terms and that they have to pay this back by March 31st --" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269190" rowid="136530281" side="usa" srcid="269190" text=" MS. PERINO:  Did you say Cheney and Olmert?  " title=" Q    A follow-up from yesterday.  Do you have anything on an agreement between Cheney and Olmert on" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-21#entryid_301416" rowid="136531831" side="usa" srcid="301416" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I'm not aware of any, not aware of any.  " title=" Q    A follow-up on that.  Is there any impact on the transit of cargo through Russia to Afghanista" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310124" rowid="136533160" side="usa" srcid="310124" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, President Sarkozy and European President Barroso are going to be up in Canada this weekend, and the President invited them down since they're in the neighborhood.  " title=" Q    A follow-up on that?  Is the visit from President Sarkozy to Camp David connected to that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325257" rowid="136534916" side="usa" srcid="325257" text=" MS. PERINO:  What we are looking -- the United States is deeply concerned about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.  And that's one of the reasons that Secretary Rice has been working around the clock, and especially last night, literally around the clock, to work with the Israelis and also her counterparts around the world.  &lt;p /&gt; We need urgently to conclude some sort of a cease-fire agreement that will be lasting, that would endure, and that would make sure that we can identify the three things that we wanted to do yesterday, that I mentioned yesterday, which is stop the rocket attacks, stop the smuggling, and also figure out a way to reopen that border in a way that's consistent with the 2005 access agreement.  " title=" Q    A follow-up to the Mideast question.  Is there anything more that the U.S. can do to achieve a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313539" rowid="136533486" side="usa" srcid="313539" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, if they can't pay back to us?  Well, as Eddie said -- you know, I don't know all -- I don't know what -- I don't want to forecast or speculate that they wouldn't be able to, because we believe that they will be able to.  And we're going to -- the whole reason we're doing this program is so that the banks can get recapitalized, that they can start lending again so that people will have the money to be able to both pay their salaries and pay their dividends.  And the taxpayers are going to be paid back at the same time.  So we'll continue to work on that.  I think it would just be wrong of me to speculate on some of them failing.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Paula.  " title=" Q    A follow-up, thanks.  What are the repercussions if banks can't pay those quarterly dividends " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317633" rowid="136534012" side="usa" srcid="317633" text=" Q    A follow-up.  Does this make it clear that it's not necessarily about race, it's about the presidency, what al Qaeda is attacking?  I mean, granted, they've put a lot of racial statements in the statement, but it's mostly about the power structure, what America represents, not --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think that the comments that al Qaeda makes are totally irrational.  They attack everything and anything that is American.  And so they just look for targets of opportunity, both verbally and physically, and that's why we have to stop them.  &lt;p /&gt; Mike.  " title=" Q    A follow-up.  Does this make it clear that it's not necessarily about race, it's about the pre" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316086" rowid="136533754" side="usa" srcid="316086" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that they have, but we'll check for you and get back to you.  " title=" Q    A follow-up.  You mentioned the DOE loans, have you heard from Energy on whether any of the au" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-25#entryid_318801" rowid="136534176" side="usa" srcid="318801" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't have anything on that.  No, I would not comment.  And I saw reports about that.  President Bush doesn't recall anything of that sort.	So that's all I'd have to say on it.  " title=" Q    A former NSA linguist is saying that the U.S. spied on Tony Blair.	Do you have anything on tha" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321131" rowid="136534441" side="usa" srcid="321131" text=" Q    A group of House Republicans, led by John Boehner, have released their own plan this morning, outlined their own hopes of legislation.  At this point, would you be interested in negotiating, integrating what they've got, or is the bigger hope to sell them on what you've put together?  &lt;p&gt; MR. KAPLAN:  Well, I have not seen that legislation, so I don't know what the proposal is, whether it's kind of in the ballpark of what we think is the right outcome based on our discussions over the last few days.  Obviously, Leader Boehner is one of our best allies and one of the most capable members and leaders in Congress, so we're interested in anything the Leader has to say and we'll go take a look at it.  I think that the Speaker and Leader Reid have an intention of moving this product we've been negotiating to the floor and to do so rather quickly.  But since I haven't seen Leader Boehner's legislation yet I don't want to comment on it.  " title=" Q    A group of House Republicans, led by John Boehner, have released their own plan this morning, " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310083" rowid="136533138" side="usa" srcid="310083" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, obviously Congress isn't here, but we try to keep in touch with them on a range of issues.  A lot of the conversations about a second stimulus took place just last month before they left.  The proposals that were put forward we did not think would actually stimulate the economy.  There might have been some meritorious proposals on various issues, but we don't necessarily think that they would help bring money into the economy.  So Congress isn't even going to be back here until about November 17th.	We're focused on the immediate issues at hand.	But of course, we continue to talk to Congress and we'll listen to any of their ideas that they want to put forward.  " title=" Q    A growing number of analysts are saying that the recession train has left the station; it's go" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273767" rowid="136530964" side="usa" srcid="273767" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Several.  Several.  In the leaders' declaration, then, we talked -- you'll see a reflection of a discussion about the midterm actions, and recall from the Bali Action Plan that was released last December, all the countries agreed on the need to establish a new round of national plans that set midterm goals and produce midterm actions.  A step forward on this occurred with respect to the fact that the major developed economies indicated that they're going to take actions in the midterm to halt the growth of their greenhouse gas emissions and achieve absolute emission reductions.  And the developing countries for the first time at a leaders' level have indicated that they are going the take actions in the midterm to achieve what is called a deviation from business-as-usual emissions.  That's kind of U.N.-speak, but the plain-speak is they're going to significantly slow the growth of their emissions.  So if you take a business-as-usual projection, they're going to work to come in below that.  &lt;p /&gt; That's going to provide the foundation for discussion really in the coming year -- specific midterm goals of each country.  As I indicated yesterday, the European Union, Canada and the U.S. have already articulated national midterm goals.	Each of the other major emerging economies is working on a national plan that would include their own description of midterm goals and actions.  " title=" Q    A handful?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311471" rowid="136533278" side="usa" srcid="311471" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know if he spoke to the Russians or not, but I know that our -- his sherpa has.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    A lot of different leaders from different countries -- does that include Russia?  Have you ann" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-19#entryid_305511" rowid="136532513" side="usa" srcid="305511" text=" Q    A lot of your comments seem to be pushing back against some of the criticism or concerns expressed by some, particularly Republican lawmakers, who are saying that this does not -- the actions taken are not, in one guy's words, a &quot;return to free enterprise economy.&quot;  What would you say, from your perspective, is missing, either from their -- the data they're getting, or from the way that they would like things to progress from here?  &lt;p&gt; MR. HENNESSEY:	I think properly functioning markets, smoothly functioning markets are essential to a free market economy.  This President has always been averse to government intervention in markets, and he only has wanted to do that when it's been necessary.  It is clearly necessary now, as those markets are not functioning properly.  And so what we're doing is we're intervening in a very decisive way to restore confidence that is needed in those markets so that they can function properly again.  &lt;p /&gt; Last one.  " title=" Q    A lot of your comments seem to be pushing back against some of the criticism or concerns expre" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321128" rowid="136534438" side="usa" srcid="321128" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  There's nothing in the legislation that makes that distinction certainly that I'm aware of.  But again, as I said in answer to the last question, this really is not about the President's designee figuring out exactly what they should do.  It's the President's designee trying to bring them to the table to figure out what they need to do, and then having him be in a position to look at the plan, say, well, that's just not going to work; you're going to need to make more concessions over here if you expect to satisfy the ability to repay the government, or to achieve a positive net present value.  &lt;p /&gt; It may be that he has suggestions for how to do it.  At the end of the process, again, if they're not capable themselves of achieving a negotiated plan, he does have a requirement to prepare his own recommendation for how that might be achieved.  And that --  " title=" Q    A merger among American-based companies, or a merger that could include foreign --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-17#entryid_270717" rowid="136530460" side="usa" srcid="270717" text=" MR. FRATTO:  No, I don't think we've commented on polls and I don't think there's a good reason to start now.  " title=" Q    A new ABC News/Washington Post poll shows the President's disapproval rating has now reached 6" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307671" rowid="136532842" side="usa" srcid="307671" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I think that's what -- I think, yes.  I think that's what I said, a new beginning.  " title=" Q    A new beginning?  This is a new beginning between the two countries?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311482" rowid="136533289" side="usa" srcid="311482" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that we -- I think that everybody will come with their ideas, and the President recognizes that every country is going to have a responsibility, but not every country is going to have the same solution.  So there will be a lot of people coming forward with recommendations and ideas.	There's lots of financial experts in all of these countries, and we have some in our own country.  We'll come with our own recommendations, and they'll come with theirs, and that's what you would expect of a meeting of this kind.  So I think it's too early to say what will come out of it.  &lt;p /&gt; Ann.  " title=" Q    A number of the European allies have said what's needed is a wholesale rewrite of the rules un" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-10#entryid_269742" rowid="136530338" side="usa" srcid="269742" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Not Ahmadinejad.  What he said was his attempts -- he is going to be taking the refreshed offer that was worked out in the EU-3-plus-3 -- which is Germany, France, the UK, China, Russia, the United States -- have worked on a refreshed offer.  And it is going to be conveyed here in a week -- within the week by Solana to Iran.  He is going to meet with a number of leaders in Iran; I do not believe that Ahmadinejad is one of them -- and is part of carrying out the strategy that the President outlined, which is basically to say and show to the Iranian authorities, and show to the Iranian people that there is a way forward for the Iranian people that involves an end of their isolation, a reestablishment of their ties with the West, and concrete political, economic and diplomatic benefits -- including support for a truly peaceful nuclear energy program.  &lt;p /&gt; All of this is on the table and open to the Iranian people if the Iranian regime will simply suspend the enrichment and come to the table.  This is the sort of the one hand -- there is a way out for the Iranian people; on the other hand, as the President said, if they do not take it then the Iranian people need to understand that the choice their regime is making is going to result in increasing isolation of the Iranian regime and, regrettably, the Iranian people as well.  &lt;p /&gt; So it is to confront the Iranian regime with a strategic choice and to urge them to make the right decision for the benefit of the Iranian people.  " title=" Q    A question about -- during the press conference he said he appreciated Solana's attempts to go" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320396" rowid="136534349" side="usa" srcid="320396" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Sure.  " title=" Q    A question about Zimbabwe.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308553" rowid="136533008" side="usa" srcid="308553" text=" Q    A question here about -- you mentioned coordinated actions that Paulson will be talking about later today.  Earlier today, Prime Minister Brown of Britain called for the G7 to coordinate actions on guaranteed bank lending.  Do you guys -- what's your take on that?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't know if I said that we would be talking about further coordinated efforts later today.  I think what I was referring to is that we're -- what I've told everybody is that we will continue to talk with our allies and coordinate with them.  And I think this morning's action that the Fed governors took is an example of that, and we'll continue to do so.  Then, the G7 finance ministers are meeting this weekend.  And so, we'll continue to work with them and talk with them.  &lt;p /&gt; On specific countries, Prime Minister Brown made a decision that he thinks is best for the UK.  And we're going to continue to work with them.  Each nation is going to have to take steps to deal with its own individual problems.  But that doesn't mean we can't also collectively work as a whole.	And so far that's what we've been able to do.  " title=" Q    A question here about -- you mentioned coordinated actions that Paulson will be talking about " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-02#entryid_324394" rowid="136534767" side="usa" srcid="324394" text=" Q    A question on Israel one more time.  You said last week that Olmert gave the assurance that they were trying to minimize civilian casualties.  Isn't that a given anyway, that that would be -- they would be attempting to minimize civilian casualties in a conflict like this?  I mean, is the White House making other requests or urging Israel to do anything else?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  I said that on Wednesday, last week, only to make the point the United States is concerned about civilian casualties and the Israeli Prime Minister assured the President they were doing what they could to avoid civilian casualties.  Very difficult situation when Hamas really embeds itself among the civilian population there.  " title=" Q    A question on Israel one more time.  You said last week that Olmert gave the assurance that th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321129" rowid="136534439" side="usa" srcid="321129" text=" Q    A question on one of the powers the President's designee might or might not have.  Could he encourage the companies, force the companies to sell any part of their operations, including the foreign car makers?  Or is an objective of this whole exercise to try to keep these in American hands?  In other words, that the President's designee determined that a certain line of cars and certain set of factories would be better in the hands of Toyota or Mercedes, or there was an offer that would create both jobs and cash for the companies, could he go that route?  &lt;p&gt; MR. KAPLAN:  That's certainly not a power that is explicit in the legislation, and it's really not what's contemplated.  Again, the idea here is to use this period for the stakeholders to negotiate and figure out what it is they need to do to be successful.  It could turn out that they think some sort of merger is what's necessary in the industry to make them viable and competitive --  " title=" Q    A question on one of the powers the President's designee might or might not have.  Could he en" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-23#entryid_267454" rowid="136530037" side="usa" srcid="267454" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I know that we have had contact with them in the past, because President Bush has said that as part of the deal in order to get the Colombia free trade agreement and the other agreements passed, we are willing to talk about Trade Adjustment Assistance and how to improve upon it, make sure it's effective, and that he was willing to increase the amount.  But I'll have to refer you to USTR for specifics as to the conversations that are going on between their staff and her staff.  " title=" Q    A question on two different issues.  Are there talks going on with Speaker Pelosi's office on " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321133" rowid="136534443" side="usa" srcid="321133" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  Quickly.  Obviously --  " title=" Q    A quick follow on that, Joel.  How quickly after the legislation passes would you be looking t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267012" rowid="136529940" side="usa" srcid="267012" text=" MS. PERINO:  They did?  " title=" Q    A quick one on Myanmar, Dana.  The regime there slammed the door on U.S. Navy vessels deliveri" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-23#entryid_280358" rowid="136531250" side="usa" srcid="280358" text=" MS. PERINO:  Objected to the provision -- he didn't just object to the money, he objects to the concept.  " title=" Q    A quick one to just follow on the package.  The $3.9 billion is what he sort of objected to, t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300557" rowid="136531628" side="usa" srcid="300557" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'll refer you to DOD for that information because I don't have it.  I know that there is going to be medical supplies and beds and food and things like that that are necessary -- antibiotics.  So I'll just refer you to DOD who is running that operation.  " title=" Q    A quick question.	The aid that has arrived today and will arrive tomorrow on the C-17s, how is" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315606" rowid="136533667" side="usa" srcid="315606" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'll let you know.  " title=" Q    A readout afterwards?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-29#entryid_280994" rowid="136531360" side="usa" srcid="280994" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, it's some pretty basic issues -- and I think that you'll hear him call again for the Democratically led Congress to allow the representatives of the American people to at least have a vote on this before they leave for their recess.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q    A repeat of what he will say later today or --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-18#entryid_322976" rowid="136534584" side="usa" srcid="322976" text=" Q    A structured bankruptcy, as opposed to a disorderly collapse, would involve the cooperation of the unions, the companies, various other stakeholders, presumably including some of the equity holders, and might take longer to arrange.  Is that why this is taking so long?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  That is one of the considerations that we're taking into account.  If you remember, the legislation that we supported going back the past several weeks was one in that we said that all the stakeholders, all the ones that you listed, were going to have to come to the table and be willing to make some really tough decisions and concessions on their part in order to become viable companies in the future and to qualify for any taxpayer assistance, if there was going to be any.  &lt;p /&gt; That was -- what we thought was reasonable and appropriate was to provide the auto industry an acceleration on the money that was already appropriated for the auto industry.  But because Congress didn't act, then the President is left with, okay, well, even though majorities in both houses of Congress said that they supported this action, now we have to look back and say, how can we do it.  &lt;p /&gt; And that doesn't -- but that doesn't mean that those stakeholders aren't going to have to make tough decisions.	No matter what in this -- in any scenario that comes forward after this decision-making process, all those stakeholders are going to have to make tough decisions.  " title=" Q    A structured bankruptcy, as opposed to a disorderly collapse, would involve the cooperation of" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326694" rowid="136535053" side="usa" srcid="326694" text=" MS. PERINO:  All of the trips have been great.  " title=" Q    About foreign leaders and foreign travel.	What are the highlights that stick in your memory fr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308756" rowid="136533024" side="usa" srcid="308756" text=" Q    About the economy -- it came earlier, but I couldn't find it. (Laughter.)  It says, &quot;Trust in the United States, as the leader of the free world and the free economy, and confidence in Wall Street as the center of that trust has been damaged, I believe, forever.  There will be no return to the previous situation.&quot;  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'll think I'll just not respond to Vladimir Putin's comment.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    About the economy -- it came earlier, but I couldn't find it. (Laughter.)  It says, &quot;Trust in " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-26#entryid_272214" rowid="136530707" side="usa" srcid="272214" text=" MR. HADLEY:  They do.  They don't say it in terms of number of bombs.  That is something that is a so-called Phase Three issue that we will get to, the process by identifying and moving the plutonium out of the country, whether in bomb form or not.  What they agreed to do, and what they do in the declaration, is say how many kilograms of plutonium their activities to date have produced.  And one of the things, of course, we want to do is to be able to verify the accuracy of that number, and the North Koreans have, as I said, made very clear that they will give us the access to the facilities and documents, the persons that will hopefully allow us to do that.  " title=" Q    About the stockpiles.  Do they acknowledge -- do they say what's in the inventory, how many bo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309522" rowid="136533094" side="usa" srcid="309522" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm sure it was brilliant.  (Laughter.)  &lt;p /&gt; April.  " title=" Q    About the tone struck, okay.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280851" rowid="136531309" side="usa" srcid="280851" text=" DIRECTOR NUSSLE:  Well, actually, as we have projected, as we've seen the actual numbers come in with regard to the prescription drug benefit, the actual cost over the projected cost when it was first passed has come down significantly.	I believe the projected cost was about $630 billion.  It is now down to, I believe, based on the actual trend rate and how it's been used, we're in the $400 billion range.	So it has not had the kind of projected cost that many had thought it would when it was first enacted.  So actually that has been generally some very positive news and provided a good benefit for seniors who needed to have prescription drugs as part of a modern health benefit under Medicare.  &lt;p /&gt; So we believe that's generally been positive news within this not only MSR, but generally within the fiscal condition of the country.  That is not to suggest the GAO is not sounding an appropriate alarm with regard to the unfunded liability for the entitlements.  And this is true across the board when it comes to, now, two-thirds of the budget.  This is probably one of the more disappointing parts of what Congress is basically not doing, and, in fact, just turned off, or is proposing to turn off the so-called trigger mechanism from Medicare.  &lt;p /&gt; This all I think bodes very poorly for our ability as a country to deal with some of these entitlements.  The President, in his budget, begins to address this unfunded liability.  He does it by thirds.  He basically says, let's tackle this in bite-size chunks, if you will, taking on a third in this budget, and then proposing to do so again in the future before they become insolvent.  And those are I think positive ways to address the unfunded liability that GAO speaks about.  I wish Congress would listen to GAO.  &lt;p /&gt; So, we'll see.	Yes.  " title=" Q    According to a GAO report, the unfunded liability to Medicare Part D will be about $8 trillion" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273164" rowid="136530789" side="usa" srcid="273164" text=" Q    According to extensive reports (inaudible) of Turkey's (inaudible), in full cooperation with some Turkish judges, are trying to overthrow the popular Turkish government of Recep -- Minister -- Prime Minister Recep Erdogan via military coup d'etat.  I wonder if President Bush is concerned about democracy in Turkey, a U.S. ally and a NATO member.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Are you talking about Turkey?  " title=" Q    According to extensive reports (inaudible) of Turkey's (inaudible), in full cooperation with s" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309530" rowid="136533102" side="usa" srcid="309530" text=" Q    According to some of those who were a part of the banking meeting yesterday, they were not all enthusiastic about signing off on this initially.  In the President's dealings with banks, with the allies, with Congress, has he felt any impact related to his relatively low -- historic low job approval rating in the country?  Has that had any impact, or been any disadvantage to him?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  The President is focused on leading; he doesn't focus on the approval ratings.  And yet -- I wasn't in the meetings yesterday, but I would imagine that there was probably some reluctance to move forward with this, but a willingness to do it, because everyone recognizes that we have to do it in order to protect everybody and to get this economy moving again.  &lt;p /&gt; So, sure, there's not a soul that wanted to have to do this.  But if we're going to do it, we better do it right.	And we better implement the legislation in a way that gets it done appropriately.  This legislation got passed; this legislation is being implemented.	The banks are going to participate in this program, and they have an incentive to get the government out of their business.  We'll have a quarterly dividend that comes back to the American taxpayer at a 5 percent rate for the first three years.	That jumps to 9 percent after those first three years. And so they have every incentive to work very hard to get their businesses back up to par, and return to normalcy.  " title=" Q    According to some of those who were a part of the banking meeting yesterday, they were not all" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306590" rowid="136532668" side="usa" srcid="306590" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  Sure.  " title=" Q    Actually, Dana, sorry, can I follow on that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267043" rowid="136530002" side="usa" srcid="267043" text=" MR. FISK:  I'll be happy to.  And I will acknowledge that some of these numbers are soft in the sense that we'll know at the end of the day kind of what has happened.  There is a website.  I did not bring it with me, the link on that.  I'll get it to Dana so that you all can see that it actually posts a map of where events are.  It will be, again, events across the United States.	There will be a number of events throughout the Western Hemisphere/Latin America.  Again, we're looking at non-governmental organizations -- again, vigils, rallies, religious services.  A number of events in Europe; the last count I have is about events in about 30 countries of one type or another.  &lt;p /&gt; U.S. embassies, by the way, will also be doing events, but the 30 countries does not account -- does not include U.S. embassy events.  That's a far larger -- a larger number.  So, I mean that hopefully gives you a little bit of a snapshot.  And again we'll get you the website so you can actually get on and see.*  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, sir.  " title=" Q    Actually, you just touched on this.  Where are these other events taking place, and how many o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_272004" rowid="136530677" side="usa" srcid="272004" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, they continue to work on it, and I couldn't put odds on it either way.	But we continue to work on it.	We think that it's critically important that we have some sort of mechanism to -- legal mechanism to make sure that our forces can operate legally there.  So they had a good conversation about it, and obviously the negotiators continue to work on the issue.  " title=" Q    After the meeting with President Talabani, how close is the U.S. and Iraq to reaching an agree" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273191" rowid="136530816" side="usa" srcid="273191" text=" Q    After the U.S. learned that this rescue mission was going to go forward, did at any point any U.S. officials loop in Senator McCain? There seems to be a lot of speculation about why Senator McCain happened to be in Colombia right on the eve of this --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  I think this was long in the planning stages and I think the Colombians were able to take action when they were ready to and there was actionable intelligence to be able to carry out the operation.  I've heard nothing to suggest that there was any connection. I just think it was a coincidence, but I did read somewhere that President Uribe let Senator McCain know about the possible operation when he was down there, but there's no connection in terms of timing.  " title=" Q    After the U.S. learned that this rescue mission was going to go forward, did at any point any " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308092" rowid="136532943" side="usa" srcid="308092" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Afternoon.  I'm sorry, that's --  " title=" Q    Afternoon, morning?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-26#entryid_319143" rowid="136534221" side="usa" srcid="319143" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, it's not a bailout.  " title=" Q    Again, from the Americans' perspective, sitting at home heading into the holidays with tremend" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-01#entryid_307399" rowid="136532824" side="usa" srcid="307399" text=" MR. FRATTO:  We're continuing to do everything that we've been doing in terms of making sure that members have all the information they need; all the questions that they have, we want to make sure that they get answers to those questions.  But I think what members of Congress and senators are seeing in recent days is more news in terms of how the credit squeeze is affecting everyday Americans, and I think they're also starting to hear from other public officials and business groups to express more clearly just the strains that they are dealing with in this current environment and the urgency for addressing it.  &lt;p /&gt; And I think that's really important.  I worked in a House office and a Senate office and I know how important it is to hear from people back in the district, because you represent your district.  So that's important, and I think a lot more members are hearing that.  " title=" Q    Again, is the President, then, or is the administration doing anything at all differently?  Ag" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-18#entryid_301028" rowid="136531757" side="usa" srcid="301028" text=" Q    Again, looking ahead to the next turn of leadership in Pakistan, what, if anything, can the administration do to repair this image among some Pakistanis that it was the relationship with Washington and Musharraf that is the cause of some of the problems that they're having in their country?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  Let's be clear:	The extremist ideology is one that has been out there and among these groups for many years.  They have an ideology of hatred and an ideology that doesn't allow little girls to go to school, and is not really an ideology known for its respect for human rights.  So let's be very clear about where this started, and that's with the extremists.  &lt;p /&gt; Again, the people of Pakistan and the government of Pakistan know that this is a fight they are also in.  Osama bin Laden, or Ayman al Zawahiri just a few days ago, I think, issued a video saying that they wanted to go after the government of Pakistan, as well.  So these extremists and terrorist groups are not limiting their fight to just the United States; it's Pakistanis, it's Muslims around the world, the thousands of Muslims that they've killed since 9/11, as well as going after the United States and Western Europe.  So we're all in this together, and the people of Pakistan and the government of Pakistan know that.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  " title=" Q    Again, looking ahead to the next turn of leadership in Pakistan, what, if anything, can the ad" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325245" rowid="136534904" side="usa" srcid="325245" text=" MS. PERINO:  That is not true.	The United States does provide aid through the United Nations for the people of Gaza, a lot of it.  &lt;p /&gt; Wendell.  " title=" Q    All aid, all aid.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317875" rowid="136534025" side="usa" srcid="317875" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, some of them are pool.  " title=" Q    All closed press --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308312" rowid="136532957" side="usa" srcid="308312" text=" MS. PERINO:  Last February, when the President was asked that question -- again, if you look at the classical definition of a recession, we were not in it.	That doesn't mean that the President doesn't understand that people are hurting, or that people are concerned about their savings accounts, or people are concerned about their retirement accounts.  But it doesn't mean that we are necessarily in a recession.  And I think we should be careful about throwing around words like that until there's actually some evidence.  &lt;p /&gt; Clearly, right now we're in a very distressing situation.  And next quarter's growth will not -- well, I couldn't tell you what the number is going to be, but it's not going to be anything to write home about.  So we are realistic in that regard.  But I don't think anybody could tell you right now if we're in a recession or not.  Those are just -- those are determinations that come later.  But that doesn't take away from the importance and the gravity and the seriousness of the situation we have -- are facing right now.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm going to go to Jon first.  " title=" Q    All I'm just saying --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315624" rowid="136533685" side="usa" srcid="315624" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'm sure.	But look, I mean, we don't make those determinations.  And we also think it's relatively irrelevant to the primary focus that we have, which is dealing with implementing policy.	I mean, I don't think the American people sit around and say, boy, why won't they say it?  Or, why won't they label what the economy is?  We've said it's a very difficult economy.	We've said it's challenging.  We've said it -- and we've said this, by the way, in very clear and transparent ways all the way through this downturn.  &lt;p /&gt; I don't think anyone who has stood at this podium could be accused of cheerleading the economy or looking through rose-colored glasses.  We've tried to be very, very transparent so that we'll have very good credibility in talking about what the conditions of the economy are, because we don't want to send mixed messages, either to markets nor to the American people and global financial players.  We want to be credible and clear, and that's what we're doing.  &lt;p /&gt; As to whether someone six to eight months from now is going to label what this period was isn't as important as what we're trying to do to deal with it.  And that's what we're focused on.  " title=" Q    All right, I've got it.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306373" rowid="136532604" side="usa" srcid="306373" text=" Q    All right, one.  This May 3, 2007 executive order of the President statement says, &quot;H.R. 1592, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act was unnecessary and constitutionally questionable.&quot;  And my question, if the provisions of this bill are revived and passed by Congress, will the President veto it?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think I'd have to take a look.  I'm not familiar with that legislation.  &lt;p /&gt; We'll do one more from John, the last one.  " title=" Q    All right, one.  This May 3, 2007 executive order of the President statement says, &quot;H.R. 1592," />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-23#entryid_267470" rowid="136530053" side="usa" srcid="267470" text=" MS. PERINO:  Go ahead, Victoria.  " title=" Q    All right, thank you.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299214" rowid="136531530" side="usa" srcid="299214" text=" MS. PERINO:  Anything else for me?  " title=" Q    All right, thank you.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317880" rowid="136534030" side="usa" srcid="317880" text=" Q    All right.  And I know this was touched on yesterday in the briefing about APEC, but if you could just talk about the idea that APEC, this tour of the President, is it sort of a -- is there a farewell component to it in any way, shape, or form?  I know there's serious business that's being dealt with.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Every meeting or foreign trip the President has gone on this year has been called his farewell tour.  And some people thought they would never see him again and then look what happened at the G20 -- we had everybody here where the President saw all those leaders again.  So we've long -- the President's gone to APEC every year.  He thinks it's a very important meeting, that we continue to be engaged with all those Asian Pacific countries.  And so he's looking forward to the meeting.  It's a quick trip.  We leave tomorrow morning and we're back Sunday night so that we can get ready for another week here.  &lt;p /&gt; Bret.  " title=" Q    All right.  And I know this was touched on yesterday in the briefing about APEC, but if you co" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308560" rowid="136533015" side="usa" srcid="308560" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that we are taking appropriate action as quickly as possible during rapidly developing market changes and we'll continue to do so.  And I don't think it's appropriate to speculate on hypotheticals.	We hope that this action will start to stem the crisis.  And I think that this weekend's meeting amongst the G7 ministers will again help to make sure everybody is on the same page as we move forward, since we're all so interconnected now.  " title=" Q    All right.  Are you near the end, or where do you stand on this?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311465" rowid="136533272" side="usa" srcid="311465" text=" MS. PERINO:  The President's position on this is very clear.  I'm not going to comment on it and I don't understand why you're so interested in California.  I thought you lived up in Baltimore.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    All right.  Does the President hope and believe that Proposition 8 on California's ballot will" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298596" rowid="136531470" side="usa" srcid="298596" text=" Q    All right.  On the matter of civil liberties, I think one of the concerns that you're going to hear is the terrorist surveillance program or the warrantless wiretapping program went on despite the civil liberties protection.  So what do you have to say to folks that say, essentially, it's nice that you have this stuff in the executive order, but it doesn't necessarily mean anything when a President gets it into his mind that he needs or wants to do something that some people would find outside of those bounds?  &lt;p&gt; SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I think what we would say to that is that the executive order reaffirms the nation's longstanding commitment to protecting civil liberties.  It maintains all of the protections that are in place to do so.  It requires that all procedures have to be approved by the Attorney General.  &lt;p /&gt; With respect to the terrorist surveillance program, I'm really not going to speak in any detail to that.  The administration has spoken to it previously.  I'd observe that -- and I'm going to leave it at that on that question.  " title=" Q    All right.  On the matter of civil liberties, I think one of the concerns that you're going to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279952" rowid="136531180" side="usa" srcid="279952" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  That's true, and that's why we have to be flexible. And I think we've all -- none of us know what's going to happen in the war.  In fact, none of us -- in January of 2004 -- January-February 2005, none of us would have thought we would be where we were a year from then, from February '05 to February '06, when you had the worst of the Sunni and Shia violence.  That's what we mean by it's unpredictable, it's why you have to be flexible.  And that's why we have to look to our commanders to tell us what the conditions are to make sure that we have the right number of troops there, and that their mission is the one that they should be fulfilling.  &lt;p /&gt; Increasingly we're able to be in an overwatch position where we can have the Iraqis' back.  That's where they want us to get to, and that's what we're working towards.	But it just might take a little while.	But in this agreement we should be able to frame up some dates for aspirational time horizons in the future.  " title=" Q    All right.  Second question about the statement.  You said that the situation is likely to con" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270968" rowid="136530472" side="usa" srcid="270968" text=" Q    All right.  The Oklahoma House of Representatives, by a vote of 92-3, passed a resolution affirming Oklahoma's sovereignty under the 10th Amendment, and serving notice on the federal government to cease and desist from any interference with how the state protects itself from illegal aliens.  And my question:  What is the White House reaction to this, dealing with the federal government?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  Yes, I don't know.  I wasn't aware of that vote, Les, and not in a position to comment on it.  " title=" Q    All right.  The Oklahoma House of Representatives, by a vote of 92-3, passed a resolution affi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_325001" rowid="136534870" side="usa" srcid="325001" text=" Q    All right.  The other thing -- yesterday, when I covered the debate for the candidates for Republican National chairman, all except one said they would support a resolution coming up at the RNC winter meeting that denounces all of the government bailouts -- financial institutions and the auto industry, as well.  What is your reaction to the fact that five of the six candidates to lead the President's party are going to go on record in a measure that attacks a key part of his policies?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think it's probably a popular thing for them to do. I don't think that if they would have been responsible, as the President of the United States was, for the future of our financial system, that they would necessarily be signing on to this resolution, because it was put very plainly to the President that our entire system faced collapse if he didn't act.  And so that's why he took the action that he did, and it was the appropriate action to take.  &lt;p /&gt; So it's their right to have that debate.  It's their right to put forward that resolution.  But unless they're sitting there in charge of the economy, then they probably can't really put themselves in the President's shoes.  And so they can move forward and have their debate, but we think that what the President did was prudent and the right -- and just the absolute right thing to do to help every American.  " title=" Q    All right.  The other thing -- yesterday, when I covered the debate for the candidates for Rep" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300748" rowid="136531693" side="usa" srcid="300748" text=" Q    All right.  When you all were in Seoul, Scott emailed me back in response to some of the questions from Republican members of Congress who wanted the President to call Congress back in session to deal with energy legislation, and he said there are no plans to call Congress back into session.  May I ask why?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Why -- one is that you call them back into session and then do they still do nothing, which has been their motto over the past several months.  But we think that there is value in members of Congress going back to their districts and getting an earful from their constituents when it comes to energy policy in the United States.  We expect there to be some sort of movement soon.	And what we would call for specifically is for Congress to just bring up one of the 12 appropriations bills that they are required to do under the law, and that would be the Interior appropriations bill.  And that is the one that would allow for the lifting of the moratorium on offshore drilling.  " title=" Q    All right.  When you all were in Seoul, Scott emailed me back in response to some of the quest" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311203" rowid="136533237" side="usa" srcid="311203" text=" MS. PERINO:  I disagree, Wendell, when you have --  " title=" Q    All those seem to be efforts -- the habeas litigation and the commissions are efforts to justi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308323" rowid="136532968" side="usa" srcid="308323" text=" MS. PERINO:  -- or maybe all year, but I know that a precipitous drop since May.  Again, I don't comment on the daily market movements here, and I can't do it in terms of the Russian ones.  But clearly, if you look back in August, if you want to try to make a parallel, when we were dealing with the situation when Russia invaded Georgia, yes, I think that they did -- the world did react negatively to that.  " title=" Q    All year.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-15#entryid_300861" rowid="136531745" side="usa" srcid="300861" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  You know, to step back I think to the broader point of your question, let me answer it this way:  Our immediate focus is that the violence stop, the Russian forces withdraw, we get back to the status quo ante of August 6th.  There will be a time and a place to deal with what the repercussions of all this is.  &lt;p /&gt; But we will continue to work with the G7 partners because those are the countries that you would naturally work with.  Many of them -- those are our NATO allies.  Those are EU countries.  So when we work with our G7 partners, we're working with France, UK, Italy, Germany.  So these are the appropriate countries to be working with to deal with the situation with Russia.  " title=" Q    Along that line, the President referred today to consulting with other leaders of the G7, whic" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298809" rowid="136531504" side="usa" srcid="298809" text=" Q    Also, a question on the stimulus -- (inaudible) -- you said earlier that Paulson says it's going to be the end of the year before we know about the impact of the present stimulus package.  It seems to me just -- (inaudible) -- run out of time; in other words, he's going to wait until the end of the year to know --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  No, let me clarify.  The question was -- that a previous forecast by Secretary Paulson was that we would hope to see 500,000 jobs created by the end of the year.  When it comes to the stimulus package, we are already seeing a positive impact on the economy, but the additional benefits from it and the data that we'll see from it aren't going to come for a little while.  So it's not that we don't believe that there will be -- won't be any positive effect until December 31st, it's just that indicators lag a little bit.  " title=" Q    Also, a question on the stimulus -- (inaudible) -- you said earlier that Paulson says it's goi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-25#entryid_318796" rowid="136534171" side="usa" srcid="318796" text=" MS. PERINO:  That's right.  Here at Fort Campbell --  " title=" Q    Also, I didn't know if you know the details, but I think there are some troops in Fort Campbel" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301171" rowid="136531785" side="usa" srcid="301171" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Are we good on -- any other questions on Russia-Georgia?  Okay, Kevin, and then over here.  " title=" Q    Also, on Pakistan, can we move to Pakistan?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-17#entryid_279590" rowid="136531113" side="usa" srcid="279590" text=" Q    Also, the President's claim yesterday on executive privilege as concerns Vice President's interview with the FBI on the CIA leak -- you know, people on Capitol Hill, Chairman Waxman, asking what the White House has to hide.  What's the White House response to those sorts of questions?  &lt;p&gt; MR. STANZEL:  That was asserted at the request of Attorney General Mike Mukasey.  Most of the materials sought by Waxman's committee are FBI reports summarizing interviews of White House officials who voluntarily agreed to be interviewed without a subpoena and outside the presence of the grand jury, and the Attorney General advised the President that not only did these materials reflect internal communications that are entitled to confidentiality, but the disclosure of those would harm the Justice Department's ability to conduct certain types of investigations in the future.  &lt;p /&gt; So the Attorney General advised the President that the possibility of discouraging volunteer -- or voluntarily interviews would be a serious problem for future investigations, which rely heavily on witnesses who cooperate fully and candidly in voluntarily interviews.  So that's why the -- that privilege was put forward.  " title=" Q    Also, the President's claim yesterday on executive privilege as concerns Vice President's inte" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-14#entryid_321829" rowid="136534506" side="usa" srcid="321829" text=" GENERAL LUTE:  Well, remember, the audience that he was writing to is an audience that he wants -- he wants his soldiers to understand that things will be different on 1 January.  He talks about it in terms of a different operating environment, but not a changed mission.  " title=" Q    Although General Odierno mentioned that in his letter to the troops.  So what --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-10#entryid_300074" rowid="136531608" side="usa" srcid="300074" text=" AMBASSADOR JEFFREY:  We were not informed in advance.  What we had seen was a variety of attacks of a relatively low level, but still at some concern, on either side of the border involving both attacks on Georgian -- for example, six Georgian policemen were killed earlier this week by a IED or other bomb; and some shelling back and forth; a few other killings -- so a level of violence that was higher than we had seen recently, but, as you know, we've seen a fair amount of violence both in Abkhazia and in Ossetia in the recent past.  So the developments since Friday have taken a much larger dynamic.  " title=" Q    Ambassador, when the Georgia forces entered in South Ossetia were you surprised, or were you i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316077" rowid="136533745" side="usa" srcid="316077" text=" MS. PERINO:  I believe so.  I can check with the First Lady's office and get you details on it.  " title=" Q    American diplomats?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267092" rowid="136529987" side="usa" srcid="267092" text=" Q    Among the things listed as unnecessary projects, the $170 million for relief for Northwest communities because of the salmon season that has been pretty much canceled -- does the administration have a better idea to help that industry and those communities?  &lt;p&gt; DIRECTOR NUSSLE:  Well, again, there are, I'm sure, worthwhile concerns within all of these particular bills that move through.  But when you stick that into a farm bill, when you do it in a way that is bloated, more than five times the original proposal of the farm bill itself, when it doesn't include the other reforms -- what may be in and of itself a good provision -- and there may be other examples of that -- again, I'm not sure I can comment on each specific one.  &lt;p /&gt; But when you throw it all together, I think that's when not only the taxpayers get frustrated, but many get frustrated about the fact that these bills come through, they don't have reform, they're too expensive.  And I think that's part of the reason why that, in this instance, we're seeing such an outcry from the public about this kind of a bill.  &lt;p /&gt; So one more -- I've been passing over you and I didn't mean to.  " title=" Q    Among the things listed as unnecessary projects, the $170 million for relief for Northwest com" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325259" rowid="136534918" side="usa" srcid="325259" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's in the Private Dining Room, and they will order off of the menu.  " title=" Q    An hour.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303431" rowid="136532106" side="usa" srcid="303431" text=" MS. PERINO:  There's also many other reports of other strikes that we haven't commented on, and so I'm not going to comment.  " title=" Q    And a follow on some of the other questions about the Pakistan situation.  This White House ha" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271622" rowid="136530589" side="usa" srcid="271622" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think the best place for that discussion and that review is at the CFTC, and we'll let that independent agency look at it and then review any of their recommendations.  I know that Walter Luken is heading that up.  " title=" Q    And a follow to that.  Congress is actually perhaps considering legislation to set stricter li" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-26#entryid_319122" rowid="136534200" side="usa" srcid="319122" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Look, I don't want to walk away from it.  It's a very, very large number, and it should be.  " title=" Q    And a follow, on China.  Again, there's some discussion that, to come up with the $7 trillion " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298811" rowid="136531506" side="usa" srcid="298811" text=" Q    And a follow-up.  On the nominations, it seems like Congress is sort of dragging its heels -- if I'm reading you correctly, you feel like they're dragging their heels on some of the appointments that have been out there for some time.  Do you think this is retaliatory?  Do you think this is something that is tit for tat?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I actually think that you could not call it tit for tat given that when Republicans were in charge of the Congress during the previous administration, we did not have this kind of problem, where you had entire commissions not being able to work because of petty politics.  &lt;p /&gt; But that's what's happening here, and it's really hard for me to believe that they spend all this time talking about speculators and how concerned they are about speculators, and the very entity that governs speculators is the CTFC and they have refused to move forward to allow these people, who have offered to serve and have been willing to put themselves out there for hearings and to have their lives subjected to public scrutiny, and still they can't even get an up or down vote.  And we think that that is petty politics at its worst.  And hopefully it will change in the future, but given their track record, we don't believe that they are doing their job.  &lt;p /&gt; There's two things that have to happen in a nomination:  President Bush nominates somebody and the Congress is supposed to provide a up or down vote.  That's what the Constitution says.  And the fact that they have to play these games and to stay in session every three days to prevent us from any recess appointments is really irresponsible.  What we're trying to do is fill these commissions so that people can actually do their jobs.  I mean, can you imagine if in the private sector people went without a CEO or without a deputy to the CEO for months on end just because of petty politics?  That would be outrageous, and we think it's outrageous here.  It should not be happening in our government.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q    And a follow-up.  On the nominations, it seems like Congress is sort of dragging its heels -- " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-28#entryid_313000" rowid="136533420" side="usa" srcid="313000" text=" Q    And a quick follow.  On nuclear power, we've talked a bit about the fact that it's been 30 years since we've had a new reactor built in this country.  Is the President confident that sometime between now and the end of his administration that maybe that will change, perhaps in Virginia or other places?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, we have -- I don't remember the exact number, but from the work that we've done over the past few years, I think it's a loan guarantee program they call it at the Department of Energy -- this is a separate loan guarantee program and it's for nuclear energy.  And there's been several requests for the Energy Department to look over applications for those types of funds.  It's actually probably a dozen plants that I think some companies have come forward and said that they wanted to build.  We'll get the exact number for you.  But there's not going to be a nuclear power plant built --  " title=" Q    And a quick follow.  On nuclear power, we've talked a bit about the fact that it's been 30 yea" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273455" rowid="136530895" side="usa" srcid="273455" text=" MR. PRICE:  The President, as he did today, has been underscoring the need for the G8, for each G8 member to honor the commitments that it made, and be in a position to demonstrate how those commitments are being honored.  " title=" Q    And a related question:  What exactly, or can you elaborate a little bit what exactly has the " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273173" rowid="136530798" side="usa" srcid="273173" text=" Q    And according to The Washington Post op-ed by Secretary General -- U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, he said that global action is needed, as far as combating terrorism, food and oil prices, and also poverty.  So he said -- he's calling now also on G8.  So what do you think G8 is going to do?  It has been now eight years as far as G8 is concerned.  Every year is this issue --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think -- look, the G8 is a good forum for a lot of different reasons.  It brings together a multilateral, diplomatic way for people to share ideas and to actually take some action.  One of the things President Bush said yesterday is that over the past eight -- this will be his eighth G8, and we have asked a lot of our partners in order to help us in combating HIV/AIDS or malaria, now neglected tropical diseases and health workers, amongst other things, in terms of energy, like the clean energy technology fund and this new major economies meeting process that's been taking place over the past year.  &lt;p /&gt; So it's a good forum to be able to discuss a lot of things, but the President also will talk about trade, fighting terrorism, making sure that we are helping each other in those areas, but at the same time thinking about the core mission of the G8, which is to try to help other nations rise -- lift themselves up out of poverty.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Olivier.  " title=" Q    And according to The Washington Post op-ed by Secretary General -- U.N. Secretary General Ban " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-23#entryid_318385" rowid="136534111" side="usa" srcid="318385" text=" SECRETARY RICE:  Get back west of the Mississippi as fast as I can.  I'm going back to Stanford/Hoover.	I will write a book or two, or so.  I am going to also get reconnected to some issues that I was involved in before.  You have to remember that before taking on the national security job I actually was not doing foreign policy for six years, I was provost at Stanford.  &lt;p /&gt; I am a major advocate for K-12 education.  I started a nonprofit in 1992 that's now got five centers.  And I want to work on those issues because -- you know, it's been great, this is a fabulous country and there is no greater honor than representing this country.  And you recognize that we are really -- we are respected, maybe even a little feared through military power; admired, maybe even a little envied for economic power. But fundamentally admired for the sense that in America it really doesn't matter where you came from, it matters where you're going; and that people of humble circumstance do rise to the top.  &lt;p /&gt; And I've always thought that if we're going to be confident and lead -- which we really have to do; the United States has to do -- we have to make sure that our own fundamentals are strong.  And my own concerns about the state of education in America are pretty strong at this point. You know, as an educator it just breaks my heart that there are kids -- particularly kids in public schools -- who are not being educated for the jobs of the 21st century -- math, science, technology; but also who just are not going to make that breakthrough that education gives you to personal fulfillment.  &lt;p /&gt; But as Secretary of State it's terrifying, because if we can't compete, we're not going to lead and we are going to turn inward.  So I think I can use the dual citizenship as an academic and as a former Secretary of State to really talk about the education issues as a national security priority, and that's one of the things I'll do.  " title=" Q    And after January 20th what are you going to do?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298792" rowid="136531487" side="usa" srcid="298792" text=" Q    And also -- I don't mean to comment -- but just a minor follow-up on the Internet part.  Do you know the impact on the traveling White House press corps, what that will be?  Are you going -- are they going to be subject to the same -- are they in the same center as the travel pool?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  I think that -- I don't know, we'll check.	I think you have slightly different set-up of --  " title=" Q    And also -- I don't mean to comment -- but just a minor follow-up on the Internet part.  Do yo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-17#entryid_310362" rowid="136533177" side="usa" srcid="310362" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that we're looking towards by the end of the year we hope to have that all wrapped up.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    And also how do you think -- (inaudible) -- possible, approximately?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303441" rowid="136532116" side="usa" srcid="303441" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, again, I think you should separate our support for NATO MAP for Ukraine and Georgia from recent hostilities, because our support for their entry into NATO has not changed.  It's been a longstanding position.  It's something that the President personally fought for there in April.	And so, hostilities of the past month have not changed our support.  So yes, we continue to support them, both countries.  " title=" Q    And also on that, most of the Russian Black Sea fleet is based at the Sevastopol in Ukraine.	W" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-10#entryid_269738" rowid="136530334" side="usa" srcid="269738" text=" MR. HADLEY:  I'm sorry?  " title=" Q    And also on this issue, on Iran, what about -- what does he want from Merkel, what is his mess" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-28#entryid_267830" rowid="136530111" side="usa" srcid="267830" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't.  I think that if you look at -- look, setting aside his comments about what he now thinks about the war in Iraq, people can argue back and forth as much as they want about the ultimate decision to go to war.	I think that the questions about the intelligence being wrong have been answered by the White House.  The intelligence was wrong, and we have taken measures to make sure that intelligence failures like that don't happen again.  And one of the ways we've done that is by modernizing and improving coordination amongst the intelligence agencies.	And by any measure, that coordination is better than it's ever been in the United States.  That doesn't mean there was anyone purposefully misled.  &lt;p /&gt; So fast-forward to where we are today in Iraq.	We have a government led by Prime Minister Maliki that is going after criminal elements on both sectarian sides.  We have a government that is increasingly able to sustain itself as it's been able to raise revenue and start paying for its own reconstruction.  And there also -- have already had two elections; they're about to have another, coming up this fall.	And the surge, as you heard the President say in the Air Force Academy speech, has worked.  And Americans, along with others, are winning in -- winning and being successful because of changing strategies.  It's a different type of struggle, in terms of an ideological struggle, as well as a counterinsurgency one, where you're trying, as the President said today, [to] help rebuild a country so that it will have a democracy from which to govern, sustain and defend itself.  &lt;p /&gt; And so, no, I'm not concerned about that.  I don't think that -- I think people will be a little bit more interested into questions about why, if somebody has these concerns now, they wouldn't have brought them up.  &lt;p /&gt; I mean, I know that I was very fortunate to be hired by Scott McClellan. He's given me a great opportunity.  I then worked for Tony Snow.  And I have been around the White House since mid-September 2002.  I have always had the opportunity to have a seat at the table, to make my opinions known whenever and to whomever I wanted to or felt I needed to, and I have done.  So it's just curious to me why all of a sudden it seems that these were his actual feelings.  It's hard for us, especially for me, who has been a very good friend to him.  And of course, I wish him well.  We all wish him well.  Nobody has any ill feelings.	We just think it's a sad situation.  " title=" Q    And also, a lot of Americans are beginning to read news accounts or see footage of this.  I'm " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311183" rowid="136533217" side="usa" srcid="311183" text=" MS. PERINO:  You know, I'll refer you to my gaggle yesterday, because I answered several questions on it yesterday; I'll get you the transcript.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Les.  " title=" Q    And also, Chairman Lazear a few days ago did say that a recession, at least his way of identif" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312324" rowid="136533335" side="usa" srcid="312324" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that that is right, and I think that's what we have been saying, that we're in for a rocky road for -- on the employment front.  And we expect our GDP number next week not to be a good one.  And the next quarter could probably be tough, as well.  So I think that he's probably right, that unfortunately there are a lot of people in America who either have lost their job or are anxious about losing their job.  The best thing that we can do to try to help them is to implement this rescue package, unthaw the credit freeze and get money moving again, so we can return this nation on a path to job growth.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the things President Bush has said to all of his team members is that he wants the next President to be able to take over and have a system in place that has us on a path to prosperity, and has us on a path to job growth.  So that's what we're going to be working towards.  " title=" Q    And also, Greenspan was up on the Hill today testifying, and said that he doesn't see any way " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306405" rowid="136532636" side="usa" srcid="306405" text=" Q    And also, in their conversations yesterday, in the President's conversations with Senator Obama and Senator McCain, did they discuss any specifics of the package?  Was there any substantive discussion there about what should be included?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I wasn't there, I wasn't privy to the conversations, but I know that they were brief, but good conversations.  So I don't know how much detail they could have gotten into.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Keith.  " title=" Q    And also, in their conversations yesterday, in the President's conversations with Senator Obam" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306379" rowid="136532610" side="usa" srcid="306379" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, Secretary Rice met with Foreign Minister Lavrov yesterday, so --  " title=" Q    And also, is it true that there is a hold on official high-level contacts with Russia, as repo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315633" rowid="136533694" side="usa" srcid="315633" text=" Q    And also, it sounded like a minute ago you were changing the ground rules to some extent on what would be acceptable when you said that as long as there's a good economic reason to do anything other than stimulative measures, then it's up to Congress.  But doesn't sound like you'd veto anything.  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  Well, Congress needs to propose legislation.  And I'm not going to debate sort of ideas floated in trial balloons and new stories that come from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.  If they have something concrete that they want to put on the table, we'll look at it, we'll make our judgment on it.  &lt;p /&gt; What I was saying -- I was making the distinction between something that is labeled as stimulus, and something that other people -- and maybe people can have arguments on as to whether it is a good public policy thing to do whether or not it is stimulus.	And what I was asking you all to do is to -- if you hear someone naming something as stimulus, go out and find out whether it really is stimulus.	And that's not saying that it may or may not be something good to do, but just be careful of the label of stimulus.  " title=" Q    And also, it sounded like a minute ago you were changing the ground rules to some extent on wh" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303872" rowid="136532165" side="usa" srcid="303872" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, President Bush is very pleased that he's going to be at the dedication for the opening of the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial.  And so he'll be there on Thursday morning.  " title=" Q    And also, on another question, 9/11, the anniversary, this President's last remembrance of 9/1" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313237" rowid="136533435" side="usa" srcid="313237" text=" MS. PERINO:  I haven't heard where it would be.  We did say that we would commit to a series of summits, and we are going to host the first one.	And one of the agenda items for the meeting on the 14th and 15th will be where should the next summit be and when.  &lt;p /&gt; Victoria.  " title=" Q    And also, the French seem to be talking again about a follow-up summit somewhere in New York i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-23#entryid_318381" rowid="136534107" side="usa" srcid="318381" text=" Q    And also, this is obviously a pro-trade organization -- in the meetings did the leaders express concern about what might happen under an Obama administration?  Was there a sense of apprehension, of maybe sealing up Doha and other deals now, before President Obama takes office?  Any concern like that that you heard?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'll say that from my perspective there was a general feeling of a concern of protectionism, and that's been true at the previous meetings.  The next administration will have to make their own policies and make their own way, and they'll be here next week.  But we're not waiting until next year to help them start transitioning, because a lot of leaders have already been in touch with them.  &lt;p /&gt; Trade was a big topic on the campaign.	And you've heard from us what our policy position is.  The leaders at APEC, which represents 21 countries, plus the G20 from last weekend -- some of that is overlap -- but they recognize that the best way to move forward and improve economies and ensure growth is through free trade.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think there was a general concern about protectionism.  This goes back to the President's concern from I think the 2005 or 2006 State of the Union -- I think 2006 -- when he talked about the concerns about countries that have a tendency to turn inward and throw up barriers.  He did a lot of studying and reading up over the years in regards to what happened in 1929, when we in our country, we raised taxes and then we passed the Smoot-Hawley Act, which was anti-trade.  And then what followed was a very rough decade of the Great Depression.  &lt;p /&gt; And I think that the more that we can do what Secretary Rice was just talking about -- continue to educate our people, make sure that they're confident, that they can compete in the world -- that we will be able to foster more free trade because it's good for our workers and it's certainly good for these countries.  And what happens there affects us, too, and we've seen that in this global economic crisis, that we're all inter-connected and inter-related.  " title=" Q    And also, this is obviously a pro-trade organization -- in the meetings did the leaders expres" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-23#entryid_323890" rowid="136534655" side="usa" srcid="323890" text=" Q    And also, this weekend, there was a new task force announced by the Obama transition that would deal with working families.  The administration itself has got a lot of task forces, from energy to strengthening Social Security, reforming the tax code.  Do you think this is an effective way to try --  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  I'll speak about our task forces and the efforts that we've done, and leave you all to analyze the decisions by the incoming administration.  " title=" Q    And also, this weekend, there was a new task force announced by the Obama transition that woul" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-05#entryid_303586" rowid="136532140" side="usa" srcid="303586" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't believe so.  I don't think that they're going to be coupled.  We still have some things to work out with them.  And our negotiators had a little bit of a break over the past week and I'm sure they'll be starting that up again early next week and let me give you an update when we -- when they get back.  But I don't think that that announcement would be coupled.	If that changes I'll let you know.  " title=" Q    And also, what is the latest on the negotiations with the Iraqi government on the strategic fr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280158" rowid="136531220" side="usa" srcid="280158" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think we don't know what Senator Obama's plan for Iraq is.  I am the spokesperson for President Bush; I follow his policies, I work hard for him.  I'm not here to speak for Senator Obama.  And he can -- he had a press conference today; he can speak for himself.  I'm just not going to do it.  &lt;p /&gt; Ann.  " title=" Q    And am I hearing from you that there is less space between the President and Prime Minister Ma" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303104" rowid="136532030" side="usa" srcid="303104" text=" MS. PERINO:  We have supported its military, but I'd refer you to DOD in terms of any particulars that they're able to report.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    And another -- is the U.S. bringing weapons into Georgia these days?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-23#entryid_305990" rowid="136532591" side="usa" srcid="305990" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I see the connection you're making with countries who have investments in U.S. assets, and I wouldn't limit yourself to that. There are lots of economies that are very, very interested in the health of the U.S. economy.  This is a global economy that is interconnected, involving trillions of dollars of financial flows between countries, involving things like sovereign debt, which you mentioned, but also trillions of dollars in trade and private sector finance.  And it's critical that that system works for our economy and for all the other economies.  &lt;p /&gt; The President mentioned that he's heard from some members and he expects to see more there.  If there are any calls that we make specifically that we can read out, we will and we'll let you know.  " title=" Q    And another one for you.  I know the President spoke to Hu Jintao about the program -- about t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-18#entryid_322956" rowid="136534564" side="usa" srcid="322956" text=" MS. PERINO:  Go ahead.  " title=" Q    And another one if -- I'm sorry.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-19#entryid_305504" rowid="136532507" side="usa" srcid="305504" text=" Q    And another thing.  The President said it's not time to play the blame game, but John McCain yesterday made a very bold statement, talking about the head of the SEC, that he needs to -- he threw him under the bus, said he needs to step down.	What say you?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  As I said yesterday, the Chairman of the SEC enjoys the President's confidence and support.  There's going to be a lot said on the campaign trail, and I'm not going to respond to every political volley.  " title=" Q    And another thing.  The President said it's not time to play the blame game, but John McCain y" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298779" rowid="136531474" side="usa" srcid="298779" text=" MS. PERINO:  There is a rehearsal dinner tomorrow night, but -- tonight -- but I don't -- there's no presidential involvement.	But I don't think so -- to make sure that you are respectful of the fact that people want to be amongst their family and friends, and not cause a scene -- (laughter) -- with the President going.  " title=" Q    And any evening event?  Rehearsal dinner or something?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-15#entryid_309825" rowid="136533124" side="usa" srcid="309825" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Much like he would with any friend, he's concerned for him, wish him well, and told him to go and make sure the doctors do what they need to do.  " title=" Q    And any particular reaction from the President?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-18#entryid_301033" rowid="136531762" side="usa" srcid="301033" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No, I think that, again, this is a process that the Pakistanis are going through within their political system.  President Musharraf made a decision to resign.  As I said, President Bush appreciates President Musharraf's efforts in the democratic transition, as well as his commitment to fight terror.  &lt;p /&gt; And so I think that these things that were put in place in Pakistan -- while there's more work to be done, they will continue, and while that continues the United States remains committed to Pakistan, committed to the fight on terror, committed to helping the people of Pakistan through aid -- aid that is not only devoted to fighting extremists, aid that is devoted to helping improve education, health care, and infrastructure.  " title=" Q    And any thoughts on how this might impact U.S. aid to Pakistan in the future?  Any thoughts on" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-25#entryid_280658" rowid="136531294" side="usa" srcid="280658" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, you know, look, I think that for a couple of years now, people have thought that these talks were going to collapse, and they've kept going because leaders have -- enough leaders have recognized that -- how important it is to try to help these developing and very poor nations through free trade.  So I have not heard that, Matt.  &lt;p /&gt; Earlier this week -- it was Tuesday that we put a new offer on the table to reduce our subsidies in exchange for market access.	And as you heard, the President called Prime Minister Singh yesterday to encourage the process along.  And so let me find out if there's anything more I can get from the U.S. Trade Representative's office.  But right now we still are plugging along, trying to get it done.  " title=" Q    And anything to say about the status of the World Trade Organization talks in Geneva; whether " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-09#entryid_325901" rowid="136534951" side="usa" srcid="325901" text=" MR. STANZEL:  I'll decline to speak for their team, but it will be senior level officials.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p /&gt; Yes.  &lt;/p&gt;" title=" Q    And are Obama and Biden taking part, or just senior staff?  &lt;/p&gt;" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-23#entryid_318383" rowid="136534109" side="usa" srcid="318383" text=" Q    And are there any plans for some of the longtime advisors to the President -- people like yourself, who have been with him for eight years -- to get together before you leave?  Is there a dinner or some sort of -- are you going to have reunions?  &lt;p&gt; SECRETARY RICE:  You mean a commencement dinner?  We'll have that, I think.	(Laughter.)   MS. PERINO:  And now Dan Price will give a readout on the meeting.   MR. PRICE:  We just completed a very successful summit.  This was President Bush's eighth APEC meeting.  The priorities of the United States were very well reflected both in the discussions of the leaders, as well as in the resulting statements.  &lt;p /&gt; I'll get to those in a moment, but I did want to point out that at a certain point during the second leaders' retreat at the leaders' meeting this morning, President Yudhoyono made a point of thanking President Bush for being such a good friend of APEC, for his commitment to the region, for being a very good listener, a supporter and advocate of free trade.	And this was greeted by a round of applause by all the leaders.  &lt;p /&gt; In terms of what was covered, as I indicated in a statement that was circulated yesterday, there was very, very strong support for and an endorsement of the work of the G20 leaders, both with respect to dealing with the financial crisis and getting the economies going.  There was a resounding rejection of protectionism.	The commitment to continue trade and investment liberalization in the region was palpable.  &lt;p /&gt; The strong sentiment to conclude a framework agreement, that is the modalities agreement, on Doha was very, very strong.  In my experience in this job, the conviction to get it done was unprecedented.  Indeed, a number of the leaders noted a certain amount of frustration, saying that in these Doha negotiations we always seem to be finding ourselves in a dynamic where we're catering to the lowest common denominator and trying to please the country in the room who wants to deal the least.	Another leader -- actually, a couple leaders suggested -- we need to push forward on Doha, and if there are countries who don't want to join in, so be it.  &lt;p /&gt; I say these two points only to give you a sense of the degree of commitment of the leaders in the room to try and get this done.  &lt;p /&gt; On the topic of regional economic integration:	There was universal support for continuing these efforts, both through the work of APEC on developing these so-called model measures, or model chapters of FTAs; but also leaders spoke about the need to harmonize and rationalize existing FTAs in the region to help deal with this kind of -- some refer to it as this &quot;noodle bowl&quot; of bilateral and regional trade agreements.  &lt;p /&gt; There was a great deal of discussion and support for the transpacific partnership -- the new FTA negotiations among Singapore, Chile, New Zealand and Brunei -- that the United States announced that it would join in September, and that Australia and Peru announced yesterday that they would join.  There was a great deal of interest in this agreement as one of the paths to realize a free trade area of the Asia Pacific.  &lt;p /&gt; On climate change, there was a good discussion about efforts underway both through the U.N. framework convention talks and through the major economies process.  Indeed, the leaders welcomed expressly the positive contributions of the major economies process to addressing climate change.  There was discussion of the need to foster cross-border energy trade and investment, and to continue the work to enhance energy efficiency.  &lt;p /&gt; A number of countries described what they were doing unilaterally to deal with efficiency and to pursue alternatives. A number of countries noted the efforts of the United States, Japan, UK and others in the clean technology fund, to help get existing technologies, clean technologies to the developing world.  &lt;p /&gt; President Bush emphasized his continued support for addressing climate change comprehensively -- which, as he explained, in order to have an effective agreement you needed commitments of all major economies to either reduce greenhouse gas emissions or slow their growth; you needed to continue to invest in new technologies; and you needed to get existing technologies deployed in the developing world so that they could take a cleaner path towards economic development than was available when the industrialized nations were developing.  &lt;p /&gt; He also pointed out that as we focus on these issues -- climate change, economic integration -- we cannot lose focus on the need to help the most vulnerable, and to alleviate human suffering of those afflicted with AIDS, malaria, TB, hunger and neglected tropical diseases.  &lt;p /&gt; Next there was a very thorough discussion of disaster preparedness. Many countries in the region have been severely affected by natural disasters.  And there was a great deal of discussion about the need to coordinate and enhance disaster preparedness at the regional level.  &lt;p /&gt; There was a good discussion of food and product safety.  And there was also a very good discussion of food security, the need to foster climates conducive to increased research and development and investment in the agricultural sector; the need to boost production and the need to promote science-based regulations so as to encourage the adoption of advanced technologies, including biotechnologies.  &lt;p /&gt; There was also a discussion related to food, of the need to enhance the local capacity to deliver food, both through removing infrastructure bottlenecks and through adjusting our aid systems to enhance local purchase.  &lt;p /&gt; Finally, there was a good discussion of corruption and the declaration well reflects this, and I refer you to that.  This was a very important issue to the United States because corruption truly is a serious threat to social and economic development in the region.  And there was a renewed commitment of the leaders to address this and to criminalize corrupt conduct.  &lt;p /&gt; I think I'll stop there.  " title=" Q    And are there any plans for some of the longtime advisors to the President -- people like your" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308762" rowid="136533030" side="usa" srcid="308762" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  " title=" Q    And are you thinking of arming tribal militias?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316453" rowid="136533814" side="usa" srcid="316453" text=" Q    And as a follow-up, you both have mentioned the IMF's role in this and making sure it has the resources to do its job, which everyone seems to acknowledge is growing significantly.  Will the U.S. be pushing for a wider or a bigger capital injection to the IMF to help developing countries and some that are developed and having trouble?  &lt;p&gt; UNDER SECRETARY McCORMICK:  Well, the IMF has about $200 billion of lending capacity.  And if you look at the programs that have been initiated in recent months, it's used a portion of that, but a relatively small portion.  So it's not clear that the needs at the moment exceed the availability of credit that the IMF has.  &lt;p /&gt; With that said, we recognize that we're in territory here where we need to be able to respond, both on a bilateral basis and a multilateral basis, and so we need to be thinking constructively about all the international financial institutions to make sure they have the resources and the focus that we need them to have to respond to what we're seeing around the world.  " title=" Q    And as a follow-up, you both have mentioned the IMF's role in this and making sure it has the " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326581" rowid="136535036" side="usa" srcid="326581" text=" Q    And as far as -- you mentioned President Carter going to the Hill for a State of the Union-style thing.  Why did the President choose not to do that?  I mean, because that would have been, as you said, he wanted to be with people -- that would have been with some people.  &lt;p&gt; MR. GILLESPIE:	Yes, I don't know -- I don't know the circumstances under which President Carter gave a last State of the Union address -- obviously different times.  It's like 20-some -- I'm not good at math; I was an English major.	Twenty-nine years ago or something -- (laughter.)  &lt;p /&gt; You know, I don't -- there was never much of a discussion of the President doing a State of the Union address, a final State of the Union address.  So this seemed to be a very comfortable way by which to do this.  &lt;p /&gt; Ann.  " title=" Q    And as far as -- you mentioned President Carter going to the Hill for a State of the Union-sty" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-15#entryid_304824" rowid="136532330" side="usa" srcid="304824" text=" MS. PERINO:  Absolutely.  We were distressed to see the terrorist attacks against innocent civilians in India this weekend.  We obviously stand with the Indians in trying to fight against terrorism and extremists, and we would help them in any way that we can to fight back against them.  And I know that he and Secretary -- I'm sorry, he and the Prime Minister will talk about it when he's here.  " title=" Q    And as far as terrorism is concerned now, India yet another attack -- terrorism and bombings a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326582" rowid="136535037" side="usa" srcid="326582" text=" MR. GILLESPIE:	I think it's 45 --   MS. PERINO:  Or 41 -- I'll go check.   MR. GILLESPIE:	We'll get that for you, Jon.  " title=" Q    And as far as, like, the number of people there, do you know -- do you have a count on that ri" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325263" rowid="136534922" side="usa" srcid="325263" text=" Q    And as it relates to the meeting of the Presidents today, specifically the one between President-Elect Obama and President Bush, obviously this is a time of transition, a lot of symbolism there, but it also comes at a time of deep strife in the Middle East and the economic crisis.  What would you expect President Bush would like to get out of that meeting?  Do you expect the two leaders to talk about some sort of way forward in the waning days?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  President Bush and President-Elect Obama have developed a good relationship, and I'm sure that it will be deepened today.  But one of the reasons that they've developed that good relationship is that they've been able to keep their conversations private, and I leave that, as well.  &lt;p /&gt; But, of course, I can't imagine that there would be a meeting today where they don't talk about the challenges in the Middle East.  Every one of these Presidents has dealt with the challenges there as they've evolved over time.  And given that the economy is number one on everyone's priority list, as well as here domestically, I'm sure they'll talk about, as well.  " title=" Q    And as it relates to the meeting of the Presidents today, specifically the one between Preside" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-10#entryid_300075" rowid="136531609" side="usa" srcid="300075" text=" AMBASSADOR JEFFREY:  We have made it clear to the Russians that if the disproportionate and dangerous escalation on the Russian side continues, that this will have a significant long-term impact on U.S.-Russian relations.  " title=" Q    And as the conflict stands right now, are you concerned about the consequences that this has f" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-23#entryid_305976" rowid="136532579" side="usa" srcid="305976" text=" Q    And as you know, the members of the Republican Study Committee are nervous about this kind of government intervention.  They feel that it's the wrong way to go.  Some have alternative plans involving suspension of the capital gains tax perhaps.  What is the message that the Vice President and the others are sending to them to tamp down those concerns?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  We certainly understand a lot of the questions out there.	It should not be unexpected that members of Congress on either side of the aisle have questions about how to move forward with this program.  I think what the Vice President and others will emphasize is that this is absolutely necessary to do right now.  In no way does it -- should it signal any abandonment of the belief that our markets work and our free market system works.  We had a very unique problem in our economy and this is the best way to deal with it.  &lt;p /&gt; So that will be the message.  It's urgent, it's needed.  It's needed to prevent harm to the broader economy, to retirement accounts, and as I mentioned earlier, about the practices of businesses out there able to do their ongoing operations.  So it's a critical time, and that's what they'll be helping to explain to members.  We've seen those concerns raised, and I think the Vice President and others will be able to work through them and explain why, even given those concerns, this is still the best way to move forward.  " title=" Q    And as you know, the members of the Republican Study Committee are nervous about this kind of " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299233" rowid="136531549" side="usa" srcid="299233" text=" MR. WILDER:  Well, as I said the other day, August 11th is the opening of the window for this; it is not a deadline.  And unless we have from the North Koreans a verification protocol that is robust, the kind of protocol that was presented by the five parties to the North Koreans, then August 11th will come and go and there will be no change in the situation.  &lt;p /&gt; It is up to the North Koreans now to come back to us and accept a verification protocol.  " title=" Q    And at this moment did you decide to lift North Korea from the terrorism sponsor list on 11 Au" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305192" rowid="136532447" side="usa" srcid="305192" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think -- look, again, I would point you back to the comments that Secretary Paulson and the Fed Chairman made last night -- and I'm not an expert in all these financial matters.  But AIG was a company involved in lots of different products -- reached a lot -- reached right into the American pocketbook, and that was one of the reasons they decided to take this action last night.  " title=" Q    And because AIG is that much bigger than Lehman Brothers, they get a bailout --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280150" rowid="136531212" side="usa" srcid="280150" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we're certainly mindful of the legislative calendar.  There aren't that many days left where Congress is going to be in session.  But we think that there's enough support in Congress that we would be able to get this done, should we be able to bring it to Congress for a vote.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think the timing issue is one that we're aware of, but if we can get it to Washington, D.C. in a format that we can then get to the Congress, I think if they have a vote we'll be successful.	We'll just have to see how quickly that can happen.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, sir.  " title=" Q    And can I also follow up on the India -- on the deal with India?  Is there some concern or som" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-19#entryid_271266" rowid="136530526" side="usa" srcid="271266" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  We've had 24 people killed, which is tragic, and I think there was a hundred in --  " title=" Q    And can you also give us a general assessment of the impact in terms of people who have been k" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316861" rowid="136533851" side="usa" srcid="316861" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  &lt;p /&gt; Les.  " title=" Q    And can you confirm that there's been a missile strike in Pakistan that's killed 11 or 12 peop" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-18#entryid_279777" rowid="136531135" side="usa" srcid="279777" text=" Q    And can you elaborate on Steve's question a little bit more about the aspirational goal?  What -- how do we describe that?	I mean, it says a &quot;general time horizon.&quot;  That's not very specific at all.  Is it meaningless, or is it for real?  &lt;p&gt; MR. STANZEL:  Well, it's based on conditions on the ground. But we are making greater and greater progress in the country, and it provides us the opportunity to have discussions about those aspirational goals; provides us an opportunity to talk further about when the transfer of security responsibility might occur in those other eight provinces, as an example.  But I think we all have the same goal here, which I've indicated, and we want to move forward with an agreement that makes sense for the Iraqi people and for the United States.  " title=" Q    And can you elaborate on Steve's question a little bit more about the aspirational goal?  What" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298581" rowid="136531441" side="usa" srcid="298581" text=" MS. BERGMAN:  Please follow up -- and this goes for anyone on the call -- please follow up with Gordon Johndroe after this call on that matter.  Thank you.  " title=" Q    And can you give us the names please, of the briefers?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-31#entryid_313990" rowid="136533544" side="usa" srcid="313990" text=" Q    And Chairman Lazear yesterday talked about a consumption burst, which, as you know, really only happened last September, like three to five months after the stimulus checks were sent out, and that the economy didn't turn around as he hoped.  So, given the chance in economic conditions, wouldn't the goal actually be to just try to make this recession shorter and shallower, I mean, rather than --  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  You may have your own predictions on what the business cycle is going to look like going forward.  But like I said, when we get back in November, Congress gets back in November, we'll see where they are.  " title=" Q    And Chairman Lazear yesterday talked about a consumption burst, which, as you know, really onl" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-18#entryid_322973" rowid="136534581" side="usa" srcid="322973" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we certainly took that into account.  There's no doubt that we're -- they're in a very fragile state right now.  They usually do shut production for some bit of time at this time --  " title=" Q    And Chrysler Corporation, with its workers being essentially shut out at 21 plants for a month" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279303" rowid="136531057" side="usa" srcid="279303" text=" MS. PERINO:  I wish you would have been here yesterday, because President Bush talked a little bit about Pakistan in his press conference, in which he said Pakistan is a friend and an ally and someone that we rely on to work together on issues of counterterrorism.  I'm not familiar with the legislation that was introduced yesterday, but President Bush has been very supportive of aid for Pakistan in the past -- and not just in regards to military-to-military aid, but we really think it's extremely important, especially in the FATA region, to help improve the economic condition for people in that area.  I know that it's very challenging terrain -- there's not a lot of roads and there's not a lot of electricity, and therefore not a lot of commerce.  But those are issues that we are trying to work together on along with the Pakistanis.	So we will take a look at the legislation.  I know that in the President's budget there is already aid money for those types of aid packages for Pakistan.  " title=" Q    And conditioning military aid with the certification of Secretary of State.	I just wanted to a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-23#entryid_323888" rowid="136534653" side="usa" srcid="323888" text=" MR. FRATTO:  That's not an option that we think is good for this country.  These are enemy combatants that were picked up off the battlefield and I think in almost every case they've been shown to have had training and relationships with terrorist organizations, at the very least.	So there's a reason we're holding them; there's a reason we're holding them where we're holding them.  And we don't think releasing them to the United States is the most appropriate solution in whatever form.  &lt;p /&gt; Goyal.  " title=" Q    And consideration to release them into the U.S. --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307884" rowid="136532904" side="usa" srcid="307884" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Sure.  I think in terms of the President, himself, I'd still keep it in the range of about three dozen calls over the last -- about three dozen members over the last couple of days.  I know that -- actually I was just with him, and a member had called in to say that he was switching his vote and was going to vote in favor of the legislation.  So that was obviously welcome news to hear this morning.  &lt;p /&gt; The President's team, obviously led by Dan Meyer, Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, has been -- has organized outreach to House members.	And so Dan and his legislative team -- Josh Bolten, Joel Kaplan, Ed Gillespie, the Vice President -- have all been in contact with various members.  And I don't think I can change our expectations more than what I said yesterday, that we're optimistic that the bill has a chance of passing.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Matt.  " title=" Q    And could you talk to us a little bit about his lobbying efforts today, lobbying efforts of ot" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-15#entryid_304836" rowid="136532342" side="usa" srcid="304836" text=" MS. PERINO:  What the Secretary mentioned was something that he outlined last spring, as I recall, or even in the winter, which he called the regulatory blueprint for how to move forward.  So Congress has had his road map for how to make these changes for quite some many months and they haven't done that yet.  &lt;p /&gt; But I think what Secretary Paulson just said is that it's going to take Congress more time -- they're not going to be able to do it in the three weeks that they're going to be here in session -- or actually now I guess it's just two before they leave for recess.  But he does have a regulatory blueprint from which Congress can continue to try to work through.  And Secretary Paulson has had extensive conversations with members of Congress over the past several months, but certainly over the past weekend, and he's had favorable conversations with them.  " title=" Q    And Democrats are pushing ahead with a second stimulus bill.  Is there any change in the admin" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303863" rowid="136532156" side="usa" srcid="303863" text=" MS. PERINO:  As I just said, he got the advice from the military.  But he also -- there's a lot of other parts to these puzzles when you're fighting an insurgency and fighting extremists.  &lt;p /&gt; We had to continue to work with the members, with the Iraqis on their economy, which is now doing very well, the diplomatic parts of it, in terms of how would they work with their neighbors.  &lt;p /&gt; And Prime Minister Maliki deserves a lot of credit for all that he has done to reach out to his neighbors and establish new embassies, have debt forgiven.	And he continues to work on that, and also, on the political side of things with our provincial reconstruction teams. Those are teams that come out of not just the State Department, but other places like USDA, where they have agricultural experts that are helping the Iraqis plant new crops.  &lt;p /&gt; Now Iraq is a very different place from Afghanistan, and that's because they're just fundamentally different places, especially from where they started.  So there's lots of different strategies that have been bandied about.  &lt;p /&gt; The President came up with the right one in Iraq.  And we are working to increase forces there, and in Afghanistan as well, and working with our NATO allies to find out the best ways to both win that militarily.  But also, we know that we have a lot of work to do when it comes to the economy in Afghanistan, and political reconciliation, especially with the tribal chiefs.  " title=" Q    And despite the way he decided the surge, he still believes that the military is -- and the pe" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312307" rowid="136533318" side="usa" srcid="312307" text=" MS. PERINO:  I have not.  I have not.  Although looking at his public comments, it seems it was pretty focused on military actions.  But we're trying to find out if we think there's anything more I can provide you.  &lt;p /&gt; Back to you, Bret.  " title=" Q    And did you have a chance to get an answer on whether the meeting that Admiral Mullen had at H" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-27#entryid_267613" rowid="136530087" side="usa" srcid="267613" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think there's going to be just a brief appearance on the way back to the airplane.  " title=" Q    And do they appear in public together today?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308332" rowid="136532977" side="usa" srcid="308332" text=" MS. PERINO:  This is the Fed's plan of -- the Federal Reserve this morning announced the creation of a program that they will use to buy commercial paper.	I don't have details of it.  That was an independent decision made by them.  It was not part of the legislation.  This was authority that they were able to take on their own, and it was part of a pattern that we've seen that the Fed is increasingly willing to find innovative ways to try to get the markets moving again, since that's the goal.  &lt;p /&gt; Jon.  " title=" Q    And do you have a figure on this new plan to buy commercial paper?  How much is that going to " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_325006" rowid="136534875" side="usa" srcid="325006" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to not touch that with a 10-foot pole. (Laughter.)  &lt;p /&gt; Wendell.  " title=" Q    And do you have a view on whether Burris should be seated in the Senate?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269198" rowid="136530289" side="usa" srcid="269198" text=" MS. PERINO:  As we said yesterday, it was absolutely horrible, and we are pleased that he was released.  But he never should have been detained in the first place.  And Zimbabwe is a very sad story of a country that used to be one that was a shining jewel in Africa and one that was an exporter of food.  And now they have people who are dependent on NGOs.  And then Mugabe takes the next step of cutting off their food.  And we just find it just deplorable, outrageous, sad.  And the fact that Mugabe then left his country in the middle of this crisis, much of what he caused, and went to Rome for a food conference is obscene.  &lt;p /&gt; Matt.  " title=" Q    And do you have anything to say about the Tsvangirai arrest?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299225" rowid="136531541" side="usa" srcid="299225" text=" MR. WILDER:  Well, we've just begun to import again.  So I don't think you can have any figures yet on this.  I think it's going to take a couple, three months before we really see that.  " title=" Q    And do you know as a factual matter how much -- what percentage of the Korean beef market is n" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326557" rowid="136535012" side="usa" srcid="326557" text=" MS. PERINO:  Maybe.  (Laughter.)  I didn't use it.  I didn't use the word.  " title=" Q    And do you mean -- when you guys keep using the word winsome, do you mean wistful?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-06#entryid_299636" rowid="136531566" side="usa" srcid="299636" text=" MS. McBRIDE:  I think she feels that we're doing everything we can as the United States, continuing sanctions, tough sanctions that we know are having an impact, are having an economic impact.  But sure she's frustrated.  Of course the President is frustrated, too.  Whenever you see people suffering, whenever you see an example like we saw with the response that the junta had to the cyclone -- I mean, they purposely kept aid and aid workers out of the country.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the things Mrs. Bush will do tonight is get a briefing from the USAID mission director, the regional director from Asia on Cyclone Nargis, the continued aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, and where exactly the $50 million U.S. of aid has gone to help the people who have been displaced and been affected by the cyclone.  We know that over 2 million people were affected in the region, and 100,000 have died, and unknown number that are missing.  &lt;p /&gt; And with the junta not responding in the way that any civilized government would to the needs of its people, of course it's incredibly frustrating to the President and Mrs. Bush.  " title=" Q    And does Mrs. Bush feel at all frustrated by the entrenchment of the Burmese regime; that all " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299217" rowid="136531533" side="usa" srcid="299217" text=" MR. WILDER:  Absolutely.  First and foremost is the security of the Peninsula.  And we need to make sure that what we do in terms of the force transformation Korea bolsters capability, keeps the Peninsula safe.  Once we're sure that that's been done, then we hope South Koreans can also help in other parts of the world.  " title=" Q    And does that include the military base restructuring?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-01#entryid_307391" rowid="136532816" side="usa" srcid="307391" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I would say better global regulations, not necessarily tighter global regulations, but we want them to be better and more effective.  We want to see a whole lot more transparency in how investment capital moves around the world.  &lt;p /&gt; The sheer volume of investment capital moving cross-border around the world, the increase over the past 20 years has presented incredible challenges for regulatory agencies here and in Europe and in Asia to deal with -- innovation of new products and increases in flows that measure in the trillions of dollars a day.  &lt;p /&gt; And so that's very difficult to do.  We have had an exploding global economy.  We know about the growth in places like China and India and other parts of the world, and it's a difficult challenge.  We do think that financial leaders across the world should get together and work to try to find and put in place structures that protect investors, but also allow for that flow of capital to continue, because what you want is investment capital going to the very best ideas, wherever they can find each other, to produce the best products, at the lowest price for consumers.  And that's how an economy works.  " title=" Q    And does that suggest you would along with global -- more tighter global regulations?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-23#entryid_280360" rowid="136531252" side="usa" srcid="280360" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, President Bush -- but remember what I'm talking about in terms of this GSE reform.  The key part of that, it would establish an independent strong regulator for the housing GSEs.  They would do basically two things:  One, make sure that the housing GSEs are focused on their core mission, which is to help homeowners, and in particular, help low-income homeowners.  And secondly, it would provide for a regulator to make sure that the GSEs are well-capitalized, which will then, overall, help the stability in the marketplace, and then hopefully help improve the economy.  " title=" Q    And does the President's concern about this suggest there needed to be more regulation, which " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-13#entryid_316622" rowid="136533840" side="usa" srcid="316622" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Let's let the -- one, let's let the meeting take place.  But, two, as I said, Saudi Arabia is a member of the G20, so this is going to be a discussion that all of the world leaders will be able to have together as to what are the root causes of the current situation we're in, and then what are some basic outlines or principles and then potential actions that can be taken at this first in what is likely to be a series of world summits.  " title=" Q    And does the United States want Saudi Arabia to do more in terms of the economic crisis -- giv" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320585" rowid="136534402" side="usa" srcid="320585" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think it will just depend, I don't think I could say right now from here.	Let us get a little more detail from the Hill, and see what we can say later on.  &lt;p /&gt; I'll go to Ken.  " title=" Q    And each company would stand on its own -- you may very well end up with an aid packet or aid " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-09#entryid_325887" rowid="136534937" side="usa" srcid="325887" text=" MR. STANZEL:  I'll have to take that question and get back to you.  I haven't been looking at the top of his desk lately.  &lt;/p&gt;" title=" Q    And finally, as far as U.S.-India nuclear civil agreement was concerned, there was one piece o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-28#entryid_312995" rowid="136533415" side="usa" srcid="312995" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, he has a lot of private meetings on his schedule.  I wouldn't tell you what they were because they are private.  He's out on an excursion right now.  He'll be back soon.  I don't know if he's arrived yet -- do you know?  No, we don't know.  If he had arrived, I couldn't tell you.  " title=" Q    And finally, the President's schedule is blank, at least the public schedule for today.  Is he" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320415" rowid="136534368" side="usa" srcid="320415" text=" MR. STANZEL:  No, I don't believe so.  I'm quite certain that it's not.  But we have talked about our focus right now is implementing the programs to address the problems in the financial markets, to implement that, you know, for the past couple months, developing those regulations for the -- program for the auto companies.  That has been our focus.  And Congress hasn't indicated that they would move forward on a stimulus right now.	But our focus is on implementing those programs.  And the second -- the next administration has indicated that their first order of business will be a stimulus.  " title=" Q    And forgive me, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed here -- I'm trying to figure out, is tha" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300757" rowid="136531702" side="usa" srcid="300757" text=" Q    And going back to a briefing in Beijing, one of the NSC officials who briefed made a mention of President Bush, when he talked to Prime Minister Putin, upon learning that two SS-21 Russian missile launchers had moved into Georgian territory.  Does this mean that there are ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads inside Georgia --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I was there for most of the briefings; I don't remember that.  But we can -- I can go back and check on it.  I don't remember anything that specific.  " title=" Q    And going back to a briefing in Beijing, one of the NSC officials who briefed made a mention o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306587" rowid="136532665" side="usa" srcid="306587" text=" MS. PERINO:  I wouldn't call it -- I wouldn't say that the President was surprised, because he's kept regularly updated.  I think that he is concerned that they feel like their concerns, their alternatives, their variations on the proposal have been listened to.  We've tried to accommodate them in some ways, but the President also understands that fundamentally, at their core, they probably do not want to support this plan.  &lt;p /&gt; A lot of people don't want to deal with this.  No one's happy about having to do this.  No one wants to do this right before an election.	Nobody wants to do this, because they want to be out on the campaign trail.  But there are times in America when you put aside partisan differences and you come together and you try to find the best package in order to help Americans.  That's what we're trying to do today, and I think Republicans --  " title=" Q    And has he been surprised at the level of non-support from the rank-and-file Republicans?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272625" rowid="136530737" side="usa" srcid="272625" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not sure President Bush has.  I know Secretary Rice had been in contact with all of the leaders on the Security Council in order to make sure that presidents' statement went out.  And Jendayi Frazer is still in the region and working on it.  &lt;p /&gt; Les.  On this?  " title=" Q    And has President Bush talked to Thabo Mbeki about what you're saying, the &quot;sham elections&quot;?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-20#entryid_310965" rowid="136533207" side="usa" srcid="310965" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'll have an update for you a little bit later today.  We're trying to get a lot of those things scheduled and organized, just trying to work out getting people on the phone.  " title=" Q    And has the President -- one of the things the statement said was the leaders should reach out" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-19#entryid_305512" rowid="136532514" side="usa" srcid="305512" text=" MR. HENNESSEY:	Secretary Paulson gave a letter which indicated his support for what the Fed was doing.  I don't think that I would characterize it the way that you've described it.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay, yes.  " title=" Q    And has the U.S. government cosigned or guaranteed the AIG loan?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278876" rowid="136531044" side="usa" srcid="278876" text=" MS. PERINO:  As far as I know, yes.  There's been no changes in the law.  &lt;p /&gt; Anybody else on this?  Wendell.  " title=" Q    And has this administration enforced the &quot;use it or lose it&quot; provisions?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313257" rowid="136533455" side="usa" srcid="313257" text=" MS. PERINO:  But their conversations were about the strategic framework agreement and the status of forces agreement.  " title=" Q    And have the Iraqis expressed concern about Syria's --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268783" rowid="136530221" side="usa" srcid="268783" text=" MS. PERINO:  Let's go to your next question.  " title=" Q    And he does support it?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_325000" rowid="136534869" side="usa" srcid="325000" text=" MS. PERINO:  The President is just going to let the RNC fight that out.  That's the appropriate thing for them to do.  And they can have a good, robust debate, and we encourage them to do so.  &lt;p /&gt; Andre.  " title=" Q    And he doesn't favor any of the candidates, including the one who wouldn't endorse the resolut" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268780" rowid="136530218" side="usa" srcid="268780" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's a great idea.  It would be a lot of fun for you to cover.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    And he has decided, so why doesn't this President break it in? (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318532" rowid="136534145" side="usa" srcid="318532" text=" MR. FRATTO:  You can check with the New York Fed to see what their views are on that.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Kathleen.  " title=" Q    And he weighed in on the Citigroup decision last night.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322360" rowid="136534538" side="usa" srcid="322360" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look -- yes, he is satisfied that he was well protected by the Secret Service, as he always has been.  " title=" Q    And he's satisfied with the -- satisfied with the protection -- had it been something other th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323430" rowid="136534608" side="usa" srcid="323430" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  Yes, the specifics of how the Treasury intends to get warrants from Chrysler, which is privately held, I'm going to have to rely on Treasury to give the details on.  But these loans are to the auto manufacturing companies of GM and Chrysler.  " title=" Q    And how do you resolve the Cerberus issue, because they are a private company -- it calls for " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323434" rowid="136534612" side="usa" srcid="323434" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  But it's a little confusing because these numbers just -- literally coincidentally happen to be the same, the total -- the total that --  " title=" Q    And how do--  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-17#entryid_279595" rowid="136531118" side="usa" srcid="279595" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  Well, if you get to something like Katrina, you're up into the billions of dollars, so -- and probably into the flooded area, we'll be over a billion dollars there.	So this is just strictly for firefighting.  We haven't got into any public assistance things or -- probably not much individual assistance because there's only been a little over a hundred homes burned.  " title=" Q    And how does the $154 million compare to other disasters?	I mean, just on a scale.  I don't me" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308782" rowid="136533050" side="usa" srcid="308782" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would refer you to the Treasury Department for that, but it is a part of the range of authorities that they were given, and this is a dynamic situation.  We still have a volatile stock market, and Secretary Paulson is looking at all the different tools to figure out which one should be used at what time and how robustly, and how much money to put into each.  He said it's going to take a little bit of time, though, as they implement these -- the rules and regulations that Neel Kashkari is now involved in.  So let me refer you over there on specifics for that.  " title=" Q    And how far along is that idea?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-11#entryid_269915" rowid="136530354" side="usa" srcid="269915" text=" MR. PRICE:  We are all working very hard towards that end.  " title=" Q    And how likely is it that the major economies will produce that language, that declaration?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300574" rowid="136531645" side="usa" srcid="300574" text=" MS. PERINO:  As I said, probably just a day or two.  He could leave Friday, instead of Thursday.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    And how long do you think the President might stay here in Washington?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307685" rowid="136532856" side="usa" srcid="307685" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, I think Treasury wants to do it as quickly as possible, but they can explain to you how they will implement this going forward.  It's a complicated thing that they'll be trying to put in place, and I'll let them explain it.  " title=" Q    And how soon after -- if it becomes law, how soon after that does the White House want the Tre" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-14#entryid_326364" rowid="136534999" side="usa" srcid="326364" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that one of the things that we have to do is -- the way we laid it out, was that the rockets had to stop being sent from Gaza into Israel, and that we had to do something about the smuggling situation, because in previous cease-fires, what Hamas has done is used that time not to build roads and not to help their people and provide food and shelter for those that need it, but to rearm and buy rockets with that money.  So by helping stop the smuggling routes, that should help in a cease-fire.  And then the third thing would be the access agreement from 2005, we would like to see that restored.  &lt;p /&gt; Jon.  " title=" Q    And I apologize if you already visited this, but what exactly -- how will you know a durable c" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317625" rowid="136533996" side="usa" srcid="317625" text=" MS. PERINO:  I can barely hear you, Paula.  " title=" Q    And I guess one of the other arguments is that the economic impact of losing your home would b" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313544" rowid="136533491" side="usa" srcid="313544" text=" Q    And I have a question about Iraq, as well.  For months, when the Democrats were saying that we needed to impose a withdrawal timetable in order to pressure the Iraqi government to make certain political achievements -- I'm thinking of the oil law or the regional elections -- you and Steve Hadley and others roundly denounced that, calling it counterproductive and a lot of other things.  Now, with the Iraqi government resisting the -- pushing for amendments that you may not like, SOFA, American officials are talking about ending protection of senior Iraqi officials.  You're talking about stopping the training of Iraqi security forces, you're talking about U.S. forces retreating to their bases and ending security operations.  What's the difference between pressuring the Iraqis with a withdrawal timetable, and pressuring the Iraqis with, say, threats to their personal safety?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I've not heard anybody make threats to their personal safety.  If that has happened, I'd love for you to show me the quote from the official that said that.  One of the things that we have said is that what we are searching for is a legal basis for us to be able to continue operations in Iraq.  They've known that, and that's why we've continued to work on a negotiated document; that's what partners do.  We've been partners with the Iraqis, and we'll continue to work with them.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Les.  " title=" Q    And I have a question about Iraq, as well.  For months, when the Democrats were saying that we" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279937" rowid="136531165" side="usa" srcid="279937" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, it is the EPA -- the EPA Administrator's -- I'm sorry, that is the EPA Administrator's decision to make. I'm not exactly sure where we stand on that, Roger.  I know that there's been some discussion about it over at EPA, so I'll check on three things, then.  " title=" Q    And I have a related question.  The Texas governor has asked -- petitioned the EPA to do a 50 " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315288" rowid="136533658" side="usa" srcid="315288" text=" Q    And I'd like to follow, too, on your comments about the transition period.  Does the election of President-elect Obama change President Bush's approach or his agenda at all during this period of transition?  Is there any deference at all to a new leader coming in, or is that an inappropriate way to --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  He doesn't change his principles, nor his policies.  But what we have pledged to do and we are doing is to work and consult with the Obama team on issues as we move forward -- one of those being the financial summit that's coming up next week.  Those conversations -- as part of the financial markets update, part of that discussion will be on the summit.  &lt;p /&gt; So those conversations are already underway, and we are certainly going to be mindful of the need to have their input on a lot of different issues as we move forward.  We have a lot of responsibility.  Right now we have the war in Iraq, and we're trying to right now not only bring our soldiers home because the conditions on the ground are improving, but to finish up our negotiations on the strategic framework agreement and also the SOFA, the status of forces agreement.  That's underway.  &lt;p /&gt; We're working to implement the rescue package, the Troubled Asset Relief Program -- TARP -- that the Treasury Department is working on.	There are other rules and regulations that we have -- that have been in the pipeline for a while, and the due diligence on those takes a while.  We have to have all the interagency input, take all the public comment, and get those out in a reasonable time frame.  So there's a lot of work to be done on our end, and we'll be keeping them consulted along the way.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    And I'd like to follow, too, on your comments about the transition period.  Does the election " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_272012" rowid="136530629" side="usa" srcid="272012" text=" MR. HEIN:  Right, it's several-fold.  The President's remarks will feature the progress that's been made.	I just made reference to the fundamental way that the federal government does business differently now, and he'll describe that, the philosophy behind it.  He'll chart the progress that's been made, the achievements and the results.  And the members of his Cabinet that will be present and others who will speak will unpack those achievements, each in their own domain.  For example, Secretary Chao will speak to prisoner reentry, and Ambassador Dybul will speak to the PEPFAR program.  &lt;p /&gt; So at once, the conference -- that looks back and gives meaning to the changes that have been made over the past seven years, but it's also a training conference, so a thousand or so social entrepreneurs will be in attendance.  They'll be receiving direct training from all the federal agencies that administer this initiative on how to better provide after-school services, or housing -- affordable housing solutions for the poor, or employment services for the dislocated worker -- all the great human needs that the faith-based and community groups are engaged in in their communities.  They'll receive direct training on it.  &lt;p /&gt; It will also be a platform for us to talk about some of the research that is forming to look at the Faith-Based and Community Initiative, and in particular, the programs that are administered by it.  " title=" Q    And I'm sorry, but I missed the first part of the call.  What are you really hoping to gain ou" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280828" rowid="136531326" side="usa" srcid="280828" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I won't speak for the diplomats.  I think that the political directors would have to talk about that.  But I do know that what -- that could -- what Iran could face if they don't respond favorably is additional sanctions.  And it doesn't sound from reading the interview that that's what he wants, but yet again I think maybe we should think about what he -- look towards what he says tomorrow.	And if it's something different from what he said today and then yet again on Saturday, I think that anybody who would be in our position or any of our allies' position would have to look at this and think that it's one that requires skepticism.  " title=" Q    And if he doesn't come back in Geneva and suspends enrichment activities, is that, the incenti" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324666" rowid="136534819" side="usa" srcid="324666" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Well, that will evolve over time, both with people in and about the resource, but also with advances in technology.  So we begin to lay down the marks, we begin to put more monitoring systems, including passive monitoring systems that don't require people.  And then people pay more attention, because when you draw these lines, as we've learned from Hawaii and people enter the resource, important questions are asked, as, what are they doing there?  Is this innocent passage?  Are they there for scientific reasons?  And then people just have a heightened level of awareness.  &lt;p /&gt; We know that over time this evolves well because our experience with marine sanctuaries has shown that after time people become quite invested in the conservation program, and you get a lot of just personal self-policing.  And with things like Google Maps and Google Earth, our capacity only increases.  And to me, what's important is also let's learn more about what's happening under the water.  Often we tend to focus on the surface or the very shallow coral systems, but these areas are an opportunity really to sort of revisit and reenergize our desire to learn about the depth of our world, even as we work on trying to get to Mars.  " title=" Q    And if I could just follow, if I could.  You mentioned that it's going to be tough to monitor " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305168" rowid="136532423" side="usa" srcid="305168" text=" Q    And if I could just follow, on the regulatory blueprint that you mentioned that Secretary Paulson put forward -- I think among the criticisms I have heard is that that kind of blueprint, had it been advocated early in the administration, had someone done that kind of review early in the administration that we might have, and advocated more, that we might have not --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm sure you can find lots of critics.  And I'm sure that there are going to be plenty of them who -- what was it, &quot;Success has lots of fathers, but failure doesn't.&quot;	I think that Congress needs to take -- before they start throwing arrows, take a little bit of time for some self-reflection.  But also, why don't we just set that aside for a minute and focus on the fact that we have a crisis that we're trying to manage, that we are able to manage it in a way because -- in a way of stability and strength, based on the system that we have.  &lt;p /&gt; And we have the right people in place, the right personnel in place to be able to deal with this, in terms of the experts that we have that are on the President's senior economic team.  So I'm not going to get into the blame game.  We are in the act, lead and govern game.  " title=" Q    And if I could just follow, on the regulatory blueprint that you mentioned that Secretary Paul" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268284" rowid="136530154" side="usa" srcid="268284" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I have not.  But I think that if I feel the need to speak up at any of the number of meetings that I have, or my -- if I need to step through the open door that the President has provided for me, I will do so without any concern about my future.  And I have -- you have to be confident in going out -- coming up here every day, and I am.  I have no crisis of confidence.  " title=" Q    And if so, what is your obligation --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273184" rowid="136530809" side="usa" srcid="273184" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm saying it is a possibility.  And I think that because we are in unchartered territory, and we have never had enemy combatants afforded constitutional rights like all of us have, and -- so anybody who thinks that they know exactly what's going to happen if a detainee challenges his detention -- his or her detention -- in court, they're not being honest, because we don't know what's going to happen.  &lt;p /&gt; But there is considered judgment from many federal government lawyers, all the way up to the Attorney General of the United States, that it is a very real possibility that a dangerous detainee could be released into the United States as a result of this Supreme Court decision.  " title=" Q    And if the judge then said there's not enough evidence, your understanding of it is that the d" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-29#entryid_306875" rowid="136532736" side="usa" srcid="306875" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'm not going to try to interpret what happens in markets.  The agreement was out before the Asian markets opened, and lots of people can speculate what it would have been had the agreement not been out.  I'm not going to try to do that.  I know that that was a focus of the Majority Leader and the Speaker, and rightly so.  And we're glad that it was out at that time.  " title=" Q    And in addition, the action yesterday to try and get an agreement was partly timed to try and " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-19#entryid_271264" rowid="136530524" side="usa" srcid="271264" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  We know right down to Quincy, the water is receding, but from Quincy down to St. Louis, the crest is still rising.  What we don't expect is the kind of impact we've already had because most of that is agricultural land, and the smaller cities don't have huge populations.  When it gets to St. Louis, I just talked to the Army Corps of Engineers director, he does not think there's going to be any problem in St. Louis.  The levee should be strong.  That levee is at 51 feet, and it's expected to crest at right around 37 to 38 feet.  So we should be in good shape in East St. Louis.  " title=" Q    And in terms of what you're forecasting, are other states going to be hard hit?  Is the worst " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-30#entryid_307126" rowid="136532759" side="usa" srcid="307126" text=" Q    And in the readout of the telephone call with the French President, the White House indicated that President Bush agreed on the need to hold some kind of international forum to reevaluate how the world does business.  The French President has gone somewhat further, saying it's time for a top-to-bottom overhaul.  What exactly did the President -- did President Bush agree to, and what forum do you envision for having a discussion on how the world does business and how to change that?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  Well, I think it's premature to say what exactly the forum would be and how it would work.  What the President is focused on this week is this problem.  We'll figure out next steps, especially with respect to the global economy, in the coming months.  &lt;p /&gt; He really appreciated President Sarkozy's commitment and thinking on this issue.	We've been engaged in the international community on ways to improve the functioning of the global economy and how to deal with capital flows across borders.  We've dealt with this with the Financial Services Forum.	They have put forth a lot of ideas that we approve of.	These are conversations the President has had with not only President Sarkozy, but with Prime Minister Brown and Chancellor Merkel and others.  &lt;p /&gt; We will try to get to that, and I think we will, and we'll have these discussions.  I can't tell you what -- I don't know specifically what the President may or may not have agreed to, other than to continue this discussion and see where it goes from here.  And we'll let you know if there's an announcement.  " title=" Q    And in the readout of the telephone call with the French President, the White House indicated " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-14#entryid_326354" rowid="136534989" side="usa" srcid="326354" text=" MS. PERINO:  Let me find out for you.  I know that they wanted to spend one more weekend at Camp David.  It is a place that they have thoroughly enjoyed.  They love having their family there, they've spent a lot of special moments there, and it's a good place to get away from Washington, D.C.  I think that it will probably be really cold up there this weekend, but he loves to be able to go up there and he can ride his mountain bike as well, and just spend a little bit of quiet time.  Let me see if I can get a guest list for you.  I don't know -- I don't think it's too extensive; I'll find out.  &lt;p /&gt; Roger.  " title=" Q    And is anything special going on at Camp David this weekend?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306609" rowid="136532687" side="usa" srcid="306609" text=" MS. PERINO:  The President understands that a lot of them have reservations -- even about the concept, about the government intervening in the free market.  He had the same instinct.  But he believes that with the education that he got and then the ones that he -- what we have provided to members of Congress, that they understand that we should -- we cannot stand by and just let this happen if we have a way to try to fix it.  &lt;p /&gt; You'll recall that this President has been -- has shown bold leadership on many different issues.	And there have been a couple of them that come to mind where not all the House Republicans were with the President.  Not all the Senate Republicans were with the President on issues.  But he has led on important issues like Social Security, immigration, and now this one, where we try to help drive to a conclusion.  &lt;p /&gt; The President believed in the urgency of Social Security and immigration, but they pale in comparison to the urgency of this package.  " title=" Q    And is he at all disappointed that members of his own party, you know, these are people -- you" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310085" rowid="136533139" side="usa" srcid="310085" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, we've had this on -- in the plans for a little while.	We were just confirming the venue, and oftentimes we don't announce these until we have it nailed down.  &lt;p /&gt; Ann.  " title=" Q    And is it fair to think that the market's behavior yesterday was a factor in your decision?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307887" rowid="136532907" side="usa" srcid="307887" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Let's see what happens with the vote first, and then -- (laughter) -- should they -- but it's in the House's -- it's in the hands of the House of Representatives.	And if we get to that point, I know that they will -- that they understand the urgency also, and I know they'll be trying to get it to us as quickly as possible.  " title=" Q    And is it your anticipation that the President would sign it today before he leaves?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-15#entryid_316988" rowid="136533901" side="usa" srcid="316988" text=" SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  As I said, I gave a very detailed briefing of all of the aspects.	I don't want to characterize their understanding or reaction of it.  That will be for them to do.  " title=" Q    And is it your understanding that they're comfortable with what's in it and, in particular, th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269200" rowid="136530291" side="usa" srcid="269200" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't have any other reports except for news reports that I've seen.  So let me refer you to the State Department, who has a direct line of communication with them.  &lt;p /&gt; Roger.  " title=" Q    And is it your understanding the diplomats were not harmed or -- were they mistreated?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267054" rowid="136530017" side="usa" srcid="267054" text=" MR. FISK:  Right now it's consistent with our existing regulations on gift parcels, which is it's from those with family in the United States.  " title=" Q    And is just for family members -- can an American only send a cell phone to Cuba if it's --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-30#entryid_324153" rowid="136534730" side="usa" srcid="324153" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  You know, that's 21 days from now and I'm not going to speculate about this.  I think we all want to see an end to the violence.  But that first starts with Hamas ceasing its rocket attacks into Israel.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    And is President Bush prepared to have this violence in Gaza continue through the end of his p" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-24#entryid_280522" rowid="136531281" side="usa" srcid="280522" text=" MS. PERINO:  We are hopeful that they are, but I think that, as Ambassador Crocker said and the Iraqis have said, that the hope for an October time frame is unrealistic at this point because the election law was vetoed by both of the -- I think the President and the Prime Minister.  So it goes back to the legislature, and hopefully now that they can work out their differences.  &lt;p /&gt; But one of the big issues is the Kirkuk region, and it's going to be something they have to work through.  But they will do that.  Just remember that the Iraqis now are trying to solve their problems in the parliament; they're not trying to solve them in the streets with violence.	And that's remarkable in itself, given where we were a year ago.  " title=" Q    And is the administration still hopeful that those elections could happen this year?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320153" rowid="136534330" side="usa" srcid="320153" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I'm helping to arrange them, as the President's press secretary, yes.  " title=" Q    And is the White House sponsoring these interviews with -- on legacy?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-30#entryid_324145" rowid="136534722" side="usa" srcid="324145" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I don't have any indication of that at this point.  But that's the purpose of the diplomacy that Secretary Rice has been engaged in.  She has been the President's point person on dealing with leaders in the region and around the world.  I believe she's on a call now, or had this morning, with the representatives of the Quartet.  And the purpose of all these conversations is to lead to a ceasefire, but one that is lasting, and as I've said many times before, one that Hamas actually respects.  &lt;p /&gt; Elaine.  " title=" Q    And is there any indication that anybody is any closer to a ceasefire at this point than they " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309536" rowid="136533108" side="usa" srcid="309536" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not that I'm aware of.  One, I don't speak for the Fed, so I'd have to refer you to them to see if they are thinking about that.  I'll leave all of that over there.  But let me stress that we think that the best way to help everybody -- manufacturers, small business owners, consumers, retirees, those saving for college -- is to get these money markets moving again so that we can unfreeze the credit problem, get the lifeblood of our economy circulating again so that we can help everybody.  And that's what we're determined to do.  " title=" Q    And is there any sort of thought from the White House to sort of find another way to get aid t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326584" rowid="136535039" side="usa" srcid="326584" text=" MR. GILLESPIE:	He's got still things, you know, that he'll be doing.  But, as I said, there's no public appearances.  But the President will have the presidency until noon on Tuesday, and he will be having his briefings, he'll be, you know, talking to folks.  But I don't -- there won't be a lot.  I wouldn't be expecting, you know -- well, there won't be a lot.  But any responsibilities that fall to the President between now and noon will fall to George W. Bush.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes.  " title=" Q    And is there anything left of the President's plate, or does the sprint to the finish end toni" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-17#entryid_270709" rowid="136530452" side="usa" srcid="270709" text=" Q    And is there concern -- Iowa is the number one corn state, the number one soy bean state, I think.  About 10 percent of the crop plant is flooded and they probably can't replant.  Won't that add, you know, a couple of tenths of percentage points on the CPI?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  Well, I don't think I'd make that connection to -- that direct connection to prices.  We spend a lot of time talking up here about the relationship between the prices of crops and how that affects consumer prices, and it's not a direct link.  There is some relationship, but it's not very direct and it's not really one-to-one.  It should have -- it will probably have some impact, but there are so many forces that play upon consumer prices, it's hard to point to any one item.  It's also -- like I said, it's just really too early to say whether those figures are correct or not.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Bret.  " title=" Q    And is there concern -- Iowa is the number one corn state, the number one soy bean state, I th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273193" rowid="136530818" side="usa" srcid="273193" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not that I'm aware of.  And again, it's the PFIAB*, and I don't know who all saw it -- who all would have seen it at that time.  &lt;p /&gt; So I'd refer you to the State Department, because they had said that they had had the contacts beforehand and that's what they're maintaining today.  I don't know of anybody else in the White House who would have known about the letters.  " title=" Q    And it didn't raise any flags when he said, &quot;I'm going to Iraq&quot;?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-26#entryid_319118" rowid="136534196" side="usa" srcid="319118" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Yes, that's going to be put off for some time, no question about it.  But this is what you want to see -- when you're in an economic downturn, you want to see the government be able to take the actions that it can take to help to support growth.	And we're in a -- not just an economic downturn, but one that's accompanied by and occurring at the same time as a financial crisis.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, there are -- there can be problems in the future of putting that kind of lending -- making that kind of lending available, and with all of the actions that are being taken by Treasury and the Fed, you have to be very, very careful about unintended consequences.  But there's one thing we are absolutely certain of, and that is if we fail to take these actions we would be dealing with a much, much more dire situation today.  And so we need to balance those risks.  And I think everybody's thinking of those risks, certainly the Treasury and the Fed.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    And it was just earlier this year we were anticipating, or you were, a balanced budget by 2012" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308073" rowid="136532924" side="usa" srcid="308073" text=" Q    And just as follow -- on the judges.  Does the White House have statistics on how many nominees the President has proposed, say, over his term, like, he's nominated, let's say, X number of judges to the appeals bench and X number have been confirmed?  Can you get that kind of information for us?  Or maybe you have it there in your BlackBerry.  &lt;p&gt; MR. STANZEL:  We can work to get that for you.	I don't have the final tally.  " title=" Q    And just as follow -- on the judges.  Does the White House have statistics on how many nominee" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303887" rowid="136532180" side="usa" srcid="303887" text=" Q    And just in the same vein, did the -- in terms of the President's instruction to the Secretary of the Treasury, did he in the last month or two have any specific guidelines or principles that he wanted the Secretary to follow, in terms of how he approached this?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think President Bush and Secretary Paulson are of like minds in that, one, they want our economy to grow; They want actions to be taken to make sure it can grow.  Two, we have to get through this housing crisis, and President Bush has been very pleased with the HOPE NOW program and FHA Secure, ways that our administration has tried to help Americans stay in their homes.  He trusts Secretary Paulson.  He likes the fact that he can have very blunt and candid conversations from such an expert in the financial world.  &lt;p /&gt; So they speak sometimes multiple times a day and the administration -- in our administration we've been able to have great cooperation between our economic staff here at the White House and at the Treasury Department, amongst other agencies, including HUD or at the OFHEO.  &lt;p /&gt; Mike.  " title=" Q    And just in the same vein, did the -- in terms of the President's instruction to the Secretary" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317317" rowid="136533970" side="usa" srcid="317317" text=" Q    And just one other thing on that.	He's also -- apparently Obama is going to be reviewing interrogations, the whole policy practice of what constitutes a valid interrogation, what isn't waterboarding, et cetera.  They're going to have a panel on this.	Does it concern the Bush administration at all that this is in any way going to be tipping our hands to terrorists in the future?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm sure that the next Commander-in-Chief will be very discreet and discerning in looking at information and making sure that he understands the full capabilities of tools that we have available to protect the country.  &lt;p /&gt; This President has said that we did interrogate terrorists, and we did so to protect the country from possible imminent terrorist attack.  We did not torture.  And the laws that we have on the books are ones that we follow.  And I am sure that when the national security teams that stay on through the transition process, that they will be as forthcoming as possible with all information, and that they'll have the information that they need to do their job.  &lt;p /&gt; Matt.  " title=" Q    And just one other thing on that.	He's also -- apparently Obama is going to be reviewing inter" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303901" rowid="136532194" side="usa" srcid="303901" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, going back years, this administration has advocated for reforms of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  Congress has been reluctant to move forward on those for many years, and in fact, didn't even take it real seriously until this crisis emerged -- and we finally got some of that legislation I think in early August or late July.  &lt;p /&gt; The reason that we're -- we didn't want to have to take this action is we prefer for Congress to take care of its own business.  Remember, these are congressionally chartered companies, and it's appropriate that Congress have a role in saying how they're going to move forward in the future.  And that's why Congress will have a chance when they get back over this next period and also into the next administration to decide how to move forward with them.  " title=" Q    And just to follow up on that, about the administration not being anxious to take that step, w" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303890" rowid="136532183" side="usa" srcid="303890" text=" MS. PERINO:  I know that he has been -- he had been briefed on it, and he had been a part of the economic lunch before.  But he's been away this past week, as you know.  " title=" Q    And just, finally, one more.  Was Vice President Cheney involved in this decision-making at al" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-23#entryid_280359" rowid="136531251" side="usa" srcid="280359" text=" MS. PERINO:  A great new slogan.  " title=" Q    And keep Wall Street is sober?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307869" rowid="136532889" side="usa" srcid="307869" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I actually did not see it, so I don't have a reaction on that.  " title=" Q    And last night in a debate in Canada, Prime Minister Harper did a 180 on the Iraq war, now say" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271623" rowid="136530590" side="usa" srcid="271623" text=" Q    And last thing.  Senator Obama is saying speculation is a big part of this.  The administration seems to reject that;  Secretary Bodman over the weekend saying in Saudi that speculation really is not the issue here.  But the Saudis themselves came out yesterday and said they do believe speculation is a problem.  So where does this White House --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  We believe the fundamental problem is the basic one of law -- the basic law of supply and demand.  We do think that speculation could have impact on the day-to-day volatility in the market.  But over the long term what we have seen is a leveling off of supply and a dramatically rising -- rise of demand, and that is what the fundamental problem is.  &lt;p /&gt; But in terms of the day-to-day volatility or turbulence in the market, perhaps that can be attributed to speculators, and the CFTC is looking into that aspect and all the other aspects that go into this, as well.  " title=" Q    And last thing.  Senator Obama is saying speculation is a big part of this.  The administratio" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315620" rowid="136533681" side="usa" srcid="315620" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'm not aware of that.  &lt;p /&gt; Dan.  " title=" Q    And last thing.  The Russians are saying that they're discussing with you guys a meeting betwe" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311187" rowid="136533221" side="usa" srcid="311187" text=" MS. PERINO:  Nice try, but I don't have anything for you.  " title=" Q    And lastly on that, do you think, if it comes to be, the second stimulus package, would Americ" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323409" rowid="136534589" side="usa" srcid="323409" text=" Q    And lastly, I guess in the context we have been discussing here -- last but not least -- the thing that Ukraine needs most at this point is a real financial bailout.  Their currency is in a free fall.  The bailout that the IMF (inaudible) seems to have done more harm than good by its conditions.  The question here, I guess, is, are you prepared to help your strategic partner to survive this winter?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I'm sure that the IMF when they went forward to try to help the Ukrainians thought about all of the ramifications and I'm sure none of the problems are going to be solved overnight.	It's probably going to take a long time to get it done.  Let us check into the specifics of the needs there, but I think that the IMF has it covered.  It's just going to take a while for them to shake it all out.  " title=" Q    And lastly, I guess in the context we have been discussing here -- last but not least -- the t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304223" rowid="136532268" side="usa" srcid="304223" text=" Q    And lastly, is there concern that this 9/11 is weighed down more by the issues of the war in Iraq, that had nothing to do with 9/11?  Many people, detractors, Democrats, critics are saying, as we look at this anniversary, there's more of a heaviness dealing with the war in Iraq and troop withdrawal there, and not dealing with fighting the war against Osama bin Laden.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I could not disagree with you more, April, and I think that you should go back and look at the President's speech yesterday, and go back over this past seven years.  You've covered this President long enough to know that the global war on terror is something that he takes seriously every single day, and that there are men and women -- thousands of them -- men and women across our government who are working to try to prevent attacks from happening.  And also we fundamentally changed our posture, which is we went on the offense and we took the fight to the enemy.  And that's why we've been able to help prevent attacks here in our country and in other countries.  &lt;p /&gt; Les.  " title=" Q    And lastly, is there concern that this 9/11 is weighed down more by the issues of the war in I" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313242" rowid="136533440" side="usa" srcid="313242" text=" Q    And lastly, November 4th is coming, and there are concerns from many people about the long lines.  Many are concerned that McCain supporters, as well as Obama supporters, are going to have to wait in long lines.  And things could indeed cause some voting problems or irregularities because of these long waits.  Is there anything that this administration is intending on doing to ensure that the voting process will be carried out fairly?	We just saw that the NAACP has filed suit against Virginia because of concerns about long lines.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think that voting is a privilege in this country, and it's a right.	And everyone that has that ability should be able to take advantage of it.	That said, the suit that you were just talking about was actually against the state of Virginia, and that's because the states and the localities are the ones responsible for elections.  There are a lot of things that we're responsible for here at the White House, but long lines on voting day are not one of them.  " title=" Q    And lastly, November 4th is coming, and there are concerns from many people about the long lin" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316076" rowid="136533744" side="usa" srcid="316076" text=" MS. PERINO:  If Secretary Rice moved forward with something you can bet that it had the blessing of President Bush.  &lt;p /&gt; Peter.  " title=" Q    And lastly, the foreign ministers of our two countries met in Sharm el Sheikh.  Basically our " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-23#entryid_280364" rowid="136531256" side="usa" srcid="280364" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I actually haven't spoken to him about this, but I imagine what he means, as I've heard him describe before in public and in private, is that Wall Street let themselves get carried away and they did not understand -- the markets did not understand the risk that these newfangled financial instruments would pose to the market, and now we're having to deal with this.  " title=" Q    And more colorful.  But he meant they were irresponsible?	I mean, when you say &quot;drunk&quot; what do" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-06#entryid_299634" rowid="136531564" side="usa" srcid="299634" text=" MS. McBRIDE:  Dr. Maung, Cynthia Maung, Mrs. Bush had participated in a video teleconference with her back in December, getting a briefing on the clinic and the services provided by the clinic; any information that Dr. Cynthia could share about what she was hearing from those that were fleeing the new round of violence, particularly against the Buddhist monks that happened in September.	So she has met her via VTC, but I don't believe that she has met her in person before.  &lt;p /&gt; One thing if I could just mention about our office, about the First Lady's Office -- Sally reminded me of this -- when we did visit in the camp, we did ask the question, what is it that you need, and it was basic things like malaria nets, but it also was everyday items -- soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, school supplies, notebooks, pencils -- just things that we take for granted on a daily basis.  So we as a staff collected a lot of items that we're bringing tomorrow.  Mrs. Bush also independently has gotten a personal care products company to match her contributions.  So we're bringing a lot of things for people at both clinics.  " title=" Q    And Mrs. Bush has a preexisting relationship, or knows Dr. Cindy?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302489" rowid="136531940" side="usa" srcid="302489" text=" Q    And on -- the Israeli press is reporting that for the first time in the country's history, there will be a U.S.-flagged military base in the Negev.	Can you confirm this?  And what's the thinking behind putting a radar installation in Israel at this time?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I can't, but we'll check into it and get back to you.  &lt;p /&gt; Victoria.  " title=" Q    And on -- the Israeli press is reporting that for the first time in the country's history, the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271609" rowid="136530576" side="usa" srcid="271609" text=" MS. PERINO:  The way I would put it is that we think that every leader could do more, because obviously this is a problem that is not just affecting one of its neighbors to the south, but it affects all of Africa.  And on a human level, it affects all of us.  And the President is very concerned and gets updated regularly -- he got updated this morning by the NSC expert on this issue, as well.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    And on African leaders expressing dismay, are you satisfied with the level of pressure that So" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-24#entryid_271780" rowid="136530608" side="usa" srcid="271780" text=" Q    And on another subject, the President supports John McCain as far as being the next President of the United States.	But what does the President and this administration say about one of McCain's inner circle saying that a terrorist attack on this country would be a big advantage for McCain?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Again, I'm not -- I'm just not going to get into it and get the President involved in disputes between the campaigns.  " title=" Q    And on another subject, the President supports John McCain as far as being the next President " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321333" rowid="136534475" side="usa" srcid="321333" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    And on another topic.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318530" rowid="136534143" side="usa" srcid="318530" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I would never try to speculate as to what would be needed in the future.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, John.  " title=" Q    And on Citigroup, is this the last injection of federal dollars they'll be getting?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-18#entryid_301038" rowid="136531767" side="usa" srcid="301038" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Right.  I would say that we have a number of reports from the ground.  The Russians have said that they are beginning their withdrawal.  We are going to closely monitor this.  It's hard for me to say, standing right here, right now, exactly the state of the withdrawal.  But regardless, the Russians have committed to withdrawing and they need to withdraw.  And so that is what we are looking for.  &lt;p /&gt; Mike.  " title=" Q    And on Georgia, there seems to be some disagreement on whether Russia is pulling back.  Georgi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298492" rowid="136531390" side="usa" srcid="298492" text=" MR. WILDER:  North Korea -- we are obviously all aware that the President talked about the de-listing of the North Koreans from the state sponsors of terrorism if the North Koreans agree to a verification protocol that included the plutonium program, the highly enriched uranium activities, and the proliferation efforts.  At this point, we don't have that agreement yet.  We are still in discussion with the North Koreans on this issue.	The six-party -- all the members of the six-party are in these discussions, and we are looking for the North to come back to us and agree to the kind of protocol that all of the rest of the six-party participants believe is necessary.  &lt;p /&gt; We have a little more than 10 days left before the first opportunity for the President to open that window and de-list the North.  We hope to hear from the North in this period of time that they will agree to the kinds of measures that are absolutely essential to verify what they have done in the nuclear area.  So we are waiting to hear the North's response.  " title=" Q    And on North Korea?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320128" rowid="136534305" side="usa" srcid="320128" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we already have brought down -- brought back five brigades.  And General Petraeus, before he left, announced that he would be bringing home even more and they'd be coming home sooner.  And I think some of the people that we saw at Fort Campbell last Tuesday, some of those soldiers, they had actually come home sooner than expected.  &lt;p /&gt; So we're seeing where we can move troops around, bring some more home, or even shorten their deployments, if possible.  I couldn't predict any other announcements between now and January 20th, but we are working very closely with Secretary Gates -- because that's very easy to do, since he's the President's Secretary of Defense -- but also with General Jim Jones and others on the President-elect's new team.  " title=" Q    And on SOFA -- is there anything that he would do, now that that agreement is done, between no" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271981" rowid="136530654" side="usa" srcid="271981" text=" Q    And on the -- on North Korea.  Chris Hill says that whenever this first declaration comes, it's not expected to include an accounting of North Korea's weapons.	Can you explain to me why the United States would take any steps at all to lift any sanctions, no matter how symbolic, without a full, complete accounting of North Korea's nuclear weapons?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I didn't see Chris Hill's comments.  Obviously he's a little bit closer to this issue than I am.  What I can tell you is that we will rigorously verify any declaration that the North Koreans put forward.  Remember that part of this is that -- part of the deal is that if North Korea submits its declaration, they also have to dismantle and disable the Yongbyon plant.  And that gets us closer to where we want to be, which is a denuclearized Peninsula.  And also, it gives us further progress on our steps to cooperate on other goals such as a peace regime on a Korean Peninsula; a normalization of relations; a new mechanism to cooperate on peace and security in Northeast Asia, which is something that the neighborhood has talked about wanting to do; and, of course, an opportunity to improve the lives of the North Korean people, many of whom also suffer from the effects of starvation.  &lt;p /&gt; So in short, the six-party framework has given us an opportunity to get to this point where we are looking forward to getting a declaration, but also dismantling and disabling one of the places where they were developing weapons.  Now, when that declaration comes, as Secretary Rice and the President have said, that we will rigorously verify that document.  " title=" Q    And on the -- on North Korea.  Chris Hill says that whenever this first declaration comes, it'" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-28#entryid_312996" rowid="136533416" side="usa" srcid="312996" text=" Q    And on the DOE thing, there's been an attempt to speed up the rules and stuff like that.  Do we have any sense of whether something might come out from DOE, $5 [billion] or $10 billion, this week, or are we talking in several weeks --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I would say they're moving as quickly as possible, and we'll update you as soon as we can.  " title=" Q    And on the DOE thing, there's been an attempt to speed up the rules and stuff like that.  Do w" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-09#entryid_269549" rowid="136530312" side="usa" srcid="269549" text=" Q    And on the dollar, this is the first time the President has said a strong dollar comment in many, many months.  Is this a new effort for the White House and the administration to talk up the dollar when it hit a six-week low, I believe, the other -- today?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Again, I believe that -- the President believes that this is an issue that will come up.  We have a -- he has a policy for his administration that we believe in a strong dollar.  He believes this is an issue that will come up with the EU leaders, and he wanted to make sure that people -- you know, make no mistake about it, this is what the President's position is.  " title=" Q    And on the dollar, this is the first time the President has said a strong dollar comment in ma" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267101" rowid="136530005" side="usa" srcid="267101" text=" DIRECTOR NUSSLE:  Well, we're certainly doing more than complain. We've submitted legislation; we've submitted reform proposals; we've tried to work with the Congress in order to not only fit the spending within a reasonable budget plan, but also to ensure that there were reform proposals.  Congress has decided to go against that.  We're doing much more than complain.  We're actually making proposals, working with the Congress to try and improve it.  When that failed, the President had to make a decision, and he's decided to veto it.  " title=" Q    And on the farm bill, given the margins, can you do anything but complain?  I mean, there's an" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320142" rowid="136534319" side="usa" srcid="320142" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that we have recognized that the housing downturn is one of our biggest problems in the economy.  We had the credit crunch and the housing downturn, and getting those -- getting people to purchase houses and to be able to rework their loans, if they need to, if they're facing foreclosure, those are the things we've been focusing on.  And so anything that the Treasury Department is thinking about is towards that end to try to help us pull out of that downturn.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    And on the general idea of the interest rate --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299234" rowid="136531550" side="usa" srcid="299234" text=" MR. WILDER:  The verification protocol negotiations are ongoing and we certainly are in close contact with the North Koreans about what they need to do.	We are hopeful that we will be able to reach an understanding with the North Koreans, but we're not at that juncture yet.  " title=" Q    And on the issue of North Korea that you mentioned, can you update us on the status of talks a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323427" rowid="136534605" side="usa" srcid="323427" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  Yes, on President-Elect, when he becomes President, they -- his Treasury Department will become the lender and they will step in for the current Treasury Department.  And I expect that they will have the same considerations that the current administration has about the need for these stakeholders to make very significant concessions.  As I mentioned in my answer to the previous question, this is a mathematical judgment, an economic judgment as to whether these companies are viable.  And that's in the loan term.  &lt;p /&gt; The comments I have seen from the President-elect and the public comments and the consultations that we've had indicate that the President-elect's team views the problem very similarly to the way the President and his team does, in that he has said, we don't want to put -- and I'm paraphrasing here -- we don't want to put good money after bad and we want the automakers, the U.S. auto industry, to succeed, but we know that for them to succeed is going to require very meaningful concessions from all the stakeholders.  " title=" Q    And on the next President?  And on Obama -- I'm sorry.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-11#entryid_269909" rowid="136530348" side="usa" srcid="269909" text=" MS. ANSLEY:  I think that the government is open to more contributions; I don't know in terms of troops or assistance or what it might be.  But, you know, most of the governments -- the Bucharest Summit was very favorable in terms of Afghanistan, it was a very positive summit in that respect, and the meeting that we had as part of that, on Afghanistan, was very positive.  And we've seen a lot of additional contributions since then.  So we'll see; we just haven't had that discussion yet with the new government.  " title=" Q    And on the troops, more troops?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304227" rowid="136532272" side="usa" srcid="304227" text=" Q    And one final question.  Given that our SFA is expected to be the model for other countries that decide to remain in Iraq, how much of a problem is it the we're about a month -- going on a month-and-a-half now past the original time for completing the --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that we're on track to be able to get this done.  The Iraqis are motivated to try to get it done, and we should get it done before the end of the year.  So we have a little bit more time.  Obviously, we wanted to get it done by July 30th; that was our target, we didn't meet it, but we continue to try to make it so that we can get there before December 30th.  &lt;p /&gt; April.  " title=" Q    And one final question.  Given that our SFA is expected to be the model for other countries th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322363" rowid="136534541" side="usa" srcid="322363" text=" MS. PERINO:  Nice try, but I'm not going to comment.  &lt;p /&gt; Ann.  " title=" Q    And one final thing.  Most of the focus has been on using the remaining funds from TARP in the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307683" rowid="136532854" side="usa" srcid="307683" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I don't know, actually.  I don't know.  I'm sorry.  &lt;p /&gt; Paula had a follow-up.  " title=" Q    And one last thing.  In the last 24 hours, has the President heard from any foreign leaders ab" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-27#entryid_312721" rowid="136533374" side="usa" srcid="312721" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that any of us would -- nobody wants to see any company go into bankruptcy.  However, our system means that some businesses do fail.  That doesn't mean that this company is going to fail or not.	I'm not -- I just can't comment on it; it wouldn't be appropriate for me to do so and it wouldn't be fair to anybody.	And I don't want to send any confusing signals to the markets, because I don't know what GM and other automakers are planning or thinking or talking about amongst themselves.  There's nothing that I know that I can provide to you here today in the briefing room.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q    And one more thing, is it possible for you to say whether you have the goal of preventing thes" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-01#entryid_319636" rowid="136534239" side="usa" srcid="319636" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    And one more.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268777" rowid="136530215" side="usa" srcid="268777" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't have any -- I'm not prepared today.  I haven't seen you in a while.  But I will get -- now if you're going to be back, I will get more prepared.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    And one more.  What about the -- (inaudible) --  between Greece -- Athens and Skopje?  Any ini" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268797" rowid="136530235" side="usa" srcid="268797" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, there's no friction.  " title=" Q    And one on Olmert.  He wasn't on the schedule -- only just now do we hear that they're going t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303450" rowid="136532125" side="usa" srcid="303450" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that what we have said before remains true, which is we have a common enemy in terrorists and in the Taliban.  We also have great challenges in a very troubling region in the world, and that is in that Northwest Territory area.  " title=" Q    And plus the people of Pakistan now are also against Taliban first time.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300741" rowid="136531686" side="usa" srcid="300741" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  " title=" Q    And quickly, he met -- after he step down he might be going to Turkey.  Is the U.S. aware of t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_324991" rowid="136534860" side="usa" srcid="324991" text=" MS. PERINO:  In the back.  I'm going to go on.	Go ahead.  " title=" Q    And second --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278857" rowid="136531025" side="usa" srcid="278857" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    And second and very quickly, on Iraq -- on Iran -- I'm sorry.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268268" rowid="136530138" side="usa" srcid="268268" text=" Q    And second one is that, as far as terrorism is concerned in Afghanistan and on the Pakistan border, American NATO commander is now retiring, and what he said that what we expected from Pakistan was not done, and there is a long way to go as far as fighting terrorism.  And now Pakistan has a new deal with the terrorists and that means they will withdraw their forces from the border.	And here CIA Chief Michael Hayden said that we are defeating terrorism and al Qaeda --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  What's your question?  " title=" Q    And second one is that, as far as terrorism is concerned in Afghanistan and on the Pakistan bo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320399" rowid="136534352" side="usa" srcid="320399" text=" Q    And second, according to The Washington Post, and New York Times, and also Indian and American intelligence officials, now there is a clear (inaudible) of Pakistan link -- at least two groups in Pakistan.  Don't you think India has a right or should strike out those terrorists inside Pakistan?  &lt;p&gt; MR. STANZEL:  I will let the assessments about what took place just last week, in terms of the terrorist attack in Mumbai, will let the experts in the intelligence community talk about those linkages.  We have always said that countries have the right to protect their citizens, and they should.  What we are seeing now is we want to see cooperation by all the parties involved to make sure that we understand what happened last week.  " title=" Q    And second, according to The Washington Post, and New York Times, and also Indian and American" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269175" rowid="136530266" side="usa" srcid="269175" text=" Q    And second, as far as -- are you concerned or somebody in this building or elsewhere that now, according to the human rights organizations and press reports, in New York Chinese consulate officials involved against peaceful Chinese demonstrations because they hired their own people to attack peaceful demonstrations who are demonstrating against China?  And now he admits --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Are you referring to the State Department report from yesterday?  " title=" Q    And second, as far as -- are you concerned or somebody in this building or elsewhere that now," />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-17#entryid_310354" rowid="136533170" side="usa" srcid="310354" text=" MS. PERINO:  Goyal, please -- Goyal, I'm just going to move on.  Victoria.  " title=" Q    And second, as far as -- terrorism is going on in the Afghanistan.  You think -- what Presiden" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302478" rowid="136531918" side="usa" srcid="302478" text=" Q    And second, as far as -- the President is watching or has been briefed as far as the situation in Pakistan and also in India, because after Musharraf left presidency, and now violence is on the rise in India across the border and also inside Pakistan, because chaos in Pakistan as far as the -- they cannot rule the country now.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Yes, the President is kept fully briefed on it, and I would refer you to Department of Defense, who would have more on their recent conversations with their military.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes.  " title=" Q    And second, as far as -- the President is watching or has been briefed as far as the situation" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308535" rowid="136532990" side="usa" srcid="308535" text=" Q    And second, as far as Afghanistan is concerned, bombings are still going in the area, and what -- British are saying that cannot win the Taliban's war, because now maybe you need to change some strategy; maybe you have to analyze who is friend and who is foe in the area.  You think President is going to take this seriously, because --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Secretary Gates has already said that there's been -- there's reviews underway to make sure that we are acting -- that we have troops positioned in the best possible place.	We've had command structures changed, and we are going to continue to go after the Taliban.	There's many provinces that are doing well, but there are several that aren't doing well at all and that the violence is up.  And one of the things that we're concerned about is the civilian casualties.  And one of the things that happens is that as we move in to try to take out the enemy, the enemy knows how to hide amongst innocent civilians.  And that's become a challenge for us, but one that we're committed to trying to fix.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, April.  " title=" Q    And second, as far as Afghanistan is concerned, bombings are still going in the area, and what" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-24#entryid_271771" rowid="136530599" side="usa" srcid="271771" text=" MS. PERINO:  Tom Casey, the spokesperson at the State Department, talked about this earlier today.  They've seen the allegations.  They take them seriously, and they said that they would be responding accordingly.  " title=" Q    And second, as far as Congressman Henry Waxman is concerned -- he said that he has seen some e" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-05#entryid_303582" rowid="136532136" side="usa" srcid="303582" text=" Q    And second, as far as cross-border terrorism and Afghanistan situation and the attacks in Pakistan is concerned, now Zardari, Mr. Zardari will be the next President of Pakistan, replacing Musharraf.  My question is that, let's say, if the -- if U.S. gets Osama bin Laden, do you think the violence will go down -- or Osama bin Laden is the central figure point on this war, global war on terrorism?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm not sure which question you want me to answer, but let me take --  " title=" Q    And second, as far as cross-border terrorism and Afghanistan situation and the attacks in Paki" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-23#entryid_280353" rowid="136531245" side="usa" srcid="280353" text=" Q    And second, as far as high rise of health costs in the U.S. is concerned, there is a world-famous yogi now here -- at expo center in Virginia, and he is saying that message for President Bush, which he regards very highly, he said that he can cut costs by 50 percent, and also rise in the health of the Americans in this country.  He said that if President can think of bringing this issue of yoga -- (inaudible) -- in this country.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think President Bush will let everyone choose how best to exercise.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm going to go to the non-birthday birthday boy, Olivier.  " title=" Q    And second, as far as high rise of health costs in the U.S. is concerned, there is a world-fam" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272604" rowid="136530716" side="usa" srcid="272604" text=" MS. PERINO:  As I said last week, I didn't have any information on it. There might be an idea floating around the State Department, but nothing concrete.  &lt;p /&gt; Mike.  " title=" Q    And second, as far as Iran is concerned, what kind of message are we sending as far as opening" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-30#entryid_307114" rowid="136532747" side="usa" srcid="307114" text=" Q    And second, as far as meetings between President Bush and President Zardari of Pakistan in New York, if this issue has ever come between their meetings?  Because President Zardari has accused the U.S. that this is not a war -- global war on terrorism, but war against Islam.  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  I have to apologize, I wasn't in New York for the meetings at UNGA.  " title=" Q    And second, as far as meetings between President Bush and President Zardari of Pakistan in New" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-14#entryid_326350" rowid="136534985" side="usa" srcid="326350" text=" Q    And second, as far as President and America's image in India is concerned, is very high, he's well known in India and very much appreciated as far as fight on global war on terrorism.  And President-Elect Obama is also one of the very famous person today in India, or among Indians.  My question is that, how can you, or President, explain as far as India-U.S. relations today and also under the new administration?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think that India and U.S. relations have been exceedingly good during our administration, and I have no reason to expect that it won't continue when Barack Obama becomes President next Tuesday.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    And second, as far as President and America's image in India is concerned, is very high, he's " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-10#entryid_274085" rowid="136530995" side="usa" srcid="274085" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Yes.  " title=" Q    And second, as far as President meeting with Prime Minister of India and also discussing about" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306591" rowid="136532669" side="usa" srcid="306591" text=" Q    And second, as far as President's meeting with Afghanistan's President, and also he met with the President of Pakistan in New York.  There's a fight going on between Afghanistan and Pakistan on the border, and there's some kind of tensions are also building up, and as far as the Secretary of Defense is concerned, he's also not very much happy, as far as the help from Pakistan in the future is concerned.  What does he think about after meeting with Mr. -- President Zardari?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  President Zardari and President Bush both agreed that we need to continue cooperation, that we are friends, that we respect their sovereignty, we respect their democracy.  We also recognize that the common enemy is al Qaeda and the terrorists.  And it is -- it became very clear there when the President talked about Prime Minister Bhutto, the late Prime Minister Bhutto who was killed by terrorists, that President Zardari and the rest of his team understand what they're up against.  &lt;p /&gt; We're going to continue to push them, we're going to cooperate with them, and we're going to make sure that we repel this threat.  &lt;p /&gt; Did you have one?  " title=" Q    And second, as far as President's meeting with Afghanistan's President, and also he met with t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325236" rowid="136534895" side="usa" srcid="325236" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that terror financing and disrupting it is something that is a hallmark of our administration, something we're very proud of, and something that the next administration will be able to take advantage of because we have all the mechanisms in place.  " title=" Q    And second, as far as terrorism in U.S. or in India or in Israel, have we ever go or do we eve" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321326" rowid="136534468" side="usa" srcid="321326" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't have anything to add from yesterday, Goyal.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    And second, as far as the Mumbai attacks are concerned, where do we go and what we learned -- " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-29#entryid_302693" rowid="136531972" side="usa" srcid="302693" text=" Q    And second, as far as the President's travel to China  -- Olympics now over -- many human rights groups are asking if President had really represented them, like Burma, Tibetans, and other groups are asking as far as human rights in China is concerned, because they think now Chinese have put under the rug because of Olympics and presidential and many great leaders were represented there.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  President Bush did raise all of those issues before he got to China, and then with the Chinese directly, and he will continue to, as will the rest of the world, and continue to put pressure to allow for more human rights in the area.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    And second, as far as the President's travel to China  -- Olympics now over -- many human righ" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306382" rowid="136532613" side="usa" srcid="306382" text=" Q    And second, as far as the President's U.N. visit was concerned, as far as human rights are concerned on the -- in the United Nations and around the globe, the Human Rights Council has violators of human rights and they don't respect the human rights around the globe, including women's rights and all that.  And OIC -- Organization of Islamic States -- are pushing --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  What's your question?  " title=" Q    And second, as far as the President's U.N. visit was concerned, as far as human rights are con" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324576" rowid="136534816" side="usa" srcid="324576" text=" Q    And second, as far as the terrorists are concerned, two democracies, including Israel and India, were the victims of terrorists.  Do you see any difference between Hamas against Israel, or Hamas terrorists and the terrorists, those who are operating out from Pakistan against India?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Obviously, they're two different groups.  But I think at their base level, they are despicable, evil human beings who use violence and murder in order to achieve political objectives.  So in that regard, they are the same.  &lt;p /&gt; Ken.  " title=" Q    And second, as far as the terrorists are concerned, two democracies, including Israel and Indi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307672" rowid="136532843" side="usa" srcid="307672" text=" Q    And second, as far as the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement is concerned, this was a very big dream for the Prime Minister of India and President Bush, because on July 18th I witnessed that -- in the White House here on 2005.  Now, where do we go from here and when is he going to sign?  And second, if he has called the Prime Minister of India, because he came here a few days ago, before this signing, and they were hoping that it would be done during the visit here at the White House.  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  That's a good question.  I don't know if the President and Prime Minister Singh have spoken since last night.  I don't have anything on that.  I won't be surprised if they do, and we would let you know if that happens.  And of course, Secretary Rice traveling there this weekend to commemorate it -- because we're all very, very excited about this agreement.  Our relations are -- the relations between the United States and India are very important to us.  And I think the Indian community in the United States is also very proud of this agreement also.  &lt;p /&gt; We want to have and maintain strong relations with India.  It's the world's largest democracy, and we hope that that relationship can grow.  " title=" Q    And second, as far as the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement is concerned, this was a very big" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315260" rowid="136533630" side="usa" srcid="315260" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  I think people are very excited about our next President, and they're interested in getting to meet him and putting their ideas or their agendas in front of him to make sure that they continue to have a good, seamless relationship with the United States of America, and we're going to help facilitate that.  " title=" Q    And second, as far as world leaders' comments are concerned, is White House getting any commen" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-24#entryid_280514" rowid="136531273" side="usa" srcid="280514" text=" Q    And second, Dana, as far as his comments, or both candidates have been saying, especially Senator Obama, as far as immigration is concerned will play a major role.  But do you think President is going to push this immigration bill, or going to ask Congress again before the elections?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  No, we -- Congress is about to take yet another recess and they don't seem to be the mood to pass much of anything.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Savannah.  " title=" Q    And second, Dana, as far as his comments, or both candidates have been saying, especially Sena" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300742" rowid="136531687" side="usa" srcid="300742" text=" MS. PERINO:  The President is regularly briefed on it, and he is going to let Pakistanis make the decisions on who will be in the leadership of their country.  We will continue to work with the new government.  We urge that all political actors move forward expeditiously with addressing the critical issues facing the Pakistani people, and that includes dealing with the safe haven issues up in the Northwest Territories.  " title=" Q    And second, going back to as far as Pakistan is concerned, is the U.S. ready whatever outcome," />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317299" rowid="136533952" side="usa" srcid="317299" text=" Q    And second, I hope President saw last night on ABC Nightline, as far as, I think many people said there may be a concern to national security, KKK are dangerous -- maybe they are.  What President think about those, their views and their determination, maybe --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  The President's views about that organization is well known, but I don't think he saw the Nightline program last night.  &lt;p /&gt; Les.  " title=" Q    And second, I hope President saw last night on ABC Nightline, as far as, I think many people s" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298418" rowid="136531371" side="usa" srcid="298418" text=" MS. PERINO:  He was updated on that in his regular briefings and he expresses his condolences for all the innocent people who lost their lives or were injured.  And we stand with the Prime Minister of India as they try to root out and seek out these terrorists.  I know that they're looking for them very hard, and we'll help in any way that we can.  " title=" Q    And second, if President was briefed or not on the ongoing bombings in India, throughout India" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-22#entryid_323778" rowid="136534629" side="usa" srcid="323778" text=" Q    And second, in recent days, almost everybody, every leader, including President Bush, President-Elect Obama, and Secretary Rice, and now general -- (inaudible) -- in this area, they have a warning for Pakistan that now the time has come they should not mislead the international community as far as terrorism in the name of religion and getting U.S. dollars.  Now, is the U.S. on high alert?  Because they might take advantage of the transition here.  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  I think I would just say we do take the period of transition very seriously.  As for Pakistan, we're communicating with them very well, and I think they understand their responsibility and the important role they play in the role on terror.  " title=" Q    And second, in recent days, almost everybody, every leader, including President Bush, Presiden" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304051" rowid="136532206" side="usa" srcid="304051" text=" Q    And second, Indian Defense Minister in town.  He had a ceremony at the Pentagon this morning.	If President, of course, is aware of his visit here.  Is there anything going on between U.S. and India as far as the war in Afghanistan, war is concerned?  And also, if the U.S. is asking anything of India in that connection with the 9/11 also anniversary coming up?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Okay, I'm not sure what your question was.  I'll refer you to the Department of Defense in terms of the meeting that the Indian Defense Minister had over there.  Obviously we're working on India on a variety of things, including the civil nuclear agreement.  &lt;p /&gt; Brianna.  " title=" Q    And second, Indian Defense Minister in town.  He had a ceremony at the Pentagon this morning.	" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312297" rowid="136533308" side="usa" srcid="312297" text=" Q    And second, on Tuesday, at the Johns Hopkins University, there was a summit on Afghanistan and terrorism in the region.  And some experts were saying that really is -- NATO is not doing enough, and the detainees released from the U.S., they are on the -- back on the streets of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and they are killing people.  And now, Pakistan has announced yesterday that they will bring thousands of arms to the anti-Taliban people.  Don't you think, then, everybody will have arms in Pakistan's streets?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, we --  " title=" Q    And second, on Tuesday, at the Johns Hopkins University, there was a summit on Afghanistan and" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279921" rowid="136531149" side="usa" srcid="279921" text=" Q    And second, quickly, as far as going back to Iran, talking about new sanctions -- so far sanctions really have not worked.  And also, are you in touch with China, Russia, where they do stand on some of these sanctions that the U.N. is concerned?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  We've certainly been talking with them in regards to the U.N. issues, and we will continue to pressure them.  I think that -- I don't think it's correct to say that sanctions haven't had an effect.  " title=" Q    And second, quickly, as far as going back to Iran, talking about new sanctions -- so far sanct" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-24#entryid_312336" rowid="136533347" side="usa" srcid="312336" text=" Q    And second, that many countries are in crisis, including the U.S., and many countries seeking help from the IMF and the U.S.  Now there's demonstrations in Pakistan.  They are seeking help from the IMF to forgive their debt like (inaudible), $37 billion during President Musharraf now.  Is U.S. going to help?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  We've been long concerned about Pakistan's economy, and the concerns there about instability that could come from that.  And we know that they have been talking to the IMF, and we're working with them too.  We recognize that a stronger economic situation in Pakistan will help all of us be safer.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay, Kathleen.  " title=" Q    And second, that many countries are in crisis, including the U.S., and many countries seeking " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-29#entryid_302690" rowid="136531969" side="usa" srcid="302690" text=" Q    And secondly, can you talk a little bit about his feelings about the changed circumstances?	After all the moments of triumph he's had at conventions, he's going to address a convention this time and they can't wait to turn the page and go on to the next nominee.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't think that you can speak for the delegates of this country, especially of the GOP.  This is a party that has stood by the President, and -- but conventions are about the next President and who the candidates are going to be, and it's their chance to shine.  And we intend for the spotlight to shine fully on John McCain.  And that's what the President is going to do in his speech, is spend the great majority of it talking about how our nation has faced significant challenges on several different fronts, and that John McCain is the type of person who can come in and start leading immediately, because he's got the experience to do so.  " title=" Q    And secondly, can you talk a little bit about his feelings about the changed circumstances?	Af" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312312" rowid="136533323" side="usa" srcid="312312" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not that I'm aware of.  I know he's been pretty focused on the issues at hand, but voter participation has been something that the President and Mrs. Bush have encouraged ever since they've been in public office.  And so we'll keep you updated; I just don't know of any right now.  &lt;p /&gt; Kathleen.  " title=" Q    And separate question, is the President doing any sort of recorded messages to voters for Sena" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-25#entryid_301985" rowid="136531861" side="usa" srcid="301985" text=" Q    And she said, &quot;Senator Biden is obviously a very fine statesman.&quot;	She went on to say that he was a very supportive committee chair, and before that, ranking member for the State Department and for our diplomatic efforts.  And she ended by saying he's &quot;a true, true patriot.&quot;	What are -- what is the White House's reaction to the naming of Senator Biden?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  The White House's reactions to Senator Biden being selected?  " title=" Q    And she said, &quot;Senator Biden is obviously a very fine statesman.&quot;	She went on to say that he w" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317060" rowid="136533926" side="usa" srcid="317060" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we're waiting for them to get back in town.	We're waiting -- we haven't even seen their proposal.  They've talked sort of around a proposal this week, but until we see it, it's really hard to react to it.	And then we'll continue to work with our Republican colleagues as well to see if we can forge an agreement and get something done early this week.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm going to go to Helen here.	Go ahead.  " title=" Q    And so what is the next move for the administration to, you know, close the gap between you gu" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-15#entryid_304851" rowid="136532357" side="usa" srcid="304851" text=" SECRETARY PAULSON:  Well, I think there's got to be a balance between regulation and market discipline.  You can't rely on one to solve the problem, but it's going to have to be streamlined and more effective regulation.  And there's major changes that we need, and we also need major authorities to wind down financial institutions that aren't banks, aren't deposit -- aren't federal institutions with deposit insurance.	We need resolutions and authorities to let us deal with situations like Lehman Brothers.  " title=" Q    And specifically, a future with what kind of regulation?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-17#entryid_279601" rowid="136531124" side="usa" srcid="279601" text=" UNDER SECRETARY REY:  I was afraid you were going to ask square miles burned -- it's about 900,000 acres burned.  I'd have to get you the -- it's 66 acres per square mile, so -- (laughter) -- if you want the divide that number by 66 --  " title=" Q    And square miles burned?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311474" rowid="136533281" side="usa" srcid="311474" text=" Q    And talking about U.S.-India relations and also economic and trade relations, yesterday the U.S.-India Business Council Chamber of Commerce celebrated another milestone between U.S. and India -- India landed on the moon yesterday.  And it is carrying two payloads from the NASA.  Any -- is the President aware of it, any comments?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I haven't spoken to the President about it.  I saw that story, it was very interesting.  We noted it's very encouraging for India, I'm sure, very exciting.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q    And talking about U.S.-India relations and also economic and trade relations, yesterday the U." />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279332" rowid="136531086" side="usa" srcid="279332" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  &lt;p /&gt; Oh, I'm sorry.	Sorry, Bill.  Ann.  " title=" Q    And tensions between the United States and Iran are blamed partly for high oil prices.  Did th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323410" rowid="136534590" side="usa" srcid="323410" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know if it has to be, but I don't have any reason to believe that they would not support a democratically elected government of Ukraine.  " title=" Q    And that's actually my second question.  Has this been a needle in the incoming administration" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320429" rowid="136534382" side="usa" srcid="320429" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Correct, correct.  " title=" Q    And that's the part that would have to be paid back, right?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-17#entryid_279599" rowid="136531122" side="usa" srcid="279599" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  The $154 million comes out of the Disaster Relief Fund that FEMA has in its account for disasters like this.  " title=" Q    And the $154 million, do you know where that comes from?  Is that FEMA money, or is that -- ho" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-18#entryid_322949" rowid="136534557" side="usa" srcid="322949" text=" Q    And the -- I guess what people are saying, in the era of Barack Obama, is there concern that this U.S. Secret Service agency is able, if there is indeed what is claimed a pervasive culture of racial discrimination within the agency, that President-Elect Barack Obama could indeed be protected as well as he is supposed to be?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I've never seen anything but the utmost professionalism by our United States Secret Service.  &lt;p /&gt; I'll take one more.  Go ahead.  " title=" Q    And the -- I guess what people are saying, in the era of Barack Obama, is there concern that t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324672" rowid="136534831" side="usa" srcid="324672" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Well, we didn't go in with -- we didn't go in with a proposal.  As I indicated, we had proposals ranging from, you know, cover the entire EEZ in all areas, to do nothing.  And so what we did is we took all the information onboard and then crafted this conservation outcome based on recommendations up to the President.  &lt;p /&gt; So at the end of the day, the proposal is the proposal the President himself adopted, and that's what we're working with.  " title=" Q    And the area -- has the area changed at all that the total square miles have --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-18#entryid_305332" rowid="136532465" side="usa" srcid="305332" text=" MS. PERINO:  We would like Congress to be able to deal with their appropriations bills and I think how they work out how they're going to continue to fund the government is still -- remains to be seen.  We would like them to do it in a responsible way, but I'm not going to characterize it either way yet -- it's too premature.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q    And the C.R. -- that's one thing that has to be done before September 30.  Given the short tim" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-09#entryid_325903" rowid="136534953" side="usa" srcid="325903" text=" MR. STANZEL:  It is -- I won't go into the details of it, but it is an exercise scenario, a hypothetical scenario that is designed to test and tax the capabilities of the federal government, and is one to bring about a lot of discussions about how the government would respond in that type of situation.  So I'm not going to go into the details of it, but it is a scenario -- a disaster scenario where the government would be very much tested.  &lt;/p&gt;" title=" Q    And the exercise you mentioned earlier with the transition officials -- is that an attack simu" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321341" rowid="136534483" side="usa" srcid="321341" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't see how that -- we're trying to pass legislation today.	I don't understand how that's kicking the can down the road. Plus, we have also been working with the Obama administration, as you heard -- I'm sorry, Obama team, not quite administration yet -- but we've been working with them, making sure that they understood the actions that we are wanting to take.  And I think that they've been at least generally supportive -- I won't speak for them -- but generally supportive of the measures we're taking, because they recognize the ramifications of not acting.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q    And the idea that you're kicking the can down the road?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273158" rowid="136530783" side="usa" srcid="273158" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that we've got some work to do.  I think that first and foremost, you look at the U.N. Security Council who spoke with one voice; that was good.	There were several African leaders who did speak out at the AU meeting, but obviously not to the satisfaction of all of us, and certainly not to Mr. Tsvangirai's.  So we have work to do, but the main source of instability in sub-Saharan Africa is in Zimbabwe, and so the African leaders have an interest in making sure that they continue to press the situation, especially when it comes to the human condition, of people starving, young children orphaned, people afraid for their lives and living in absolute fear.  And it's just terribly sad how President Mugabe has completely devastated his country.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  Yes, John, go ahead.  " title=" Q    And the last few months that you have, what are you going to do to work towards the fact to ma" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278870" rowid="136531038" side="usa" srcid="278870" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'd have to have to check with Counsel's office.  And obviously we've been down this road before with visitor logs and there's lawsuits and things, so I'll have to check where that sits with --  " title=" Q    And the last thing, just to clear it up, then, would the White House be willing to release any" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303895" rowid="136532188" side="usa" srcid="303895" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'll refer you to Treasury for details; I don't know.  " title=" Q    And the money, however much it ends up being, is just going to be borrowed or is there another" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308308" rowid="136532953" side="usa" srcid="308308" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to comment on this one.  " title=" Q    And The New York Times quotes Chicago Tribune columnist Steve Chapman as saying of Chicago's W" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273195" rowid="136530820" side="usa" srcid="273195" text=" MS. PERINO:  It goes to the PFIAB*, but that doesn't necessarily -- I don't know what's in the letter, but I don't think it had anything to do with substance of the travel.  " title=" Q    And the notification went to State, not -- didn't come here, or --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316876" rowid="136533866" side="usa" srcid="316876" text=" MS. PERINO:  It is set.  And one of the reasons is because of the way that they will arrive, and then the way that they will depart.  We have to make sure that we can get everybody in and out of here in a way -- in a very smooth fashion.  We will have, I think, 300 to 400 hundred cars out on Pennsylvania Avenue.  So it has to be very well organized.  " title=" Q    And the order of their arrivals is set?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326571" rowid="136535026" side="usa" srcid="326571" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  Everybody -- everyone has to go through that same process.  The Chief of Staff made sure that everything was done in a systematic fashion.  We're not going to be running around here like chickens with our heads cut off on Tuesday morning.  We're going to try to do this in a real good way.  Then there will be some staff that goes out -- as many staff as possible -- go out to Andrews Air Force Base where they will be able to say good-bye to the President.  &lt;p /&gt; The President will probably make some closing remarks to them, but they will be not open to the press.	It will just be a private moment.  Then he'll get on the plane and head to Midland, where he will give an -- he'll give remarks at an open press event in the town square there, and then head to Waco, and then on to Crawford.  And that'll be it.  " title=" Q    And the other offices in the White House that are going to be pared down, too, just like --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308779" rowid="136533047" side="usa" srcid="308779" text=" MS. PERINO:  As I -- the President's natural instincts when first presented with these issues was not to have government involvement, but when he realized that it wasn't just a few executives on Wall Street who were going to lose their shirts, but it was possibly everyone in America, and now if you look around the world, everybody is suffering -- the President said the government has the tools and the ability to be able to step in and stem this crisis, and there was no way he was going to stand by and let everyone be hurt by the bad decisions of a few.  &lt;p /&gt; Toby.  " title=" Q    And the President -- back over this ground again -- the President doesn't object to this in sp" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279932" rowid="136531160" side="usa" srcid="279932" text=" Q    And the President said that the event would be -- the Olympic athletes, that they should be ambassadors of liberty and they should represent -- they should -- to the Chinese people and to their fellow athletes, U.S. values of human rights and human dignity.  &lt;p /&gt; Does that mean he envisions a role beyond their athletic accomplishment at the Olympics --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  No.  " title=" Q    And the President said that the event would be -- the Olympic athletes, that they should be am" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300593" rowid="136531664" side="usa" srcid="300593" text=" MS. PERINO:  There were provocations on all sides.  And it flares up every year.  And one of the things that we were making sure that both the Russians and the Georgians were doing is not to react to those provocations, and certainly not to react in such a disproportionate way as the Russians did this time.  So that's the message that she sent, yes.  " title=" Q    And the reporting is that the U.S. felt that sending Georgian -- more Georgian troops into tha" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300569" rowid="136531640" side="usa" srcid="300569" text=" MS. PERINO:  On -- last week?  " title=" Q    And the second question -- was the Bush administration informed in advance of Georgia's intent" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302483" rowid="136531928" side="usa" srcid="302483" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, this is -- first of all, the speech is later but that is because the President of the United States will be the last speaker of the evening, so the build-up of the night will lead to the President.  But the President of the United States himself decided that he would follow precedent from other Presidents who got out of town, because this is -- he is not on the ballot, this is about John McCain, and we intend to allow the spotlight to shine fully on him during this convention next week.  " title=" Q    And the speech is later than it was originally scheduled.	He's leaving town immediately afterw" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-24#entryid_280520" rowid="136531279" side="usa" srcid="280520" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think there's a SAP that we will have, a statement of administration position, that will be coming out soon.	The House Republicans, the only thing that they're asking for, when it comes to adding -- I'm sorry, I shouldn't say just -- House and Senate Republicans, what they are both asking for when it comes to increasing supply in our country is the ability for them to vote on the issue.  And so -- and that's on the overall issues.  &lt;p /&gt; When it comes to the SPR, we have made our points clear about this before.  The SPR, when it first came into being, was set up for national emergencies.  It's the nation's energy insurance policy.  And we don't think it should be raided for purposes that were -- to try to manipulate price.	It's been tried in the past -- it hasn't worked -- and because of action taken by Congress recently, we even stopping filling the SPR.  That did not have an impact on price.  &lt;p /&gt; And so I think that instead of wasting time talking about the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, that they should look to what the House and Senate Republicans are asking for -- and many Democrats -- which is a chance to vote on looking for more resources here in our own country.  Don't think the SPR is the right place to get it done.  &lt;p /&gt; I think in some cases the Democrats believe that a problem delayed is a problem half-solved, and we've seen over the decades that that is not the case, given that prices continually rise.  We used to see this every spring and then they'd slightly go down in the fall.  But right now when you look at the issues of supply and demand in the emerging countries like India and China, the demand doesn't seem to be tapering off at all.  &lt;p /&gt; So you're going to have to do something on the supply side, and tapping into 700 million barrels of the SPR, which is our national insurance policy, doesn't seem like the best idea, when in fact we could send a signal to the market that we would be willing to look for domestic resources in our own country.  For example, the Outer Continental Shelf, they estimate it has 18 billion barrels of oil; up in ANWR, 10.4 billion barrels; and oil shale, 800 billion barrels.  Compare that to 700 million barrels in the SPR and I think you can see why the math doesn't add up.  " title=" Q    And the SPR bill that's moving through Congress, do you all have an opinion on that yet, a vet" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-26#entryid_302159" rowid="136531887" side="usa" srcid="302159" text=" MR. FRATTO:  That's right.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, John.  " title=" Q    And the statement by the President will be written, right, not on camera?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-14#entryid_321827" rowid="136534504" side="usa" srcid="321827" text=" MR. HADLEY:  It will not represent by itself a new breakthrough, a new initiative, or anything.  It's kind of tying the ribbon on the box.  " title=" Q    And the statement that he is signing with Prime Minister Maliki, is that more ceremonial, or i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273751" rowid="136530948" side="usa" srcid="273751" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  The total figure right now, it's $5 billion.  Bob Zoellick reinforced the fact today that that will then be used to leverage other development financing, as well as private sector financing.  And I think the number in the G8 text -- is Dan still here?   MS. PERINO:  No.   CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  I think the number that the G8 text has is consideration of about $100 billion in total that will begin to flow.  " title=" Q    And the total figure on that is?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325246" rowid="136534905" side="usa" srcid="325246" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, we didn't talk to -- well, we didn't break off relations then, we have never had a relationship with Hamas.  " title=" Q    And the U.S. broke off all relations once they won an election.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301161" rowid="136531775" side="usa" srcid="301161" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No, not that I'm aware of at all.  " title=" Q    And the United States is not involved in that at all?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298780" rowid="136531475" side="usa" srcid="298780" text=" MS. PERINO:  To be announced.  " title=" Q    And the wedding?  And the wedding?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-30#entryid_307120" rowid="136532753" side="usa" srcid="307120" text=" Q    And then a follow-up.  Is this administration willing  -- one of the options on the table -- to change the $700 billion number to a smaller number?  As many people are concerned that it was a number just pulled out of the air, and they're concerned it's just there just to go somewhere, and it's not --  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  This is a question that was asked earlier.  We are not going to -- the size of the program can't be guided by politics.  It has to be guided by the problem that we're trying to fix.  And the size of the market --  " title=" Q    And then a follow-up.  Is this administration willing  -- one of the options on the table -- t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-23#entryid_305975" rowid="136532578" side="usa" srcid="305975" text=" Q    And then if I could just follow:  A lot of Americans have concerns, too, and I'm wondering, are there any plans for the President perhaps to address Americans directly at length to explain to ordinary people this complicated topic?	Many people don't understand it.  They don't -- they're nervous, but they don't know why this is happening and why it's needed.  So do you have plans for the President to talk directly to Americans on this?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  I don't have anything on that right now.  " title=" Q    And then if I could just follow:  A lot of Americans have concerns, too, and I'm wondering, ar" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-06#entryid_299625" rowid="136531555" side="usa" srcid="299625" text=" Q    And then just a question on the speech for tomorrow, with respect to the China parts of the speech.	Can you give a little sense of what the President is thinking of why he wanted to make this statement in Thailand, as opposed to, like, actually when he got to Beijing?  Was that purposeful?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  There is a section in the speech that talks a lot about China.  Obviously, China is the largest country in the region, and most influential, not just in the region, but certainly around the world.  You've heard the President talk about their influence on issues of dealing with Iran, or in Africa, on trade, on Doha.  The President was quite disappointed at the way that that turned out a couple weeks ago.  &lt;p /&gt; But the speech covers a range of issues.  It talks about how we have restored and deepened our relationship with India, which is yet another large country in the region; that is a democracy that is really starting to flourish.  So I would look at the speech in terms of the big picture.  In Asia, in Bangkok, he's going to talk about the range of issues.  But China is one of the most important relationships that we have in the United States, and the speech is being given on the eve of his trip there, his last trip to Asia.  So he thought it was appropriate to talk about it at this point.  " title=" Q    And then just a question on the speech for tomorrow, with respect to the China parts of the sp" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-13#entryid_326214" rowid="136534979" side="usa" srcid="326214" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, the way these things work -- and I've been able to participate in a number of them, especially when I was over at the Treasury Department and we started actually building out these war games and game planning, how you work.  The most difficult thing in these exercises -- mechanically and logistically moving things and reacting that way is really important.  The most important thing, though, is communication, and how you -- and have you considered how events could play out.  It's the opportunity to try to best anticipate the unexpected.  And you do that with a roomful of people talking through what your actions would be.  &lt;p /&gt; And so we have the -- a number of members of the incoming administration will be in the room and observing these exercises.  It will give them an opportunity to see how we do it.  War gaming out these kinds of things isn't new, but doing it on a regular basis and with a regularity and sense of urgency and rigor that we've tried to do since 9/11 is new.	And we hope that they can benefit from that.  " title=" Q    And then moving on to today's war games.  How do you assess a success or a failure with the pr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279317" rowid="136531071" side="usa" srcid="279317" text=" MS. PERINO:  I know that nobody -- yes, I did follow up on that.  I did find out there's no connection between the library and actions in the administration.  Officials are not allowed to be a part of it.	And President Bush has asked that members of his foundation do not inform him about anyone who has written a check, or decided not to write a check, until after he's no longer President.  " title=" Q    And then one other follow-up on something I asked you about earlier this week.  What were you " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-01#entryid_319645" rowid="136534248" side="usa" srcid="319645" text=" Q    And then one thing on Rice's trip.  Is the reason she's going to try to prevent any escalation of hostilities and anger between India and Pakistan?  For instance, is she going to try to help convince Pakistan to be more fully cooperative in the investigation?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  She talked a little bit about that this morning.  Obviously we want to help reduce tensions wherever possible.  The good news is that the Pakistanis and the Indians have an open line of communication.	This is something they didn't have just even a few years ago.  We have encouraged them to open that line of communication, and the Indians have gotten some responses from the Pakistanis that they are committed to following through on this investigation.	That's a good and positive step.  We need to continue to make sure that that helps.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the reasons that Secretary Rice will travel to India is not only to show solidarity, but to help stop the terror threat from expanding.  I think if this shows us anything it's that it's a stark reminder that we are at war with ideological, violent extremists who kill innocent people in spectacularly horrible ways in order to advance their political agenda.  &lt;p /&gt; The other thing that it shows us is that we are right to be on the offense when we're going to prosecute this war, that you have to be fighting them and you have to be right a hundred percent of the time.  They just have to be right once, and this is another horrible example of that problem.  " title=" Q    And then one thing on Rice's trip.  Is the reason she's going to try to prevent any escalation" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267045" rowid="136530006" side="usa" srcid="267045" text=" MR. FISK:  My hesitation is because I'm hard pressed to give you a positive response on that.  I mean, at this point, there's rhetoric.  At this point, there are some possibilities.  But again, until we can actually see that Cubans can really benefit from this, I think, again, we are going to be reluctant to want to rush to embrace.  Again, I think the President today, rightly, is going to lay down kind of, if you allow access to cell phones, then, okay, free speech should be part of that.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm sorry -- woman in the back there.  Yes, ma'am.  " title=" Q    And then second, broader question, do you see anything encouraging with the various reforms th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324657" rowid="136534801" side="usa" srcid="324657" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  The core of this is actually restriction against extraction or destruction of the resource that we're protecting -- so the coral reef communities, the geology and the unique living resources that inhabit the thermal vents and the undersea volcanoes, for example.  And then there's things yet to be discovered as we go back to the trench and begin the process of exploration.  &lt;p /&gt; It was in 1960 that the Navy and a Swedish scientist made it to the bottom of the trench, 29,000 feet below the sea, and very few have gone back to try that.  So we actually hope to open a new age of exploration into the deep sea, as well.  " title=" Q    And then what other protections come under this -- these new national monuments?  What else ar" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325258" rowid="136534917" side="usa" srcid="325258" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not sure what people are planning.  I know that I'm going to have a chance to talk to Robert Gibbs.  I know that's my personal plan, but I didn't check in with every member of the senior staff.  But as I said yesterday, because the Obama team has been able to identify the people that they want to serve in their administration, their counterparts in the current administration have been able to reach out to them.  And I think that everything is going smoothly on that front.  " title=" Q    And then, at the time of that meeting, is there a time, then, for the senior staff to the inco" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324664" rowid="136534815" side="usa" srcid="324664" text=" Q    And then, just a separate question.  Obviously we talked about the 50 versus 200 miles.  I was wondering, there's also, I understand -- in terms of the -- for the length of the Marianas Trench, that's protected from the rim of the canyon to the sea floor, and not from the rim to the surface of the water.  And I was wondering, again, if you could clarify what the scientific reasoning was behind that.  &lt;p&gt; CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Yes, so the objects to be protected, as a result of the science review, was the geologic and natural bottom resource.  So once you get up above the rim and out to the rim, you're kind of in generic sea floor resource.  If you go further out east, you begin to encounter the mineral resource, which is quite interesting.  But the item of highest scientific value and interest is the geology and the living resource on that geology on the sea floor.  &lt;p /&gt; And so that's why I wanted to be clear, the trench and the volcano's events are going to be fully protected under the authorities of the Antiquities Act.  The living resource in the water column, which you're asking about, Juliette, it's a very low productive area for fish and other marine life, so it was not an area that the science process identified as particularly significant.  And so, at least in terms of the science as we know it today, there was no reason to consider fishing restrictions of any kind because they weren't related to the protection of the resource that we were focused on.  Does that make sense?  " title=" Q    And then, just a separate question.  Obviously we talked about the 50 versus 200 miles.  I was" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273736" rowid="136530933" side="usa" srcid="273736" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not as I recall it, no.  I think I would remember it if it had, and I don't recall it that way at all.  " title=" Q    And there was never any mention by the Russian President of any kind of military retaliation i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273427" rowid="136530855" side="usa" srcid="273427" text=" MS. PERINO:  Correct.   MR. PRICE:  Correct.   MS. PERINO:  I was wrong.  The Merkel meeting is tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., but there's -- the Brown meeting is not tomorrow.  Just the rest of the day tomorrow is all G8 working sessions.  " title=" Q    And there was no resolution on what that should be?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-23#entryid_267464" rowid="136530047" side="usa" srcid="267464" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that in any campaign, in the last six months it intensifies in terms of the schedule and so we'll take a look there.  But remember the President also is committed to not just helping John McCain, but to helping Republican candidates across the board and up and down the slate.  &lt;p /&gt; Ann.  " title=" Q    And there would be closer coordination in this, as the months march on?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313261" rowid="136533459" side="usa" srcid="313261" text=" Q    And there's a -- the Pakistani government has summoned the U.S. Ambassador to protest vigorously over a series of missile strikes along the border with Afghanistan.  I understand you're not commenting on the details of the missile strikes, but what is your broader message to the Pakistani people about military operations --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, our Ambassador would certainly go in and see the Pakistanis anytime they want to see her about these issues.  We are committed to working with Pakistan to beat back what is a common enemy in the terrorists.  And Pakistan has a very serious problem that -- the President believes that the Pakistanis recognize how serious that problem is.  We have a lot of work to do in Pakistan.  They have very serious issues when it comes to their economy, as well, in which they're trying to work with the IMF.  So we remain very concerned, but we remain willing to work with them.  " title=" Q    And there's a -- the Pakistani government has summoned the U.S. Ambassador to protest vigorous" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303869" rowid="136532162" side="usa" srcid="303869" text=" Q    And there's reports of another missile strike in Pakistan by either U.S. or coalition forces based in Afghanistan.	This is now -- I know you're not commenting about the details of these reports, but why shouldn't we conclude that there's a pretty dramatic escalation of coalition operations in that border region over the past month or so?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  What I would point you to is the increased cooperation between the Pakistanis, the Afghanistan -- the Afghanis, and the United States, and also our NATO allies; and everybody recognizing that this is a fight we need to have.  And I would also point you to the fact that this Pakistani civilian government is now more fully stood up and stabilizing and taking more action along with us.  &lt;p /&gt; Ben.  " title=" Q    And there's reports of another missile strike in Pakistan by either U.S. or coalition forces b" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317621" rowid="136533988" side="usa" srcid="317621" text=" MS. PERINO:  Absolutely not.  And both the next President and the Iraqis can consider the conditions on the ground and think about making changes to this either way.  Hopefully we'll be in a situation where we can actually speed up even more than we already are bringing our troops home.  Remember, we had 20 brigades in Iraq; we're going to get down to 14.  That's sooner than we thought we would be able to bring all of those troops home, and hopefully we'll be able to bring more home sooner based on the conditions.  &lt;p /&gt; Les.  " title=" Q    And this does not tie President-elect Obama's hand into a long-term commitment?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299211" rowid="136531527" side="usa" srcid="299211" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  There is a -- yes, we do need to refuel so we can take it all the way to South Korea.	I think that would be a really smart thing for us to do.  " title=" Q    And this is obviously a refueling stop, as well, right?  This was necessary?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268272" rowid="136530142" side="usa" srcid="268272" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would expect that if he comes to the AIPAC conference that the President would meet with him.  " title=" Q    And this morning you said you would assume that Prime Minister Olmert would be welcomed here n" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305193" rowid="136532448" side="usa" srcid="305193" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we remain concerned about other companies, and that's why the Secretary of the Treasury continues to work with the team to see if we can stem any other losses.  &lt;p /&gt; But they're -- as I said, they're taking this on a case-by-case basis, and we will have to continue to do so; at the same time, looking at what we do to make sure that the taxpayers, to the greatest extent possible, are protected.	But the considered judgment here was that if you don't take the recommendations of the senior economic advisors, who are very experienced and have decided on decisive action that can help stem the tide of broader economic damage, that that's the best thing that we can do to try to help protect all taxpayers in the long run.  " title=" Q    And to the people who say, you know what, AIG should have failed so that you clean out the sys" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-09#entryid_325892" rowid="136534942" side="usa" srcid="325892" text=" MR. STANZEL:  It's not -- obviously the -- you may have heard Secretary Chertoff in recent days has talked about the fact that there is no threat that they are aware of, no corroborated threat to the inauguration.  However, it is a very public event, one that is -- happens every four years, one that is well known, and one that gathers leaders in a very small environment, essentially.  So obviously we have a lot of concern about it, but there is no credible threat at this point to the inauguration that is precipitating this.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p /&gt; I would also note on the exercise -- the exercise is a regular thing. We have these exercises at various levels throughout the administration, at several different levels on a regular basis every year.  This just happens to be an exercise that we are having at a very senior level that we had planned that we can also include the incoming team on that exercise, and that provides them an opportunity to participate in that, as well.  So this is a regular occurrence.  &lt;/p&gt;" title=" Q    And to what extent, if at all, was this driven by the fact of some intelligence information?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-18#entryid_322965" rowid="136534573" side="usa" srcid="322965" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  Yes, ma'am.  " title=" Q    And using TARP money is still an option?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317667" rowid="136534003" side="usa" srcid="317667" text=" Q    And what -- how would you -- could you take the temperature of U.S.-Russia relations right now?  Medvedev came out and said he wants to build a strategic partnership under an Obama administration.  Some might say a strategic partnership with some friction is what you have now.  What's the -- what's your take on the status of U.S.-Russia relations?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  Well, you know, I think we had a good declaration coming out of Sochi earlier this year, and -- but we clearly disagree with Russian behavior when it comes to what took place in Georgia.  And we also have, obviously, a different position when it comes to missile defense.  And I think any discussions that President Bush has, or that any American officials have with Russian officials, makes it clear that missile defense is designed to protect all of us -- Russia, the United States, Europe  -- from missile launches from rogue states.  &lt;p /&gt; And so there's a few areas where we have some disagreements.  Overall, I think everyone agrees that a strong and good U.S.-Russia relationship is in everyone's interest.  But we have some issues that we're going to need to work through.  " title=" Q    And what -- how would you -- could you take the temperature of U.S.-Russia relations right now" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318513" rowid="136534126" side="usa" srcid="318513" text=" MR. FRATTO:  And Iran -- will it be part of their discussions?	I would be surprised if it wasn't.  But I have nothing I can give you on that specifically.  &lt;p /&gt; Go to Jon, because I promised him I would.  " title=" Q    And what about Iran?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323438" rowid="136534616" side="usa" srcid="323438" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  Oh, I'm sorry, yes, the financing arms.  That's been a subject of ongoing discussion.	You know, the -- we've said for a long time, actually, that there's a difference between the auto manufacturers and the financing companies in terms of how they've been perceived with respect to the TARP, because those are financial institutions.  &lt;p /&gt; Those discussions continue with the Treasury and the other regulators.	I know there's been a fair amount of reporting and discussion about some of the applications that are in place, but this loan that's announced today is for the auto manufacturers' discussions with the financing companies about what assistance the government may provide are ongoing.  &lt;p /&gt; Ed.  " title=" Q    And what about the financing arms?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-19#entryid_305523" rowid="136532525" side="usa" srcid="305523" text=" MR. HENNESSEY:	Oh, and the transparency.  We hope so.	Obviously more transparency is better for these markets.  You saw, I'm sure, what Chairman Cox did at the SEC with transparency and short selling from certain financial institutions.  We'd like that to happen.  I just don't know yet, because frankly the briefings -- sorry, not the briefings -- the interactions with the Hill folks are just starting to occur, so we have to see what feedback we can get from them.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, sir.  " title=" Q    And what about the transparency?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-29#entryid_268058" rowid="136530128" side="usa" srcid="268058" text=" MS. PERINO:  That he thinks he is the best person to be President.  That he stands strong for what he believes in.	That he fully understands the global war on terror, and keeping America safe.  And that he has the experience necessary to be able to walk in and from day one be a fantastic Commander-in-Chief and leader of the freest nation in the world.  " title=" Q    And what does he say about John McCain, in particular?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303894" rowid="136532187" side="usa" srcid="303894" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think -- I would refer you to Treasury for details as to what they were looking at.  But remember, we asked for a strong regulator who would go in and be able to look at the books in a full, transparent way.  And over the past several weeks it became clear that they were not going to be able to continue to function and that this action was necessary.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Sheryl.  " title=" Q    And what happened -- about six weeks ago, toward late July you said that there was not an expe" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306623" rowid="136532701" side="usa" srcid="306623" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look, we're just going to keep -- we are going to keep working at it.	We don't have any reason to believe that we can't get it done by Monday.  " title=" Q    And what happens if it doesn't get done by Monday?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317066" rowid="136533932" side="usa" srcid="317066" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that what they should be able to do is -- look, there's not an appetite in Congress, or in the administration, to open up the TARP funding for individual industries, because once you start down that road, it's a slippery slope to other industries that might say that they need help.  But we do have an entire pot of money, $25 billion, that the auto -- that is specifically for the automakers.  And we also know that opening up the TARP will not get through the Senate.  Therefore, to avoid partisan gridlock, what we are recommending is to work hand in hand on a program that would simply amend the 136 program and help companies that can show long-term viability and a willingness to restructure.  " title=" Q    And what if they change their mind?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-22#entryid_305806" rowid="136532562" side="usa" srcid="305806" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think what the President can do is lay out what our proposal is, what we are -- that we are taking bold, aggressive, decisive action; that this was not the President's first instinct; that he would not have wanted to take this action to help these companies if he wasn't convinced by the considered judgment of his senior economic team that it was critical in order to protect the American taxpayers and the American economy as a whole.  " title=" Q    And what is his message to the other world leaders who are concerned about the stability of th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306409" rowid="136532640" side="usa" srcid="306409" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, again, I'll decline to negotiate here in the press.	But what we have been doing is working with members of Congress, and we have made a few steps forward and they've come a few steps our way, so we're reaching a consensus.  And we're going to try and drive that to a conclusion today.  &lt;p /&gt; Sheryl.  " title=" Q    And what is the President bringing to the table for the 4:00 p.m. meeting today?	Does he have " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268802" rowid="136530240" side="usa" srcid="268802" text=" Q    And what is the President's -- can you just talk again about what the President's sense is of the impact of the Prime Minister's troubles, political troubles, on the peace process?  And does he intend to address that at all in their meeting?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, obviously, he and the President are good friends and they talk a lot about a range of issues, and they often have a little bit of one-on-one time.	And almost every instance I've seen when the Prime Minister has come they spend some time alone.  So I don't know what they speak about when they're by themselves.  &lt;p /&gt; In the meetings that I'm attending they're focused on the issues at hand in terms of how do you negotiate with the Palestinians to arrive at a place where we can define a Palestinian state by the end of the year. And he believes that the Israelis as a whole are now committed and understand that in order for them to live in peace and security, that there has to be a state that the Palestinians can call their own.  And he thinks that that is bigger than any one person, and that we're going to continue to work on it, despite what may or may not be happening in Israeli political circles.  " title=" Q    And what is the President's -- can you just talk again about what the President's sense is of " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303124" rowid="136532050" side="usa" srcid="303124" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know the timing of how all of this worked, but the whole convention was turned on end and they're putting it back together, to try to figure out the best way to get the most efficient -- or the most efficient way to get as many speakers to speak as they possibly can.  It will be sometime between 9:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Eastern time I should have said.  " title=" Q    And what should we make of the fact that his speech is before the 10:00 p.m. primetime network" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-05#entryid_303595" rowid="136532149" side="usa" srcid="303595" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I would think that it shouldn't take too much longer. Obviously, he gets updates regularly, so he's well-informed as to the state of affairs in Iraq.  &lt;p /&gt; And because he has that regular -- those regular updates, it shouldn't take too long to be able to make a decision, especially since we're on the trajectory of success that we've been on.  The question on the President's mind has been how do we make sure that we cement those gains, and not jeopardize those gains and be able to continue the process of return on success.  " title=" Q    And what sort of time line are we looking at here?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-15#entryid_300853" rowid="136531737" side="usa" srcid="300853" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  At 8:00 a.m.  " title=" Q    And what time is the NSC meeting?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280862" rowid="136531331" side="usa" srcid="280862" text=" CHAIRMAN LAZEAR:  In February -- oh, you mean our last forecast for that was 2.9 percent was our -- no, no, I'm sorry, that's not right.  Fall was 3.0 -- 3.0.  So we've revised it down, again for the same factors that I mentioned in my opening:  energy prices, credit and housing.  &lt;p /&gt; Again, our hope is that we will be through most of the issues that are plaguing those markets right now and that we won't see continued increases in energy prices.  We hope that those prices will stabilize or perhaps even fall.  If they do, that will be a boost to the economy.  The housing market bottoming out will also be a boost to the economy, as well, and we hope that that will happen sooner rather than later.  &lt;p /&gt; Again, we believe these forecasts are realistic.  They are in line with the kinds of forecasts that you're seeing both among private forecasters and in other government agencies, as well, so we don't think this is a rosy scenario in any way, we think it's a realistic scenario.  " title=" Q    And what was it in February?  I'm sorry.  In February,  what were you forecasting?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303288" rowid="136532087" side="usa" srcid="303288" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  Sorry?  " title=" Q    And what will we see?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318528" rowid="136534141" side="usa" srcid="318528" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, I think Congress has already appropriated the money, so they certainly understand the need for it.  And I think they would have respect for the request, given the fragile nature of our financial system right now.  " title=" Q    And what would you anticipate the response would be from Congress at this point?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-21#entryid_301412" rowid="136531827" side="usa" srcid="301412" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Well, I think the first goal is to get them to honor their commitments.  We need to see the Russian troops withdraw from Georgia in accordance with the agreement that they have signed.  That's the first goal.  So we are concentrating on that right now.  &lt;p /&gt; There will be further consequences to Russia's action, there's no doubt about it.  But Russia has already, I think, begun to suffer some of the consequences of their actions.	And their continued reluctance to adhere to the withdrawal plan only further isolates them.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, sir.  " title=" Q    And what's the consequences of that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318511" rowid="136534124" side="usa" srcid="318511" text=" MR. FRATTO:  The reason for the meeting?  To discuss just this, I mean, have a chance to regroup on where things stand and where we see things going in the future.  And there are still two months of at least -- this administration, and I think the strong encouragement with the official leadership of Israel to continue their efforts, and how critically important America looks at the future of the Palestinian and Israeli relationship.  We want to see peace in the Middle East, and we want to continue to send that message.	And we'll continue sending that message as long as we're here.   MR. FRATTO:  Victoria.  " title=" Q    And what's the reason for the meeting today?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317890" rowid="136534040" side="usa" srcid="317890" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think it depends on the state.  " title=" Q    And what's the state cut-off -- like 6 percent, 7?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279316" rowid="136531070" side="usa" srcid="279316" text=" MS. PERINO:  If you're referring to the Steve Payne situation, obviously --  " title=" Q    And what's the word for people who are either officially soliciting for the foundation or free" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_272016" rowid="136530637" side="usa" srcid="272016" text=" MR. HEIN:  The data collection was first issued for the fiscal year 2003.  And we have made that -- those reports publicly available, and we'd be pleased to send the latest report to you following this call, if you'd like.  But I would say that at tomorrow's conference, we have the 2007 data that we'll be releasing.  So that will be presented at the conference.	But we do have the past several years' data available.  As a matter of fact, the shortcut version is, we keep that information on our website:  fbci.gov.  &lt;p /&gt; And we can help you, following this call, if you'd like, to navigate the site to find it.  But all of the detail is present in those reports, and, as I said, we'll be releasing new results for fiscal year 2007 at the conference tomorrow.  " title=" Q    And when was it that you started to collect that data?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305188" rowid="136532443" side="usa" srcid="305188" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would say that the way that they -- the way that they moved forward was that they consulted with the President; they had a recommendation and the President agreed with it.  But I think the way the laws work that the Fed Chairman can make this decision if Secretary of the Treasury moves forward -- but they weren't going to do that without consulting with the President.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    And when you say the President agreed with this, did he -- did it come to him for a decision? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272619" rowid="136530731" side="usa" srcid="272619" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I think actually what I mean is I -- a lot of African nations -- Tanzania, for example -- have moved quite far forward in their democratic reforms.  And unfortunately because of the way the world works -- this is not a criticism of the media -- but negative stories get attention and the stories about progress and the good work that people are doing in order to help their populations don't necessarily get the attention that they deserve.  And so I just think that people would hear a lot more about the negative actions in Zimbabwe than they would about the positives in other countries and that that would be unfortunate.  &lt;p /&gt; Last one for you, April, and then I'll go --  " title=" Q    And when you talk about the -- Mugabe's actions having cast a negative light on some of these " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-15#entryid_304849" rowid="136532355" side="usa" srcid="304849" text=" SECRETARY PAULSON:  Excuse me, let me just make sure -- yes.  " title=" Q    And when you talk about the future --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321324" rowid="136534466" side="usa" srcid="321324" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I'll just -- for example, Dan Meyer, who heads our legislative shop.  " title=" Q    And who -- you said members of the team -- who's up there?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-26#entryid_302156" rowid="136531884" side="usa" srcid="302156" text=" MR. FRATTO:  That would be a decision for the President and his senior advisors to make, and I just -- I have nothing on that right now.  &lt;p /&gt; But there's nothing ambiguous about Russia's obligations here. They have obligations to the cease-fire agreement, which they signed very publicly.	They have obligations to the public comments they made to live up to those commitments in the cease-fire agreements.  Russia is a Permanent 5 member of the U.N. Security Council, so they have an obligation to live up to their U.N. Security Council resolutions -- resolutions which were passed with Russian support.  So the Russians know their obligations, and I don't know that it requires anyone to go to Russia to inform them of it.  &lt;p /&gt; Yunji.  " title=" Q    And why wouldn't somebody be doing that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271977" rowid="136530650" side="usa" srcid="271977" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think so, now that -- we're going to have a Camp David day.  So maybe everybody can -- of course, subject to change, but I don't think so.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    And will you brief here on Friday?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320403" rowid="136534356" side="usa" srcid="320403" text=" Q    And with respect to the stimulus package, there has been criticism that, given that the root cause of this problem is stabilizing the housing market and credit market, that that program aimed at sparking consumer spending actually only caused consumer spending to increase, say, in September, five months afterwards.  And after that consumption burst, the economy growth didn't happen.  So is it accurate to say that that actually worked?  &lt;p&gt; MR. STANZEL:  That is another one of those &quot;but for&quot; questions.  What situation -- but for what we did, what would the situation be like now?  &lt;p /&gt; So had we not taken that action, there would have been less growth.  There would have been less spending in the first and second quarters of this year, after -- or second and third quarters of this year, after that -- those stimulus checks went out.  We think that they had a real impact, and I think that you would find people who would say that they did have an impact.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, whether every single dollar of those stimulus checks was spent, no, it wasn't.  Some people chose to save that money.	Some people chose to use it differently.  Some people chose to invest it.  Some people chose to go out and buy a new flat-panel TV with it.  Everybody is going to make their own choice about how they use their own money, but we think it had an impact on the economy.  &lt;p /&gt; Jim.  " title=" Q    And with respect to the stimulus package, there has been criticism that, given that the root c" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280827" rowid="136531324" side="usa" srcid="280827" text=" MS. PERINO:  I wouldn't say that.  Our determination is to solve this diplomatically, and that is why we have worked so hard to build a multilateral process, one in which we can put forward an incentives package, but also move forward on sanctions in case they're needed.  So we have a multi-pronged approach and it's so far held together, and in fact was reinvigorated when the Iranians decided to thwart the international community and walk away from the table last week.  &lt;p /&gt; Matt.  " title=" Q    And without suspension, does the Geneva channel close?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279329" rowid="136531083" side="usa" srcid="279329" text=" MS. PERINO:  It could be a mix, I don't know.  I'm not going to prejudge them.  &lt;p /&gt; Anyone else on Iran?  Bill.  " title=" Q    And would those be United States sanctions or would they be on behalf of --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326589" rowid="136535044" side="usa" srcid="326589" text=" MR. GILLESPIE:	I think it is, like I said, is reflective of the experiences and shared experiences with the American people.  It is -- in terms of talking about the challenges for the future, it is optimistic based on what he has seen in the character and the strength of the American people, and obviously talks about his hopes for our country and the next President and for the American people.	So I'd say, yes, optimistic and future-oriented.  " title=" Q    And would you characterize the farewell address that he's going to give as optimistic, hopeful" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311199" rowid="136533233" side="usa" srcid="311199" text=" MS. PERINO:  But that's 17 Uighers; we're talking about 17 out of 272 people that we're currently talking about.  If this was easy, Wendell, we would have solved it a long time ago.  But we have picked up very dangerous people who have been -- who have received weapons training or other -- or they've been picked up in other places around the world.  The military commission's process provides a huge amount of justice -- justice that these people never would have received in their own country.  But it's a slow process; we admit that.  But we're doing it diligently and we're trying to do it right.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  " title=" Q    And yet there's not enough evidence to bring them to trial.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-01#entryid_307388" rowid="136532813" side="usa" srcid="307388" text=" Q    And you also mentioned the difficulty in terms of understanding the difficulty and understanding the package as one of the reasons it was hard for garnering support.	Would you also think credibility was another issue?  Because about five years ago, Americans were warned of the consequence of inaction, and they were also warned about an imminent danger.  And as you know, we never found any weapons of mass destruction.  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  No, I don't think that has anything to do with this at all, Paula.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Victoria.  " title=" Q    And you also mentioned the difficulty in terms of understanding the difficulty and understandi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-17#entryid_270694" rowid="136530437" side="usa" srcid="270694" text=" MR. FRATTO:  But that's usually where we are, is disagreeing with the Senator from Vermont.  " title=" Q    And you disagree very strongly with the Senator from Vermont, don't you?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267028" rowid="136529972" side="usa" srcid="267028" text=" MR. FISK:  At this point we're going to continue to look for those areas where we think we can help the Cuban people -- again, not prejudging what those may be.  But right now we are focused on the events today, the plight of the Cuban people, and then specifically, how we can enhance their ability to communicate amongst themselves and with the outside world.  " title=" Q    And you don't rule out further changes to the embargo, though?  Further loosening of aspects o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279322" rowid="136531076" side="usa" srcid="279322" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  " title=" Q    And you expressed optimism this morning that you'd be able to get it next week.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299227" rowid="136531543" side="usa" srcid="299227" text=" MR. WILDER:  I think so.  I think that will be part of our discussions to reinforce that this is a tough fight.  This isn't one where anything is guaranteed this year.  " title=" Q    And you feel that South Korea is unrealistic in (inaudible), as well?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267084" rowid="136529971" side="usa" srcid="267084" text=" MS. PERINO:  As far as I know, from what was said this morning, yes.  " title=" Q    And you have confidence that would work?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279346" rowid="136531100" side="usa" srcid="279346" text=" MS. PERINO:  The underlying -- absolutely, because he's going there as a part of the international community showing their unity when it comes to the underlying fundamental principle, which is that there will not be any negotiations unless Iran suspends its nuclear -- uranium enrichment.  " title=" Q    And you just flat out say this is not negotiating, even though there's someone sitting there i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320135" rowid="136534312" side="usa" srcid="320135" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not necessarily, but it could be.	That's one of the things that happened to the President when he sat in the Roosevelt Room with the Fed Chairman and his Treasury Secretary who, when he asked them, what happens if we don't act -- because that wasn't his natural instinct, was certainly not to provide a rescue package -- and they told him that we could be facing a situation that would be worse than the Great Depression.  And then the President right then and there said, well, then let's act, because we have a responsibility to do so.  &lt;p /&gt; Rachel, did you have one?  " title=" Q    And you mentioned one of the consequences over the last eight years is that we're now facing, " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315273" rowid="136533643" side="usa" srcid="315273" text=" Q    And you mentioned the drop in violence in Iraq and the return, the early return, of some of the troops.  Has the situation changed so much in Iraq that you are less concerned about the President-elect's stated plan to withdraw troops fully?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to get in a debate about that.  You know what our position is.  It is a conditions-based dates for what we could aspire to.  And that's what we are trying to work with the Iraqis on right now as we finish up the negotiations.	But I'm not going to presuppose anything, what the next President would or would not do.  &lt;p /&gt; Ellen.  " title=" Q    And you mentioned the drop in violence in Iraq and the return, the early return, of some of th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-24#entryid_271774" rowid="136530602" side="usa" srcid="271774" text=" MS. PERINO:  I wouldn't rule it out, but I'm not saying that it's for sure going to happen then.  But he is -- he does have additional foreign travel this year.  &lt;p /&gt; Victoria.  " title=" Q    And you said China is a possibility as to when you could tack on a South Korea trip?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320158" rowid="136534335" side="usa" srcid="320158" text=" MS. PERINO:  One of the things that we have always said to the members of Congress is that if they felt that they needed -- wanted to put more money into that 136 program, that we would consider that; they could go ahead and try to do that.  &lt;p /&gt; I think that we also need to look at the plans, because I know that $34 billion is the total number, but there's a different amount of loans or lines of credit or -- I'm not exactly sure how that all breaks down, and I think it would be inappropriate for me to do so until everybody has a chance to review those plans.  &lt;p /&gt; But also, I think we need to hear from the automakers themselves, and see what they have to say.  But we also need to hear from members of Congress.  If their plans can't get support from the members of Congress, then that is another problem that they have.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think that they've done what they were asked to do.  They were asked to come back with plans.	What we've said we would have to have is plans that show long-term viability.  And that's something that we're in the process of determining right now.  &lt;p /&gt; Helen.  " title=" Q    And you said you'll continue to push your plan, but that's $25 billion; the automakers are see" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-02#entryid_324395" rowid="136534768" side="usa" srcid="324395" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  We think the six party process has worked well.	Five parties are on the same page; one party, the North Koreans, are being a little difficult lately and not showing a willingness to live up to their commitments, to their agreements to the other five parties.  And so we want to see North Korea get back on the right track.  " title=" Q    And you still expect that the six parties working destination for their --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299222" rowid="136531538" side="usa" srcid="299222" text=" MR. WILDER:  Right, absolutely.  The only way this trade agreement gets through is by a vote.  " title=" Q    And you talked about the two leaders who discussed that.  I mean, that's what you're talking a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-17#entryid_270703" rowid="136530446" side="usa" srcid="270703" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, we hope so.	I mean, Secretary Gates has talked about what troop levels are needed in Afghanistan.  Well, we've never met a commander who hasn't wanted more troops on the ground.	We're going to try to make sure that we have the right number, and we've put out a call numerous times for other countries and other members of the international force to come forward with troops.  &lt;p /&gt; We always want more troops, and we also want to maintain this goal of making sure that the Afghan troops are well trained and able to better protect their country.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Ed.  " title=" Q    And you think you can do that without another U.S. infusion of troops into Afghanistan?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268795" rowid="136530233" side="usa" srcid="268795" text=" Q    And you used to say that we were at a special time, you -- the administration used to say that we were at a special time in the Middle East peace process because of these two individuals leaders, Mr. Abbas and Mr. Olmert.  You said &quot;they're ready to make the concessions necessary.&quot;  Now, &quot;the peace process is bigger than any one person,&quot; &quot;the Palestinian people and the Israeli people are committed.&quot;	Are you just emphasizing a different aspect of this, or has there really been a sea change in the attitudes now that these two leaders are no longer indispensable?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that one of the reasons you've seen a sea change is because of the leadership of these two leaders.  Both President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert have put their money where their mouth is when it comes to working on this peace process.	And they've worked very hard and they've helped to explain to their people, their own populations, why it's so important to try to define a Palestinian state before the end of this year, while this President is in office.  And I think that he deserves -- Prime Minister Olmert deserves a lot of credit, along with many other people in the government.  &lt;p /&gt; But I think it's taken a little bit of time for people to come to the realization -- people in Israel to come to the realization that what the President set out to do in June of 2002, in his Rose Garden speech when he called for a two-party state, that it took a while for people to fully accept it and to embrace it and to continue to try to move forward on it.	And that's what they've been doing.  &lt;p /&gt; And they've gotten a long way down the road, but there's a lot of complex issues that still have to be worked out.  But remember what Secretary Rice has been saying, as well, which is a lot of the negotiations and discussions are going on behind the scenes and it's not taking place out in the open and in the press, and so that patience is going to have to rule the day here so we can allow them to do that good work.  And I believe that that will take place -- that will continue on because the people have decided, both the Palestinians and the Israelis, that this is what they want -- they want to have a two-party state.  " title=" Q    And you used to say that we were at a special time, you -- the administration used to say that" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-04#entryid_268996" rowid="136530255" side="usa" srcid="268996" text=" MR. HADLEY:  I was in the first group.	I'm not the President or the Prime Minister and, therefore, was not in that second conversation.  " title=" Q    And you were in the third -- you were in the second --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273727" rowid="136530924" side="usa" srcid="273727" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Yes.  We knew going in no country --  " title=" Q    And you wished you would have gotten more countries to say that they want their national plans" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-23#entryid_267452" rowid="136530035" side="usa" srcid="267452" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would say the -- I would not say we are &quot;troubled.&quot;  I would say that we are aware of their concerns and that we are working to address them.  &lt;p /&gt; Matt.  " title=" Q    And you're not troubled by China's concerns now?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316451" rowid="136533810" side="usa" srcid="316451" text=" MR. PRICE:  We have had no discussions with them concerning participation in the actual meeting.	I believe -- Tony, correct me if I'm wrong -- I believe President-Elect Obama -- his team has made clear that the President-elect does not intend to participate.  We have one President at a time, as he has said. That said, I can only say that I am consulting very closely with the designated person on the transition team and keeping that person fully apprised.  " title=" Q    And, again, I'd like to be clear -- so will they simply be sitting and listening?  Can they as" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317668" rowid="136534005" side="usa" srcid="317668" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  At some point between arrival and departure I expect the two leaders will meet.  " title=" Q    And, Gordon, can you shed a little bit more light on the Russia meeting?  You said that -- did" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272795" rowid="136530763" side="usa" srcid="272795" text=" Q    And, sir, I'm sorry for hogging, but how concerned, though -- with the stock market tumbling again, the bear market coming close, and then the subprime resets, how concerned is the President that maybe after appearing to have weathered the storm, we could be going into an even more turbulent time?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  I'm not going to try to predict the future of markets.  There are people out there in the private sector that do that.  What we're focused on is trying to improve the economic fundamentals.  And you're speaking about one of them -- that's the housing sector, which has an impact not just on financial markets, credit markets, but also on the real economy.  People aren't out there buying homes; they're not going out to home improvement stores and buying equipment; they're not hiring people to come and work on those homes; they're not filling those homes with furniture; people aren't building equity up in their homes.  So it has ripples that move throughout the economy, and you want to try to stem that as much as possible.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, in terms of the President's concern, like I said, he's been speaking about this on a regular basis for well over a year now, about the importance of getting this legislation done so that we can avoid turbulence, so that we can mitigate problems for homeowners out there in the real economy, and for investors out there in the financial sector, so that we can have some stability there and the financial industry can do the job that it does best, which is supplying the funds to help to grow this economy.  " title=" Q    And, sir, I'm sorry for hogging, but how concerned, though -- with the stock market tumbling a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300745" rowid="136531690" side="usa" srcid="300745" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    Another domestic policy question.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317629" rowid="136534004" side="usa" srcid="317629" text=" MS. PERINO:  The President has been briefed about it, and ensuring the safety and well being of the crew is of paramount importance in preventing or dealing with issues of piracy.  We're working with other members of the Security Council right now to see if there are actions that we can do to more effectively fight against piracy and prevent it.  &lt;p /&gt; It's a very complicated issue.	There's a lot of international laws that factor into these efforts.  One of the things that's clear is that piracy is something that is affecting a lot more -- many more waters than any of us would have known about.  I mean, if you look at some of the charts that have come out, that piracy is not something that just happened back in the 1500s.	This has been going on for a while.  The problem is now that it's much more dangerous and they have a lot more weapons that they're using.  And the goal would be to try to help get this ship to safety, secure the crew, and then work with our international partners to try to alleviate the piracy problem full stop.  " title=" Q    Another issue.  What is the U.S. going to do about the Somali pirates?  And has the President " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-23#entryid_323895" rowid="136534660" side="usa" srcid="323895" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Obviously we've seen some of the reports on that.	Some of the reporting is a bit murky.  We're working with our partners in the region and other countries in the region and the African Union to encourage the institutions in Guinea to take all steps to ensure a peaceful and democratic transition.	We stand with the people of Guinea, who certainly strive for peace and a democratic transition, and an opportunity to get to a next government in the best way.  It's obviously a troubled region with a history that hasn't always seen those kinds of smooth transitions of power.  &lt;p /&gt; And so we're keeping an eye on it.  I'll refer you to the State Department; they'll have more up-to-date information as to events there.  But we are working with the African Union, and the other countries in the region.  &lt;p /&gt; Roger.  " title=" Q    Another issue; any concerns about this apparent coups in Guinea?  I don't know if you've been " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-09#entryid_269550" rowid="136530313" side="usa" srcid="269550" text=" MS. PERINO:  -- OPEC to increase production was the question, and I said I don't know of one.  " title=" Q    Another on the dollar since you --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316078" rowid="136533746" side="usa" srcid="316078" text=" MS. PERINO:  I just -- yes, I just saw Ambassador Brinker.  She was on her way over to the East Wing; there's a lunch today for the spouses of our diplomats who are here --  " title=" Q    Another one on First Lady -- she's talking to the diplomatic wives today.	What's that about?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-31#entryid_313989" rowid="136533543" side="usa" srcid="313989" text=" Q    Another question about the regulations.  I know you said the number is similar to past periods.  But what about the content?  Because it seems like environmental groups are focusing in, saying that there's more of a -- I guess a stress on easing limits on emissions from power plants allowing more pollution.  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  You know, we put out a -- there was a rule that came out recently that -- the toughest regulation on lead, for example.	I mean, we're in a difficult position with regulations that are under review in that we can't -- we're constrained in what we can say about regulations that are under review.	Critics outside the fence here can say whatever they want about what we're doing, but we have limits on how we can talk about regulation under review.  &lt;p /&gt; I would be highly doubtful that there's any specific increase in environmental-related regulations.  I've noticed a pretty steady stream of regulations having to do with environmental issues, at least since I've been here at the White House.  " title=" Q    Another question about the regulations.  I know you said the number is similar to past periods" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313278" rowid="136533476" side="usa" srcid="313278" text=" Q    Another question, and I know this is a little bit in advance, but what exactly is the President going to be doing Tuesday night?  I know you said he's staying here.  Who's going to be here?  Can you give us a little tick-tock about what his plans are?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'll try to get you some more information on that.  He often will have somebody over for dinner or something before they start watching the returns.  So as we get a little bit closer, let me try to nail that down for you.  " title=" Q    Another question, and I know this is a little bit in advance, but what exactly is the Presiden" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313253" rowid="136533451" side="usa" srcid="313253" text=" Q    Another question, different topic.  Today up on Capitol Hill, a lot of talk about infrastructure, building projects and this possible second economic stimulus package.  Is the White House -- what's the line as far as, or do you know a line yet, how much you would agree to in a possible second stimulus package?  You have concern, you've expressed concerns that it be stimulating to the economy.  There's a lot of stuff that they're talking about putting in there.  What's the level of discourse and thought about a second economic stimulus package?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think that we'll -- I don't think we'll see a lot of activity or conversation about that until after the election.  Congress will be here I think November 17th and they'll be here for about a week, and that's not a lot of time to get a lot done.  We have some things that we think would stimulate the economy that they could do right away, such as vote yes or no on the free trade agreements that we have in front of them, especially the Colombia free trade agreement.  &lt;p /&gt; When it comes to the stimulus package, we are open to ideas, as we've said.  What we have not seen from the Democratic leadership are ideas that would actually stimulate the economy.  There would be a lot more deficit spending, but that doesn't necessarily help anybody in the near term.  So transportation funding is a concern of ours because while it's important that we fund roads and bridges, and there are meritorious ways to get those approved through Congress, these projects take a long time to get approved, they take a long time for the money to get out into the system, and a lot of the claims that are made about how much transportation could actually help build the economy are overblown.  And so the President is concerned about it.  And I think it's too early to say what our number would be because I don't think we've even seen a package that we could support.  " title=" Q    Another question, different topic.  Today up on Capitol Hill, a lot of talk about infrastructu" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316082" rowid="136533750" side="usa" srcid="316082" text=" Q    Another specific that's been talked about is trials for detainees in Guantanamo Bay inside the U.S.	You've spent a lot of time at that podium and the President has talked about this a lot, about the danger of that potentially happening.	What about that prospect, a meeting?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't know what their plans are.  I do think it's interesting that some -- for many years, a couple of years we've been seeing reported in the press that it would just be easier just to close Guantanamo Bay, and we've tried very hard to explain to people how complicated it is.  &lt;p /&gt; When you pick up people off the battlefield that have a terrorist background, it's not just so easy to let them go.  We've tried to repatriate many of them back to their homes.  We've gone from about 655 detainees down to about 250 now.  We continue to try to repatriate them to places that we know that they will be safe and that they'll be kept from harming others.  About 7 percent of the detainees that we returned to their home countries have actually struck again.  Some have been recaptured.	One of them could not be recaptured because he was a suicide bomber who killed 40 people in Mosul.  &lt;p /&gt; These issues are complicated, and we have put forward a process that we think would work in order to put them on trial through military tribunals.  We have also asked Congress to take another look at the issue that resulted from the Boumediene decision because it is not just -- it's not so easy just to say that you're going to close Guantanamo Bay.  &lt;p /&gt; And now in the last week or so, all of a sudden some of our critics in the media are now putting forward how complicated it would be and how difficult it will be for the next President to make these decisions.  All of a sudden it's really complicated.  So we take the point.  It is complicated and we've been trying to do our best to try to close it.  " title=" Q    Another specific that's been talked about is trials for detainees in Guantanamo Bay inside the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306600" rowid="136532678" side="usa" srcid="306600" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    Another subject -- Iran.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267023" rowid="136529962" side="usa" srcid="267023" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q    Another subject?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-01#entryid_307376" rowid="136532801" side="usa" srcid="307376" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Coordinated with other central banks.  " title=" Q    Another thing is, the Fed pumped in a substantial amount of money -- I think the figure was $6" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311212" rowid="136533246" side="usa" srcid="311212" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to rule it in or out, because I just don't know right now.  " title=" Q    Any chance of tax rebates again like the $600 checks earlier in the year?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-25#entryid_301996" rowid="136531872" side="usa" srcid="301996" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'm not expecting that, no.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Ben.  " title=" Q    Any chance the Vice President might go to Russia to make the West's case directly, face to fac" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304241" rowid="136532286" side="usa" srcid="304241" text=" MS. PERINO:  As I've said, we are working with the Pakistanis.	And I think that you should look at President Zardari's comments yesterday, in which he also pledged Pakistan's full support.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    Any comment on the Pakistani ambassador who said that that's why the CIA -- recent attacks are" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308302" rowid="136532947" side="usa" srcid="308302" text=" MS. PERINO:  President Bush himself, no.  But obviously the State Department and our ambassadors have been in touch with them.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay.  " title=" Q    Any communication between the President of the Turkish government or the Iraqi government for " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273161" rowid="136530786" side="usa" srcid="273161" text=" MS. PERINO:  Between the President and who?  " title=" Q    Any communication, because a very crucial issue.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308533" rowid="136532988" side="usa" srcid="308533" text=" MS. PERINO:  Maybe you're focused on the farewell celebration.	We've been pretty busy to focus on a -- go ahead.  " title=" Q    Any farewell celebrations here, or anything like that?  I mean, seriously --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-24#entryid_312342" rowid="136533353" side="usa" srcid="312342" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think people are aware of it and talking about it.  I think that the Democrats will come back and call for a lame-duck session.  But I don't know that for sure.  I'd have to refer you to the Speaker's office for that.  But I don't think that you'll see any actions before the election on anything that would be shaped up for that lame duck.  " title=" Q    Any further discussions about a lame-duck session, and what might be done then, and could it p" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-10#entryid_300072" rowid="136531606" side="usa" srcid="300072" text=" AMBASSADOR JEFFREY:  It's not a dead end.  We've had two meetings behind closed doors on this.  We have agreed with the other members of the Security Council, which, of course, includes Russia, on some elements of a way forward, but we do not have final agreement.  But as you know from following this in a dozen other contexts, including the Iranian one, day one, we're still debating and disagreeing; day two or day three, we often can come together on some final -- a compromise position.  And that's what we're working towards.  &lt;p /&gt; Thank you.  " title=" Q    Any further efforts to be expected at the U.N. Security Council, or is that a dead end, given " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-10#entryid_308992" rowid="136533067" side="usa" srcid="308992" text=" MS. PERINO:  They said that it's going to take them two to several weeks, and I just think that I need to leave it at that because they're trying to get the right people in the right places in those positions.  They have a lot of people to hire, but they've made some good progress.  They've put out requests for proposals, and things like that over this past week.  Remember, it's only been seven days.  They don't take weekends, they're working all night.  I mean, they are working very hard to make sure that we're doing what we need to do.  " title=" Q    Any idea how much time before Treasury action?  Are we looking at a month or --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-10#entryid_274078" rowid="136530988" side="usa" srcid="274078" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Yes, I think it'll be a good opportunity to get a review of what we're seeing in the economy today, both in the real economy -- I think I mentioned in the gaggle this morning that we're getting down to the last days of the stimulus checks that have gone out.  So maybe we can get -- the President will have an opportunity to get a little better reading from Secretary Paulson and his other economic advisors.  &lt;p /&gt; We're going to be at the Energy Department.  That's no -- that's by design.  We want to be there to talk about what's going on with energy markets and oil and to -- and the opportunity to help bring down prices and increase supply here domestically.  So the President will have a chance to talk about those issues, also the Outer Continental Shelf and refinery issues that you heard him spoke about -- speak about not too long ago.  So it'll be a good review, but they'll certainly focus on energy.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Kevin.  " title=" Q    Any look ahead to the event tomorrow on the economy and --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-01#entryid_319624" rowid="136534227" side="usa" srcid="319624" text=" MS. PERINO:  I gave you one at the top of the briefing, so you can get a transcript.  " title=" Q    Any other statement?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-14#entryid_326355" rowid="136534990" side="usa" srcid="326355" text=" MS. PERINO:  A lot of the packing is done.  Mrs. Bush is very organized and she has a lot of the books -- most of what they have to take back are the books that they have, and obviously their clothes, but a lot of those books have already made their way -- are at least on their way to Texas.	So he hasn't had to do a lot of packing himself.  " title=" Q    Any packing going on?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313276" rowid="136533474" side="usa" srcid="313276" text=" MS. PERINO:  The President is pretty focused on the activities that we have here, especially getting this economy back in order.  As we've said for a while, the President was going to be focusing on this.	We cancelled a lot of our fundraisers, and he's going to focus on being with Mrs. Bush and others this weekend at Camp David.  " title=" Q    Any particular reason why no one wants him out there?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267010" rowid="136529936" side="usa" srcid="267010" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, you know, he spoke to Mrs. Kennedy the other day.  The other day?  " title=" Q    Any phone call to Senator Kennedy, or any plans to make a call to Senator Kennedy?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-03#entryid_319915" rowid="136534273" side="usa" srcid="319915" text=" MS. PERINO:  Oh, not that I'm aware of -- at least certainly not under our administration.  I think that we would make sure that the President-elect's team is fully briefed and then if they decide they want to move forward when they have their team together, I think that they could do that.  But I don't even know if in the report they suggest that, so I'll have to defer.  &lt;p /&gt; Kathleen.  " title=" Q    Any plans for any legislative proposals, administrative restructuring, anything like that in r" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301160" rowid="136531774" side="usa" srcid="301160" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I mean, I would expect the President will have phone calls with Pakistani officials in the near future, and we'll keep you updated.  &lt;p /&gt; All right.  Yes, ma'am.  " title=" Q    Any plans, Gordon, for a phone call between the President and Musharraf or the Prime Minister " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268779" rowid="136530217" side="usa" srcid="268779" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I don't have any, but we'll see if I can get you some.  I'm sure -- have you asked the State Department?  " title=" Q    Any reaction on the election in Skopje last Sunday?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-23#entryid_280345" rowid="136531237" side="usa" srcid="280345" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look, this is the same type of rhetoric that we constantly hear.  And it's unfortunate for the people of Iran that their leaders continue to isolate them from the rest of the international community.  &lt;p /&gt; And I would point to last weekend, when our diplomatic process was reinvigorated because of a non-response response at a meeting that the Iranians came to.  They were given an additional two weeks, and I think we should actually wait and let that process take place, and not take too much stock in the day to day comments.  " title=" Q    Any reaction to Iran's President today saying that Iran will not change anything in its policy" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317631" rowid="136534008" side="usa" srcid="317631" text=" Q    Any reaction to Senator Inhofe's piece of legislation basically suggesting freezing what is left of the first $350 billion and then forcing the Treasury Secretary or the administration to go to Congress for an affirmative vote to get access to the second $350 billion?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that there is already a process in place that was passed into law when we first got the rescue package that required a notification and a request of Congress for the second $350 billion.  And when I say he hasn't used all of the first $350 billion, I think it's close, I think there's only, like, $50 billion or $60 billion more.  &lt;p /&gt; So I haven't seen Senator Inhofe's specific proposal -- and we understand that we are accountable to the Congress and that's why Secretary Paulson and Fed Chairman Bernanke spent hours up on Capitol Hill yesterday, and they'll continue to work with Congress as we go through this.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    Any reaction to Senator Inhofe's piece of legislation basically suggesting freezing what is le" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-01#entryid_302883" rowid="136532000" side="usa" srcid="302883" text=" MS. PERINO:  That is the first I've heard of that, so I'll check.  " title=" Q    Any reaction to the apparent resignation of the Japanese Prime Minister?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-01#entryid_302887" rowid="136532004" side="usa" srcid="302887" text=" MS. PERINO:  It was still ongoing while I was -- while we got on board, so I don't have an update for you.  But I'll check back and find out.  " title=" Q    Any reaction to the EU meeting on Georgia?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-23#entryid_305980" rowid="136532582" side="usa" srcid="305980" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'll be honest, John, I hadn't heard that, so I'm not sure that I have a reaction to it.  That's the first I'm hearing of it.  " title=" Q    Any reaction to the idea that's been floated of essentially breaking this package into two par" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267022" rowid="136529960" side="usa" srcid="267022" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, the United States in not participating.  This decision was undertaken by Israel.  We were not surprised by it, and we do not object to it.  We hope that this is a forum to address various concerns we all have with Syria -- Syria's support of terrorism, repression of its own people.  And so we will see how this progresses.  " title=" Q    Any reaction to the Israeli-Syrian peace talks in Turkey?	Is the U.S. participating?	Is there " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-27#entryid_312736" rowid="136533389" side="usa" srcid="312736" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes, they did have conversations on Friday.  What was the question?  " title=" Q    Any readout of the talks between President Bush and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheff" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-27#entryid_312734" rowid="136533387" side="usa" srcid="312734" text=" MS. PERINO:  Oh, readout -- the President, himself, read it out when he had his remarks after the event.  So then we don't have anything to add.  " title=" Q    Any readout.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-15#entryid_309823" rowid="136533122" side="usa" srcid="309823" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I haven't heard that.  This is the first I've heard of it -- sorry.  " title=" Q    Any response to the report that the number two al Qaeda agent in Iraq has been killed?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308757" rowid="136533025" side="usa" srcid="308757" text=" MS. PERINO:  On your BlackBerry just now that just came across? (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Any response to what Vladimir Putin has said about --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298486" rowid="136531378" side="usa" srcid="298486" text=" MR. WILDER:  First of all, we have offered a great deal of American assistance to the Chinese on Olympic security.	We will operate with them in Beijing in this area.  We are very confident, having had a very good dialogue with the Chinese on this issue, that they have made significant preparations.  So we think that the security for these Games is in good order.	But everybody needs to remain alert and ensure the safety of all those who participate.  " title=" Q    Any security concerns at the Olympics?  Obviously you have a lot of world leaders heading ther" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308774" rowid="136533042" side="usa" srcid="308774" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't -- nothing else I could provide, no.  " title=" Q    Any sense of whether or not there was progress --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-05#entryid_273366" rowid="136530833" side="usa" srcid="273366" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think we'll have to wait and see how the meeting goes. I know we've got it on the agenda, of something to talk about, but we'll keep you updated if there's more on that.  " title=" Q    Any specific actions being discussed by the members?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266870" rowid="136529929" side="usa" srcid="266870" text=" MS. PERINO:  Nothing too much more beyond what I had this morning. We've received the legislation recently, late last night, and so we're in the process of carefully reviewing it.  It's very important legislation and we want to make sure that we understand how the I's were dotted and the T's were crossed in the legislation that was just -- passed out of committee.  So it would be premature to say whether the President could accept this legislation until we've concluded our review.  &lt;p /&gt; We are very encouraged that the bill appears to create a strong and independent regulator to ensure the safety and soundness of the GSEs -- that's something that the President has long called for and that we believe is the most significant component of the bill.	And we also are looking at the FHA provisions of it; we want to make sure we understand the financing, and we just have some questions and we want to make sure that we go through and carefully deliberate it before we make a decision.  " title=" Q    Any update on the housing bill?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268804" rowid="136530242" side="usa" srcid="268804" text=" MS. PERINO:  It will take place tomorrow afternoon -- I think it's around 1:45 p.m.-1:50 p.m. in the afternoon.  And I think they'll make statements at the top of their meeting.  " title=" Q    Any updates on the President's meeting with Olmert?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303871" rowid="136532164" side="usa" srcid="303871" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think September 11th will always be a day that lives in the President's mind every single day.	He has never once forgot it since September 11th; he wakes up every day thinking about it and goes to bed thinking about it.  He has the most solemn obligation of anyone in the world, which is to protect American citizens from another attack. Thankfully we've been able to do that, but we know that these terrorists are out there plotting, planning, and that they have to be right only once; we have to be right every single time.  &lt;p /&gt; So even when he's not President anymore, I am sure that he will think about it every day, especially as we approach an anniversary where you take time to reflect on what the families have gone through these past seven years.  And there's nothing that he will be able to say or do that will heal the hole in their heart, but he will try on Thursday to hold up their memory so that all of us can pause and reflect on it.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  " title=" Q    Anything else?  I mean, this is his last one, and it happened under his watch.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-28#entryid_267818" rowid="136530099" side="usa" srcid="267818" text=" MS. PERINO:  Where was the vote?  " title=" Q    Anything on --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-28#entryid_267815" rowid="136530096" side="usa" srcid="267815" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that this is Israeli politics, and they'll have to sort it out themselves.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay?  " title=" Q    Anything on Olmert?  Defense Minister had called for -- Ehud Barak had called for him to step " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-10#entryid_308987" rowid="136533062" side="usa" srcid="308987" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, we've been meeting and we're trying to bring this to a conclusion, and we're -- every day you get a little bit closer, but in a negotiation it's one step forward, half a step back, and then you try to get there.  There could -- people meet on it all the time, so I don't know if there's a specific meeting today you're referring to.  " title=" Q    Anything special today that you know of?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-17#entryid_270686" rowid="136530429" side="usa" srcid="270686" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I would let them explain that to you.  I mean, I think there's some things I could mention in terms of logistics and coordination and communication, but I think they could tell it better than I can.  " title=" Q    Anything specific?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272628" rowid="136530740" side="usa" srcid="272628" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that the President has taken a very firm stand on it.  He's working -- he pushed very hard last week for the U.N. Security Council to put forward a president's statement, which has to -- which requires a unanimous consent by all 15 parties, including the South African leader.  And then he called for the Secretaries of State and Treasury to work on sanctions against the regime and those who support it.  And we will continue to press on it.  The President is very interested in what's going to happen in the area.  And I think that the African leaders, knowing that there is a huge problem of instability in their region casts a pall on all of them, and so I think that they'll have incentive to work for it to make something happen.  " title=" Q    Anything we're saying, in all due respect, is so namby-pamby.  I mean, isn't there some mechan" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315661" rowid="136533722" side="usa" srcid="315661" text=" Q    Anyway, she talked about using the tools we have and expressed that in a couple different ways in her short statement, which kind of leads me to wonder whether these -- you all want to caution against thinking that numbers like what we saw today would be any reason for a new stimulus.  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  Well, I think --  " title=" Q    Anyway, she talked about using the tools we have and expressed that in a couple different ways" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321332" rowid="136534474" side="usa" srcid="321332" text=" MS. PERINO:  I did hear that just before I came down, and Chris Hill made some comments, and one of the things he said was that the North Koreans don't want to put into writing what they've put into words.  He is now on his way back to the United States, and I'm sure he'll be briefing principals as soon as he possibly can.  So it's too early for me to say what the next steps are, but what's unfortunate is that the North Koreans had an opportunity here.	There was an open door, and all they had to do was walk through it, because five of the members of the six-party talks had all agreed on a verification protocol.  Because they decided not to work with us and the talks have devolved, because they wouldn't put it in writing, we're going to have to rethink some of this action for action, which is what we had said we would do.  So let us hear from Chris Hill as soon as he gets back, and we'll keep you updated on next steps.  &lt;p /&gt; Ken.  " title=" Q    Apparently the North Korea talks have reached an impasse.	So what's the next step?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299210" rowid="136531526" side="usa" srcid="299210" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  But it's also a great chance for him to stop in the state.	The governor will be there, as well.  I'm actually hoping I get to meet her.  She's a rising star in the Republican Party and quite an accomplished person, from a professional and a personal level.	So I look forward to meeting her.  " title=" Q    Appreciate that.  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271984" rowid="136530657" side="usa" srcid="271984" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that there's a long way to go, because the House passed a bill and the Senate passed a bill.  The House, remember, has -- had a very strong vote, and in regards to the President's position, we have a veto-proof margin in the House.  So I think that congressional leaders have every reason in the world to try to work this out in conference in a way that they could get a bill to the President that he could sign.  &lt;p /&gt; So we are going to continue to work with them.	We think that they have a lot of good provisions in the bill, including GSE reform, which we have said for a long time is essential.  What we disagree with is the bailout for the lenders that was included in the $4 billion block grant proposal.  " title=" Q    Are any of the provisions that you have said are unacceptable now negotiable?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267030" rowid="136529976" side="usa" srcid="267030" text=" MR. FISK:  Currently under existing rules, nongovernmental organizations now are -- can get a license to provide computers to civil society activists and dissidents on the island.  " title=" Q    Are computers allowed to be shipped over?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267031" rowid="136529978" side="usa" srcid="267031" text=" MR. FISK:  Pardon?  " title=" Q    Are computers allowed to be shipped over?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-12#entryid_304565" rowid="136532300" side="usa" srcid="304565" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I don't have anything on that.  Let's go through the week ahead -- or do you have any more, or are we good?  The week ahead.  Let's see, Saturday and Sunday the President will be in Washington.  &lt;p /&gt; On Monday, September 15th, the President and Mrs. Bush participated in a South Lawn arrival ceremony for the President of Ghana and Mrs. Kufuor.  That will be on the South Lawn of the White House at 8:55 a.m.  &lt;p /&gt; At 10:35 a.m., the President meets with the President of Ghana in the Oval Office.  We'll have stills at the top.	At 11:10 a.m., the President and President Kufuor will make a joint statement in the Rose Garden.  It'll be pool for cameras and open for correspondents.  &lt;p /&gt; At 2:55 p.m., the President participates in a photo opportunity with the 2008 Boys and Girls Clubs of America Regional Finalists and Youth of the Year.  That's in the Oval Office, and there will be stills at the bottom.  &lt;p /&gt; And at 7:00 p.m., the President and Mrs. Bush greet the President of Ghana and Mrs. Kufuor at the North Portico, where they will then go to -- they'll have a photo opportunity in the Grand Foyer.  There will be pool coverage for that; it's open press for the arrival.  &lt;p /&gt; And then 8:05 p.m., the President and Mrs. Bush participate in a State Dinner with the President of Ghana and Mrs. Kufuor in the State Dining Room.  And that will be pool for toasts only.  And then we'll have pool for cameras, open for correspondents.  The President and Mrs. Bush viewing entertainment in the Rose Garden at 9:20 p.m. that evening.  &lt;p /&gt; Tuesday, September 6th, is to be determined.  Wednesday, September 17th, the President meets with the President of Panama in the Oval Office, pool at the bottom.	And at 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday, the President and Mrs. Bush attended an Iftaar dinner with ambassadors and Muslim leaders.	And that's in the State Dining Room of the White House.  And that will be pool for remarks only.  " title=" Q    Are his feelings hurt that she wasn't readily available with an answer about what the Bush doc" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272798" rowid="136530769" side="usa" srcid="272798" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I can't speak to specific areas of progress, but discussions continue, certainly.  And members of the Senate know I think pretty clearly where the President is on this and what our position has been on various elements of housing legislation.  &lt;p /&gt; There are parts of the Senate bill that we really like and think are -- would make an important contribution to improving conditions in the housing markets and in financial markets, and so -- the strong oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- so the GSE part we really like.	There are other portions of the bill -- FHA modernization  -- that we like, although we'd like to see some critical elements added to FHA modernization.  &lt;p /&gt; And there are some elements of the bill that we don't like that we'll have to deal with, and some of that is on the financing for the expansion of FHASecure.  This $4 billion of funding for CDBG -- block grants -- is something we don't think will contribute to solutions or prevent foreclosures, and in fact, it's funding that actually goes to those holding these foreclosed loans, and that's the original lenders.  And we prefer not to be subsidizing lenders.  We'd rather try to focus on ways we can help homeowners who want to stay in their homes.  &lt;p /&gt; But the Senate will come back.	We hope to see that bill come back with some improvements in a way that we can get the President a bill that he can sign.  " title=" Q    Are negotiations proceeding over the break on the housing bill?  Is there any progress that's " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302495" rowid="136531952" side="usa" srcid="302495" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think it's premature to say.  I don't know what ultimately will result from the process that people are in to discuss what the consequences may be.  We just aren't there yet.  It's premature to say.  " title=" Q    Are some sort of sanctions going to be considered by the United States?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309531" rowid="136533103" side="usa" srcid="309531" text=" Q    Are taxpayers really protected if the borrowing that Treasury will have to do to get the money to give to the banks is going to increase the deficit and the national debt, and taxpayers will have to pay interest on the money the government borrows?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, there's no doubt that the deficit is going to go up.  We have said that, and you'll have more from Jim Nussle today at 4:00 p.m. when they announce their estimate.  But the best way to protect all taxpayers and to deal with the deficit is to get this economy moving again and return to growth.  &lt;p /&gt; Over here -- Ann, and I'll work my way down.  " title=" Q    Are taxpayers really protected if the borrowing that Treasury will have to do to get the money" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273416" rowid="136530866" side="usa" srcid="273416" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Well, the developing countries made clear all along that they want to see a continuation of legally binding commitments by the developed countries.  And as I indicated, we've already made that clear, including the U.S.  So for us, the question really is, what's the nature and meaningfulness of the commitment by the developing countries.  And we'll have to see -- again, we'll see how that unfolds on Wednesday.  " title=" Q    Are the developing countries insisting on something  from the United States and the other deve" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-22#entryid_301581" rowid="136531844" side="usa" srcid="301581" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Yes.  (Laughter.)  And ongoing and ongoing.  But hopefully drawing to a conclusion.  " title=" Q    Are the discussions ongoing?  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270985" rowid="136530489" side="usa" srcid="270985" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I can't speak to every business decision that oil producers make, and I'm not here to defend what they can do and can't do; they can answer those questions for themselves.  " title=" Q    Are the oil companies doing everything they can to explore and drill where they already have p" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-20#entryid_305657" rowid="136532535" side="usa" srcid="305657" text=" MR. HADLEY:  I think -- Secretary Rice will have a meeting with her counterpart, Mr. Lavrov, I suspect both bilaterally and in a number of meetings that she's got, in terms of addressing various issues.  So we expect to have that interaction.  I do not believe that either Prime Minister Putin or President Medvedev is coming.  So I would anticipate that Foreign Minister Lavrov will head the delegation.  He will of course be invited to the reception Monday night.	My guess is that the President will have a chance to speak with him at that time.  And I'm quite sure that Condi will be doing a fair amount of -- I should say the Secretary of State will be doing a fair amount of business with the Foreign Minister during her week -- her UNGA week, as they call it.  " title=" Q    Are the Russians sending anybody that you or any others in the delegation might be considering" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317876" rowid="136534026" side="usa" srcid="317876" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, there's a couple of bilats that the President has and a trilat here and there.  " title=" Q    Are there any -- I didn't see any press avails at APEC at all.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-09#entryid_320801" rowid="136534415" side="usa" srcid="320801" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I think what I laid out for you yesterday in regards to a financial viability advisor is what we think that that entity should do.  And so while we finish working with them on the details, I'll just decline to go any further than that at the moment.  I don't know if we'll have something finalized today.  I think it's possible, but again we're -- while we're working fast, we want to get it right.  So I wouldn't read into anything if we don't get it all finalized today.  We're going to try to, but we still have some time to get it done.  " title=" Q    Are there any concerns with the concept of the &quot;car czar&quot; as the Democrats have presented it? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-16#entryid_304978" rowid="136532374" side="usa" srcid="304978" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  I don't think there's anything left in Galveston like that, so it would be outside of that.  So we'll look at how can we house people as close as we can to where they live.  That's what the goal is.  " title=" Q    Are there any left in Galveston?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-12#entryid_304569" rowid="136532304" side="usa" srcid="304569" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I don't have anything for you right now for the schedule.  " title=" Q    Are there any McCain campaign events, you know --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-29#entryid_302709" rowid="136531988" side="usa" srcid="302709" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that's it.  We're just going to be giving the speech, and then in the tradition of past Presidents, he will spend the rest of the week, we call it down, and he'll be at Camp David for the week.  So we get back from Minnesota and go straight to Camp.  " title=" Q    Are there any other -- any other role for him planned at the convention?  I know he's going in" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317054" rowid="136533921" side="usa" srcid="317054" text=" Q    Are there any plans being pursued by the administration for a kind of Bear Stearns-type solution to the auto situation, where kind of a government-sponsored combination kind of absorbs Chrysler or GM, or just some kind of government takeover?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Not that I've heard of, no; not at all.  &lt;p /&gt; Ken.  " title=" Q    Are there any plans being pursued by the administration for a kind of Bear Stearns-type soluti" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302501" rowid="136531959" side="usa" srcid="302501" text=" MS. PERINO:  Again, I think it's a little bit premature.  Let's -- we need to see where this storm is headed.  Things change.  " title=" Q    Are there any plans for the President to address the threat to the Gulf Coast in his speech on" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302656" rowid="136531935" side="usa" srcid="302656" text=" Q    Are there any specific implications for energy infrastructure that the Vice President thinks should be drawn from the events that we've seen so far?  In other words, are there -- there's been discussion of a Nabucco pipeline and different alignments of new pipelines to be developed through some of the countries we're going to be visiting, right?  So are those ideas accelerated necessarily by what's happened, by the -- do we assume that Russia is a less reliable energy partner for Western Europe now?  &lt;p&gt; SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I think by its actions one has to assume -- and you can read the statements of the Western leaders -- that the level of confidence and trust that people have in Russia's overall reliability has been put in serious question by what's happened, including -- and I would assume that extends to energy and the issue of energy supplies.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, the United States has had a priority for quite some time in trying to lead an effort to encourage this diversification of energy infrastructure and pipelines and supplies, particularly to Europe, of gas.  And I think we're on the record of supporting Nabucco.  And I don't think anything about this, these recent events, has done anything but reenforce the sense that that basic strategy is important and critical, and one that has to be pursued, if anything with greater energy by us and by our European partners.  " title=" Q    Are there any specific implications for energy infrastructure that the Vice President thinks s" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273744" rowid="136530941" side="usa" srcid="273744" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Yes.  I have copies for each of you.   MS. PERINO:  And then I have a -- I said I would get back to you on a question you had this morning regarding our negotiations with Iraq.  " title=" Q    Are there copies of this?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_272001" rowid="136530674" side="usa" srcid="272001" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not in Israeli intelligence, so I couldn't tell you.  " title=" Q    Are there differences between U.S. intelligence about Iran's nuclear capabilities and Israeli " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273749" rowid="136530946" side="usa" srcid="273749" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Yes.  Well, Secretary Paulson is going to be pushing hard to conclude the build-out of this clean technology fund.  Doha -- we have the trade barrier -- the tariff elimination proposals in Doha for climate-friendly technologies.	That would be one of the earliest signs of good faith, that we're serious about this issue, because why on earth are we -- there are some countries imposing tariffs as high as 70 percent on the technologies that allow them not only to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, but cut the air pollution that's currently creating huge health problems for their people.  &lt;p /&gt; So that's an example of how -- that would be an indicator of how serious a number of the major emerging economies actually treat the climate and sustainable development issue.   MS. PERINO:  And that ministerial is July 21st, I think.   CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Yes, in three -- in a couple of weeks.   MS. PERINO:  The Doha ministerial.   CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  And then finally, watch for the setting up of these sectoral discussions.  And I think we're going to get a lot of support from the U.N. for that, to make that happen.  So if we can expand what we've been doing on the Asia Pacific Partnership to a broader grouping of countries, that would be another good sign that people are ready to roll up their sleeves and actually start working on practical action, and move beyond sort of the negotiating positions.  " title=" Q    Are there meetings or other things like that that he plans in the last --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270988" rowid="136530492" side="usa" srcid="270988" text=" MR. FRATTO:  It's not a question of whether -- oil companies can say that on any given piece of lease that they're holding whether it's productive or not.  I'm just telling you I can't imagine an oil company not wanting to produce oil today.  And what we see are oil companies out there looking to try to produce and do more drilling.  But it takes many, many years, and millions, if not hundreds of millions of dollars to go from a lease to actually pumping oil.  &lt;p /&gt; So you need to send sophisticated people in there and figure out whether the oil is there and whether you can extract it, and whether you can bring it to market, and do you have the power, and is it a good business decision in the sense of how much it costs to take the oil out of the ground and get it to market.  But at these prices -- which no one could have anticipated three, four or five years ago -- I can't imagine the incentives being more properly aligned for oil companies to go out and try to get every barrel of oil out of the ground.  " title=" Q    Are there not leases out there that are not -- that have already proved -- that have not been " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308310" rowid="136532955" side="usa" srcid="308310" text=" MS. PERINO:  Those are the only calls that I know about right now, but I'll keep you updated.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Les.  " title=" Q    Are there other European leaders or other world leaders --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267032" rowid="136529980" side="usa" srcid="267032" text=" MR. FISK:  At this point we're focused on May 21st -- today.  " title=" Q    Are there other policy changes coming on this?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-03#entryid_319924" rowid="136534282" side="usa" srcid="319924" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  Our experts -- Keith Hennessey, Eddie Lazear and his team -- they're looking at all of this and they know what to look for better than I do, but once they have a little bit more I could see if there's something I can provide.  &lt;p /&gt; Anything else on autos?  " title=" Q    Are there particular areas of their proposals where you have more questions than in other area" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326561" rowid="136535016" side="usa" srcid="326561" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm sure if the special interests have their way, that they will subpoena them.  " title=" Q    Are they being subpoenaed?  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326592" rowid="136535047" side="usa" srcid="326592" text=" MR. GILLESPIE:	There are -- there will be friends there.  But the folks that are highlighted are people who have provided great examples as citizens of this country, and reflected a spirit of this country and are compassionate, and are caring, and are courage.  Some of whom are -- some of those folks have become friends.  But it's -- he will highlight people that he has met along the way.  " title=" Q    Are they friends or military?  Can you describe in general terms?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267050" rowid="136530013" side="usa" srcid="267050" text=" MR. FISK:  They have been invited.  I understand that they will be here.  We've invited a number of members of Congress.	We've invited some representatives -- selected representatives from the diplomatic corps will be there.  It's my understanding that the Cuban American members from South Florida, and Congressman Sires, who's a Cuban American House member from New Jersey, have RSVP'd, have accepted to attend the event.   MS. PERINO:  But there is plane trouble or air trouble with at least I think two of them --   MR. FISK:  Well, for two of the family members, not for the members of the Congress.  But to the extent that they will be there, yes, the invitations have been extended.  " title=" Q    Are they going to be there today?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306383" rowid="136532614" side="usa" srcid="306383" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I don't know of anything that needed to be signed.  We need to -- we have some work to do with Congress.  But I think that's on the right track.  " title=" Q    Are they going to sign anything this evening, as further --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-26#entryid_272215" rowid="136530708" side="usa" srcid="272215" text=" MR. HADLEY:  What they -- the accounting they have given is, we are not now engaged in any enrichment program or any proliferation activities and will -- we will not in the future.  But, of course, part of being able to confirm that they're not now engaging in these activities is to be able to understand what they did in the past, because that is the only way we can be able to say we understand what was done in the past, we have seen that being wound down, and we therefore have confidence that they are not undergoing that activity.  &lt;p /&gt; So the declaration they've made, what the disclosure they made is, we're not engaged in this activity now, will not engage it in the future.  We've made it very clear in this process and in the documents that constitute the declaration, that we have concerns about their past activities in Syria and in the enrichment area, and that raises questions about whether they have, in fact, are engaging in none of that activity today.  &lt;p /&gt; We've made those concerns clear.  The North Koreans acknowledge those concerns.  They know we are going to want to be pursuing them in this six-party process, and that's, of course, what is ahead of us.  &lt;p /&gt; You had a second part --  " title=" Q    Are they not in this accounting?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315660" rowid="136533721" side="usa" srcid="315660" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, when people talk about a stimulus, they're usually talking about what can we do for the economy right now, seeing these numbers are actually -- they're backward-looking, so it's the economy that we are certainly in.  And the stimulus proposals that we have seen out there are very limited and very forward-looking and long range.  And I don't think that's what any -- the notion of stimulus that anyone has out there, they're interested in what can you do for the economy right now.  And what we're doing for the economy right now is to deal with the biggest drags on the economy, which are the very tight credit markets.	And we're dealing with that through the TARP program, to loosen up credit for consumers and businesses.  And we're dealing with housing, try to shore up the housing market and the market for home finance so that becomes less of a drag on the economy.  &lt;p /&gt; There are other sort of natural -- more or less natural stimulus-type efforts like -- it's not an effort, but the fact that oil prices have declined so much has a stimulative effect on the economy immediately.  It's like an immediate tax cut for consumers with a dramatic lowering in energy prices.  &lt;p /&gt; So that's what's happening right now, and those are all the authorities that we have right now to deal with the economy as it is.  Some of the ideas that we've seen, things like infrastructure spending, for example, have an exceedingly limited impact on the economy in the short term, over the period of one or two quarters.  I think the Department of Transportation estimates that about a quarter of every dollar spent on infrastructure spending is actually spent in the very first year.  Well -- so take whatever number you see people throwing out there about infrastructure spending, divide it by four, and that's the impact on the economy over a one-year period.  And in a -- so if it's $100 billion -- it's a number some people have thrown around -- that's $25 billion over a year, and that's in a $14 trillion economy.  So it's a very limited stimulus impact.  &lt;p /&gt; The things we're doing now with the $700 billion TARP program have actually multiplying effects.  When you improve the conditions of banks to go out there and make loans, it's not a $1 for $1 impact on the economy, it's actually larger than that.  So those are the things that we are working on with those tools.  &lt;p /&gt; Jim.  " title=" Q    Are they or are they not?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313537" rowid="136533484" side="usa" srcid="313537" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm just going to refer you over there, because you ask me about transportation infrastructure projects all the time.  I've given you the information that I have several times.  I don't have any new information.  But maybe they could put you in touch with somebody who has more experience and has actually worked on transportation infrastructure projects.  I haven't.  &lt;p /&gt; Connie.  " title=" Q    Are they the only ones that do economic analysis?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305162" rowid="136532417" side="usa" srcid="305162" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not the person to look for, for that kind of assessment.  You'll need to go to Secretary of Treasury for that.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, April.  " title=" Q    Are those industries at the level, though, where the size is such that they cannot be --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303879" rowid="136532172" side="usa" srcid="303879" text=" MS. PERINO:  I just said last week I said it was likely, and now I think it's probable that you'll hear it this week, possibly as early as tomorrow -- I should say likely, even probable tomorrow.  Let me see if can get you more.  I don't know if the President has made a final decision yet, and once we do we'll be able to get that to you right away.  " title=" Q    Are we going to hear a troop reduction announcement tomorrow?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273450" rowid="136530890" side="usa" srcid="273450" text=" MR. PRICE:  Correct.  " title=" Q    Are we talking about the African leaders?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307684" rowid="136532855" side="usa" srcid="307684" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I think it's at least weeks.  " title=" Q    Are we talking weeks or months or --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-15#entryid_309826" rowid="136533125" side="usa" srcid="309826" text=" MR. FRATTO:  The Vice President?  No, I'm not.	I'd prefer to leave that for his doctors.  And the Vice President will deal with his health situation, and at an appropriate time if an update is warranted, I'm sure the Vice President's office will do that.  But I don't have anything more for you right now.  I don't know any more.  " title=" Q    Are you able to at all characterize this for us -- characterize it for the country as to how s" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-09#entryid_269559" rowid="136530322" side="usa" srcid="269559" text=" MR. PRICE:  Well, I don't know if they're familiar to all of you --  " title=" Q    Are you actually putting proposals on the table?  Are you putting new proposals on the table, " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-14#entryid_326371" rowid="136535006" side="usa" srcid="326371" text=" MS. PERINO:  I saw that report in the -- that story in The Washington Post today, and DOD has commented.  Let me just make sure it's clear, and I'll say it on the record one more time, that it has never been the policy of this President or this administration to torture.  DOD has commented and they have made the point about their revisions that they've made over the years.  Because of command influence concerns, I have not commented about individual cases from this podium and I just -- that's as much as I can say about it today.  &lt;p /&gt; Matt.  " title=" Q    Are you all worried about any prosecutions of Guantanamo detainees being in danger because the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303286" rowid="136532085" side="usa" srcid="303286" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  I've been in Washington all week.  I was down there in Texas the day before yesterday; I'm going back down to Louisiana today.	I was in Louisiana about four days ago, so I'm going back and forth.   MS. PERINO:  And Secretary Chertoff has been there the whole time.   ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  And Secretary Chertoff has been there every day with the Governor, and flying around, giving us regular reports.  They've been very helpful for us, by the way, the information he's been feeding back to us, and we've been able to get on top of issues very quickly.  " title=" Q    Are you assessing it for the first time, as well?	You haven't been down there -- I mean, you'v" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316450" rowid="136533808" side="usa" srcid="316450" text=" MR. PRICE:  I think both the President-elect's transition team and this administration are committed to a very smooth transition, to keeping each other apprised, and that's exactly what we're doing.  " title=" Q    Are you concerned about avoiding any awkwardness, I guess, is what I'm wondering -- if they wi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-01#entryid_307365" rowid="136532790" side="usa" srcid="307365" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I just -- what I said, we just need to be careful with market-sensitive information.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Les.  " title=" Q    Are you concerned that they would have leaked the information if they were brought in --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306391" rowid="136532622" side="usa" srcid="306391" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to speculate.  I don't know.  " title=" Q    Are you confident that the White House and Congress could reach a deal on this without this me" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303283" rowid="136532082" side="usa" srcid="303283" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  Oh, I am.  We're well aware -- we have 10 regions around the country; we have not tapped all of them, and we'll move our resources wherever we have a disaster.	We have Ike out there, and what's the other one?  " title=" Q    Are you confident that you can handle the cleanup of Gustav and still do the correct preparati" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-23#entryid_318391" rowid="136534117" side="usa" srcid="318391" text=" SECRETARY RICE:  Well, North Korea is not the most predictable country in the world, so I'm not going to try to predict.  But we have very solid agreement among the six parties -- among the five parties as to what needs to be done, and I think the North Koreans also know that in order to move forward.  &lt;p /&gt; But let me just note that we also, of course, have had substantial disablement going on of the North Korean reactor.  And some elements of verification have already begun, like the exchange of documents.  " title=" Q    Are you confident that you'll be able to lock that down and leave not only the six-party frame" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-20#entryid_271382" rowid="136530546" side="usa" srcid="271382" text=" MR. FRATTO:  There is no -- we've said this many, many times -- if you're looking for any measure that would significantly reduce gasoline prices over a period of weeks or months, those tools just don't exist.  That can only take place over the long term -- except for the choices of individual Americans to just reduce the amount of gasoline they use.  " title=" Q    Are you considering additional measures --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-01#entryid_319642" rowid="136534245" side="usa" srcid="319642" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to comment on any possible involvement.  I think that Secretary Rice will be able to talk more about this as she goes on her trip, and we'll let the intelligence community continue to work on it.  I've heard nothing that says that they -- that the Pakistani government was involved.  And President Bush had Secretary Rice and Steve Hadley talk to their counterparts in Pakistan, who -- and President Zardari and -- I'm sorry, Prime Minister Zardari and -- I'm sorry, President Zardari and Steve Hadley's counterpart both said that they would continue to work with the Indian government to try to find out where this started.  " title=" Q    Are you convinced that there is no Pakistani government involvement in this attack?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-17#entryid_279591" rowid="136531114" side="usa" srcid="279591" text=" Q    Are you expecting -- Secretary Paulson on Sunday had the plan for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; Democrats are talking about trying to put legislation -- you know, the $4 billion to -- adding on to Secretary Paulson's plan.  Do you expect legislation to get through before the August research on -- recess?	Or do you think there's going to be a --  &lt;p&gt; MR. STANZEL:  I think we're certainly hopeful that Congress will put forward a housing bill that will help the situation, provide for a strong GSE regulator, address some of those things that Secretary Paulson has spoken about.  And we're hopeful that they'll get it done in the next couple weeks.  We think there's broad agreement, obviously, that we need a housing bill to address the problems that we're seeing.  &lt;p /&gt; The President, way back in '03, put forward a plan for the GSE regulator; last year, August 31st, really pushed Congress to move forward on housing legislation.  They have not yet, but we think we are seeing positive signs out of Congress that they may be able to move forward in the next couple weeks.  " title=" Q    Are you expecting -- Secretary Paulson on Sunday had the plan for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-13#entryid_270278" rowid="136530396" side="usa" srcid="270278" text=" MRS. BUSH:  Well, I hope -- obviously I'll have an interest in Afghanistan for the rest of my life and in the women and the children of Afghanistan and their success.  And I know how fragile that success will be or can be until -- it's going to take a long time for Afghanistan to build the kind of secure and safe country that will respect the rights of women and girls and boys.  &lt;p /&gt; Women are still targeted.  There are still acts of violence against women.  Some of the women police officers that I just met, one of them has never told her family that she's training to be a police officer because she's afraid to.  And that's not going to -- that's cultural, it's partly religious, it's going to last a long time there.  Do I think they're -- will move past it and be able to accommodate women in civic life?  I do think they will -- and partly because women are strong there and women are speaking out about it.	But they are afraid -- they know they can be a target.  " title=" Q    Are you going to continue your interest, or what are you going to do after you leave?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308063" rowid="136532914" side="usa" srcid="308063" text=" MR. STANZEL:  I don't expect so, no.  Oh, we are?  Clarification from our able aide -- (laughter) -- Stuart Siciliano says, yes, we are.   MR. SICILIANO:	Expect them shortly.   MR. STANZEL:  Any other questions?  " title=" Q    Are you going to give the remarks out in advance?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317069" rowid="136533935" side="usa" srcid="317069" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think we'll wait and see on that.  We've been talking with Leader McConnell's office and they have some ideas of their own.  And so we're trying to work with them on it.  " title=" Q    Are you guys putting your own legislative proposal forward?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-19#entryid_305510" rowid="136532512" side="usa" srcid="305510" text=" MR. HENNESSEY:	On a broad basis, it's the Treasury.  As to whether the Treasury would in fact delegate some of that authority to someone else, that's still an item under discussion.	I think -- I'd also like to take the opportunity just to correct something.  The RTC term has been used quite frequently in the discussion around this question.  Remember, the RTC was an organization that was buying assets or taking assets and disposing of them from institutions after they had failed.  What we're talking about here is institutions which are still operating and going in and providing liquidity to their bad assets on their balance sheets.  &lt;p /&gt; So it's a different model, which is, you're trying to ensure that the firms that make up our financial sector right now can continue to move forward.  " title=" Q    Are you looking at empowering the Treasury to do this buyout by itself, or -- there's been tal" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-23#entryid_318386" rowid="136534112" side="usa" srcid="318386" text=" SECRETARY RICE:  I look forward to transition meetings with whomever President-elect Obama names.  There are some very capable people that are being talked about.  But I think we ought to allow the Obama transition, President-elect the courtesy of naming his people.  " title=" Q    Are you looking forward to transition meetings with Senator Clinton?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-21#entryid_301423" rowid="136531838" side="usa" srcid="301423" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I'm not going to put a time frame on when we're going to get an agreement.  It's more important to get it right than to get it done quickly.  I think the -- you heard Foreign Minister Zebari say he wants to get it done soon.  We'd all like to get it soon -- done sooner rather than later, but more important to get it done right.  " title=" Q    Are you optimistic about getting an agreement soon?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298784" rowid="136531479" side="usa" srcid="298784" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not on Saturday or Sunday.  " title=" Q    Are you planning to do anything tomorrow --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300740" rowid="136531685" side="usa" srcid="300740" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that we -- let's just take it one step at a time.	And we'll see.  I haven't heard of a military coup in the cards.  I think if they are moving forward on impeachment proceedings, it seems to be within their constitution and that they're following their own laws.  &lt;p /&gt; April.	Let me do one more from April.  " title=" Q    Are you prepared to accept whatever decisions Pakistanis make if that involves a military coup" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-10#entryid_269740" rowid="136530336" side="usa" srcid="269740" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Well, as you know, it was covered in the press at the time; Hank Paulson began this process of consultation some time -- almost a year ago.  Also the Financial Action Task Force has taken this issue on and has been a repository for information.  So the information of what Iran is doing is pretty well known.  " title=" Q    Are you providing any specific evidence to those banks to show that kind of detail that you're" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324599" rowid="136534853" side="usa" srcid="324599" text=" MS. PERINO:  One of the things that the State Department talked about today is, in our attempt to establish a cease-fire that would be durable, would be a way to facilitate getting more aid into the area sooner.  Obviously, it's a very troubling situation.  " title=" Q    Are you satisfied with that aid, that it's getting there fast enough, that doctors and medical" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272797" rowid="136530767" side="usa" srcid="272797" text=" MR. FRATTO:  We'd like to see it done as soon as possible.  The Senate put off a lot of work.  They've been in session for a long time and some very critical pieces of legislation got put off for yet another recess, and now this last session is getting pretty close to the August recess.  So the Senate is running out of time to get work done.  &lt;p /&gt; And as we know, they put off the Medicare physician payment fix; they put off FISA, which we've been working on for a year now, to try to get long-term legislation; housing has been put off; and we still haven't seen action on other pieces of legislation we think important, like Colombia FTA and some other issues.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think they understand that time is running out and they're running short of legislative days and they need to get back to work quickly and try to get these bills to the President.  " title=" Q    Are you saying that it needs to be done next week, by the end of next week?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-04#entryid_268988" rowid="136530247" side="usa" srcid="268988" text=" MR. HADLEY:  No, I'm not.  I'm saying that it is obviously difficult.  There are areas of agreement.  I think in these kinds of negotiations people go from periods of enthusiasm sometimes to being a little less optimistic about what can be accomplished.	I think the position that Abu Ala and Abu Mazen have taken, on the one hand, and the position that the Israelis have taken is, they would like to try and get it done this year.  I've not heard any formal statements from them suggesting any different.  I think, we -- these things go up and down. People get more confident at progress, more enthusiastic at progress. There obviously are times when people get, and parties get discouraged. And I think you're going to see that in the public statements of the parties.  &lt;p /&gt; But I think the interesting thing is Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas met on Monday, the parties continue to negotiate.  When the President was in the Middle East he heard both from Prime Minister Livni and from Abu Ala about those negotiations.  He met with the Palestinian team, and the sense we got is, it's difficult, these are hard issues, the parties still seemed committed to trying to reach an agreement this year.  And we will obviously give them full support in doing so.  " title=" Q    Are you saying that Qureia's assertion that it would take a miracle to reach an agreement this" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-23#entryid_305981" rowid="136532583" side="usa" srcid="305981" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'm not going to use your language on that.  I think it would be a very, very serious situation for our economy were we not to get this legislation passed.  " title=" Q    Are you saying the choice is getting it done or essentially economic meltdown?  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278881" rowid="136531049" side="usa" srcid="278881" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think -- you can -- I won't speak for them, but I think you have seen increasingly there have been some Democratic members of Congress who are starting to change their position on this, and what -- in ways that they can look at the technology that has improved, the demand from Americans because they are paying record-high gas prices.  And I will repeat again, there's no magic wand that's going to decrease prices overnight.  But what we're trying to do is send a signal to the market that more supply would be coming on line.  And we will work with Congress to try to do that.  &lt;p /&gt; Bill.  " title=" Q    Are you seeing increased support from Democrats?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273419" rowid="136530872" side="usa" srcid="273419" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  I don't want to -- I'm just giving you a sense of the conversation.  So I don't want to give you an indication one way or the other, other than you know where the G8 stands, and the G8 have made a strong statement already, and I think the G8 will continue to have a shared view on that as we go forward.  " title=" Q    Are you suggesting that 50-by-'50 will not be included in the statement?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304230" rowid="136532275" side="usa" srcid="304230" text=" MS. PERINO:  You'd have to ask DOD.  I don't think so.  " title=" Q    Are you suggesting we're not going to have to replace the troops that other countries withdraw" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268287" rowid="136530157" side="usa" srcid="268287" text=" MS. PERINO:  I really don't care who he votes for.  &lt;p /&gt; Connie.  " title=" Q    Are you surprised he might vote for Obama?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-01#entryid_307384" rowid="136532809" side="usa" srcid="307384" text=" MR. FRATTO:  What all you guys will be doing?  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Are you thinking about any kind of broader post mortem on what's happened over the last few we" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-23#entryid_280356" rowid="136531248" side="usa" srcid="280356" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'd have to go back and look in terms of the new GSEs -- I'm sorry -- in terms of the new authorities, we don't have a score on it.	CBO issued a score.  But our belief and our intent is that the GSEs will never have to use this money, they will never have to access it.  They haven't yet and we don't believe that they will have to.  But we think it's important that the Treasury Secretary have the authority to be able to step in and help to stabilize the market in case he needs it.  &lt;p /&gt; Elaine.  " title=" Q    Are you understanding the total -- or OMB's understanding of the total cost of the housing bil" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302504" rowid="136531962" side="usa" srcid="302504" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think it's premature -- too premature to say.  " title=" Q    Are you watching it with an eye towards that?  Do you have concerns about --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-24#entryid_312354" rowid="136533365" side="usa" srcid="312354" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that what's going to happen on that day -- well, there will be the dinner the night before, which will be a working dinner, and then the next day's meeting.  But the President and his counterparts will look to do a few things.  One, define the problem, the underlying problem, the causes of the financial crisis, review progress to date.  We've taken a lot of steps here in our country.  We've coordinated steps with others.  And then individual countries have taken action themselves.  So we'll get a report on that progress.  And then they will talk about these principles for reform, identify those, and then have working groups that are tasked with going back and working with their financial experts in their countries as to how they would be implemented in their own countries.  " title=" Q    Are your goals still as you stated the other day, kind of a broad set of principles to guide a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311213" rowid="136533247" side="usa" srcid="311213" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that you -- perhaps it's a chicken and the egg situation.  But what we know is that when you have a problem in the financial markets, and we have an economic slowdown, it increases people's anxiety.  And so you have a self-fulfilling prophecy there.  What we try to do is to stop that, return confidence to the system, try to strengthen the markets.  &lt;p /&gt; And it's going to take awhile for us to get these plans implemented, but they're underway.  And there is some evidence, like the LIBOR rate -- but I'll refer you to the Treasury Department to give you details about that, Ann; I'm learning all about it myself.	But when those rates start to come down, and you see more people being able to -- being willing to lend to one another, especially inter-bank lending, which was one of the big problems, then you start to help solve the problem.  But that doesn't mean that the economy isn't going to continue to be in a downturn for a while.  Hopefully what we've done, however, with the first stimulus package passed in February, and then this package that we have right now, is to soften the downturn and hopefully turn us -- and get us out of it quicker.  " title=" Q    Aren't those two different problems?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304206" rowid="136532251" side="usa" srcid="304206" text=" MS. PERINO:  I wouldn't -- I don't know what sort of -- I think what you're trying to get at is whether or not we think that if they had failed and the economy had gone into turmoil, would that have been a problem for national security?  " title=" Q    As a follow-up, does the President believe the bailout was a matter of national security?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-30#entryid_307143" rowid="136532776" side="usa" srcid="307143" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I don't think it's a conservative thing or a liberal thing.  We're talking about the U.S. economy.  I know there are people out there who talked about this as a -- its impact on people who think about the free markets.  We're not talking -- this isn't a debate -- this isn't about free markets or socialism.  This is a debate about frozen markets.  And you can't have a free market when you have a frozen market.  And what we're trying to do is unfreeze this really important part of our market that has an impact on every financial transaction in this country in one way or another.  &lt;p /&gt; So that's what we're focused on.  It's not an ideological debate.  We need to be able to better demonstrate that there are impacts for American families, for retirees, for small businesses, for larger businesses who are hiring, for our banking system, for the ability to get home loans, for businesses to be able to make their payrolls, their small business accounts.  These are all the things that are affected because of this one frozen asset class.  And that's the problem that we're focused on and trying to fix.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Jeanie.  " title=" Q    As a follow-up, in that additional work, looking forward then, will you be reaching out more t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268773" rowid="136530211" side="usa" srcid="268773" text=" Q    As far as Iran is concerned, they are saying together they will go ahead with their nuclear program, and nobody can stop it.  And also, Senator McCain and Senator Obama both are calling on tough sanctions.  But sanctions so far have not worked.  What is the next step, because this is also, I think, rising in the food and oil prices, because of these things going on.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, as I said, we are -- our first and foremost priority is to try to solve this diplomatically, which is why we're working with those other states to consider further U.N. Security Council resolutions.  In addition to that, unilaterally one of the things we have been able to do is use the tools of the Treasury Department to put pressure on them financially, which is what Secretary Rice has asked Secretary Paulson to do.  " title=" Q    As far as Iran is concerned, they are saying together they will go ahead with their nuclear pr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313558" rowid="136533505" side="usa" srcid="313558" text=" Q    As far as the critics to the issue of dividends, the argument goes that if the banks have the money to pay out dividends, why do they need the government's money.  Can you articulate clearly why not suspend the distribution of dividends?  Why is it a bad idea?  &lt;p&gt; CHAIRMAN LAZEAR:  Well, again, the law was quite specific on what rules banks had to follow when they get the TARP.  And I don't think it's the proper role of the administration to change the will of Congress.  So what we're trying to do is implement the law as Congress passed the law, and I think Treasury is doing a good job of that.  They are well aware of the kinds of issues that you're concerned about, and I think they are not going to allow firms to take advantage of the program and use it for purposes that are not designed to get credit markets going.  &lt;p /&gt; That is, without doubt, the focus of Treasury, and I think they're going to be effective in doing that.  So we're going to follow the law and make sure that there are not abuses.  But we want to make sure that we get the economy going; that is, without doubt, the number-one aspect of what we're trying to do right now.  &lt;p /&gt; So, thank you.	Thank you.   MS. PERINO:  All right.  I don't know if you have anything more on the economy.  No?  Goyal.  Okay.  And then we'll move on to other subjects.  Go ahead.	Goyal, quickly.  " title=" Q    As far as the critics to the issue of dividends, the argument goes that if the banks have the " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-23#entryid_323885" rowid="136534650" side="usa" srcid="323885" text=" Q    As far as the Mumbai attacks -- still on the streets of India -- Mumbai attack people are on the streets of India -- and now there's a high tension between India and Pakistan on the border.  Do you think the President has spoken with anybody?  Because war could break any time.  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  I don't know if President Bush has.  I know Admiral Mullen is in the region, and he's speaking to people in the region.  But I don't have anything new for you in terms of the President's conversations.  &lt;p /&gt; One last one in the back of the room.  " title=" Q    As far as the Mumbai attacks -- still on the streets of India -- Mumbai attack people are on t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-10#entryid_274084" rowid="136530994" side="usa" srcid="274084" text=" Q    As far as the nuclear deal is concerned, it may not be in trouble because it will go through in India because -- but the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is in trouble -- the government may fall any time.  What I'm asking you is that, if it was discussed with the President that if President is going to help India as far as (inaudible) Nuclear Suppliers Group is concerned to get this deal through.  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  I wasn't there when -- you know, at their bilateral meeting.  I would be -- I understand that they did talk about the nuclear deal.  On that specific, that's not something I could confirm, but we do appreciate Prime Minister Singh's willingness to move forward with this deal.  It's a historic agreement, this strategic partnership, and we think the initiative will help strengthen global nonproliferation efforts.  So it's a positive thing and we appreciate the commitment by the Prime Minister.  &lt;p /&gt; Mike.  " title=" Q    As far as the nuclear deal is concerned, it may not be in trouble because it will go through i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306384" rowid="136532615" side="usa" srcid="306384" text=" Q    As far as the Prime Minister of India's visit to the White House this afternoon, his statement is concerned, you said that he came after the approval of the nuclear -- civil nuclear agreement.  They'll be talking about the earlier agreement, or now the new one, the 123 agreement?  Are they going to --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  We're talking about the 123 agreement.  " title=" Q    As far as the Prime Minister of India's visit to the White House this afternoon, his statement" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278856" rowid="136531024" side="usa" srcid="278856" text=" Q    As far as their missile tests and nuclear tests and nuclear knowledge is concerned, it's going still forward.  One, who's helping them?  Two, as far as that knowledge is concerned, do you think that they are going on the same road as North Korea?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think that we're on the same road when it comes to North Korea in terms of working a multilateral process to solve this problem diplomatically.  And what we call on Iran to do is to halt its uranium enrichment.  And I think one of the things they've been asked to do is to not be so isolated from the international community.  And slowly, very slowly, and with verification, North Korea is on the path to being able to have better relations with the international community.  So that's the path we're on and we're going to keep at it.  &lt;p /&gt; April.  " title=" Q    As far as their missile tests and nuclear tests and nuclear knowledge is concerned, it's going" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311475" rowid="136533282" side="usa" srcid="311475" text=" MS. PERINO:  India is a part of the G20, so they'll be there.  And I'll have a -- there will be a statement coming out from me, a written one that gives you all the list of participants.  It includes the U.N. Secretary General and others.  So you'll have that in just a few minutes.  " title=" Q    As far as this summit is concerned, is India included?  And second, yesterday there was anothe" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-01#entryid_307390" rowid="136532815" side="usa" srcid="307390" text=" Q    As far as this trust and faith in investing in America from foreign countries or foreign investors, that faith and trust is still there?  And also what do you think President has a message for the small investors?  And there must be some guilty people who abused the system and if they are going to be held accountable?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  Yes, I think a lot of people have been held accountable and I think you'll see more of that.	I think you'll see a lot of people looking into this crisis.  And I think if -- if everyone takes a step back and looks at the attributes of the U.S. economy, and the attributes of our financial industry here and in Chicago and in other parts of this country, I think we will be able to recover.  And I think they will -- they will return with the great talent that still exists here, and still a great deal of expertise.  And we'll be able to rebuild from what we had.  &lt;p /&gt; Paula.  " title=" Q    As far as this trust and faith in investing in America from foreign countries or foreign inves" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-10#entryid_274067" rowid="136530977" side="usa" srcid="274067" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Oh, yes, absolutely.  " title=" Q    As I understand it, Tony, if someone would file late but still file, they would still get thei" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315254" rowid="136533624" side="usa" srcid="315254" text=" MS. PERINO:  Jacket.  Yes.  This is a very special position.  Being the press secretary provides you an enormous amount of opportunities and responsibilities and challenges.  And I am sure that whoever Senator Obama chooses to be his next press secretary will rise to the challenge, and that you will have a really good relationship with whoever it is moving forward.  And we're going to make sure that they have what they need --  " title=" Q    As opposed to the note that you leave in the desk?  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_272018" rowid="136530641" side="usa" srcid="272018" text=" MR. HEIN:  That's what I'm asking.  " title=" Q    As opposed to what?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278840" rowid="136531008" side="usa" srcid="278840" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think that's how Israel describes the conversations that they're having.  I really don't.  And I respect your point of view, but --  " title=" Q    As part of a worldwide fight against terrorism though, as far as setting precedents of negotia" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-09#entryid_325878" rowid="136534928" side="usa" srcid="325878" text=" MR. STANZEL:  I don't have anything to announce for you, but obviously we've indicated our deep concern about the humanitarian situation, and that's something that the State Department and the leaders there have talked about at length, as well.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p /&gt; Steve.  &lt;/p&gt;" title=" Q    As the humanitarian crisis grows there, will the United States send more aid?  I know the --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322368" rowid="136534546" side="usa" srcid="322368" text=" Q    As the White House negotiated the legislation on the Hill, you had something that the administration supported, you had Democrats on board, sort of basically a framework for a deal with the automakers for aid.  I guess my question is, why is it taking a while to -- not to -- are you reformulating that?  Are you adding -- I mean, is it direct negotiations with the automakers?  I mean, what seems to be, when you have a framework, a holdup of sorts?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  The framework that we were working for was because we did not believe that we had -- we didn't have the authority to use the 136 money without a change from Congress.  That's what we were trying to get put forward.  And it garnered the support of majorities of both the House and the Senate.  It just didn't get the 60 votes that it needed in the Senate in order to move forward.  &lt;p /&gt; So that doesn't mean that you can just take that and cut and paste it into another deal, that then you can just write a check and give it to the automakers and walk away.  The President had very clear principles about taxpayer money going to help any of these companies, and that was that they would have to be -- make concessions in order to be viable, competitive firms in the future.  &lt;p /&gt; Those weren't agreed to on Capitol Hill, and so we're -- I think that we are moving with all deliberate speed in order to try to do this in an orderly fashion.  But we're not going to be rushed into it just because there is pressure from the media, or others coming through you, on us to do something rash.  We're trying to do something that's responsible.  &lt;p /&gt; And so it's just taking us a little while, but as soon as we have something, I promise you that we will get it to you immediately.  And I would just be just cautious and aware that the rumor mill is churning very fast.  And check with us and we'll be happy to steer you one way or the other if we possibly can on whether a rumor is true or not.  " title=" Q    As the White House negotiated the legislation on the Hill, you had something that the administ" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308325" rowid="136532970" side="usa" srcid="308325" text=" MS. PERINO:  I've not heard that come up, because -- and I don't know all the details; I'd refer you to Treasury about the G7 and the makeup.  But usually when they're talking the finance ministers meeting, those have been held at the G7 level, though I think there is some observance or participation at the Russian level, and that will be true this weekend, as well.  " title=" Q    As we've dealt with this crisis over the past month and a half or so, the talks -- the interna" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-19#entryid_305519" rowid="136532521" side="usa" srcid="305519" text=" Q    As you formulate these plans, does the White House have some specifics that they want to see included such as maybe a cap on how much of these mortgage-backed securities the government is willing to take on?  Is that something that you would legislate and how much you're willing to pay for them, i.e., how much pain will these financial institutions suffer or endure as a result of bad lending decisions or just freezing up?  &lt;p&gt; MR. HENNESSEY:	One of the things that we've seen is that you need to have flexibility both in your economy and in the tools that you have to address the problems as they're cropping up.  And so I expect that the Treasury team and the Fed team will be emphasizing that they need a wide range of tools so that they can deal with these issues and so that as they are looking at illiquid assets they have the flexibility they need.  Treasury right now has certain authorities to purchase mortgage-backed securities.  Secretary Paulson believes that if he's got authority to do a broader range of assets, he can better help solve that underlying problem.  &lt;p /&gt; As for specific details like the one you asked, I expect those will be the subject of the discussions over the weekend.  " title=" Q    As you formulate these plans, does the White House have some specifics that they want to see i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320393" rowid="136534346" side="usa" srcid="320393" text=" MR. STANZEL:  In the case that he does?  " title=" Q    As you know that the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is a serious health problem.  In case Kim" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266841" rowid="136529900" side="usa" srcid="266841" text=" Q    As you know, the California Supreme Court, by a one vote majority, has legalized same-sex marriage.  And my question:  Does the White House believe that there is any more legal and moral right for same-sex marriage than for marriages that are polygamous?  And if so, why?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm just going to decline to comment.  That's a -- the subject that you're talking about, in terms of the court case, is still in litigation, and the President believes in the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman.  " title=" Q    As you know, the California Supreme Court, by a one vote majority, has legalized same-sex marr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317909" rowid="136534059" side="usa" srcid="317909" text=" Q    As you look at the increase in jobless claims and the prospect that General Motors is in trouble and could go bankrupt, is the economy prepared to deal with the possibility of three million more people being added to the unemployment ranks?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I wouldn't speculate on what the future employment numbers will be.  What I can tell you is that the program that we're -- the plan we would support right now would be seven weeks in additional unemployment insurance.  That's on top of the 13 that you already get, plus an additional 13 weeks for states that have high unemployment.  &lt;p /&gt; Our position on the auto companies has been very clear.  We want to find a solution, and we put forward one.  We think it's a very sensible solution that could get bipartisan support if the Senator would just -- Senator Reid would allow it to come up for a vote.  Senators Bond and Voinovich have been working very hard on legislation that would use monies that were already authorized and appropriated for the auto industry, and they simply would be able to take that money that we can't use now without a change in the law to help them through this rough patch.  &lt;p /&gt; We would hope that they would allow that to come up for a vote, but unfortunately, it looks like Senator Reid just wants to pick up his ball and go home for the next two weeks -- two months for vacation.	And if that is the case, then one can only deduct that the Democrats don't believe that the auto industry really needs help, and really needs help now.  We disagree.  We think they need help.  We have heard their calls for help, and we have designed a plan in order to get it to them.  " title=" Q    As you look at the increase in jobless claims and the prospect that General Motors is in troub" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307691" rowid="136532862" side="usa" srcid="307691" text=" MR. FRATTO:  But that was a pretty --  " title=" Q    As you were watching --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318537" rowid="136534150" side="usa" srcid="318537" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Look, we're seeing an improvement in the -- on the balance sheets of a lot of these very important banks.	We've seen some banks that are weak have found opportunities to merge with banks that are stronger.  They're improving their balance sheets.  They're improving their capital positions.  And as I said earlier, that when they see opportunities and they have the balance sheet that will allow them to take risk and they see opportunity in the economy, they're going to get out there and start lending again.	Like I said, that's the only business they're in, is to lend money to consumers and businesses.  And so we expect them to return to that.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Roger.  " title=" Q    Aside from Libor rates, at the risk of getting down there, what other improvement have we seen" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316075" rowid="136533743" side="usa" srcid="316075" text=" MS. PERINO:  Vulnerabilities?  Well, it runs the gamut, and I'd really refer you to the Department of Homeland Security because Secretary Chertoff, for the past year, has been working to set this up to make sure that, for example, that the senior career official that is in a certain department or office of the Secretary would by ready to step in and fill that position for a while, if needed -- if it takes a while to get somebody named to a particular post, or if it takes a while to get somebody through confirmation.  So that's one area.  &lt;p /&gt; We're also going to plan to do possibly some exercises to make sure the continuity of operations is understood by the next team coming forward, because that's obviously something we take very seriously.  There's also response to natural disasters that we can go over with them.  There's a whole range of issues at the Energy Department as well, not to mention bio-terror issues that the Health and Human Services Department would look at.  So it runs the gamut of all different issues that we need to continue to prepare them on.  &lt;p /&gt; The President-elect's team has been very organized and very helpful, and they've identified a lot of people so that they'll be able to get a lot of overlap between now and January 20th when we leave.  " title=" Q    Aside from the meeting that the President is having and the intelligence briefings, in what ot" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316869" rowid="136533859" side="usa" srcid="316869" text=" MS. PERINO:  We'll see what they put forward.  Obviously the job market is very tough for a lot of Americans out there and we're well aware of the problems some people are having in finding a job.  And we know that it's going to take us a while to pull out of this downturn that we're in, in our economy.  So let's see what they put forward and then we'll let you know.  " title=" Q    At a minimum, they've been talking about another extension of unemployment insurance benefits." />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320571" rowid="136534388" side="usa" srcid="320571" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that he was very happy to be up there, but he only has 42 more days and that's the way our Constitution has it.  So that's all.  &lt;p /&gt; Helen.  " title=" Q    At the Army-Navy game, I heard nothing but loud applause for the President, and the midshipmen" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303427" rowid="136532102" side="usa" srcid="303427" text=" Q    At the end of the Clinton administration, the White House was criticized for putting out a lot of so-called midnight regulation, and this May, Josh Bolten put out a memo instructing federal agencies not to do that.  Yet have they -- has the White House reversed its policy?  Because several federal agencies have proposed rules since the cut-off date.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'll go back and look at the memo, but I think that all the agencies are complying with what Josh asked for.  And I think what he was wanting is, one, good government so that you weren't rushing things through at the last minute.  And to my knowledge, the agencies that have put forward proposed regulations have done so in a timely fashion and in a way that they can get sufficient public comment so that they meet the obligations and laws of this country.  " title=" Q    At the end of the Clinton administration, the White House was criticized for putting out a lot" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273174" rowid="136530799" side="usa" srcid="273174" text=" MS. PERINO:  At the G8 -- in Afghanistan?  Certainly many of the members of the G8 are part of NATO, and NATO is heading up the operation in Afghanistan.  So I think it will probably come up, and probably in the bilaterals as well; the President has a series of them.  And we'll continue to work with all of our partners to make sure that we can beat back the Taliban.  We have taken some serious casualties, and a higher number of casualties than anybody would want.  But we've also been going after the Taliban, and they've suffered a lot of casualties as well.  " title=" Q    At the G8.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311486" rowid="136533293" side="usa" srcid="311486" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think all of the leaders have agreed that we wanted to have this summit.  They wanted the President to be able to host it, and he's excited to be able to do so.  We will seek the input of the President-elect.  But we didn't want the financial crisis to happen at all and -- but now that it's happened, we can't control the timing of it.  &lt;p /&gt; And we think it's important not to wait to have this meeting.  The time will be just about right to have it then because a lot of the emergency measures that these countries have put forward are hopefully starting to have an impact on unthawing the credit markets.  &lt;p /&gt; The markets are digesting a lot of information.  We have earnings reports and you have news about oil prices -- they're actually going down, thankfully -- but you have lower demand, you have retail sales, you have unemployment, you have information today that says that banks are more willing to help homeowners try to work out their loans if they need it.  So we're starting to see some movement.  &lt;p /&gt; And so by November 15th, when the leaders get together, it will be time to start identifying what the underlying causes were, what progress has been made to date, and then what are the principles for reform going forward, and then task out to working groups to make sure that we get it right.  " title=" Q    At the present, this will be 11 days after the election and barely two months before the Presi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-21#entryid_301407" rowid="136531822" side="usa" srcid="301407" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Well, let me step back to the broader relationship.  There is, I think, much to be gained for the entire world of U.S., and the U.S. and NATO, working together with Russia.  There is much to be gained for the security of the world in dealing together with rogue states like Iran.  There's much to be gained if the world works together on economic issues, food security issues, energy security issues.  But -- and so working with NATO is just a component of all of that cooperation.  &lt;p /&gt; But right now the Russians are signaling by their actions that they're not interested in cooperation.  They further isolate themselves.  We are hopeful that this is a course that they have not chosen to go down permanently.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    At the risk of asking an obvious question, what benefits -- what are the benefits of Russian-N" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315653" rowid="136533714" side="usa" srcid="315653" text=" MR. FRATTO:  No, we have -- the White House hasn't been in contact with -- in direct contact with automakers.  I know that -- I think we've said this a number of times in the past -- automakers have been in contact with certainly Department of Energy over the loan program.  I know they approached the Treasury Department and others in the administration who have relationships with the automakers, have heard from them also.  But we have not been.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Matt.  " title=" Q    Automakers were on the Hill yesterday, obviously.	Has the White House had any contact with Det" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307872" rowid="136532892" side="usa" srcid="307872" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, we've actually -- the stimulus plan we put in place earlier in the year carried through the second quarter, is still having benefits in this quarter.  The business tax deduction part of it is still having an impact.  You've also seen the housing legislation that is also -- would also support growth and support the greatest single weakness in our economy, which is in the housing sector.  And I'd also point to what the Federal Reserve [has] done, which is a very substantial easing of monetary policy, which, you know, from well over 5 percent down to 2 percent on rates for lending.  That is a great deal of monetary stimulus and I wouldn't ignore that.  " title=" Q    Back on jobless numbers, what is this administration doing in the last few months to stimulate" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271974" rowid="136530647" side="usa" srcid="271974" text=" MS. PERINO:  You're talking about the State Department -- I'm sorry, state sponsor of terrorism list?  " title=" Q    Back on North Korea, is the White House confident that 45 days will be enough time for a rigor" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271967" rowid="136530634" side="usa" srcid="271967" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that -- remember that there are phases.  There's a phase one, two and three.  This is just the, hopefully, becoming -- we're coming to the second phase here.  And hopefully we will be able to move forward on something that we've been waiting for quite a while.  So there's experts on the ground, weapons experts on the ground, nuclear experts on the ground, and everybody who has been there is a high-caliber, high-quality person who knows a lot about what they're doing.  It's not like you and I going over to look at it.  They actually know a little bit more about the substance of it.  So I think that we have to have faith in not just our experts, but remember other experts from the countries of China, Japan, Russia and South Korea have been there, as well.	So I think there's a lot of knowledge, and let's just wait and see what the North Koreans do, if they do it, and then we'll take it from there and hopefully provide you more information.  " title=" Q    Back on North Korea.  With the lack of the weapon-related information, how can you verify -- h" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-24#entryid_280513" rowid="136531272" side="usa" srcid="280513" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    Back on oil supply for a second.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317898" rowid="136534048" side="usa" srcid="317898" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's hard to say.	I actually think that a lot of their disagreement has to do with environmental issues, that the monies that we're suggesting be allowed to be freed up so that the auto companies could use it is specifically meant for retooling factories so that they can be -- produce more fuel-efficient vehicles.  &lt;p /&gt; What I have understood, some of the concern up on the Hill is that if you divert any of those funds to deal with the immediate crisis at hand, that they won't become more fuel-efficient in the future.  I don't think that that's true.  We're not going to relax the standards.  In fact, the President called for the standards, and it took a while for Congress to actually pass them, and we're in the process of implementing them.  These companies need to make the hard choices necessary to become more viable in the future.  Part of that has to do with the management of the companies, but another part is, how do they become the company that will produce vehicles that people want to buy in the energy environment that we're in.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think that has to do with it.  And on viability, it would be hard for me to believe that people would not support -- they would support taxpayer dollars going to a company that could not prove viability.  But in the legislation that Senator Reid put forward they do not call for a company to have to be viable, which doesn't make sense to any of us.  &lt;p /&gt; So we're going to continue to push for the support that we think that we can get the auto companies, to get it to them quickly, not play a game of chicken with the Congress.  We proposed something that is bipartisan.  We think it could get the votes if they just would let us have a vote on it.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm sorry, if I could just mention one thing, John, on the unemployment numbers.  We did sign an extension, also, in August of 2008.  So as conditions have changed, the President has been willing to address that.  And in addition, I believe that UI extensions in the past, when I've been asked about it multiple times every week, they weren't always in a clean bill.  This is a clean bill.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark, did you have one?  No.  In the back, go ahead.  " title=" Q    Back on the automakers.  Do you think that your insistence on the viability of the companies t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317056" rowid="136533923" side="usa" srcid="317056" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, as I said, in the 136 program it's defined in that program.  But if Congress were to move forward and try to change that, we would have to take a look at what they would propose.  We just don't -- we haven't seen anything, so it's hard for me to react to what they might propose.  " title=" Q    Back on the autos for a second.  Is there any room for negotiation over what constitutes viabi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-09#entryid_325894" rowid="136534944" side="usa" srcid="325894" text=" MR. STANZEL:  I'm not going to detail out the scenario.  &lt;/p&gt;" title=" Q    Back on the disaster exercise -- just to be clear, only one scenario?  &lt;/p&gt;" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304075" rowid="136532230" side="usa" srcid="304075" text=" MS. PERINO:  We're not even talking about a second stimulus.  I think you're -- there is talk about a second stimulus, I know that, but --  " title=" Q    Back on the stimulus package, is it your position that nothing that increases the deficit woul" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315619" rowid="136533680" side="usa" srcid="315619" text=" Q    Back on the summit.  Will other countries want to have as full involvement from the new -- the coming administration as possible?  Because otherwise there's going to be this whole game of, does President-Elect Obama agree with what President Bush -- what direction you want to go in.  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  Actually, I think what we've -- the messages that we've got, and from the President's discussions with other world leaders, is that we can't afford to wait.  I think they appreciate the fact that we are working closely and communicating well with the President-Elect, and that's good.  And I think we'll be able to have that reflected in the way we deal with this issue.  But what the other world leaders have said is -- has been quite the opposite; is that we can't afford to wait, we need to deal with these issues now, we need to start a process going forward so that we're not behind next year.  And we agree with that and we've agreed with that point of view from the very beginning.  " title=" Q    Back on the summit.  Will other countries want to have as full involvement from the new -- the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317885" rowid="136534035" side="usa" srcid="317885" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, one way that you might be able to do it is -- that they're working on on Capitol Hill -- is can you -- when the money -- since it would be a loan, when it is paid back, instead of going to the general fund in the Treasury, could it go back into the program to help with the retooling.  That would be one way that it could be fashioned that we could possibly support.  " title=" Q    Back on your previous answer to my previous question -- (laughter) -- would the White House be" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317878" rowid="136534028" side="usa" srcid="317878" text=" MS. PERINO:  They will be -- well, it depends on, as soon as they -- as soon as those outlets can get -- can use them first, and then we'll put them out.  So that's usually the way it works.  " title=" Q    Back to APEC, did you say the transcripts from the interviews today were going to be available" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322348" rowid="136534526" side="usa" srcid="322348" text=" Q    Back to autos.  In the consideration of federal funds for the auto industry, is there any difference in treatment of publicly traded companies such as General Motors, versus privately held Chrysler, in the use of federal funds?	Does that cause a problem in how you might divvy up the funds?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  When we have something to announce, we'll do so, and then maybe we can answer a question like that.  I don't know.  I'm not intimately involved in negotiations.  I've actually been on a plane for, like, 48 hours.  " title=" Q    Back to autos.  In the consideration of federal funds for the auto industry, is there any diff" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-09#entryid_325880" rowid="136534930" side="usa" srcid="325880" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Sure.  Did you have an opportunity to see Secretary Rice's remarks last night?  So I would just refer you to those.  The discussions between Israel and Egypt we believe hold great promise of providing a way to a durable and sustainable cease-fire.  And as Secretary Rice said, that is a resolution -- that resolution that passed last night, we believed it should have just been postponed to allow those discussions between Egypt and Israel to go forward so it could be more informed by those discussions.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p /&gt; However, I would note in the resolution and in Secretary Rice's remarks, she talked about we agreed with the text, we agreed with the objectives, and we agreed with the goals of that resolution.  We just happen to believe that there should have been a different timing for it.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p /&gt; Yes, sir.  &lt;/p&gt;" title=" Q    Back to Gaza and the U.N. resolution yesterday, can you expand on why the White House opted fo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312292" rowid="136533303" side="usa" srcid="312292" text=" Q    Back to Greenspan for a second.  I think this morning he said on the Hill that he was caught off guard by the suddenness and the severity of the downturn; in fact, I think he used the word &quot;shock.&quot;  Is the administration shocked?  Were they also caught off guard by the suddenness and the severity of what's happened?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think that we had recognized for a long time that we had problems with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, going back to 2002, 2003, when we were trying to highlight those problems.  And then we've known for the past year, if you go back to last August when the stock market started to have serious declines, we were concerned about activity in the economy at that point, coming up to January.  Then we worked on a stimulus package we were able to do quickly.  &lt;p /&gt; So I would just -- I would say that we knew that there was a downturn coming for a while.  I didn't see Mr. Greenspan's comments.  Perhaps what he was talking about was the precipitous fall in the last couple of weeks that we saw in sort of the beginning of September.  I'm not exactly sure.  I know that we were acting quickly and we had to move very quickly in order to get the rescue package in place, and that's why the legislation moved so quickly on the Hill.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Les.  " title=" Q    Back to Greenspan for a second.  I think this morning he said on the Hill that he was caught o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-26#entryid_319117" rowid="136534195" side="usa" srcid="319117" text=" Q    Back to Iraq, if I may, the parliament's decision to once again put off a vote on the agreement, the security agreement.  Your reaction to it -- are you dismayed by this?  And specifically, does this show that political progress in Iraq still lags very far behind military progress?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  Well, I don't know if I can make that judgment.  They're having lots of discussions on how they can get this agreement across the goal line, and we have faith that everyone is trying to do that.  Look, Iraq has been practicing democracy for a couple years.	We've been practicing it for a couple hundred years, and we have sometimes delays in the things that we try to do with our Congress, also.  They're going to keep working at it.  We're hopeful that it will get done.  We think it should get done.  It's a very good agreement.  It's good for both Iraq and the United States.  And so we'll keep an eye on what they're doing and hopefully they'll be able to get it across the goal line.  &lt;p /&gt; Brianna, did you have a question?  " title=" Q    Back to Iraq, if I may, the parliament's decision to once again put off a vote on the agreemen" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-15#entryid_300845" rowid="136531729" side="usa" srcid="300845" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  In Sochi.  " title=" Q    Back to the G7, Merkel is in Moscow apparently.  Is --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266853" rowid="136529912" side="usa" srcid="266853" text=" MS. PERINO:  That's what we're checking right now.  " title=" Q    Back to the housing question for a moment.  Has the Dodd-Shelby bill removed some of the objec" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311208" rowid="136533242" side="usa" srcid="311208" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    Back to the prospects for another stimulus package.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-16#entryid_304982" rowid="136532378" side="usa" srcid="304982" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  I think -- and again, you're asking the wrong guy about energy.  There's plenty of crude.  It's the idea of getting the refineries back up and running again.  And what the oil companies have to do is get in there, assess what the damage is, and see how long it's going to take to get them back up and running.  &lt;p /&gt; At least from an aerial view, it doesn't appear they were destroyed or heavily damaged, but then again, you're talking to the wrong guy.  Where there's electrical damage or things like that, I don't know.   MR. STANZEL:  Kevin Kolevar from the Department of Energy is on board with us, too, and I'd be happy to bring him back to talk with you further about energy issues, if you'd like.  " title=" Q    Back to the refineries, is the problem flooding at the refineries or damage to equipment, or j" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-18#entryid_279771" rowid="136531129" side="usa" srcid="279771" text=" Q    Back to the time line again.  One of the main arguments against any sort of timetable in past years has been that it would give insurgents, whether al Qaeda or whomever, militias, whoever, a time to -- it would give them too much information, essentially.  It would allow them to plan for their own attacks and perhaps plan a lull before attacking the Iraqis right when they take over.  How is that not still applicable?  Isn't that still a problem any time you're talking about even a general time horizon?  &lt;p&gt; MR. STANZEL:  I think it's important to remember that the discussions about time line issues previously were from Democrats in Congress who wanted to arbitrarily retreat from Iraq without consideration of conditions on the ground.  All of the discussions that we have always had have been based on conditions on the ground and making progress in the country, and we are doing just that.  &lt;p /&gt; We are making progress on the security situation.  The number of attacks has dropped dramatically in recent months.  And that puts us in the position of working with the Iraqis, who are taking greater control and having greater success in addressing the security situation in their own country, that we can have these discussions.  But it's important to note that those decisions will always be made based on conditions on the ground.  " title=" Q    Back to the time line again.  One of the main arguments against any sort of timetable in past " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-13#entryid_326208" rowid="136534973" side="usa" srcid="326208" text=" MR. FRATTO:  We've done -- why do that today?  " title=" Q    Back to the war games.  Can you give us a little sense of why it is that the scenario that's b" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308777" rowid="136533045" side="usa" srcid="308777" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, barring the monitors is certainly regrettable.  What we have said and -- which hasn't changed is that a verification protocol is essential to them getting to be able to come off the terrorism list.  " title=" Q    Barring the monitors --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-04#entryid_268999" rowid="136530258" side="usa" srcid="268999" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Well, there's obviously a legal process that is going on in Israel involving the Prime Minister; there is obviously a political process that is going on, as well.  And we're going to have to see how those sort out.  &lt;p /&gt; I think it's interesting that Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas met on Monday to continue the negotiations on an Israeli-Palestinian peace.  They have indicated that they want to continue to have those negotiations.  It is, after all, a position -- in terms of the Israeli side, these are negotiations entered into by Prime Minister Olmert certainly, but on behalf of the government.  It involves participation by other ministers in this process -- Foreign Minister Livni and Defense Minister Barak.  &lt;p /&gt; So at this point we follow the lead of the parties, and the parties have indicated that they want to continue this process.  And we will, of course, support them in that effort, because I think it is one that both the people of Israel and the Palestinians understand can be in the interest of both peoples.  " title=" Q    Based on his discussion today with the Prime Minister of Israel, how does the administration t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-22#entryid_323786" rowid="136534637" side="usa" srcid="323786" text=" Q    Because in the long run, it would bring the deficit down because -- it's sort of Republican thinking, actually. (Laughter.)  Do you agree that by January 20th, the deficit could bust a trillion dollars?  And secondly, what's the latest thinking on a second stimulus package -- in the administration?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  Well, I don't think there's any chance of a second stimulus package at the end of this administration in the days that we have remaining.  I know that the next administration and congressional leaders are discussing what they intend to do and what their plans are, but it's not something we'll be doing.  Look, the size of the budget deficit, whatever the number is, I can't predict whether it's going to be $1 trillion or something less than that.  It's going to be large.	And it's going to be a very significant number.  &lt;p /&gt; And I think it's going to reflect two things.  One, is the downturn in the economy, and the slowing of receipts coming into the federal government.  It's also going to reflect the large increase in spending over the short term to deal with the financial crisis.  And on the front end, the $350 billion that have been committed so far, and other funds for the financial crisis are -- they show up on the books as straight expenditures, money going out the door to financial institutions.  &lt;p /&gt; As we've said, these funds are actually investments in these institutions.  Some of them are equity positions and other ways of holding assets in some form that will return back to the taxpayer.  So over time, we believe that if it works, and if the financial institutions are as successful as we hope they'll be over time, that it should be, at worst, a wash for the taxpayers and those deficit numbers will come down.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Kathleen.  " title=" Q    Because in the long run, it would bring the deficit down because -- it's sort of Republican th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270998" rowid="136530502" side="usa" srcid="270998" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Okay.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Because it hasn't been released yet --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306601" rowid="136532679" side="usa" srcid="306601" text=" MS. PERINO:  Looking at -- I trust that Secretary Paulson and Ben Bernanke and all the experts that they are working with, and the members on Capitol Hill and their very experienced staff, are all working towards trying to make sure that we get the right package.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    Because it's uncharted territory.	How do you know for sure that it'll work?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306414" rowid="136532645" side="usa" srcid="306414" text=" Q    Because she's making the argument now that it's going to be very difficult to try to explain to the American people -- as the President laid out the urgency of the Congress to act now -- why it is then that a second stimulus package wouldn't be needed.  And the President talked about how Main Street banks could close, how 401(k)s could go down --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  And I think that the point is that if we act on this legislation now, that scenario will not happen.  And so I'll let her make her case to the President.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Mark.  " title=" Q    Because she's making the argument now that it's going to be very difficult to try to explain t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317287" rowid="136533940" side="usa" srcid="317287" text=" MS. PERINO:  It could be that they want to move forward with that, but I think the most -- before we start talking about establishing a czar to oversee the money, we actually need to pass a bill that would provide funds for the auto industry.  &lt;p /&gt; Deb.  " title=" Q    Because there's some talk -- Nancy Pelosi is bringing that up to allow --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303120" rowid="136532046" side="usa" srcid="303120" text=" Q    Because this is now going to be a very important issue in presidential politics.	And he is the head of the party.  And so a lot of Republicans are having some questions and concerns raised; Democrats have a whole new sort of line of criticism and --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Oh, really?  " title=" Q    Because this is now going to be a very important issue in presidential politics.	And he is the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280149" rowid="136531211" side="usa" srcid="280149" text=" MS. PERINO:  -- everybody is getting on the air tonight.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Because you don't like to talk about Senator Obama -- (laughter) --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-11#entryid_269907" rowid="136530346" side="usa" srcid="269907" text=" MS. PERINO:  We'll see.  Any questions for me on other issues?  " title=" Q    Before he leaves office, basically.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279327" rowid="136531081" side="usa" srcid="279327" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, before the end of the month -- next week.  I've been a little bit messed up on my time frame ever since Japan, I keep thinking it's the third week of July -- or the fourth week of July -- it's the third.  &lt;p /&gt; So the -- Secretary Paulson, I believe, met with them yesterday, members of the Congress, talking not only about this urgency he feels he needs in terms of the Fannie and Freddie package that he asked for on Sunday night, but also the importance of the provisions that are in the bill, including some of the objections that we have, which is the CDBG money, community development block grant money.  " title=" Q    Before the end of --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298823" rowid="136531518" side="usa" srcid="298823" text=" MS. PERINO:  You know, I'd refer you to the Treasury Department to see if Secretary Paulson wants to revise his -- what he said in May.  I haven't heard that he does, and I would again remind you that what he said to the President and the Cabinet members the other day is that we're headed in the right direction, the trends are positive, the long-term fundamentals of our economy are good, and that we're still only midway through the year.  And the stimulus package, we believed, would not have the full effect until the end of the year.  So I think we need to wait just a little bit while longer to see how things go; continue to try to improve our economic outlook.  But I'll refer you to the Treasury Department in case Secretary Paulson has changed his opinion.  " title=" Q    Before the end of the year.  Today's report showed that there's been a loss of 463,000 jobs in" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267070" rowid="136529943" side="usa" srcid="267070" text=" MS. PERINO:  I was kidding.  There's no room for humor. (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Beg your pardon?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_325016" rowid="136534885" side="usa" srcid="325016" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think it's been pretty steady, although it has picked up as more people were named to their positions.  And so you can have more conversations with people once you have that.  But Rahm Emanuel and Josh Bolten, who previously had a good relationship, have continued that, and that's deepened over the course of the past two and a half months.  &lt;p /&gt; Obviously, I've met my counterpart, and others have met with theirs.  I couldn't tell you that it's necessarily increased, except for to say they've been able to identify more people that they want to have in place for their administration.  And as that has happened, we've been able to have more meetings.  But I couldn't -- I just couldn't tell you if the pace has quickened.  I do know at the agencies, that there is a very robust effort on behalf of the Obama administration teams, that they're -- the teams have swooped in and are learning everything they possibly can.  &lt;p /&gt; We've particularly focused on the national security aspects of this transition, which I think every American should be grateful for, as well as the economic transition.  So as you know, the Secretary-to-be Geithner has a good relationship with Secretary Paulson.  And so their teams can work closely together.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think just from all accounts, there's been good, cooperative spirit; there's been communication.  And hopefully, it will be a very smooth transition when we leave office next week -- two weeks.  " title=" Q    Between the transition teams -- have people come here perhaps for longer visits or --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-16#entryid_270427" rowid="136530422" side="usa" srcid="270427" text=" MR. HADLEY:  No, former Prime Minister Blair and the President met this morning.  They talked about the activities that former Prime Minister Blair is pursuing in the Middle East.	You know, we are all thinking about and strategizing about how we can take advantage of the current opportunity to try and advance a settlement between Israeli-Palestinians, and not withstanding some of the political turmoil in both -- within the Palestinian-Israeli communities.  &lt;p /&gt; Second, the President of course had a very -- meeting with Prime Minister Brown.  Again, as you saw from, I think, very visibly in the interesting press conference, there is a lot of informality and mutual confidence between the two of these leaders.  They like each other, they trust each other, and they're very much -- have a common approach on the key issues.  I think you saw that in the comments that were made.  And I think you also saw Brown making some -- Prime Minister Brown making some strong statements to advance the policy agenda.  &lt;p /&gt; And the statements he made publicly track very much the conversation they had privately.  Prime Minister Brown told the President that the defense minister today would announce an increase in both troops and equipment in Afghanistan; that's been very welcome.  A number in the press have asked whether the allies were prepared to do more -- Britain answered that question today yes.  &lt;p /&gt; You're going to hear, as the Prime Minister indicated, an expectation that out of the European -- the EU foreign ministers meeting this afternoon at around 3:00 p.m., there will be an announcement of new sanctions on Iran.  And the point will be that if Iran -- the Iranian regime does not change policy and accept the offer that has been tendered to them, it will be very clear from the EU's statement this afternoon that they will face new sanctions on Iran.  They will be financial sanctions, as the Prime Minister said, including on Bank Melli, and also looking at oil and gas sanctions, which would be very much significant to the Iranian regime.  " title=" Q    Brown?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305159" rowid="136532414" side="usa" srcid="305159" text=" Q    But -- okay.  That is the traditional mark, those are the traditional markers.  But we are in a situation that is so totally different -- you know, you saw something 70 years ago and those old markers, some are saying -- those old markers, some are saying, do not hold to this.  And they're saying that -- economists are saying we're in a very grave situation.  What kind of situation would you call it using the old markers and looking at the new --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  April, you're asking me questions -- I'm not an economist. I'm doing my best to try to give you the information that I can and I can speak on behalf of the President and his involvement, but if you want definitions about what is or isn't a recession in this day and age with these different types of modeling and everything, you're just going to have to go to an economist, not me.  " title=" Q    But -- okay.  That is the traditional mark, those are the traditional markers.  But we are in " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271605" rowid="136530572" side="usa" srcid="271605" text=" MS. PERINO:  What we want to see is a correct declaration and one that is verifiable, but I'm not going to prejudge it before we see it.  &lt;p /&gt; April, again.  " title=" Q    But again, will this -- any declaration be acceptable if this issue is not addressed?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-05#entryid_303589" rowid="136532143" side="usa" srcid="303589" text=" MS. PERINO:  As I said, I would not comment on it.  To the extent that they have any concerns, because we have the relationship that we have with them, which is one that's very frank, open and candid and we have contact with them every single day, I'm sure that they'll be talking about it.  &lt;p /&gt; Laurent.  " title=" Q    But are you concerned, given the statements that are coming out of Iraq today about that they " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311223" rowid="136533257" side="usa" srcid="311223" text=" MS. PERINO:  Let me be very clear:  We are open to good ideas; we will listen to people if they put anything forward that we think would actually stimulate the economy.	So far we have not seen that.  We've seen a lot of campaign talking points, but nothing that would actually stimulate the economy.  " title=" Q    But are you just sort of agnostic on it?  You don't -- you kind of support it, but if they pro" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317302" rowid="136533955" side="usa" srcid="317302" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I think we're going to just draw the line at $25 billion that has already been appropriated through the DOE program.  " title=" Q    But are you saying that you would be -- you wouldn't be in favor of the additional $25 billion" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308776" rowid="136533044" side="usa" srcid="308776" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we still want to get a verification protocol, so the answer to both is yes.	If we can get a verification protocol that we are satisfied with, then we would be able to fulfill our side of the bargain.  " title=" Q    But are you still planning to take them off the terrorism list?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317062" rowid="136533928" side="usa" srcid="317062" text=" MS. PERINO:  Our position is that we want these companies to succeed.  We have figured out a way to provide them funds so that they are able to do that.  And we think that there is a bipartisan path that we could get this done very quickly this week and avoid that.  " title=" Q    But are you willing to let one or all of these three big automakers go under?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313252" rowid="136533450" side="usa" srcid="313252" text=" MS. PERINO:  That's not necessarily true.  I think if they put their minds to it they could do a lot in a week.  All of us Americans can, and we here at the White House do a lot more in a week than Congress has done in two years.	But if they wanted to try to do something, they could.	I just don't see a lot of activity or conversation on their behalf except for a few letters here and there.  And I think for the most so far, a lot of that talk has been campaign talking points, rather than any serious discussion about how to stimulate the economy.  " title=" Q    But as it stands now, you don't believe that they could get a package together in the week tha" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280835" rowid="136531340" side="usa" srcid="280835" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, but so did they.  I think the Pakistanis recognized that it wasn't successful either and so they walked it back.  &lt;p /&gt; Now this new government thought that they would try a variation on that theme and they are working to see if there is something that they can do to try to improve the livelihood, the conditions of the tribal leaders.  One of the things that those people are going to have to have is security.  They need to be able to feel that their government is going to be able to take care of them, and not the militants and the warlords that are reigning in some areas -- in that very difficult terrain up on the border region.  &lt;p /&gt; So the President thinks that yes we are working effectively together, but there is more to be done.  Everybody can always improve on coordination, and that includes sharing of intelligence and also helping improve their military capabilities -- that is another aspect of the conversation that they had today in the Oval.  &lt;p /&gt; Peter.  " title=" Q    But as the President made clear, the deal that Musharraf struck with the tribal leaders there " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309526" rowid="136533098" side="usa" srcid="309526" text=" Q    But as you said, there will be time -- it will take time to trickle down to people at the bottom of the food chain.  I think that's how you put it.  So what is the alternative for them, particularly those who are running out of unemployment checks?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  As I said Paula -- I think I've already answered your question.  I answered your question last week.	Tony Fratto answered it the week before.  It's the same question every time.  I'm not going to have a different answer for you.  Congress is not here --  " title=" Q    But as you said, there will be time -- it will take time to trickle down to people at the bott" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317061" rowid="136533927" side="usa" srcid="317061" text=" MS. PERINO:  But they might, and they might -- and if they can show that they can have a long-term -- that they have a long-term plan so that they are viable, then that would be taken into consideration.  " title=" Q    But at the same time that you say that, you also are saying that they don't measure up to the " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320595" rowid="136534412" side="usa" srcid="320595" text=" Q    But based on the conversations you all have had -- I mean, obviously the devil is in the detail and the language is important -- but based on the conversations you're having, do you feel like you're -- the two sides are essentially on the same page?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, we've certainly come a long way from where we were at the beginning of last week, as -- with the turnaround on the Hill late last week.  And so we tried to work with them all week.  &lt;p /&gt; A couple of things.  From our discussion this weekend, indications are that the legislation is moving more towards what the President could support.  And if we're going to help the automakers it's going to have to have a presidential signature.  &lt;p /&gt; A couple of things that I would point out:  that taxpayer assistance should come from funds already appropriated in the program specifically intended to assist the automakers, which is the auto loan program that we've been talking about for the past few weeks, the DOE 136 loan program; and that taxpayer assistance only be considered for companies willing to make the difficult decisions necessary across the scope of their businesses for them to be viable in the long term; and that assistance is accompanied by very strong taxpayer protections.  We can't say for certain whether the legislation fully meets those principles, but we certainly are a lot farther along than we were last week.  " title=" Q    But based on the conversations you all have had -- I mean, obviously the devil is in the detai" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280820" rowid="136531310" side="usa" srcid="280820" text=" MS. PERINO:  They've said that before, Mark.  They've said it before and they've been able to keep things on track.  But they also -- they have a lot of issues to deal with.  It's not just the international community that's interested in this, but they've got domestic politics that play into this, as well, and they have constituents.  And surely they get frustrated at times, and I'm sure there are many times when they just want to throw up their hands and walk away, but a tribute to these leaders is that they've been able to keep at it.  Their negotiators keep meeting and the President and Secretary Rice have been able to keep pushing them along.  So I think let's let the Secretary have her trip there and see what can come out of it.  " title=" Q    But both sides are basically saying that they don't think they can get it done.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-09#entryid_320804" rowid="136534418" side="usa" srcid="320804" text=" MS. PERINO:  Absolutely.  Our insistence that long-term financing be contingent upon a long-term viability plan is intact.  " title=" Q    But bottom line:  You are insisting on that one issue.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-18#entryid_305341" rowid="136532474" side="usa" srcid="305341" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  I just gave you a general sense of what he's doing.  &lt;p /&gt; Wendell.  " title=" Q    But can you tell us specifically, related to the economy, what he's doing in between the state" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320575" rowid="136534392" side="usa" srcid="320575" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, in Afghanistan we do have a challenge.  And we always knew that it was going to take longer in Afghanistan than it was going to in Iraq to get things done.  We have been working on our Afghan strategic review.  We are nearing conclusion on it.  We intend to pass our findings to the new team, as any policy adaptations would take place under their watch.	This is a good example of our efforts to ensure a smooth transition and to set the new team on a solid footing when it comes to Afghanistan.  &lt;p /&gt; There are many different things that the President has already said that we were going to do and are currently implementing.  Back on September 9th of 2008, which seems a little bit -- a year ago, but it was just two months ago that the President announced that more troops would be headed into Afghanistan.  In fact, one Marine battalion that was going to be going to Iraq actually was diverted and they went to Afghanistan.  Our NATO meeting last week that Secretary Rice attended focused almost exclusively on Afghanistan and the work that we all need to do together to improve coordination amongst the ISAF, as well as our crew.  And we'll have more troops continuing to go in.  &lt;p /&gt; And I'll see if there's more that we can provide to you in the next week or so on this Afghan strategy review, but our intention is to pass it to the next team so that they can then go from there and try to combat -- I'm not going to confirm the statistic, but combat the Taliban's resurgence.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm going to go back here to Andre.  " title=" Q    But certainly things are getting any better.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-06#entryid_299624" rowid="136531554" side="usa" srcid="299624" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would disagree, just because I've been there for all of them, and I think that this speech puts together what the President has been saying for seven-and-a-half years, but does it in a very focused way in a few paragraphs in a speech.  &lt;p /&gt; That doesn't take away from how important the message is.  Obviously, the world is turning its attention to the Olympics for the sporting events, but people are interested in this country, its influence in the region and in the world, and how it will evolve to hopefully be more modern and more open.  And the President will continue to press them.  " title=" Q    But clearly, the comments are his most extensive on China in general, but also the human right" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-30#entryid_307117" rowid="136532750" side="usa" srcid="307117" text=" MR. FRATTO:  No, it didn't come out of the air.  " title=" Q    But did it just come out of the air?  Did it come --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-15#entryid_316985" rowid="136533898" side="usa" srcid="316985" text=" SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  -- document reflects a level of consensus and convergence on not only critically important principles, but also actions.  So --  " title=" Q    But did you get everything done that you'd hoped to get done?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306617" rowid="136532695" side="usa" srcid="306617" text=" MS. PERINO:  What we've said is that if the two presidential candidates -- since we're trying to pass this massive package in the middle of a presidential election -- that if their participation in the meeting yesterday could help finalize things, that that would be for the better.  I'll let others decide and analyze, and once it's all finished, everybody can take a look back and see if it was helpful or not.	I do think it was actually very useful for everyone to be able to meet yesterday with the President of the United States, talk about the discussions they've had over the past several days and where they needed to go to drive this to a conclusion, and the President was very clear that there's going to be one test for this legislation:  Does Secretary Paulson and does Ben Bernanke believe that this will solve the problem?  &lt;p /&gt; And that's -- so that's the framework everyone is driving towards.  " title=" Q    But didn't you want his presence yesterday in order to help drive things to a conclusion?  Tha" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302662" rowid="136531947" side="usa" srcid="302662" text=" SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Well, the Russian incursion in Georgia, I mean, it remains to be seen exactly what the strategic implications of it are.  Obviously, there are a lot of countries in that region that are quite concerned about what all this means.  And I think part of the purpose of all of this is to get a first-hand chance to privately have some very candid discussions with these leaders about their concerns and views about what the future holds, and how we can work together to address some of those concerns.  &lt;p /&gt; Specifically on the energy front, I mean I -- you know, I would point you to Foreign Minister Miliband's speech yesterday in Ukraine, and the kind of impact he observed there about what the most recent events portend for the way Europe thinks about its energy future, and the way the rest of the world needs to think about energy security in light of this unpredictable behavior by Russia that stands as a major supplier of oil and gas into Europe.  " title=" Q    But do you -- is the Russian incursion into Georgia a few weeks ago, is that -- what kind of c" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315286" rowid="136533656" side="usa" srcid="315286" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  I don't know, Yunji.  &lt;p /&gt; Sheryl.  " title=" Q    But do you expect them to speak on a weekly basis, monthly basis?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308561" rowid="136533016" side="usa" srcid="308561" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think --  I'm not going to speculate on a hypothetical.  " title=" Q    But do you get to the point where you can cut interest rates to zero and then you can't go any" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318552" rowid="136534164" side="usa" srcid="318552" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Look, I'm not going to comment on what the next administration thinks they need to be doing.  The best thing we can be doing right now and for the time that we have here to do for the economy is to shore up our financial system.  That's what we have the authority to do and that's what we have the funding to do, and that's what we can get done right now.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Mark.  " title=" Q    But do you think a further stimulus is needed?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303129" rowid="136532055" side="usa" srcid="303129" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think -- I looked at those points; I don't think that they were at all even up to the line in terms of being political.  And I would say that our opponents, the Democrats, use every day, every opportunity to bash this President, and I just don't think we're going to worry about it.	We'll focus on what we need to do.  &lt;p /&gt; Right now the industry is trying to do an assessment as to what may or may not be needed going forward in terms of repairs.  It also takes them a few days to get back online because they need to -- they brought all their people in for safety sake, and since safety is a priority, they have to take a few more days to get people out there and get the rigs back up.  But so far, so good.  It looks like that, structurally, everything was sound.  And then in terms of supply, the assessment is ongoing and the industry is in touch with Secretary Bodman, and President Bush got an update from Bodman this morning.  &lt;p /&gt; Martha.  " title=" Q    But do you think it was time, just a day after the hurricane hit, to sort of look toward Congr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271997" rowid="136530670" side="usa" srcid="271997" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think your question doesn't deserve an answer.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    But do you think that The New York Times doesn't deserve an answer?  Is that what you're sayin" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268789" rowid="136530227" side="usa" srcid="268789" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's never going to be easy.  It's absolutely one of the most difficult things that we could ever try to achieve.  And that's what Secretary Rice has said, too, that if the problem was easy to solve it would have been done decades ago.  And the President is going to continue to push his -- put his full weight behind trying to get this done and to help them achieve this goal of trying to define a Palestinian state before the end of the year.  " title=" Q    But do you think the Palestinians are able to make painful concessions under this kind of --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278877" rowid="136531045" side="usa" srcid="278877" text=" MS. PERINO:  I've heard nothing to suggest otherwise.  And I would say it's not only the offshore oil companies that are working on their -- to find oil that they could produce, but certainly, as one from the West, I know that it takes a while for these companies to be able to get through all the processes and the permits.  So for example, if you go and get a lease, the next thing that you have to do is go through the Endangered Species Act permitting process, the Clean Air Act process -- I think that you have to get a permit for that.	There's other -- the NEPA process, which takes a long time.  &lt;p /&gt; So it takes a while to get through all the environmental and conservation permits that you have to do, not to mention you're usually fighting in court because conservation groups have sued you.  So by the time you're able to actually explore for the oil or the gas, it just takes a little bit of time.  And what the President is wanting to do is speed that process up.  " title=" Q    But does -- is the President satisfied that the oil industry is already doing everything it ca" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-22#entryid_305814" rowid="136532570" side="usa" srcid="305814" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think our -- I'm going to decline to comment specifically because we are in negotiations, but what I would say to you is that from our perspective, the cleaner the better and the quicker the better, and the way that you get a clean and quick bill is to make sure that it is clearly, narrowly targeted to giving the Treasury these authorities in order to help stabilize the market.  " title=" Q    But does -- where does the White House come down on that?	Should it be a part of this bill or " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-20#entryid_310969" rowid="136533211" side="usa" srcid="310969" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, as I said, we've had an open mind about it, but what we are focused on right now is the urgent need to get this rescue package implemented.  But we're continuing to have conversations with members of Congress and we're open to ideas that they would put forward that would -- both Democrats and Republicans alike -- that would stimulate the economy and help us pull out of this downturn faster.  " title=" Q    But does he -- does the President support the idea of a second stimulus, pending specifics?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306412" rowid="136532643" side="usa" srcid="306412" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, he -- I think he needs the authorities, and when it comes to the financial aspect of it of how much does he need, I think Secretary Paulson made the recommendation of $700 billion because that was his assessment of how much he thought that he would need.  But one of the things that we have worked with Congress on and that members of Congress were able to help us improve upon was the transparency and oversight of this program.  And the President said last night that we would support a bipartisan board who would work with the Secretary of the Treasury to make sure that the taxpayers are being protected.  " title=" Q    But does he need all that authority right now?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-17#entryid_270682" rowid="136530425" side="usa" srcid="270682" text=" MR. FRATTO:  His position hasn't changed on that.  " title=" Q    But does he still believe, as he said it in 2006, that a marriage amendment is necessary?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273187" rowid="136530812" side="usa" srcid="273187" text=" MS. PERINO:  Absolutely not.  And that's one of the keys -- and that's one of the reasons that this is working.  When he announced it last May, one of the things he said is each country is going to do this in a different way.	Everybody has a different fuel mix, they have different constituencies, they have different economies that run on different types of fuels and they produce different types of things.  So each country is going to have to come up with its own plan in order to get to both a midterm and then that aspirational longer-term goal.  &lt;p /&gt; But the midterm goal is one of the most important because it gets people to commit to actions right now, and that's what we're working towards.  &lt;p /&gt; Bret.  " title=" Q    But does it need to be one size fits all or --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-20#entryid_301283" rowid="136531804" side="usa" srcid="301283" text=" MR. CONWAY:  From the perspective of the Federal Coordinator, absolutely.  There's enough money in the pipeline to get the mission done when you look across these different sectors.  " title=" Q    But does the administration view $126 billion as enough for Gulf Coast recovery?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280816" rowid="136531302" side="usa" srcid="280816" text=" MS. PERINO:   I am going to let Director Nussle and Chairman Lazear answer specific questions, because they'll have the breakout.	But I think there is lots of different issues that go into the cost, how much -- the cost of our deficit.  &lt;p /&gt; And one thing that Americans should get real serious about is entitlement spending, because that's eating up more and more parts of the budget, and it's going to start creeping into that discretionary spending and we'll all have less to spend on other things, or to bring down the deficit.  " title=" Q    But doesn't it cost -- the military cost of Afghanistan and Iraq share equal billing with the " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313271" rowid="136533469" side="usa" srcid="313271" text=" MS. PERINO:  I disagree, because, one, they supported the idea of the summit, they wanted us to have it.  And one of the things that we'll do in that summit is identify the -- some of these things are not going to change as we move forward -- one, the underlying causes of the problem, getting everyone together to focus on that, that's not going to change overnight on Tuesday.  Those are what they are.  Identifying progress to date, and where we can have other actions that will continue to build strength and confidence in the markets, those things aren't going to change on November 4th.  And then outlining principles for reform and regulations that we might be willing to go forward with, both globally, but most importantly, individually in our countries, as we take into account our own individual situations,  that's not going to change, either.  Those principles are going to be what they are.  &lt;p /&gt; None of this ties the next President's hand.  But I think that what we are trying to do is do what the President asked us to do, which is do everything we can right now, in this downturn, in this cycle of our economy, to get it back to a period of growth so that the next President has the best possible starting point on January 20th.  " title=" Q    But doesn't that sort of prove the point, if neither one of the actual -- the men who could be" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280831" rowid="136531332" side="usa" srcid="280831" text=" MS. PERINO:  Arguably I think in some parts you could say that they're -- have established safe haven, but not in the entire region, not in that entire area.  And that's why the efforts to press the Pakistanis to continue to do more and offer them help to be able to do it is something that reigned supreme in the meeting today.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    But don't they have safe haven, effectively have safe haven there anyway?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-15#entryid_304846" rowid="136532352" side="usa" srcid="304846" text=" SECRETARY PAULSON:  Well, I would say this:  I'm playing the hand that was dealt me.  A lot of what I'm dealing with, you know, I'm dealing with the consequences of things that were done, often many years ago -- as I said with the case to Freddie and Fannie, that's congressional charters going back decades, that's what Washington has put in place.	What we're dealing with there, for instance, is living up to our responsibilities; in other cases we're dealing with, again, the situation as we see it.  And again, I'm focused on the stability of the markets and the importance to the American people.  " title=" Q    But don't you accept some of the blame, sir?  You've taken steps and the economy hasn't gotten" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311194" rowid="136533228" side="usa" srcid="311194" text=" MS. PERINO:  What are you getting at, Bill?  What do you want me to say?  I'm not going to play.  " title=" Q    But even -- look, even Al Gore campaigned more for -- I mean, Bill Clinton campaigned more for" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273420" rowid="136530874" side="usa" srcid="273420" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Well, the President has made clear that we believe a long-term goal is useful and necessary.  The President has also made clear that it's a goal that must be shared by all countries. So we are trying to play a constructive role in bridging the proposals on the table with some of the questions and issues that have been raised by other countries about different levels of ambition, including 50-by-'50.  &lt;p /&gt; We have indicated already that we will give serious consideration to 50-by-'50.  A number of countries have suggested other scenarios, and the IPCC -- which is the scientific assessment body of the U.N. -- has given over a hundred scenarios for the long term, some of which are quite ambitious, some of which are not.  And so that's been the heart of our discussion, trying to understand these different scenarios.  So, while 50-by-'50 is one scenario  &lt;p /&gt; -- and by the way, has different baselines -- I don't want to get too far in the weeds here, but what's your baseline?  Do you go back to 1990?  Do you go back to pre-industrial?  Do you go current levels? There's been a lot of discussion around baseline; it's been very difficult to reconcile.  " title=" Q    But from the U.S. perspective, what kind of language would you like to see in the G8 statement" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-14#entryid_321830" rowid="136534507" side="usa" srcid="321830" text=" MR. HADLEY:  But even that arrangement will be one that the Iraqis have to be comfortable with.  That's the point.   GENERAL LUTE:  And they are today.  I mean, we today take virtually all of our target sets to the Iraqis and gain approval at the appropriate level.  And that level varies from the Prime Minister on some rare occasions, down through his chain of command.  &lt;p /&gt; So this doesn't represent a sea change in terms of how we're operating now.  " title=" Q    But General Odierno --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308780" rowid="136533048" side="usa" srcid="308780" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, one of the things that the President wants is to make sure that these new authorities are used in the most effective and efficient way possible.  They are moving at lightning speed for government-type work in trying to establish how quickly people can get in those positions so that they can work on the reverse auctions that were also a part of the authority.  This -- these capital injections are something that Secretary Paulson is actively considering, but I'd have to refer you to him as to when he thinks he'd be able to make the first move.  " title=" Q    But given the fact that the markets have not reacted positively so far, or at least not very, " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300553" rowid="136531624" side="usa" srcid="300553" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I don't think so.  &lt;p /&gt; Last one.  " title=" Q    But has Putin taken advantage of that relationship?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-31#entryid_313988" rowid="136533542" side="usa" srcid="313988" text=" MR. FRATTO:  No more than usual, no.  " title=" Q    But have you heard more objections from environmental groups for the regulations in this perio" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280168" rowid="136531230" side="usa" srcid="280168" text=" Q    But have you lost control of the situation at all, with Senator Obama coming out of this meeting with Prime Minister Maliki, for example, yesterday and saying, look, he's for my plan, essentially; he wants to get troops out by 2010?  How does that not interfere --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Quite the contrary, quite the contrary.  I think that people have missed the most important point, which is, the only reason we are even able to have conversations about bringing troops home is based on the success we've had because of the President's leadership and General Petraeus's leadership in implementing the surge strategy, which was an enormously unpopular decision in January of 2007, could not have been more unpopular at the time.	But they decided to take it because it was the right thing to do in their mind.  A lot of people opposed it, but we went forward, we persevered.  &lt;p /&gt; And even in June of 2007, I remember when the troops hadn't all arrived yet, the violence was still quite high.  And everybody asked if the surge had failed.  Well, here we are a year later, and I don't think anybody in this room would have thought that we would have made the gains that we've made.  It's because of conditions on the ground that have changed dramatically and improved dramatically that we're even able to talk about bringing troops home.  &lt;p /&gt; We share the goal of wanting to bring troops home.  We have offered to talk about aspirational goals for general time horizons where we could look to see hypothetically when we might be able to bring -- have Iraqis take control of their own security in certain provinces.  But we're going to need to transition our mission to one of overwatch, counterterrorism, training.  Those are the things that we need to be able to do to help support the Iraqis, and they're going to need that support for a long time into the future.  And the Iraqis say that as well.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think that, quite the contrary; while this trip of his might be a distraction for many -- and maybe a welcome one for the media -- it's not one for President Bush.  " title=" Q    But have you lost control of the situation at all, with Senator Obama coming out of this meeti" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-15#entryid_270347" rowid="136530408" side="usa" srcid="270347" text=" MR. HADLEY:  We've had some concerns about it.	If you go back and look at the stories that were written at the time that Libya decided to give up its nuclear and chemical programs, there was some discussion at that time about what the A.Q. Khan might have passed in terms of weapons-related technology.  We're obviously -- would be concerned about that technology being passed to any of A.Q. Khan's customers in that period.  &lt;p /&gt; John, last question.  " title=" Q    But have you seen any -- just to follow up -- have you seen any evidence that there's been som" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-14#entryid_321821" rowid="136534498" side="usa" srcid="321821" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Look, he said that -- he's talked about that, but the most recent statements I've seen him say, he said, but of course, it's got to reflect -- I will be listening to the advice of my commanders.	He's talked about it has to reflect the increasing capabilities of the Iraqis.  He's talked about how he doesn't want to leave our soldiers unprotected.  And he's talked about how he doesn't want to compromise the success we've had to date.  &lt;p /&gt; So it's, yes, 16 months, and then with about four categories of things that he has said he's going to look at.  And we applaud him for that; we think that's the responsible way to approach this problem.  " title=" Q    But having all combat troops out, as President-elect Obama wants to do in 16 months -- is that" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311478" rowid="136533285" side="usa" srcid="311478" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  Sure, it's possible.  Or we might -- it might not be at a head-of-state level.	We'll just have to see.  " title=" Q    But he could attend a second summit.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305152" rowid="136532407" side="usa" srcid="305152" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look, he's talked to -- he takes questions from the press, he's done individual questions.  He hasn't had a press conference, but he does -- he has been talking to other individuals, or when we have pool at the bottom, two-and-two.  But it's been -- I grant you that it's been a while and I understand that people want to hear from the President during this time.  You heard from him Monday and I will update you as soon as I can as to when you'll hear from him again.  " title=" Q    But he just doesn't feel it useful at this point to discuss some --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268301" rowid="136530171" side="usa" srcid="268301" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think it's an outrageous claim.	I've been here myself for a long time, almost as long -- I've known the President not as long as Scott has, but quite a long time.  This is a President who is -- I've never witnessed any self-deception at all.  I think it's an absurd claim.  And it's such a loaded charge.  And you're right, when it comes from somebody like Scott, who was a close friend of many of us here at the White House, those of us who fully supported him before, during and after he was press secretary are disappointed by this and saddened by it.	We certainly wish him well.  We harbor no ill feelings towards him.  We just are really disappointed, and we're going to combat the central premise of the book.  &lt;p /&gt; And I don't -- again, when you say that it's different because it's coming from him and not the Democrats -- I've always argued about this on the merits, so regardless of where untruths come from, we're going to push back on them.  " title=" Q    But he makes a number of charges, and not all of them are that direct.  For instance, he says " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322357" rowid="136534535" side="usa" srcid="322357" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, we're not, Helen.  We are absolutely a guest.  " title=" Q    But he wasn't a guest.  It was occupied.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306620" rowid="136532698" side="usa" srcid="306620" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know that anybody up there on the Hill thinks that the insurance suggestion would take over the whole program.  So I think we just need to let the negotiators continue to work it out.  " title=" Q    But he's considering an approach that his Treasury Secretary is rejecting?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306607" rowid="136532685" side="usa" srcid="306607" text=" MS. PERINO:  Right.  " title=" Q    But he's talking about regulations at a national level.  Is the President --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-30#entryid_324155" rowid="136534732" side="usa" srcid="324155" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  We have got to get a commitment from Hamas that they would respect any ceasefire and make it lasting and durable.  And so until we can get that assurance -- not the United States, but until Israel can get that assurance from Hamas -- then we're not going to have a ceasefire that is worth the paper it's written on.  &lt;p /&gt; Toby.  " title=" Q    But how do you know that it would be lasting?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300605" rowid="136531676" side="usa" srcid="300605" text=" Q    But how does that play out -- the infrastructure, if you will, that he's built, how is that playing out now?  Because he comes out in the Rose Garden and it is a strong statement of support for Georgia and some condemnation of what Russia is doing.  And so did he -- did the Russians know this was coming?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  The public statements reflect the private conversations.  " title=" Q    But how does that play out -- the infrastructure, if you will, that he's built, how is that pl" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-20#entryid_301286" rowid="136531807" side="usa" srcid="301286" text=" Q    But I don't understand why you cannot say what the status of housing in the Gulf Coast is three years after Hurricane Katrina hit.  I mean, this should be a concrete -- there should be some concrete way to quantify it for the public that has spent this taxpayer money.  &lt;p&gt; MR. CONWAY:  Well, let me be really clear about this.  You went through one of the largest natural disasters, okay.  " title=" Q    But I don't understand why you cannot say what the status of housing in the Gulf Coast is thre" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308322" rowid="136532967" side="usa" srcid="308322" text=" MS. PERINO:  As I said, I'll have you check with Treasury for the exact list of who all will be here.  But it's usually -- when the G7 meets, it's usually just the finance ministers.  And that's been the way it's been -- I think we inherited that policy for a while.  But I think that the Russian -- I can't remember --  " title=" Q    But I just want to make sure that the -- in the current financial situation, I want to -- the " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300760" rowid="136531705" side="usa" srcid="300760" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'll see if there's anything I can do, but right now I think it's just pretty much a rumor mill that goes back and forth.  &lt;p /&gt; Victoria.  " title=" Q    But I mean in terms of trying to confirm some of the reports --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_272006" rowid="136530679" side="usa" srcid="272006" text=" MS. PERINO:  If you're asking me about military action, I don't know of any plans of that sort.  But what I can tell you is that increasingly African leaders are pushing.  And in fact, this weekend, President Kikwete of Tanzania, who chairs the African Union this year, is going to be having a conference this weekend in order to talk about several of the issues facing sub-Saharan Africa, and one of them, the priority agenda item, is what's happening in Zimbabwe.  " title=" Q    But I mean, beyond the symbolic, their economy is already in horrible shape.	I don't know what" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-29#entryid_268062" rowid="136530132" side="usa" srcid="268062" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think that's what Scott says in the book and I think that everyone should go back and look at it a little bit more carefully.  I don't think that's what he says.  " title=" Q    But I mean, if that's an allegation that's out there, that the President is supposedly respons" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280142" rowid="136531204" side="usa" srcid="280142" text=" Q    But I'm talking about specifically now.  I mean, leading in -- we have a couple of months before the general election.  And again, in a post-9/11 world when we have to -- when the new President has to transition, the possibility of getting this office, is it important right now for them to be talking to these world leaders?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't think it hurts, and it could possibly help.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    But I'm talking about specifically now.  I mean, leading in -- we have a couple of months befo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304068" rowid="136532223" side="usa" srcid="304068" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think we need to see what proposals they come up with, because you don't even know, in terms of the -- you're trying to catch me in a red herring and I'm not going to play the game.  Here's the thing:  We have said --  " title=" Q    But if something is proposed that does increase the deficit to stimulate the economy, would th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316866" rowid="136533856" side="usa" srcid="316866" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think I -- I'm just going to decline to speculate.  I will just tell you that our work so far in talking with them has -- to the automakers has been the focus of the TARP program, the intent of Congress was a focus on financial companies, and the automakers don't fall into that category.  So that's where we are.  &lt;p /&gt; Wendell.  " title=" Q    But if that doesn't happen by the end of the year and you reach a really critical point, what " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303426" rowid="136532101" side="usa" srcid="303426" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't remember the memo from May, Paula.  We'll go back and look at it and I'll have Tony Fratto get back to you.  " title=" Q    But if the White House hasn't reversed its policy, anything coming out after that cut-off date" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303095" rowid="136532021" side="usa" srcid="303095" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm just not -- I'm not prepared to say what the White House would or would not support.  And there's a lot of details that go into something like that, so if you can just bear with us and let us get through the next day or two and then we'll get back to you.  " title=" Q    But if they support it, would the White House support it -- that idea?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268785" rowid="136530223" side="usa" srcid="268785" text=" Q    But if you allow me -- Congressman -- Senator Leahy says that the reason they have conditions is because you guys never invited them to negotiate the Merida Initiative when it was announced in Mexico. What's -- you really believe it was a mistake not to involve the U.S. Congress at the beginning of the negotiations with Mexico?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that from what I recall -- I would have to look back at the time frame -- but the idea of the Merida Initiative goes back all the way to last winter when we were discussing the first supplemental.  So I think Congress has had plenty of time to have input.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    But if you allow me -- Congressman -- Senator Leahy says that the reason they have conditions " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268285" rowid="136530155" side="usa" srcid="268285" text=" MS. PERINO:  Have I had a crisis of conscience?  " title=" Q    But if you have a crisis of conscience, what is --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315655" rowid="136533716" side="usa" srcid="315655" text=" Q    But if you look at -- take the automakers -- where you do see a lot of opinion out there that maybe the best thing is to allow one or two of the companies in trouble to fail without government intervention.  I'm not quite sure how you define systemic breakdown; you could almost apply that -- you could apply that in a very wide variety of cases.  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  I don't think so.	I don't think you can provide it in a wide variety of cases -- you can only provide it in actually a very narrow cases.  &lt;p /&gt; With respect to the special question of the auto firms, let me say this.  First of all, we have great concern for the health of the auto industry.  It is a very large part of our economy, and not just the automakers themselves but their parts and suppliers and the communities in which factories are located.  &lt;p /&gt; And so it's an important question.  What we have to deal with here in the federal government, though, are the rules that -- or the authorities that Congress gave us to deal with how we can assist the automakers and other automotive component makers.  And that is the section 136 auto loan program that is being administered by the Department of Energy.  So the Department of Energy moved in really record speed to get their regulations out so that automakers will know what is available for them in that program, as Congress directed the administration to do, and that's what we've done.  &lt;p /&gt; If Congress has any interest in going beyond that, that's a decision that they're going to have to make.	What we would say about that is that we want to make sure that we continue to have the standard of dealing with viable firms, which is language that's in the current legislation with respect to section 136; that they do it in ways that protect the taxpayer.  But that is a -- that's a decision for Congress to make.  We don't have the authority to do that.  " title=" Q    But if you look at -- take the automakers -- where you do see a lot of opinion out there that " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272610" rowid="136530722" side="usa" srcid="272610" text=" Q    But in that pie there was more money than the President wanted to spend for the GI Bill; it included an extension in the supplemental unemployment benefits.	He didn't really feel it belonged in there.  But what do you say to the idea they basically blocked a compromise with the Democrats -- taxpayer money?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't think -- look, that's not the way a negotiation or a compromise works.  First and foremost, the President wanted, on the policy side of things, transferability, for any member of the military to be able to transfer his GI benefits to his children -- his or her children, or their spouses.  That's one of the things the President brought up in the State of the Union.  He's heard over and over again -- you ask the military, what's one of the things that you need, and they ask for that transferability.  &lt;p /&gt; The original proposal that came out of the Senate did not include transferability.  So while the number might have been slightly higher than what the President originally thought of, the fact that it included transferability was something that the President thought was a key win, and he was very happy to sign the bill today.  &lt;p /&gt; And in addition to that, when it comes to the unemployment benefits, obviously we're going through a time of continued economic uncertainty. There's been a slowdown; there are many people looking for a job that haven't been able to find one.	Thankfully, our unemployment rates have not been as high as in the past, and so we don't think that we need to do this as aggressively, in terms of extending unemployment insurance benefits, because the original proposal from the Democrats was for a 20-week -- 26-week extension.  The bill the President signed today includes a 13-week extension.  So I think that it's a very fair compromise.  &lt;p /&gt; Toby, did you have another one?  Go ahead.  " title=" Q    But in that pie there was more money than the President wanted to spend for the GI Bill; it in" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302659" rowid="136531941" side="usa" srcid="302659" text=" SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I am certainly not going to reveal to you what may or may not happen in these discussions and what he's going to do.  I'd simply say, do not underestimate what has happened already -- the unity of condemnation that we have seen of the Russian actions; what that portends potentially for Russia's own place and standing in the international community.  I just wouldn't underestimate that -- which is not at all to say, and I don't want to imply that -- and I think I've said -- that a strategy is underway and is being developed.	But I'm just not going to get into the details at this point in time.  " title=" Q    But is he going on this trip with anything more than words?  Like, is he taking any sort of ac" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307701" rowid="136532872" side="usa" srcid="307701" text=" MR. FRATTO:  The President is still focused on the core of this problem and dealing with the credit crisis and the program that the administration put forth to deal with mortgage-backed securities and distressed securities.	So that's what his focus is on.  But there are -- he is discussing other pieces of the bill also.  I had the opportunity to listen to -- listen in on a few of the calls, and they're overwhelmingly on the main focus of the bill, but the other parts are discussed also.  " title=" Q    But is he selling those pieces or what is exactly the President saying?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268278" rowid="136530148" side="usa" srcid="268278" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we are continually working to increase our capabilities to make sure that all of our information is safeguarded; that any cyber risk that is out there we take into account, and we are constantly trying to work on it.	Other governments are, too, so we take that into account.  We're always looking for ways to safeguard our systems and we'll continue to do so.  " title=" Q    But is it a concern to the White House that something like this --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300769" rowid="136531714" side="usa" srcid="300769" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that they have shown the world that their motivations can be questioned when it comes to the region.  And things that they have said in the past they did not live up to.  And so there are consequences for that because there's a reputation to be managed on behalf of Russia.  And perhaps they don't care.  But we have worked for years to try to work with the Russians to help bring them into a modernized society, to help with economic reforms, and that was the right thing to do.  We have a lot of areas where we cooperate on issues, but this is very serious.	We have a sovereign, democratic country that was invaded by Russia.  And as Secretary Rice said yesterday, this is not 1968 and there are consequences for those actions.  &lt;p /&gt; But what I will tell you is that I would not expect anything immediate in terms of announcements regarding any types of punishments.  I think what we want to do right now is to make sure that we can cement the cease-fire and protect innocent life, first and foremost.  &lt;p /&gt; Secretary Rice will be on the ground in Georgia -- if she's not there already, she'll be there soon.	And then when she comes back to Crawford tomorrow night she'll be able to talk to the President, brief the national security team on Saturday morning, and we should have more for you then.  &lt;p /&gt; Elaine.  " title=" Q    But is it a foregone conclusion that they will face consequences?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267088" rowid="136529979" side="usa" srcid="267088" text=" MS. PERINO:  As you said, April, this was at a training facility -- okay?  And let's just see what -- the investigation comes out.	I don't think I've ever heard any complaint about how the U.S. Secret Service has performed in protecting any of the people that they are supposed to protect, from the President to Secretary Rice, and I certainly don't think I've heard any complaints from the Obama campaign.  " title=" Q    But is it fair for a Barack Obama or a Condoleezza Rice to have those kinds of incidents happe" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-26#entryid_302154" rowid="136531882" side="usa" srcid="302154" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, I think the world is frustrated, but we're not frustrated in our support for Georgia.	As we've said, there is -- Russia made a decision -- they made a tactical decision.  They may have seen some tactical gain in their military success, but it is a long-term strategic failure.  It's a long-term strategic failure for the reputation of Russia, and even in their strategic relationship with countries on their borders.  There is absolutely no question that there is unified support for a democratic and free Georgia and for the success of that country.  &lt;p /&gt; And we stand with them, the European Union stands with Georgia, and that's going to continue to be the case.  So if that was the ultimate aim of Russia, they have clearly failed in that.  " title=" Q    But is the President frustrated?  I mean, here you have essentially a country that doesn't see" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-06#entryid_299629" rowid="136531559" side="usa" srcid="299629" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'd refer you to State Department to find out.  I just don't know enough about the report.  " title=" Q    But is the size -- I mean, the size of the pot, will it require or cause America or the State " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306593" rowid="136532671" side="usa" srcid="306593" text=" MS. PERINO:  Am I worried about my future?  I'm not worried about my future.  &lt;p /&gt; Goyal.  " title=" Q    But is the staff totally focused on the crisis, or are you looking towards the future, your fu" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-21#entryid_301419" rowid="136531834" side="usa" srcid="301419" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  You know, the agreement as it's working its way through the consultative process right now with the Iraqis is not one that would require congressional -- specific congressional approval because this is the type of agreement, in many cases, that we have with many countries around the world.  So it's not a treaty, so it would not require Senate ratification or anything like that.  It's a bilateral agreement that would provide the authorities for our troops to operate in Iraq.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q    But is thee a vote?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-10#entryid_274082" rowid="136530992" side="usa" srcid="274082" text=" MR. FRATTO:  We hope that's not the case.  We hope that there's sufficient communication from everyone involved, and that they're seeing these things in a clear-headed way, and thinking in a clear-headed way also.  &lt;p /&gt; Matt.  " title=" Q    But is there a concern with hostile countries carrying out war games in close proximity that t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-16#entryid_304980" rowid="136532376" side="usa" srcid="304980" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  I don't think so, because we're looking at getting available apartments, like I said, extended-stay hotels.  If we have to use mobile homes -- that will be a state call -- we have them available, we can put them down.	And we're going to look at everything that's available, so instead of focusing on one particular thing -- like we did in Katrina, using travel trailers -- we're going to look at a multitude of things to house people.  And again, it will be led by the state and we'll make sure that we all work together to find whatever housing is available and find a good place for people to stay.  " title=" Q    But is there any concern that instability in the housing market across the country could affec" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-18#entryid_305337" rowid="136532470" side="usa" srcid="305337" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know -- all I can tell you is that in general what we are looking for is increased transparency and strong independent regulators to be able to handle it, but I don't have anything specific for you right now.  You'll just have to bear with us and we'll update you as we can.  " title=" Q    But is there anything beyond what he has proposed in the laundry list that you listed -- is th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307697" rowid="136532868" side="usa" srcid="307697" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, yes -- well, $700 billion to purchase mortgage-backed securities and to help support the market for -- it's to support the market for mortgages.  That's exactly what it's for.  " title=" Q    But is there money?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271624" rowid="136530591" side="usa" srcid="271624" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I would say that we have always said, going back to anytime I've talked about this over the past several years, that the decrease of supply or the leveling off of supply while demand is increased, that is really the big -- the problem.  The law of supply and demand is Economics 101.  " title=" Q    But isn't it clear now that demand is a problem, when they were saying there really is not -- " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268303" rowid="136530173" side="usa" srcid="268303" text=" MS. PERINO:  That doesn't make them true.  " title=" Q    But isn't it precisely about the messenger, because those criticisms that Scott raises in his " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280156" rowid="136531218" side="usa" srcid="280156" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would say that both fronts are critically important.  None of the gains that we've made in Iraq are irreversible.	And I think that when you look at terrorism across the board, it is a global issue.  Even when you look a the tractor -- or the bulldozer incident in Jerusalem today, that is an act of terrorism.  You see acts of terrorism in China, where you saw a bus explosion yesterday.  And the issue is the ideological struggle between those who would kill innocent people in order to advance their political gains and those who believe in freedom.  &lt;p /&gt; The President believes that working together with our allies, the freedom agenda can advance.  But it's just going to take some time and we're going to have to win not just on the security side, but on the war of ideas as well.  &lt;p /&gt; Peter.  " title=" Q    But isn't that an argument that Afghanistan is now the central front in the war on terrorism -" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298447" rowid="136531424" side="usa" srcid="298447" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sometimes there is.  Sometimes we have ceremonies, and sometimes we don't.  He's already having one today that's open press, and a big to-do in the East Room, celebrating America's generosity of helping people all over the world who have HIV/AIDS.  This is a tremendous effort, bipartisan effort, that reauthorizes a program that has taken our international AIDS treatment from 50,000 people when he first took office to over $1.8 million people today.  And this reauthorizes the bill for five years.	And I would daresay that that deserves a larger signing ceremony than anything else that was passed this week in Congress.  " title=" Q    But isn't there -- do you acknowledge there's any significance to when you have a more formal " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305158" rowid="136532413" side="usa" srcid="305158" text=" MS. PERINO:  April, I'm just going to move on.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Ann.  " title=" Q    But isn't there concern that this -- that we are in the new phase, a new definition of a reces" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320127" rowid="136534304" side="usa" srcid="320127" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think so.	I don't think so, because what the President has said is that since the conditions have continued to improve, he would listen to his generals on the ground, like General Odierno.  And if General Odierno thought that we could do more faster, then the President would certainly listen to him, and then we may or may not move forward.  I think it will just have to depend.  " title=" Q    But it goes into effect January 1st, and he's still the President. There will be no immediate " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-15#entryid_300860" rowid="136531744" side="usa" srcid="300860" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Well --  " title=" Q    But it had to be deliberate, though, for him to say G7, right?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267079" rowid="136529961" side="usa" srcid="267079" text=" MS. PERINO:  What I just said is -- no, I think it's separate from the embargo.  That's how I would describe it.  " title=" Q    But it is being allowed now.  So that's not a loosening?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-20#entryid_271386" rowid="136530550" side="usa" srcid="271386" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'm sure some of them are, but it's not a question of, why not do something first; it's why don't we do everything that we can do.  And when oil is at $130 or approaching $140 a barrel and Americans are paying $4, on the way to $5 a gallon for gasoline, they don't want to hear that we're doing things one at a time.  They want to hear that we're doing everything that we can possibly be doing to help them bring down those prices.  " title=" Q    But it seems like those existing leases are far more down the pipe than ANWR or any other spac" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266869" rowid="136529928" side="usa" srcid="266869" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we're certainly grateful for all the work that Senator Shelby has done to help -- to work with the Democrats to take the Republican principles for housing legislation and advance them in this legislation.  It's obviously a very strong vote out of the committee -- 19 to 2 I believe was the vote I saw.  So we'll continue to look at it, and hopefully we'll be able to get something that will help lots of people stay in their homes.  " title=" Q    But it sounds like the initial impression is positive.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303438" rowid="136532113" side="usa" srcid="303438" text=" MS. PERINO:  Possibly, but I would go back -- look at the statements from such people as Chancellor Merkel leading up to this December meeting.  And I think that the support for Georgia's territorial integrity, its independence and its sovereignty has been boldly underscored by not just the United States, but certainly by Europe.  " title=" Q    But it was one of them.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308066" rowid="136532917" side="usa" srcid="308066" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Which part is a specific critique?  " title=" Q    But it's a very explicit critique of the other party and how they've handled his nominations. " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268271" rowid="136530141" side="usa" srcid="268271" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think the President has any plans to be anywhere but the White House next week for any sort of meeting.  So if he comes, it would be here at the White House.  " title=" Q    But it's not -- so it's not on his schedule?  And would they meet at the White House, would th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271980" rowid="136530653" side="usa" srcid="271980" text=" MS. PERINO:  I wouldn't necessarily say that.  We've had people on the ground there, we have technical experts there, and I think that we have learned a lot.	In fact, Secretary Rice said the other day that we learn more on a regular basis, and the more we learned, the more we believe that we were right to have a concern, but also that we now have a mechanism and a framework for conversations to take place amongst the six parties -- China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the United States and North Korea.  " title=" Q    But it's not -- you're not going to be verifying things like where the weapons are or --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312315" rowid="136533326" side="usa" srcid="312315" text=" MS. PERINO:  We're -- the President is confident that the Treasury Secretary is moving with all due speed, but also with enough care to make sure that we're not wasting any taxpayer dollars.  " title=" Q    But it's not happening now.  I mean, does he want more speed with that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266859" rowid="136529918" side="usa" srcid="266859" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look, I think that when you have a longstanding policy, such as the President has, and he's working with international allies -- we've already passed three Security Council resolutions; we're now working on an incentives package; we have multilateral agreement that Iran should not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, or get the technology to be able to obtain a nuclear weapon, and we're all working towards that goal.  But at the same time, the President has said that no President, no matter who it is, either him or anyone in the future, should take options off the table.  It's not a smart way to negotiate.  " title=" Q    But it's not quite an answer, because everyone's preference is always for peace, but someone c" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-01#entryid_302892" rowid="136532009" side="usa" srcid="302892" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think we have to wait and see what the convention and the campaign say, and determine from there.  " title=" Q    But it's within the realm of possibility he would go to St. Paul?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323441" rowid="136534619" side="usa" srcid="323441" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  It will not surprise you to know that there are different signals that you get from different members of Congress on this issue, as with all others.  There are some, I'm sure, in Congress who are chomping at the bit to vote on the $350 billion in favor of it.  There are others who will have questions.  Those are the kind of things that we need to discuss going forward with members of Congress and also with the President-elect's team.  &lt;p /&gt; What's been made clear today is that the last $4 billion of this loan facility will require the next $350 billion, and that will have to happen if the loan is to be completed some time in the near future.  That does not mean it has to be completed within the set period of time remaining in this administration.  " title=" Q    But just a quick follow-up.  Even though it's a different administration, did you get any sign" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-02#entryid_268519" rowid="136530192" side="usa" srcid="268519" text=" MS. PERINO:  Technically, he resigned, yes.  " title=" Q    But just for the record, so he did resign, though, he was not fired?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320419" rowid="136534372" side="usa" srcid="320419" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Well, we're in the process right now.  I mean, we're evaluating those programs -- or their proposals.  Congress is hearing from them directly.	We do have a lot of questions.	The experts -- whether it's the CEA or the NEC or throughout the administration -- are evaluating their plans.	We're working with Congress about them, talking with members of Congress.  &lt;p /&gt; So it's an ongoing process, but it's one that's important.  It's important to the people who not only work in the auto industry, but to the rest of the economy.  And we're very interested in how they are going to change to become competitive in the future.  &lt;p /&gt; Brianna.  " title=" Q    But just to follow up on that, what would constitute a demonstration of that?  You have the pr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318524" rowid="136534137" side="usa" srcid="318524" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'm not aware of that.  Like I said, Mark, I'm just learning of that right now.  I'd want to look at it a bit more.  " title=" Q    But marketing with government funds?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-27#entryid_302315" rowid="136531899" side="usa" srcid="302315" text=" MR. FRATTO:  That's something for him to answer.  Each -- every one of these situations is different, and to try to compare them is just -- it's --  " title=" Q    But Medvedev seemed to think they were related.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317907" rowid="136534057" side="usa" srcid="317907" text=" MS. PERINO:  If the Congress doesn't act this week and one of the companies is in imminent danger of insolvency, we would suspect that they would want to come back and finish the work that they didn't get done this week.  " title=" Q    But my question is, if Congress does not act this week, is the administration just going to wa" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308764" rowid="136533032" side="usa" srcid="308764" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look, I'm not a security clearance expert.  What I can tell you is that they work as expeditiously as possible.  But these are important positions where people are entrusted with classified information, and the top secrets of the United States of America, and the security of our country is going to be in their hands.  So we take it very seriously, and that's why we're trying to get them the clearances that they need so that they can get all the briefings that they need, so that we're not starting from scratch on November 5th, trying to get clearances.  We will have them in hand hopefully by November 5th.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Victoria.  " title=" Q    But my understanding sometimes is when an employee comes in or tries to -- hired as a contract" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-18#entryid_322972" rowid="136534580" side="usa" srcid="322972" text=" MS. PERINO:  -- but not for a month.  So we are taking that into consideration.	And again, the President has the responsibility to look at the economy in the big -- from the big picture.  And if the economy was as strong as it was just a couple of years ago, or a year ago right before the credit collapse -- or the credit crunch -- then we wouldn't necessarily be having this conversation.  But because the economy is in such a weakened state, he feels that he needs to do something.	And that's why he's tasked his advisors to work round the clock to try to come up with something that would protect the taxpayers, but not allow a collapse that would hurt everybody in America.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q    But not for a month.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-14#entryid_321831" rowid="136534508" side="usa" srcid="321831" text=" GENERAL LUTE:  We don't anticipate that we'll be gaining mission-by-mission or raid-by-raid authorities, but rather that we'll gain authorities for periods of time, particular locations and particular enemy sets.  So for example, al Qaeda in Ninawa province and so forth.  So it won't be as detailed as, &quot;tomorrow night at 0100&quot; in a particular village.	It'll be broader categories.  " title=" Q    But not side-by-side -- I know they've been doing that.  But in terms of if we have a Special " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316891" rowid="136533881" side="usa" srcid="316891" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think we'll have anything specific on that today.	I think the leaders need to meet first.  " title=" Q    But not today?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267081" rowid="136529965" side="usa" srcid="267081" text=" MS. PERINO:  Let me just take a look.  I don't recall from the read that I had two days ago, so I'll take a look.  But obviously the President agrees with Director Nussle that the Congress needs to get its work done.  They're going to blow past this self-imposed deadline.  And there's another one -- there's another recess coming up in between.  We don't have very much time for them to get their work done, and the time -- time is of the essence.  And Secretary Gates has talked about how urgent the need is.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    But nothing on the legislation going on --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-02#entryid_268525" rowid="136530198" side="usa" srcid="268525" text=" MS. PERINO:  As far as I know, the Israelis and the Palestinians have continued to have talks in good faith while all of the discussion in the press has gone on in Israel.  " title=" Q    But obviously, this has an impact on the continuity of talks between Israelis and Palestinians" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-22#entryid_305805" rowid="136532561" side="usa" srcid="305805" text=" MS. PERINO:  Actually, I think that the response -- if you look at the G7 ministers' response this morning, they were very supportive and backed the action.  So I think I would look to that as -- in terms of -- for response from the world leaders.  The G7 statement came out this morning.  " title=" Q    But on one hand isn't that more concerning for these world leaders -- the drasticness of this " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-29#entryid_306859" rowid="136532721" side="usa" srcid="306859" text=" Q    But one of the national problems has been, particularly since housing has escalated, there is a severe shortage of affordable housing.  Section 8 vouchers don't really work.  A lot of people have them but can't find affordable rental places to go.  So are there any --  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  I know that's something that HUD is focused on, and so I'll refer you to them for more.  " title=" Q    But one of the national problems has been, particularly since housing has escalated, there is " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_271001" rowid="136530505" side="usa" srcid="271001" text=" MR. FRATTO:  He has a view on the tax moratorium and that's his position, and we talked about looking for it.  The President has been looking at it, but what the President has been focused on is the root of the problem, which is supply and demand.  And we've done a lot on the demand side, in terms of conservation.	 We passed an energy bill last year that increased CAFE fuel standards, and that will put billions of alternative fuels out there that our cars are going to run on.  We have done a great deal of investment in technologies for long term, for future automobiles and other forms of alternative fuels.  That's on the demand side.  &lt;p /&gt; Now what we really need to do is something on the supply side.	I gave the statistic earlier today in the gaggle that over the past three years or so, maybe a little bit longer, the annual -- 85 million barrels per day of oil being produced in the world, and we have seen millions of consumers out there -- in this country and in places like China and India and South Africa and Brazil and Russia and other emerging countries -- that are putting millions of new cars out on the road and they're increasing demand.  So we see demand increasing and we're not seeing a corresponding increase in supply.  And we have supply here at home and we should use it.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Wendell.  " title=" Q    But one of the people who is saying that something could be done overnight is John McCain, wit" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304225" rowid="136532270" side="usa" srcid="304225" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was the mastermind of 9/11, and he's sitting in jail right now.  " title=" Q    But Osama bin Laden is the one that -- you keep talking about his lieutenants, and, yes, they " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303876" rowid="136532169" side="usa" srcid="303876" text=" MS. PERINO:  We're comfortable with where we are, but what we want to see is a return to job growth, which will help fuel those receipts into the Treasury Department.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm going to go to April, and then I'm going to come down that way. April -- because you're so impatient.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    But right now where the government stands, where the White House stands, there's enough money " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-19#entryid_305518" rowid="136532520" side="usa" srcid="305518" text=" MR. HENNESSEY:	I think a lot of them are -- at least, that's what we've been seeing from the financial market results throughout the week.  &lt;p /&gt; As for whether or not policy should drive that, I'll let that be a result of the bipartisan discussions.  " title=" Q    But should the -- should these institutions bear some consequence for these kinds of instrumen" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-09#entryid_325883" rowid="136534933" side="usa" srcid="325883" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Well, I guess you should ask the question, have terrorists -- do terrorists continue to try to kill innocent civilians around the world?	Yes, they do.  Should we then just take a step back and decide, no, we shouldn't confront those challenges?  &lt;/p&gt;" title=" Q    But shouldn't the anti-terrorism efforts reduce terrorism rather than increase it?  &lt;/p&gt;" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-04#entryid_268991" rowid="136530250" side="usa" srcid="268991" text=" MR. HADLEY:  There are a lot of expressions of views.  The parties have this issue, and I think if you understand and talk to the parties, they will -- I have been very clear that they are going to work out something that they think is in the interests of the Israeli people and the Palestinian people, and I'm confident that's what they'll do.  " title=" Q    But since that's not U.S. policy, since you have now the person who is the Democratic presumpt" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266860" rowid="136529919" side="usa" srcid="266860" text=" MS. PERINO:  It does answer the question, that that is what we are working with our allies to do.	But the President has said -- what I'm saying today in response to the Jerusalem Post is nothing different than from what has been said at this podium for a couple of years now.  " title=" Q    But that doesn't answer the question.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320424" rowid="136534377" side="usa" srcid="320424" text=" MR. STANZEL:  That hasn't been made at this point, that's correct.  &lt;p /&gt; Jim.  " title=" Q    But that hasn't been made -- that recommendation hasn't been made to the President?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307678" rowid="136532849" side="usa" srcid="307678" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Because it's the basic math of it, Paula.	We've been through this many, many times.	If you force this on lenders, the impact will be to raise the cost of mortgage financing for everybody.	And if you raise the cost of mortgage financing for everyone, you lower the number of homeowners who can get mortgages to buy homes.  &lt;p /&gt; Kathleen.  " title=" Q    But that still doesn't -- could you still clarify why you're opposed to bankruptcy judges bein" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308781" rowid="136533049" side="usa" srcid="308781" text=" MS. PERINO:  It was a part of the rescue package that the President supported, and it gives the Treasury Secretary a range of possibilities, and investing in banks directly was one of those authorities.  And Secretary Paulson can use that authority as he sees fit.  " title=" Q    But that's an idea that the President would be okay with?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321145" rowid="136534455" side="usa" srcid="321145" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  It's going to have assumptions in there about what your profits are going to be as weighed against your costs.	So the President's designee is going to have to make those assessments, and there are additional criteria in the bill that the President's designee has to look at, including whether or not they have a product mix that will be competitive, and a cost structure that will be competitive.  Whether or not they're demonstrating capability of repaying the loan, that's another hard economic test that's important to us, important to the taxpayers.  &lt;p /&gt; So there's a number of tests that the President's designee will have to certify that this long-term viability plan satisfies.  And I would say that this is going to be one of the most highly reviewed and scrutinized certifications in history. And so I suspect that the President's designee will take very seriously the requirement not to exercise so much discretion that it can't be proven to people on CNBC, in the press briefing room, the taxpayers, members of Congress.  This is going to be  -- this is a pretty tough test to meet, and it's the one that they have to meet to justify getting taxpayer dollars.  " title=" Q    But that's like staying in business as opposed to staying competitive.  Net present value will" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270986" rowid="136530490" side="usa" srcid="270986" text=" MR. FRATTO:  It is the point, though.  I mean -- I'm sorry, the --  " title=" Q    But that's not the point, Tony.  The point is --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-30#entryid_307119" rowid="136532752" side="usa" srcid="307119" text=" MR. FRATTO:  For us to do a program that is ineffective would be incredibly wasteful.  Now, everybody wants to protect the taxpayer.  The worse thing we can do to the taxpayer is to allow this degradation in our economy right now, in our financial system to continue.  That is the absolute worst thing we can do for the taxpayer.  &lt;p /&gt; So we need to focus on fixing the problem.  And our experts at places like the U.S. Treasury Department, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Reserve, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and others who analyze this issue and this market, believe that a size of $700 billion is appropriate and necessary to address the problem.  " title=" Q    But the $700 billion number --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303865" rowid="136532158" side="usa" srcid="303865" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that they were tough decisions that were made and the President did a lot of work and in fact spent a lot of time overturning every stone to figure out if this was the right move to make.  And eventually everyone came aboard and they have implemented flawlessly from the Pentagon, in terms of getting Iraq back to a secure footing, and where we are allowed now to bring troops home based on success.  " title=" Q    But the --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309539" rowid="136533111" side="usa" srcid="309539" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I don't know that they ever thought necessarily that the asset purchase program -- I don't think they ever knew exactly how much it would be.  Now, granted, there were some people who, at the very beginning of this debate, thought that capital injection would be the best possible way to go, and they would not have done any asset purchases.  What the Treasury Secretary said this morning is that the $250 billion will go towards capital injections.  At some point, there will be some amount I'm assuming that will go towards asset purchases, but that takes a little bit more time, because you want to make sure that you know what you're buying and so that when you make that purchase, that you're able to protect the taxpayer and get a return on that investment.  " title=" Q    But the asset purchase program is just more scaled back than it --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300598" rowid="136531669" side="usa" srcid="300598" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, first of all, you had to get them to agree to it.  It's been five days.  We believe that the French were the right entity to move forward to try to craft the plan and to take it forward.  And they had the united support of the international allies going forward.  You just had yesterday the  -- well, the Georgians, for two days, have said that they would   accept a cease-fire.  The Russians had not.  It then took President Sarkozy to travel to Moscow to get that agreement from President Medvedev, and then he immediately left and he went to Tbilisi, and I think it was midnight their time last night when it all got finalized and agreed to.  &lt;p /&gt; When you have cease-fire agreements, as I understand it, it sometimes takes a while to make sure that they are cemented.  We have reports today that the Russians have taken actions that violated the cease-fire agreement.  And that's what the President was concerned about, and we have communicated that to the Russians.  And we have also worked to make sure the Georgians know that America stands fully behind them.  " title=" Q    But the cease-fire is not holding.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321117" rowid="136534427" side="usa" srcid="321117" text=" MS. PERINO:  The purpose of the program to help save the financial institutions has remained intact.  The tactic in order to help do that, that did change over time, because there's no road map to tell us how we would do that.	And Hank Paulson was very open and honest about that shift.  It was the tactic that changed, but not the overall purpose of the bill.  &lt;p /&gt; Goyal.  " title=" Q    But the focus of this program did shift from mid-September when it was announced to early Octo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-08#entryid_273593" rowid="136530907" side="usa" srcid="273593" text=" MR. PRICE:  I think what I've tried to say -- and you'll be able to read the declaration for yourself -- it expresses the view of the G8, the strong concerns they have about the sharp price of oil prices, identifying the need for concerted efforts to address the underlying causes.  It has some suggestions for focusing on the supply side, noting that production of refining capacities should be increased in the short term.  It identifies some of the things that need to be done on the demand side.  &lt;p /&gt; So I would say there was a very thorough discussion, and I would refer you to the relevant passages of the declaration, as well as the Chairman's summary that will be coming out, I believe, at the end of the day, by Prime Minister Fukuda.  " title=" Q    But the G8 declaration, does it do anything at all to concretely deal with the soaring oil pri" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269191" rowid="136530282" side="usa" srcid="269191" text=" Q    But the heart of the question, though, is, does the President feel, even if it's not 100 percent, that the intelligence that he's getting today is not subject to the second-guessing that this report is coming out with now, on the insufficiency of the intelligence at a crucial time?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think he thinks it is a much improved product, based on the improved processes that have been put in place, where the Director of National Intelligence can find out if there's dissent amongst intelligence professionals, or experts who are out there who might disagree.  If you have someone at the CIA who is disagreeing with somebody at NCTC, that is something that maybe before these new processes wouldn't have bubbled up so that everybody could know that there was a concern, that maybe somebody had questions about a key judgment.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think that adding that level of -- what is the confidence level of not just the judgments, but also of the sources, is an important way to improve the process and make sure that the President is getting an improved product.  And again, I would say that that's not just for this President.  President Bush has fundamentally reformed the intelligence community that will serve the next President and future Presidents very well.  &lt;p /&gt; Roger.  " title=" Q    But the heart of the question, though, is, does the President feel, even if it's not 100 perce" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273188" rowid="136530813" side="usa" srcid="273188" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, no, because it's what the President had -- that's what the President proposed last May and that's what we've been working towards.  We think we've made some good progress.  But the key to this -- and actually, I think other nations agree with this now -- that we have to have the developing nations at the table -- we're all rowing in the same direction -- or else we're not going to solve the problem and we're going to hurt people's economies.  &lt;p /&gt; You can't have research and development dollars going into helping find the new technologies if all the economies are slumping.  " title=" Q    But the idea of a binding, multilateral deal, treaty, is the administration philosophically op" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-22#entryid_301583" rowid="136531846" side="usa" srcid="301583" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I am not going to negotiate from the podium.  President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki had a good conversation this morning in discussing the agreement.  And our team and the Iraqi team are continuing discussions now.  &lt;p /&gt; I think it's fair to say -- and I think everyone understands this -- that when negotiations are hopefully coming to an end, when you can see the end in sight, there are a lot of details that have to be worked out, and I think we're in the process of working out details right now.  " title=" Q    But the Iraqis -- officials are saying on the record this 2011 date.  Do you dispute that?  Do" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279968" rowid="136531196" side="usa" srcid="279968" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we would -- we share the goal of trying to bring more of our combat troops home and transitioning the mission.  They have proven that they've come a long way.  The Iraqi security forces are able now to be the lead in the fight, such as they were in Basra, Mosul and Sadr City, some of the hardest fighting that they had in Iraq.	That's tremendous progress.  &lt;p /&gt; Right now, though, we're working -- to still work on transitioning security control over Anbar province, for example.  They're nearing -- nearer to being able to do that, but they're not quite there yet.  And that has been sort of a rolling -- on a rolling basis; the conditions aren't quite right, but we're getting closer.  And I think that any date will, again, be tied to this conditions based -- condition that -- condition based condition that we have.  " title=" Q    But the Iraqis may have some say in it, and they're saying that they would like to, you know, " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268298" rowid="136530168" side="usa" srcid="268298" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that that was -- well, I think you could go back, you could weigh it -- you know, I'm looking at it, what I have seen is a comprehensive case for confronting Saddam Hussein, and that's what the United Nations of course was talking about, specifically weapons of mass destruction.  But there was also a gathering threat in terms of the nexus of working -- for example, paying suicide bombers, paying families of suicide bombers.  &lt;p /&gt; And you know better than anyone, Martha, about the buildup to this, the reaction to this.  The problem that we have is this --  " title=" Q    But the order of what was talked about at the time in the buildup to the war was largely about" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270982" rowid="136530486" side="usa" srcid="270982" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, Congress is the problem in this case, in terms of the Outer Continental Shelf and ANWR.  And also -- do not want to forget the other two proposals that the President talked about today on oil shale and on the refineries.  And remember, one of the -- the cost bottlenecks that we have here in the United States has been this inability to produce new refineries or expand refineries because of regulatory hurdles and so forth.  So I thought that was also another important --  " title=" Q    But the President is satisfied that he does not need to push the oil companies; it's Congress " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271628" rowid="136530595" side="usa" srcid="271628" text=" MS. PERINO:  We absolutely are sympathetic.  We understand.  Many of us are consumers, too.  We know that this is actually having a larger impact and a disproportionate impact on low-income people, as well, and these are people that have to get to work every day just like we do.  So the important thing that we need to do is continue on -- to continue the conservation measures, work on a way to send a signal to the market that we're serious about increasing domestic production here in environmentally sensitive ways, and in addition to that, find ways that we can continually express to the American people not to expect a short-term response.  There's not going to be a short-term response, and it would be irresponsible for anybody to suggest there would be.  " title=" Q    But the short-term problem is what seems to upset people as they go to fill their cars up ever" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-13#entryid_326206" rowid="136534971" side="usa" srcid="326206" text=" MR. FRATTO:  It is very, very important.  But I don't think that came into their thinking, in terms of why that hypothetical for this exercise.  They're all important and they all have unique aspects to the appropriate response.  This one in particular I think includes reactions from all major departments, in fact, actually all departments, and many agencies and subagencies.  &lt;p /&gt; So it's a very -- it requires a very thorough response.  And so I guess from that perspective, there's an opportunity for the incoming administration, the officials there, to see the breadth of the response.  " title=" Q    But the thinking -- was the thinking not that that was probably the most important out of all " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-06#entryid_269327" rowid="136530306" side="usa" srcid="269327" text=" MS. PERINO:  On?  " title=" Q    But the U.S. has not ruled out military options as a last resort, nor has it --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-17#entryid_270700" rowid="136530443" side="usa" srcid="270700" text=" MR. FRATTO:  The White House policy --  " title=" Q    But the White House policy does not -- the bar is not --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-17#entryid_270691" rowid="136530434" side="usa" srcid="270691" text=" Q    But then as far as the President's visit to Europe is concerned, and upcoming visit to G8 in July, do you think as far as oil prices and food price and gas going on around the globe, because every -- most of the countries depend on the U.S. economy, do you think it will ease or bring some (inaudible) to the --  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  On prices?  " title=" Q    But then as far as the President's visit to Europe is concerned, and upcoming visit to G8 in J" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300762" rowid="136531707" side="usa" srcid="300762" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would have you go back -- I mean, Secretary Rice has been meeting with President Saakashvili and then her counterparts in Russia, including President Putin and then President Medvedev -- we had a change in power in I think April or May -- and telling everybody that they need to work this out through the U.N. Security Council.  Georgia had put forward plans.	We had been cautioning them -- President Bush had done the same -- to not be provoked into action.  But regardless of the shots being fired, this time Russia, whose intentions are still unclear, responded with a disproportionate amount of force and have killed many innocent civilians and displaced many innocent civilians, so much so that now we have to send in a humanitarian assistance package led by the Pentagon in order to help all of these people.  &lt;p /&gt; So we're going to be committed and remain committed to Georgia.  We also have to consider what we're going to do in regards to its military and other reconstruction efforts, and all those things are on the table.  " title=" Q    But then perhaps if it's a foregone conclusion that every August this is going to happen, coul" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268275" rowid="136530145" side="usa" srcid="268275" text=" MS. PERINO:  I just don't -- I don't know.  " title=" Q    But there have been reports that the private sector hasn't done anywhere near as much as the g" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-29#entryid_306855" rowid="136532717" side="usa" srcid="306855" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'm not sure that it's the CEO getting the government money.  I know this was something that was part of the debate over the weekend with members, and informed a very big part of the debate, as they tried to determine the best way to do this that would not inhibit companies from coming in, but would still provide some measure of accountability on CEOs and senior corporate executive teams at financial firms that participate in this program.  &lt;p /&gt; I think it is pretty substantial.  I think it's like nothing that you've seen before, except in the case of failed institutions where, when we come in with assistance, we actually clean out -- as you've seen it at Bear Stearns and others, where the entire management team is removed and shareholders are wiped out.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think it is pretty strong protections that Americans' tax dollars will not go to -- will not be a windfall for CEOs.  " title=" Q    But there is a possibility that people will get government money for these $20, $40-million pa" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300603" rowid="136531674" side="usa" srcid="300603" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not that I'm aware of, no.  " title=" Q    But there is no other signal that he's sending?  Because you will now have U.S. military prese" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-18#entryid_305336" rowid="136532469" side="usa" srcid="305336" text=" MS. PERINO:  I couldn't tell you that, either.	You'll have to call Treasury Department and ask them what Treasury Department is working on.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    But there is something in the works being developed, I gather?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-15#entryid_316975" rowid="136533888" side="usa" srcid="316975" text=" SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  There was no agreement among the leaders as to where it would be.  There were discussions, as I said, among those who were interested in hosting to try and work that out.  " title=" Q    But there was no agreement on that -- talking amongst themselves?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320130" rowid="136534307" side="usa" srcid="320130" text=" MS. PERINO:  Those are the basic ones.	But I think that Secretary Rice herself said that she was encouraged by what she had heard from the Pakistanis and she's going to continue to push them.  Because, one, it's horrible enough that it happened to innocent Indians and also citizens from 10 different countries -- I believe the number ended up being 10. But six of our own citizens were killed, as well.  And so we take this very seriously.  And we're going to continue to try to work with the Pakistanis to make sure they follow this to the conclusion that we expect.  &lt;p /&gt; Ann.  " title=" Q    But there were no more concrete benchmarks established?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324676" rowid="136534839" side="usa" srcid="324676" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Well, actually we have set up the monuments in a way that's fully compatible with our future plans for military readiness training in the Pacific region, and fully compatible with the sort of the readiness and mobility you need for the military in that part of the world.  &lt;p /&gt; In fact, I want to underline we actually welcome the presence of the military in and around the monument, because they will be some of our best eyes and ears as to what's going on with the resource.	These are very, very remote places.  And as we, for example, build up the military in Guam, there will be opportunities for military personnel to actually learn more about the resource and help understand global awareness of the resource.  And as well, the military will be flying their missions, and sailing their ships, and running their submarines in and around these areas.	But I want to observe the active military activity will be taking place south of the Northern Islands, and so we have set this up in a way where it's going to be fully compatible with those activities.  " title=" Q    But there will be limits on, or allowances for, military training -- or how would that be affe" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-18#entryid_305349" rowid="136532482" side="usa" srcid="305349" text=" Q    But there's a -- I guess a criticism raised is sort of a philosophical question that a cornerstone of Republican philosophy has been deregulation, less government, less regulation.  And so the extension of that thought is that this is what happens when you have less regulation.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  But let me -- but again, I would go back and ask you, can they name one regulation that we eliminated?  Can they name one regulation that they wanted to have us implement that we blocked?  And I'm sure that they can't.	And what we have asked for is smarter regulation across the board, and that's what we have laid out.  We had a regulatory blueprint for them to follow, and they declined not to.  But as I said yesterday, we're not going to be in the blame game.	We're going to continue to lead, act and govern and take the necessary steps to prevent broader damage to the economy.  " title=" Q    But there's a -- I guess a criticism raised is sort of a philosophical question that a corners" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321127" rowid="136534437" side="usa" srcid="321127" text=" Q    But there's nothing in the President's goals that say that at the end of this process, you necessarily need an America-based car industry?  In other words, if the solution to this is merger with non-American-headquartered makers, that's perfectly fine with the President?  &lt;p&gt; MR. KAPLAN:  The President's goal here is to ensure that there is a viable manufacturing base and companies in -- that exist today.  That doesn't mean they'll be the same --  " title=" Q    But there's nothing in the President's goals that say that at the end of this process, you nec" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-30#entryid_307141" rowid="136532774" side="usa" srcid="307141" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Absolutely, yes.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Mark.  " title=" Q    But there's still flexibility in that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267089" rowid="136529981" side="usa" srcid="267089" text=" Q    But they have -- the Secret Service, especially, particularly an agent, these are very intelligent people who, when they go out in the community with the President or presidential candidate, they have the intelligence enough to survey a crowd, to understand what could happen. And for the Secret Service to say this agent -- they're trying to find out if he understood the meaning -- isn't that kind of a contradiction? And also do you feel that if these kinds of things are allowed within the Secret Service, do you think that is fair to a Barack Obama or a Condoleezza Rice?  Can they actually effectively protect minorities?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  April, I think that you're -- one, you're trying to get me to comment on an investigation that the U.S. Secret Service is conducting.  And it's not appropriate for the White House and the President's spokesperson to be getting themselves involved in an investigation that the U.S. Secret Service is conducting.  And I'm sure they are conducting it with integrity and that is what the President would expect.  So let me just leave it at that.  " title=" Q    But they have -- the Secret Service, especially, particularly an agent, these are very intelli" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-26#entryid_272210" rowid="136530703" side="usa" srcid="272210" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Well, we've -- they've set up a process; they've said we will have access.  We've said we were going to be making the questions, and that we need to get answers and be satisfied or we aren't going to be able to move forward.  It's pretty clear.  &lt;p /&gt; Sir.  " title=" Q    But they're not obliged to give you all of these answers.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-17#entryid_310373" rowid="136533188" side="usa" srcid="310373" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would not at all be surprised that Secretary Gates would support the draft since we're getting closer to a final agreement.  " title=" Q    But this -- I guess one of the questions is, you know, if Secretary Gates apparently supports " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306425" rowid="136532656" side="usa" srcid="306425" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that you -- if you look at some of the commentary that was coming out from people on background  -- nobody was really willing to go on the record -- but they were all looking at each other.	We're in the middle of an election campaign, there's no doubt about it.  It's dominating our coverage and it was starting to seep into the debate.  And even though people wanted to work in a bipartisan fashion, the thought was that bringing these two candidates together would actually help finalize the framework that we were closing in on, and we think that that's all for the better.  " title=" Q    But this -- I mean, beyond a photo op, what do you get out of today -- here, this specific mee" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303097" rowid="136532023" side="usa" srcid="303097" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to refer you to Department of Defense.  " title=" Q    But this is a political decision.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309525" rowid="136533097" side="usa" srcid="309525" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look, we have assistance that we have provided through LIHEAP, through food stamps, and there's unemployment benefits.  But one of the things that we want to do is make sure that people return to work, and we're going to continue pushing for that.  &lt;p /&gt; Victoria.  " title=" Q    But this is about the economic plan.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306602" rowid="136532680" side="usa" srcid="306602" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, why would we go forward with a plan that we didn't think would fix it?  " title=" Q    But this is uncharted territory, and you're saying that you're not going to go forward until y" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-29#entryid_306868" rowid="136532730" side="usa" srcid="306868" text=" MR. FRATTO:  No.  No, the Treasury -- the Treasury was aware of a lot of different potential solutions, and this was one of them.  " title=" Q    But Treasury saw this happening, the possibility --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298588" rowid="136531455" side="usa" srcid="298588" text=" SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  You will, in short -- you will in short order.  " title=" Q    But we don't have the -- I mean --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298786" rowid="136531481" side="usa" srcid="298786" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look, the President has talked about China, about human rights, from the beginning.  He believes that the Olympics is a place to celebrate athletes who have reached the pinnacle of their careers, and he's going to cheer on our athletes and to support the other athletes as well.  &lt;p /&gt; We can talk about human rights before, during and after the Olympics, and we will.  And this will be a problem that -- in terms of helping to try to improve human rights, this will be a problem that President Bush continues to work on throughout his presidency.  And the next President will have to continue to work on it as well.  And members of Congress, if they are so concerned, can try to work on it as well.  It's going to take a lot of concentrated effort.  &lt;p /&gt; But when you're asking me like what else could possibly be done, I can't imagine what else you would recommend that we do, except for try to work with them, provide access to some of the dissidents to the White House, where they could tell their stories.  And these stories got told all around the world because of President Bush having that meeting.  &lt;p /&gt; He hasn't just met with Chinese dissidents.  I mean, where is everybody's concern about the dissidents in Cuba, or elsewhere?  And you don't hear a lot of talk about other countries.  So President Bush has been working on this issue of the freedom agenda across the board, all around the world, and he will continue to do so before, during and after the Olympics.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay?  Roger.  " title=" Q    But we've used sanctions on other -- against other countries whose policies we disagree with. " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308083" rowid="136532934" side="usa" srcid="308083" text=" Q    But what about on the overseas -- you know, it's hit the European and the Asian markets very hard, coming into the new week. What does the President think about some of the steps that they're talking about taking overseas?	And does he think that they should also do a $700 billion type of bailout plan?  &lt;p&gt; MR. STANZEL:  Well, we welcome the European discussions and appreciate the continued attention to the situation affecting the global financial system.  The Treasury, the Fed, and others work with their counterparts to promote stability.  And so we appreciate those discussions and they are ongoing.  There's a great amount of concern around the world about the global financial system.  And the President thinks that the plan that was approved by Congress last week and that he signed into law is the right one to deal with the specific issue of getting the credit market moving again so it doesn't have a deeper impact on people throughout our country.  " title=" Q    But what about on the overseas -- you know, it's hit the European and the Asian markets very h" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280167" rowid="136531229" side="usa" srcid="280167" text=" MS. PERINO:  We went through this again yesterday, and I think that there's a big difference about a bilateral joint agreement on a general time horizon that is an aspirational goal that will be based on conditions on the ground and what military commanders -- our military commanders and the Iraqi military commanders believe will be their capacity.  This is not a -- these will not be dates plucked out of thin air based on an American political calendar, or based on an American inside-the-beltway decision of &quot;we think this would be a good date to remove troops.&quot;	We want to bring troops home based on success.  &lt;p /&gt; And, in fact, the President has already started to do so.  We have reduced five brigades this year alone; there could be more to come.  I mean, those are decisions that are going to have to be made later this fall when President Bush hears from General Petraeus on his report.  " title=" Q    But what about the fact -- beyond the media -- the fact that Prime Minister Maliki seems to be" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307696" rowid="136532867" side="usa" srcid="307696" text=" Q    But what about the person who's going through the crisis?	This White House said this crisis was started by the housing problem, predatory lending, the bubble burst.  There are people still in this country going through foreclosure.  Is there money to help restructure loans or anything directed towards that?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  April, there is some of that in this bill.  But it wasn't that long ago that we just -- in fact, I think before they left for August passed a housing bill that did exactly that.  It had the reforms in there for oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and it also greatly expanded a program with the Federal Housing Administration to help families and homeowners deal with foreclosure and to provide services to homeowners to avoid foreclosure.  In fact, that's what we did for an entire year.  &lt;p /&gt; I'll take you back to August 31st of 2007 when the President announced a program specifically to deal with homeowners facing foreclosure.  And so we had FHASecure set up, where the Federal Housing Administration is working directly with homeowners to help them avoid foreclosure and bring them into FHA-insured loans.  We set up the HOPE NOW Alliance, which is dealing with hundreds of thousands of homeowners and to help them work with the lenders and mortgage service providers to modify loans.	And also, then, there was another piece of that dealing with people going through bankruptcy to not have to deal with the debt from their home loans when they go through foreclosure.  &lt;p /&gt; So there has been a lot done over the course of the year, and then, yes, there is more in this bill.  " title=" Q    But what about the person who's going through the crisis?	This White House said this crisis wa" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320401" rowid="136534354" side="usa" srcid="320401" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Well, the President has been working to address the economic situation for years.  The President, I will remind you, put in place tax relief when he inherited a recession at the beginning of his first term.  He put in place tax relief, the largest tax relief in a generation, that spurred 52 straight months of job growth.  That is a record.  That's a statement of fact, as well.  &lt;p /&gt; The President has put in place policies to try to get our economy moving and try to make sure that people who want to find a job can find a job.  So the President has worked hard to make sure that we can take action to keep our economy moving, but many of these problems that we have seen -- in the financial markets, in the housing markets -- are many, many years in the making.  &lt;p /&gt; Goyal.  " title=" Q    But what did the President do that contributed to the current economic blowup?  Nothing?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303882" rowid="136532175" side="usa" srcid="303882" text=" Q    But what does it say about the judgment of the military leadership of the country that what you're calling the most important foreign policy national security decision of a generation faced near unanimous opposition from the top military leaders?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I would be -- I would caution you that it was near unanimous.  I would also point out that President Bush showed tremendous leadership to be able to ask, what are the other options?  What else could we do?  How can we win?  &lt;p /&gt; Remember, a lot of conversation during that time was from members of Congress saying that we are losing and we should leave.  And the President instead said, it is tough, it is horrific in terms of the violence, but we are staying, and how can we win?  And that was the conversation that went -- that took place those last several months of 2006 and resulted in the policy of the surge.  " title=" Q    But what does it say about the judgment of the military leadership of the country that what yo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301178" rowid="136531792" side="usa" srcid="301178" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I've seen reports; I don't have the specifics on what is the exact location or condition of the equipment.  It certainly needs to be restored or returned to its original location as quickly as possible.  But there's conflicting reports on it right now.  We certainly expect that the Russians would return any equipment that is U.S. equipment, and return it quickly, if, in fact, they do have it.	But I don't have all the specifics.  " title=" Q    But what does that mean?  Have they actually taken --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268302" rowid="136530172" side="usa" srcid="268302" text=" Q    But what I'm saying, though, isn't it the fact that a former member of the inner circle is saying them that it adds some degree of legitimacy; it's not just dismissible by saying, well, those are Democrats and they're our political opponents?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't believe -- no, and I don't think that any time that we have argued about this that we've argued just about the messenger when it comes to Democrats either.  We argue about it on the merits.  And our central objection to the book to the book is that it is not based in fact.  &lt;p /&gt; And I think that one of the reasons we are puzzled and surprised and disappointed and saddened by it is because the charge, the loaded charge, in the book is that the President and his senior advisors purposefully misled people into war, and that we sent our young men and women into war, knowing something that we weren't telling the American people.  &lt;p /&gt; That is not true.  And several independent non-partisan reviews have been done about pre-war intelligence.  Is it true that WMD wasn't found?  Of course it was.	And we admitted that.  We have said over and over that the intelligence was wrong.  And we have worked very hard at President Bush's direction to change the way the intelligence community works together.	But what hurts us is the suggestion that we purposefully sent men and women to war without acknowledging the consequences.  " title=" Q    But what I'm saying, though, isn't it the fact that a former member of the inner circle is say" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317046" rowid="136533913" side="usa" srcid="317046" text=" MS. PERINO:  We are stepping in, April.  We are trying to help them.  We have provided a path forward, a bipartisan path to provide $25 billion to the automakers, so that they can put themselves -- get themselves through this rough patch and provide for long-term viability, so that they can be on sound financial footing and be the productive companies that they've been in the past.  That's what we're trying to help them to do.  And we're going to try to get this legislation done in the next couple of days.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Laurent.  " title=" Q    But what is the definition of failure?  You say the President doesn't want them to fail.  I me" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315255" rowid="136533625" side="usa" srcid="315255" text=" MS. PERINO:  What piece of advice?  I'm going to have to think about it.  Piece of advice that I would say publicly here, at the podium?	(Laughter.)  " title=" Q    But what piece of advice would you pass on to that person?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320592" rowid="136534409" side="usa" srcid="320592" text=" MS. PERINO:  Right.  Our idea was one person that would serve as an advisor, somebody appointed by the President.  Of course when you're working on a negotiation, you talk to them about their ideas, as well; we'll see what they come back with.  But our concern right now is on the process, because we haven't seen the legislation, so we can't give you any more details.  " title=" Q    But what you're talking about are conditions for oversight to work, not necessarily if it's th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-14#entryid_326360" rowid="136534995" side="usa" srcid="326360" text=" MS. PERINO:  The President isn't doing that; he has a Secretary of State who he has working on that and that's who should be -- that's absolutely appropriate, is to have his Secretary of State working on that.  &lt;p /&gt; Mike.  " title=" Q    But when is the last time he had direct conversations with people brokering the Egyptian-Frenc" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-24#entryid_271797" rowid="136530625" side="usa" srcid="271797" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  Gasoline was certainly high, because it was around that time that at least one reporter said that there might be $4 gasoline.  So higher energy prices have been having an impact.  That's one of the reasons that we're working to do something to send the market a signal that we want to increase supply so that we can start to bring back into balance the law of supply and demand.  &lt;p /&gt; It's going to take a while, and we've been very careful and cautious to make sure that we tell people there's no magic wand that anybody can wave.  That's not just the President, but members of Congress, as well.  &lt;p /&gt; One thing that is happening on the energy front is an increase in conservation here in our own country, which is to be expected when you have higher prices.	And that, coupled with aggressive research and development into new technologies, like battery-powered vehicles, will get us into a better position in the long run.  But for the short term, it's important that we make sure everyone understands there's nothing we can do overnight.  " title=" Q    But when you did the stimulus package you weren't facing $4-a-gallon gasoline, and that's been" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268292" rowid="136530162" side="usa" srcid="268292" text=" MS. PERINO:  The Counsel's Office is the recipient of the manuscript.  " title=" Q    But when you said &quot;we knew,&quot; who was &quot;we&quot;?  Was it the Counsel's Office?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317904" rowid="136534054" side="usa" srcid="317904" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, they haven't left town yet.	The gavel hasn't come down.  And presumably, given the rhetoric that they've used over the past week, the Democrats believe that the automakers need help.  Well, if that's the case, then they should allow us to move forward to have a vote on something that we think could get passed.  &lt;p /&gt; The truth is Senator Reid's idea could not get enough votes in the Senate to get through the process.  So the alternative would be to, well, could we think of another way, a bipartisan way where we could get the automakers help?  Instead, he just wants to pull the plug and leave town.	And we don't think that that is a good way to help the auto industry, and we certainly don't think it's a good signal for the bipartisanship that everyone pledged over the past year.  " title=" Q    But why do you remain hopeful?  I mean, are you hearing anything in the --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322333" rowid="136534513" side="usa" srcid="322333" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that's three questions you already asked.  " title=" Q    But why don't you --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324597" rowid="136534851" side="usa" srcid="324597" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think, Helen, strong views are held on this by all sides.	We believe that Israel has a right to defend itself, and --  " title=" Q    But why don't you call for it today and stop people from being killed?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306416" rowid="136532647" side="usa" srcid="306416" text=" MS. PERINO:  I did not say it was the opposite.  I said we are driving to a conclusion, we have a framework that we're moving forward.  And I haven't seen his comments, and maybe he has information that I don't have that makes him think that this deal is almost dead.	But I can tell you that members of Congress have been working together.  I think if you have to look at other people's comments, that they understand the urgency.  &lt;p /&gt; Obviously, there's a lot of questions, and there should be.  We should be held accountable, as should the members of Congress, for lots of different questions that members of Congress's constituents are asking them.  But I think that everybody is going to -- coming to a place where they can get together this afternoon and, hopefully, close on a framework where we can get this legislation passed.  &lt;p /&gt; I think it's really important that we do it as quickly as possible.  If you look at the credit markets that tightened up overnight, Secretary Paulson is extremely concerned about that situation.  And I think it underscores the importance of moving quickly.  &lt;p /&gt; Elaine.  " title=" Q    But why would he say that it's stalling, that it's not going anywhere, and then the White Hous" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308080" rowid="136532931" side="usa" srcid="308080" text=" MR. STANZEL:  I don't expect so.  " title=" Q    But will he -- do you think he'll mention --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-30#entryid_324148" rowid="136534725" side="usa" srcid="324148" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I'm not going to get into any private discussions, but our message to Israel has been the same that I've said here, our message to everyone, and that is that the only way this is going to stop is if Hamas stops firing rockets and everyone agrees to a sustainable ceasefire.  &lt;p /&gt; Nelson.  " title=" Q    But will that concern translate into you pushing Israel toward the 48-hour ceasefire?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-29#entryid_302701" rowid="136531980" side="usa" srcid="302701" text=" MS. PERINO:  What we want is the posture before August 6th, and before August 6th you did not have Russian bases on that territory.  &lt;p /&gt; Victoria.  " title=" Q    But would Russian military bases in South Ossetia be acceptable to the United States?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272627" rowid="136530739" side="usa" srcid="272627" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think -- I'm just not going to speculate on any such action.  I don't know of any that's being contemplated.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm going to go back to April, because she had one, too, on this.  " title=" Q    But would the administration -- would the Bush administration be upset if he were detained and" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-11#entryid_316198" rowid="136533768" side="usa" srcid="316198" text=" MS. PERINO:  The President supports the free trade agreements on their merits.  When it comes to a second stimulus package, what I have told you for a week or so is that so far we have not seen something that would stimulate the economy right away.  We want to promptly help the economy, and the best way for us to do that is to implement the rescue package that we are currently doing to help improve the credit markets.  That's at the root -- that's the root cause of our problems.  &lt;p /&gt; Some of the other suggestions that have been floated by Democrats wouldn't put a lot of money into the economy right away.  If you want to stimulate the economy, that would be the test that we think that you would have to pass.  We're willing to listen to their ideas of how they would like to move forward; open to suggestions as to what they think needs to be done.  &lt;p /&gt; But what we really also need to see them do is to talk with their Republican counterparts, because it does take three to tango in this town, and there's a House and a Senate.  There are a lot of Republicans who need to be heard on this because they can help push something forward, or not -- they could also prevent something from going forward.  So we'd like to see them actually exercise some of this bipartisanship that they're talking about.  " title=" Q    But would the administration be --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317303" rowid="136533956" side="usa" srcid="317303" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's hard to say.	What we want is for these companies to be able to succeed.  We think that we can provide them access to the money that's been -- already been appropriated for the purpose of helping the automakers modernize themselves, that that would be an appropriate thing to do.  But we are not in favor of even an additional $25 billion in taxpayer money on top of that.  " title=" Q    But would you concede then that ultimately the long-term cost could be far more than the DOE f" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320407" rowid="136534360" side="usa" srcid="320407" text=" Q    But wouldn't you think that some of your economists, your economic advisors would have seen this to be able to say, wait a minute, Mr. President, we are in a recession.  Maybe -- yes, you're supposed to have two consecutive -- traditional markers -- two consecutive --  &lt;p&gt; MR. STANZEL:  And a lot of other factors.  " title=" Q    But wouldn't you think that some of your economists, your economic advisors would have seen th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-09#entryid_325882" rowid="136534932" side="usa" srcid="325882" text=" MR. STANZEL:  I'm done, I'm going to move on.  &lt;/p&gt;" title=" Q    But you can try a --  &lt;/p&gt;" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-23#entryid_267465" rowid="136530048" side="usa" srcid="267465" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we let them know that we would be giving the speech.  The President's schedule is pretty open.  I mean, you guys know what he's going to be talking about weeks in advance.  But there are some things that we can let them know in terms of -- we just don't want to make sure -- we want to make sure that we're not stepping on each other's toes or getting in the way of something that they want to accomplish, and we're cognizant of that.  &lt;p /&gt; But also he's the President of the United States, and so he will give speeches and talk about issues depending on where and when he is.  For example on the Cuba speech, we let them know that the President would be making some -- a new policy announcement on the gift parcels, as we talked about the other day, when it comes to the cell phones.	We offered to provide details, but they apparently didn't need any and they didn't call back on that.  &lt;p /&gt; So I would say it's in some ways casual in that a lot of the people that are working for the McCain campaign are friends of ours and the -- Barry Jackson's office does a lot of the conversations with them, as does Ed Gillespie -- but all appropriate conversations and ones to give them as much of a heads up as we can on -- and also to find out topics that they're going to be talking about.  " title=" Q    But you did coordinate on the --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-19#entryid_305500" rowid="136532504" side="usa" srcid="305500" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't see any need for him to be here over the next few hours, but if he comes we'll let you know.  " title=" Q    But you don't know if he's physically over here.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300747" rowid="136531692" side="usa" srcid="300747" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think that even if they were to be able to come back -- even if the President were to call them back, I don't think that they would be able to get anything done before then anyway.	So we think there is value in them hearing from their constituents.  " title=" Q    But you expect this won't take place until September and there will be no special session?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-03#entryid_319936" rowid="136534294" side="usa" srcid="319936" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that to the American people, that giving $25 billion in taxpayer dollars to a specific industry is generous.  But these are very serious times, and I'm sure the companies have spent a lot of time thinking through what they think they will need.  And we'll have to wait and see what their plans say.  Give us a chance to look through them.  Let's see what they have to say tomorrow, and let's see what kind of support they can get on Capitol Hill tomorrow, as well.  I think that remains a little bit of a mystery.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    But you had said yesterday that $25 billion sounded -- the technology funds alone sounded pret" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-30#entryid_307128" rowid="136532761" side="usa" srcid="307128" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I think we will leave our negotiations for our discussions with members of Congress and not try to have me negotiate from here.  &lt;p /&gt; Let me go to Olivier, and then Les.  " title=" Q    But you have to acknowledge that one of the key issues here is also to get something that will" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298620" rowid="136531462" side="usa" srcid="298620" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I would need to go back and check.  I thought that we had.  I see what you're saying.  I believe that the court says --  " title=" Q    But you haven't decided to do that yet?  You're reviewing it?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298489" rowid="136531384" side="usa" srcid="298489" text=" MR. WILDER:  No.  " title=" Q    But you just referred to, I believe, is the first opportunity for the President to de-list the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306422" rowid="136532653" side="usa" srcid="306422" text=" MS. PERINO:  I wouldn't say that.  I think it's impossible to say.  I wouldn't say that we could get one before or after; I just don't know.  What I do know is that it is urgent that we get it done.  " title=" Q    But you just said you don't know if you'll have a deal before the meeting or directly after, b" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318525" rowid="136534138" side="usa" srcid="318525" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I think that's a -- I mean, firms do that as a marketing item, and certainly marketing is important for any business.	I'm not commenting specifically on Citibank's decision as I'm just learning about it right now, April.  I'm sorry.  " title=" Q    But you said just now at the podium, you said banks are only in the business of lending.  This" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-01#entryid_302891" rowid="136532008" side="usa" srcid="302891" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, sir.  " title=" Q    But you said nothing today?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306396" rowid="136532627" side="usa" srcid="306396" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm sorry?  " title=" Q    But you specifically talked about Barack Obama and John McCain.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269193" rowid="136530284" side="usa" srcid="269193" text=" Q    But you understand the differences they're making, that they think that the claims -- understanding that the intelligence was wrong -- but that the claims went far beyond what the intelligence community was giving the White House, and that it ignored significant dissent within the intelligence community -- the White House.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  That dissent, amongst experts within the intelligence community at some levels, did not reach the President.	The process that I just talked about, in terms of how we've improved the process, would hopefully make sure that now that we have this different levels of confidence, so that the President now knows if there is dissent amongst them.  And that is all now coordinated by the Director of National Intelligence -- Mike McConnell in this case.  &lt;p /&gt; So we've fixed the problems, in terms of the intelligence, but no one lied.  And I think that's sort of the point of all this.  These issues have been looked at many times.  And I would also remind you that everyone who has looked at this has not come to the conclusion, except for people who are not basing things on the facts, that there was political interference or that there was some sort of pressure put on people to give us information that we wanted for purposes of just going to war.  We acted on the information that we had.  &lt;p /&gt; And the President has repeated this -- the Vice President, other administration officials.  And I think that this is just another example of rehashing this old issue, which is fine.  If people want to spend their time doing that, that's up to them.  But we have changed the process, and it's much more improved.  And that's good for the President -- not just this President, but any future President as well.  " title=" Q    But you understand the differences they're making, that they think that the claims -- understa" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-09#entryid_325893" rowid="136534943" side="usa" srcid="325893" text=" MR. STANZEL:  I did?  Okay, well, I did use singular, but I -- there could be other parts of a scenario, it could be very complex, it could be very simple.  I'm just not going to detail out the parameters of it.  &lt;/p&gt;" title=" Q    But you used the singular.  I just wanted --  &lt;/p&gt;" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267040" rowid="136529996" side="usa" srcid="267040" text=" MR. FISK:  Yes.  I mean, the idea here is that you have a -- because Cubans on the island see this as a period of activity, kind of book-ended by Jose Marti's death, the date of his death, and the death of Boitel, it kind of fit in there, and it made -- it just made sense to the individuals involved and the organizations involved in this effort.  &lt;p /&gt; If there's someone who hasn't -- not to be dismissive -- but someone who hasn't yet asked a question.  " title=" Q    But you want it to be generally a Cuba week?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325249" rowid="136534908" side="usa" srcid="325249" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, as you know, the Egyptians have been and we've been working with them, and Secretary Rice is talking with all of her counterparts.  &lt;p /&gt; We do have, right now, a lull in the fighting, a halt to the fighting, so that more humanitarian aid can get to the people -- because it's not just the United States that's concerned about the humanitarian situation.  Clearly the Arab world is -- but so are the Israelis.  And that's why they're allowing humanitarian aid to get there.  I think one of the things that they've been concerned about is that Hamas has been known to commandeer this aid and send it directly to their forces and not to the people who actually need it.  " title=" Q    But you won't even to talk to Hamas.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298443" rowid="136531420" side="usa" srcid="298443" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that we are -- overall disappointment in the situation, sure.  " title=" Q    But you won't go so far as to say that, looking at Alberto Gonzales's Justice Department, Pres" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-05#entryid_273371" rowid="136530838" side="usa" srcid="273371" text=" MS. PERINO:  There's a lot of inputs that go into this.  And the President of the United States is not only thinking of his constituents, but of how do you make this actually work in a way that is practicable. And so we will continue to talk about it, we'll represent our interests, and we will continue to make sure that India and China and other developing nations are at the table, because one thing that we have realized -- that we have been able to get people to realize over those past years, that if you don't have them, you're not going to solve the problem anyway, because it's a global problem of global emissions.  So we'll have to see how it goes.  " title=" Q    But you would be able to accomplish that if the United States got on board with what the Japan" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311190" rowid="136533224" side="usa" srcid="311190" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, she said, the method by which he'll vote, not who he's going to vote for.  I think the President has well established that.  (Laughter.)  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    But you'd have to give us -- you'd have to get it to us later.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-31#entryid_314016" rowid="136533570" side="usa" srcid="314016" text=" MR. FRATTO:  That's true, but the truth is we're also trying to stay out of the public limelight during this period of the election season.  There are two individuals out there running to be President of the United States, and we don't want to complicate that for them.  We actually would have preferred to stay even more quiet over the previous weeks than we've been able to.  But the President is the President and has some pretty important issues that he's had to deal with, including the financial crisis, that he's had to be a lot more visible on than we would have liked during the most intense period of the campaign.  &lt;p /&gt; On election night, the President will be here.	He'll be here with the First Lady watching it.  I don't have a whole lot of details, but they'll watch the returns come in.  And maybe Dana will have a little bit more on Monday on anything more that we can share on that.  " title=" Q    But you're in a situation right now where he's doing zero, basically.  He did one last week, r" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273725" rowid="136530922" side="usa" srcid="273725" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  The targets will all get worked out by the end of next year.  I think a number of countries will pre-declare, like the U.S. has and like Canada and Europe has, but ultimately those get worked out.  " title=" Q    But you're looking for the targets perhaps next year?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273190" rowid="136530815" side="usa" srcid="273190" text=" MS. PERINO:  Absolutely not, no.  And President Bush yesterday -- just a little bit more -- he was yesterday getting ready for -- to do some of the Japanese television interviews.  He was informed by the Chief of Staff and the National Security Advisor at about 3:00 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. yesterday afternoon that the operation had been executed and that it had been successful.  And he's very happy for all of the families today, and he's glad that they're able to be reunited on the 4th -- right before the 4th of July.  " title=" Q    But you're not aware of anyone here at the White House or the State Department who briefed Sen" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-09#entryid_269556" rowid="136530319" side="usa" srcid="269556" text=" MR. PRICE:  Again, it's kind of hard --  " title=" Q    But you're not putting forward a new argument -- or, there's no new proposal other than that's" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-28#entryid_313011" rowid="136533431" side="usa" srcid="313011" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think until we see the amendments it would be irresponsible for us to do that.  " title=" Q    But you're not ruling it out entirely?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-30#entryid_307148" rowid="136532781" side="usa" srcid="307148" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Not at all.  No.  Those were -- we've said this a number of times -- those were good additions to our original proposals; they strengthened it, they improved it, and we'd like to keep that whole package together.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Matt.  " title=" Q    But you're not ruling out -- just to be clear, you're not ruling out the fixes that were alrea" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300586" rowid="136531657" side="usa" srcid="300586" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not ruling anything in or out.  " title=" Q    But you're not ruling that out?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324582" rowid="136534828" side="usa" srcid="324582" text=" MS. PERINO:  We are -- but the people that we --  " title=" Q    But you're not talking to the Hamas at all.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279349" rowid="136531103" side="usa" srcid="279349" text=" MS. PERINO:  Our principle remains the same, and the strategy and the goal remain the same, that they must halt the enrichment of uranium in order for there to be negotiations.  And Secretary Rice has long said that that is her position, that if they were to suspend, that Secretary Rice would meet her counterpart anyplace, any time, and start to have negotiations, once it was verified by the IAEA that they had suspended.  Nothing has changed in that regard.  " title=" Q    But you're saying this isn't negotiated?  Is this negotiating with the Iranians?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306627" rowid="136532705" side="usa" srcid="306627" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that's the way I would describe it.  There are some alternatives and variations to what we had proposed that have come forward.  What the President said he would do is at the end of the day, when this legislation is crafted, that he would look to his Secretary of the Treasury and Ben Bernanke, the Fed Chairman, and he would ask them one question:  Does this legislation do what needs to be done in order to help save the economy?  And if the answer is yes, then we'll all have done our duty on behalf of the American people.  &lt;p /&gt; So that's the -- that is the spirit with which we have gone forward with these negotiations.  And we're trying to reach a conclusion that would also solve the problem.  " title=" Q    But you're talking about modifications of the administration plan.  What about the sort of sep" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-28#entryid_312991" rowid="136533411" side="usa" srcid="312991" text=" MS. PERINO:  I find that hard to imagine.  " title=" Q    But you're talking lower levels, right?  I mean, you're not going to sit at a table with Mulla" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269171" rowid="136530262" side="usa" srcid="269171" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  If I'm aware, I think he's aware.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    But you've been briefed on it, informed, the President is aware?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306421" rowid="136532652" side="usa" srcid="306421" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I think it is, and that's why -- that's part of the legislative process.  And the President now can bring everybody together after they've hashed through a lot of the issues and had their hearings and invited our -- members of the administration to come up, talk with them.  We've been in the room, working with staff on details of the legislation, accepting some of their recommendations, pushing back on others.  &lt;p /&gt; For example, on executive compensation, I think we all understand the sentiment that executives should not have a windfall based on something that was a failure.  And so -- but Secretary Paulson knows how important it is to get those details exactly right, so he's trying to work on the language so it would be what we -- enough of what we need in order to get the legislation done, and in a way that will protect the taxpayers.  So those are -- that's one of the things that we're working on.  &lt;p /&gt; So we can do that up on the Hill.  But I think this meeting is a way to bring everybody together, bring all the pieces together, everyone in one room with the President of the United States, who gave an address to the nation last night to talk about how dire the situation is and how we need to move urgently.  And he's really appreciative of the bipartisan cooperation that we've had so far.  " title=" Q    But, Dana, is that not happening on the Hill?  You say it's important to get everyone in the r" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322370" rowid="136534548" side="usa" srcid="322370" text=" MS. PERINO:  No decisions have been made.  We're gathering financial information from the automakers.  I will tell you that on the timing of when this announcement will be made, I have seen it is being fueled not by the White House; it is being fueled outside of here by outside forces who are trying to work with you all to try to pressure us to do something soon.  We will do it if we decide to do it, and we'll do it in the time that we think that is right.  &lt;p /&gt; But, yes, of course, the President has said - one, he's signaled from the beginning, since last September, that he was willing to try to help the automakers, but willing to do it using funds that had already been appropriated for the auto industry through the 136 loans.  We thought that that was appropriate.  It didn't pass, and now we're considering our other options.  " title=" Q    But, Dana, the assumption that you've allowed to become fact is that the White House, the admi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-15#entryid_304835" rowid="136532341" side="usa" srcid="304835" text=" MS. PERINO:  On the stimulus?  " title=" Q    But, Dana, what's the position of the administration now --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-02#entryid_324410" rowid="136534783" side="usa" srcid="324410" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No, I -- Gaza has been under the rule of Hamas now for 18 months or so.  And Hamas has done nothing particularly good for its own people.  That is why the United States has pledged nearly $200 million over the last year and a half for humanitarian assistance in to the people of the Palestinian Territories.  The United States is the largest donor through the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, as well as the ICRC.  &lt;p /&gt; We are very concerned about the people of Gaza.  We are concerned about the humanitarian situation on the ground there now.  I also know that Israel is permitting humanitarian shipments to go into Gaza.  I also know that Israel alleges that Hamas is hoarding the humanitarian shipments, the food and medical supplies, to make the humanitarian situation worse and to blame the Israelis.  I cannot speak to the specific facts on the ground.	There is obviously a problem with the ability of the citizens of Gaza to be able to access everything as quickly and easily as they want, whether it's medical supplies or food.  And we want to make sure that they do have access to it.  " title=" Q    But, Gordon, on that point, the official evidence coming from Gaza would indicate that there i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-27#entryid_312738" rowid="136533391" side="usa" srcid="312738" text=" MS. PERINO:  Nothing.  " title=" Q    But, I mean, Dana, you can't give us anything?  I mean, this is a major issue --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303899" rowid="136532192" side="usa" srcid="303899" text=" MS. PERINO:  Remember, these are congressionally chartered companies, so the government is involved in these companies whether we've liked it or not.  " title=" Q    But, I mean, I imagine it's -- there are -- does this mark a change in the President's thinkin" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-01#entryid_307379" rowid="136532804" side="usa" srcid="307379" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I understand.  And as I understand, the party leadership isn't able to comment on or affect that message on that independent expenditure, either.  But I'll let them answer for themselves on that.  &lt;p /&gt; John?  On the same subject?  Okay.  " title=" Q    But, I mean, that's from the President's own party, railing against the bailout.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308067" rowid="136532918" side="usa" srcid="308067" text=" Q    But, Scott, that's really what the concern is, is to look at this from a completely bipartisan perspective.	And when you guys throw out facts and figures about what's wrong with the system, you would include what had been wrong previously, not just dissing the Democratic Senate for what they're doing with Bush's nominations, right?  &lt;p&gt; MR. STANZEL:  Like I said, the President has talked about this throughout his entire time in office.  And so the President obviously, can speak to his time in office.  And that's what he has done, and that's what we do.  " title=" Q    But, Scott, that's really what the concern is, is to look at this from a completely bipartisan" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279963" rowid="136531191" side="usa" srcid="279963" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think -- well, if you're making policy and you're the Commander-in-Chief, there's a huge difference between saying that you're going to bring troops home based on -- let me go on -- I don't remember whose legislation it was that would have brought our troops home in 90 days after the passing of the supplemental -- maybe in 2007. But I know that we've gone through several of these fights, and in every -- every time we've been able the beat it back because we think that the best decision-makers on the ground are commanders on the ground, not people in Washington, D.C. plucking dates out of thin air.  &lt;p /&gt; And we are able to have this conversation with the Iraqis now because of the success we are seeing in Iraq -- that is based on the surge, which was a extremely courageous decision, one of the most unpopular decisions possibly in presidential history, but one that has worked nonetheless.  " title=" Q    But, so then what really is the -- it sounds like a semantical difference.  I mean, most Ameri" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300608" rowid="136531679" side="usa" srcid="300608" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think if you look at the President's statement, we have credible -- we have had credible reports that Russia is violating the cease-fire agreement, including, as he mentioned, the bombing of vessels and the blocking of the port, which we're very concerned about.  In addition to that, the East-West Highway is a critical highway for the country.  And so those actions, amongst others, are -- is what the President was referring to.  " title=" Q    But, then, in other words, the United States is accusing Russia of violating the cease-fire?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-30#entryid_307150" rowid="136532783" side="usa" srcid="307150" text=" Q    But, Tony, if you say that you have a solution and the solution is the original proposal made by Secretary Paulson, that is what originally stirred up all of the discontent on the Hill on both the left and the right.	Are you saying that you won't accept the modifications which have already been voted on?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  No, not at all.  In fact, I think what you heard us say and heard the President say a number of times last week, including in his address to the nation, was that our work with Congress greatly improved the original proposal that was put forward by the administration.  That was -  " title=" Q    But, Tony, if you say that you have a solution and the solution is the original proposal made " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305141" rowid="136532396" side="usa" srcid="305141" text=" Q    But, you know, the President has said he really wants to see more incentives for renewable energy and conservation.  If those tax breaks were either delayed or repealed, the money for that, taxpayers' money, would actually go for new renewable energy and conservation efforts.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that --  " title=" Q    But, you know, the President has said he really wants to see more incentives for renewable ene" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-05#entryid_303579" rowid="136532133" side="usa" srcid="303579" text=" MS. PERINO:  As I said, let's just see -- let's see what kind of bill that they can put forward and we'll take it from there.  " title=" Q    By &quot;clean bill,&quot; then you're saying it shouldn't be paid for by oil and gas --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308065" rowid="136532916" side="usa" srcid="308065" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Right.  But this is an issue that hasn't been going on just for the last two years; this is an issue that's been going on for the last eight years and prior to that.  " title=" Q    By saying, you're not approving our judges, there are all these vacancies.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270961" rowid="136530465" side="usa" srcid="270961" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Is that &quot;bye&quot; or &quot;good riddance&quot;?	(Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Bye.  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-20#entryid_305663" rowid="136532541" side="usa" srcid="305663" text=" Q    Can I -- to follow up on that, how do the strained relations with Russia now complicate those efforts regarding North Korea and especially Iran?  How do you expect to get the approval from Russia on a new resolution in the U.N. Security Council for sanctions on Iran?  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  No, I think the -- we have in our statements and Russian leaders in their statements have made clear that -- well, two things.  One, in our statements, it's very clear that Georgia is a serious matter, and I can go at some length on that, but I think you've heard us; you heard the Secretary of State's speech, you read the Vice President's speech of a week, 10 days, ago when he was in Italy.  So what has happened in Georgia is a very serious matter and raises some real concerns.  &lt;p /&gt; But we have said and the Russians have said that we do not want to go back to a Cold War, to a new Cold War, or to a new division of Europe.  And there has been some willingness on the Russian side and the American side to try and continue to work together on issues of common interest -- and Iran is such an issue.	Russia has made very clear they do not want to see an Iran with a nuclear weapon, and our hope is that they will continue to work with us on these kinds of important issues, which are very much in their -- resolution of which is very much in their interest and our interest, and that would include Iran and North Korea.  &lt;p /&gt; And we will see.  And we have some opportunities in meetings coming up over the next several weeks that will indicate whether Russia is prepared to cooperate in these areas.  We think it's in their interest and therefore very much hope that they will.  " title=" Q    Can I -- to follow up on that, how do the strained relations with Russia now complicate those " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-08#entryid_273590" rowid="136530904" side="usa" srcid="273590" text=" Q    Can I ask a follow-up question?  Chancellor Merkel came out this morning and said something about she was optimistic, satisfied that things could be wrapped up or completed in a couple weeks.  Was that -- is that optimism shared by other members?  Or when she said a couple weeks, do you know what she was talking about, exactly?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  Yes, I do.	She was, I think, anticipating the fact that we will have a ministerial on July 21.  You know, I think all leaders share the view that they would like a prompt conclusion to the Doha Round, but that the Doha Round must be balanced and it must cover all three critical areas of agriculture, industrial goods and services.  They also shared the view that there will need to be meaningful market openings by the major developing countries in order for this round to succeed.  It is not simply a question of balance and relative contribution of parties in the Doha Round, but if the mission of the Doha Round -- and we support this mission -- is poverty alleviation, is development, then the major developing markets need to open their markets to other developing countries, given the rapid increase in trade among developing countries themselves.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay, thank you.  Thank you very much.	It was really a great discussion in both sessions.   MS. PERINO:  Any last ones on climate change, or other topics I can handle?  " title=" Q    Can I ask a follow-up question?  Chancellor Merkel came out this morning and said something ab" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273424" rowid="136530849" side="usa" srcid="273424" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay, and then we've got to go.  " title=" Q    Can I ask a quick climate change?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-11#entryid_269916" rowid="136530355" side="usa" srcid="269916" text=" Q    Can I ask about climate?  Dan, can you just talk about how likely it is that there will be some sort of agreement at the G8 on climate?  And would all of the major economies be involved in this agreement, necessarily, or could it be a subset of the major economies?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  Well, what we are working towards is a leaders declaration coming out of the major economies leaders meeting at the G8 that represents the collective view of all major economies.  As I said, what we are working towards is agreement on a long-term emissions reduction goal and also agreement that the future climate agreement, negotiated under U.N. auspices, will contain binding international commitments from all major economies -- recognizing, consistent with the principles of common differentiated responsibilities, that what each major economy does will differ according to its national circumstances. So that's what we are working towards in the major economies process.  &lt;p /&gt; There are other elements of climate that will be addressed and that we think are appropriately addressed by the G8 as the G8, having to do with adopting IAEA efficiency standards, funding for setting up the clean technology fund, to make available low-carbon technologies and high efficiency technologies in the developing world, and a number of other items that are appropriate for the G8.  &lt;p /&gt; But in respect of setting the long-term goal and expressing the view that every major economies midterm goals and national plans should be reflected in binding international commitments, we feel that those topics are appropriate for the major economies leaders meeting.  Also in both the major economies leaders meeting and in the G8 we will be seeking to advance support for the elimination of tariffs on clean technology goods.  " title=" Q    Can I ask about climate?  Dan, can you just talk about how likely it is that there will be som" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-02#entryid_268520" rowid="136530193" side="usa" srcid="268520" text=" Q    Can I ask about Scott McClellan?  Last week in your statement you used the word &quot;disgruntled&quot; to describe him.  Why did you use that word, &quot;disgruntled&quot;?	Is he disgruntled because he was fired?  Did he, in fact, resign?  Was he pushed out?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think -- I hold it up because I wondered last week if you'd ask me this question.  Being disgruntled means being displeased or being discontented.  And I think that by any measure, if you look at Scott in his comments over the past week that he is displeased with his time at the White House.  That's why I used that phrase.  And when it comes to how he left the White House, I'll let him describe it.  And we all fully supported him while he was here, and even after he left he had a lot of support from people at this White House.  And so I think that &quot;disgruntled&quot; is the right way to characterize it.  " title=" Q    Can I ask about Scott McClellan?  Last week in your statement you used the word &quot;disgruntled&quot; " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-25#entryid_280653" rowid="136531289" side="usa" srcid="280653" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  " title=" Q    Can I ask an unrelated question?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-25#entryid_280655" rowid="136531291" side="usa" srcid="280655" text=" Q    Can I ask another just kind of related question about that.  In previous election years, whether it be midterm or presidential, he -- a lot of times when he goes out to do fundraisers for campaign events he pairs an official event on the same trip, and we've seen a little bit less of that, it seems, in recent weeks or so.	(Inaudible) given you numbers --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  It varies.  It varies.  I mean, some --  " title=" Q    Can I ask another just kind of related question about that.  In previous election years, wheth" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-18#entryid_322961" rowid="136534569" side="usa" srcid="322961" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not as well versed in this, in terms of the details.  The Department of Health and Human Services could provide you more.  But over the past three decades, Congress has enacted several laws in order to protect people who have a -- who want to practice their health care according to their conscience when it comes to reproductive rights.  And this new regulation will increase awareness of those laws and compliance with them, but it doesn't change any of the laws in regards to reproductive rights.  So it's just about people.  " title=" Q    Can I ask another one, as well?  Can you explain what regulations the President is changing to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-25#entryid_280657" rowid="136531293" side="usa" srcid="280657" text=" Q    Can I ask kind of a process question about that.  When you guys put an offer on the table about subsidies, do you have some sort of tacit or preliminary agreement from members of Congress that they would go along? I mean, obviously that's such a difficult thing to get through Congress.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm not exactly sure how Ambassador Schwab runs that process, but I do know that they have a very robust legislative affairs shop.  And so in order to make sure we bring people along to know that we would -- bring people along with our position, I'm sure they have outreached to them.  I know that certainly with the groups -- like the farming industry, the manufacturing goods, all those different types of industries -- have regular contact with the U.S. Trade Representative, because if you don't have them with you, then it's even harder.  &lt;p /&gt; So -- and I think all of the groups have been generally supportive.  And typically if they're okay, then the members of Congress will be okay. So I'll see if there's anything more they can add.  " title=" Q    Can I ask kind of a process question about that.  When you guys put an offer on the table abou" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266863" rowid="136529922" side="usa" srcid="266863" text=" MS. PERINO:  On this one still?  " title=" Q    Can I ask on this one?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-27#entryid_267601" rowid="136530075" side="usa" srcid="267601" text=" MS. PERINO:  There's some -- there is a formula that exists.  I don't have it off the top of my head, but it's followed whenever we go on trips like this.  " title=" Q    Can I ask one last thing?	What is the division on the cost of the trips between official busin" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-24#entryid_280516" rowid="136531275" side="usa" srcid="280516" text=" Q    Can I ask one on Iraq as well?  The Iraqi Olympic athletes have been told they have to stay home.  And the problem is that Prime Minister Maliki fired the members of the Olympic committee, and the IOC says you can't do that, and he did it anyway.  Did the United States ever offer Iraq any advice on how these international operations work?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm not sure if we offered any advice.  I would refer you to Ambassador Crocker's office because -- obviously that's not really been their focus so much.  And I'm sure that they got advice from others, and I don't know the particular details as to why Prime Minister Maliki decided to take that action.  But I'm sure that the Iraqi athletes who have trained so hard and were finally going to represent a country that is free and sovereign and working to establish its democracy, they have to be terribly disappointed, and I'm disappointed for the athletes as well.  " title=" Q    Can I ask one on Iraq as well?  The Iraqi Olympic athletes have been told they have to stay ho" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-29#entryid_306858" rowid="136532720" side="usa" srcid="306858" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'm sorry?  " title=" Q    Can I ask two questions, please?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-19#entryid_271255" rowid="136530515" side="usa" srcid="271255" text=" MR. STANZEL:  I did not attend that meeting, but as you know, the President's schedule for August and that trip has not been announced at this point.  " title=" Q    Can I ask you a question aside from this?	Did the President indicate to the Chinese officials " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-05#entryid_273367" rowid="136530834" side="usa" srcid="273367" text=" Q    Can I ask you a question on -- if Africa is part of the outreach in this session, what level does Zimbabwe and the problems there factor into these discussions?  Are there going to be any discussions specifically on dealing with Mugabe?  &lt;p&gt; MR. WILDER:  Yes, I believe it will be part of the G8 statement.  It will be a part of the G8 discussion.  I think that the G8 will strongly condemn what Mugabe has done, and will strongly question the legitimacy of his government and his governing of Zimbabwe.  " title=" Q    Can I ask you a question on -- if Africa is part of the outreach in this session, what level d" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272600" rowid="136530712" side="usa" srcid="272600" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    Can I ask you one more on Iran?  I'm sorry, really quickly.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-29#entryid_268056" rowid="136530126" side="usa" srcid="268056" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  No.  They talked a little bit about how their church is growing around the world and -- but they didn't talk about anything specifically religious.  They did say that they do pray for the President, they support the presidency, and [are] a very patriotic people.  But they didn't talk about any specific thing in terms of their church and their needs, no.  " title=" Q    Can I ask you one other question on the Mormon Church -- did the leaders have any specific rel" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-14#entryid_321832" rowid="136534509" side="usa" srcid="321832" text=" Q    Can I ask you one quick mission question, General Lute?  And that is, in terms of getting permission for going out -- I know General Odierno's letter talked about going out and conferring with the Iraqis, but what does that mean day to day?  How different is that in terms of, if the U.S. wants to go out on a convoy, wants to go out on a raid, they have to tell the Iraqis all the time?  &lt;p&gt; GENERAL LUTE:  Yes.  This is probably one element of the SOFA which represents the least change from what we're doing now.	And that's because virtually all of our operations today are Iraqi and U.S. combined.  And as a result, they're planned from the outset in combined headquarters and so forth.  &lt;p /&gt; So starting at Ray Odierno's headquarters, all the way down, you'll see American officers, Iraqi officers side-by-side.  So this is one part that doesn't represent a big change.  " title=" Q    Can I ask you one quick mission question, General Lute?  And that is, in terms of getting perm" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273452" rowid="136530892" side="usa" srcid="273452" text=" Q    Can I ask you specifically -- President Kikwete said, &quot;The only thing we differ on is the way forward.&quot;  Then subsequent to that, he said, &quot;You have some things you want us to do, we have some things we want you to do.&quot;  But he wasn't specific.  It was very clear from their talk to us that they had differences, and it seemed implied that the differences were over President Bush's plan for sanctions.  So is that correct?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think you should be careful about &quot;President Bush's plan for sanctions,&quot; okay, because this is not a President Bush versus the world situation.  As you just heard Dan say, it's been reflected around the world, not just in the United States, but is a recognition that what is happening in Zimbabwe is tragic for the people there, and it is certainly become the single largest security challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa.  &lt;p /&gt; There are discussions about how do you move forward, and one of them is the U.N. Security Council resolution that's going to be discussed. Sanctions is one of the tools in the tool box in order to move forward. People might have different positions on whether or not there should be sanctions, but it's not a President Bush versus the world.  " title=" Q    Can I ask you specifically -- President Kikwete said, &quot;The only thing we differ on is the way " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-26#entryid_319114" rowid="136534192" side="usa" srcid="319114" text=" MR. FRATTO:  A question you were asked -- you're disowning the question preemptively.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Can I change the subject entirely and ask a question I was asked to ask?  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268788" rowid="136530226" side="usa" srcid="268788" text=" MS. PERINO:  I guess -- I think so.  " title=" Q    Can I change the subject?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320416" rowid="136534369" side="usa" srcid="320416" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Our focus right now is implementing the programs that we have before us, yes.  " title=" Q    Can I clarify something?  You said that the stimulus -- you're going to wait for the next -- t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-26#entryid_319120" rowid="136534198" side="usa" srcid="319120" text=" MR. FRATTO:  And I promise to come back to you, Mark, don't worry.  " title=" Q    Can I connect some different dots on that, then?  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-18#entryid_301026" rowid="136531755" side="usa" srcid="301026" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Sure.  " title=" Q    Can I do one on Georgia, as well?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271611" rowid="136530578" side="usa" srcid="271611" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  " title=" Q    Can I follow April's question --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310117" rowid="136533155" side="usa" srcid="310117" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q    Can I follow on Terry's question?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306411" rowid="136532642" side="usa" srcid="306411" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, from Secretary Paulson who had made the assessment that that's how much he needed.  " title=" Q    Can I follow on that, a small thing on that same thing?  Where did the figure $700 billion com" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300765" rowid="136531710" side="usa" srcid="300765" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we -- I'm not exactly sure what he's talking about; I would refer you to John Rood.  What I would remind you of is that President Bush has said that we recognize the need for the Polish armed services to be modernized and we have offered to help in that regard.  That could be what he was referring to.  But John Rood would have more for you on that.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Can I follow on that, Dana?  Prime Minister Tusk said that the agreement included an additiona" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305181" rowid="136532436" side="usa" srcid="305181" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I'm going to go to Roger.  " title=" Q    Can I follow on that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307688" rowid="136532859" side="usa" srcid="307688" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'll go to Toby and I'll come back.  " title=" Q    Can I follow on that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304234" rowid="136532279" side="usa" srcid="304234" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  I think that what the President feels is energized to try to work with the Democrats in Congress and Republican leaders in Congress to get a bill done that would allow us to have more production here in our country, so that we can be less dependent on foreign sources of energy.  " title=" Q    Can I follow on that?  The President made these pleas very directly to these leaders.	Does he " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269192" rowid="136530283" side="usa" srcid="269192" text=" Q    Can I follow on that?  With all due respect, press secretaries are authorized to speak for a President.  Scott spoke on the war issues, even before -- that happened before he was Press Secretary, just as you're speaking to the intelligence process and how it was reformed before you became Press Secretary.  And I was unaware that Scott was limited to domestic affairs.  I think those of us that covered him felt that we could go to him on all matter of --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Let me be a little bit more precise.  The issue is, if I could just -- I'll delve a little bit more into the detail of it -- is that -- it's the question of -- and I served as the Deputy as well.  I didn't sit in on national security meetings as the Deputy Press Secretary when I dealt with domestic affairs, and neither did Scott.  That's my only point on that.  In terms of looking back at issues of 2001 and 2002 and 2003, when intelligence was reviewed, those are the places where he wasn't.  And he says that in his book and he's said it in interviews since.  " title=" Q    Can I follow on that?  With all due respect, press secretaries are authorized to speak for a P" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304081" rowid="136532236" side="usa" srcid="304081" text=" Q    Can I follow real quickly on that, as far as the peace process in general -- one of McCain's top policy advisors said that there are questions about the Palestinian Authority's ability to deliver on a peace deal.  Do you agree with a statement like that?  And where do you stand in terms of --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I haven't seen those comments from the campaign, so I'll take a look.  Obviously, President Bush has tried to move forward on a peace deal so that both Israelis -- the Israelis can live in peace and security and that the Palestinians could have their own state and try to realize some of their dreams, and that's what we're going to continue to work on.  " title=" Q    Can I follow real quickly on that, as far as the peace process in general -- one of McCain's t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-24#entryid_271792" rowid="136530620" side="usa" srcid="271792" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  " title=" Q    Can I follow that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273413" rowid="136530860" side="usa" srcid="273413" text=" MR. CONNAUGHTON:  Please.  " title=" Q    Can I follow up on that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280161" rowid="136531223" side="usa" srcid="280161" text=" Q    Can I follow, Dana?  Senator Obama said today that he assured Prime Minister Maliki that he would not support a precipitous withdrawal.  And he also said he understood why General Petraeus wouldn't necessarily support his plan.  Is he complicating the efforts to negotiate an agreement with the Iraqis on the time horizons, on the document that will authorize the U.S. troop presence in Iraq next year?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't think so; not that I've heard, no.  " title=" Q    Can I follow, Dana?  Senator Obama said today that he assured Prime Minister Maliki that he wo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310089" rowid="136533141" side="usa" srcid="310089" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to go to John real.  John had a follow-up.  " title=" Q    Can I follow?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318522" rowid="136534135" side="usa" srcid="318522" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Sure, absolutely.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Jon.  " title=" Q    Can I get something from you later, once you find out?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308306" rowid="136532951" side="usa" srcid="308306" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  I'm not going to answer.  Connie, go ahead.  I'm going to go -- I'm going to railroad right over it.  &lt;p /&gt; Connie.  " title=" Q    Can I get to my question?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-01#entryid_307382" rowid="136532807" side="usa" srcid="307382" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Can we just stay on this for now?	Yes, Yunji.  " title=" Q    Can I go to another subject.  I'll yield to anybody --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273459" rowid="136530899" side="usa" srcid="273459" text=" MR. PRICE:  Yes.  " title=" Q    Can I go to the accountability question?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298445" rowid="136531422" side="usa" srcid="298445" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that if you look at the report, and it is in line with what the Attorney General said at the time, which was that he was not aware of that going on.  And so I don't think there's anything -- disappointment doesn't necessarily go to the Attorney General.  " title=" Q    Can I infer from that that President Bush is disappointed in Alberto Gonzales?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308554" rowid="136533009" side="usa" srcid="308554" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think if you go back and look at the things that I've said about previous Fed actions, I've been extremely consistent in what I've said today, in that we respect the Fed,  we think that they've made the right moves, and we're not going to comment on any deliberations leading up to decisions.  " title=" Q    Can I just ask a quick follow-up?	You normally don't talk about the Fed actions, but you have " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298594" rowid="136531467" side="usa" srcid="298594" text=" SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Certainly.  " title=" Q    Can I just ask one follow-up on that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302647" rowid="136531917" side="usa" srcid="302647" text=" Q    Can I just ask one last follow-up?  You mentioned reassuring them, and it's what he's going to be doing in all three of those countries.  Can you give us an example or two of what steps you're going to take, the U.S. is going to take, to reassure them?  How are you going to define that, other than words?  &lt;p&gt; SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Again, let me tell you, the Vice President of the United States, Dick Cheney, showing up in places he hasn't been before I think is a reassuring step.  And I think the Vice President, and the President, who thought it important enough to send him there on this kind of mission in the middle of this kind of crisis, I just would not underestimate the importance of that signal.  &lt;p /&gt; We do already have, I think, quite extensive and deep relationships with these countries.  And as I said, we're determined to continue to strengthen those relationships, whether in the economic field, the political field, the security field, the way we work with them, and particularly with regard to Ukraine and Georgia, their aspirations to move closer to Euro-Atlantic institutions, including NATO.  So I think there will be important discussions on all of those that will advance that agenda and intention on the part of the United States, and I think on the part of all of our allies in Europe.  " title=" Q    Can I just ask one last follow-up?  You mentioned reassuring them, and it's what he's going to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302650" rowid="136531923" side="usa" srcid="302650" text=" SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Was he annoyed?  " title=" Q    Can I just ask one last one?  Was the Vice President annoyed in any way at all that Georgia we" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300555" rowid="136531626" side="usa" srcid="300555" text=" Q    Can I just ask you a broad question?  A lot of these stories that talk about this story step back to 2001 when President Bush first met then President Putin.  And I just wanted to give you a chance to weigh in.  There's been a lot of commentary the last few days that maybe President Bush misjudged this relationship.  So I'll just give you a chance -- what is the President's thinking on that now, since there's been a lot of stories in the last couple of days saying what's really at work here?  And, in fact, Senator McCain, in the last couple of days, has charged that the Russians want to remake a Russian empire.  Does the President --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I was ready to answer your question, then you threw in the John McCain, and then you're trying to get me into  --  " title=" Q    Can I just ask you a broad question?  A lot of these stories that talk about this story step b" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317903" rowid="136534053" side="usa" srcid="317903" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  I'd have to refer you to the Treasury Department for that.  " title=" Q    Can I just ask you about Citicorps?  They're obviously financially strapped.  They're going to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-16#entryid_304981" rowid="136532377" side="usa" srcid="304981" text=" Q    Can I just ask you about the plan for housing the people who are displaced?  I mean, do you have a long-term plan for where they will be going?	Will it be this scene like it was in Katrina where people literally moved away and never came back?  Do you expect that?  &lt;p&gt; ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  I don't think that's what's going to happen, no.  What we did in Iowa was we set up a joint housing task force that I just talked about, led by the state, to work as a team on how we're going to house people.  So it's not just kind of ad hoc, like it was with Katrina.  We want a more organized type of thing.  It's worked well in Ohio.  We had a lot of people without housing there.	And we used a combination of things there -- I'm sorry, I said Ohio -- Iowa -- where we used apartments, we used hotels, we used motels, extended stay type hotels, we used some modular housing, like mobile homes.  So it was a combination of things to give people a safe place to stay.  &lt;p /&gt; We're going to do the same thing in Texas, and we're now also doing in Louisiana.  It will be a state-led housing task force that involves all the players involved in housing.  So this is our new housing strategy that FEMA put together, just released this last summer, and we're now we're putting it in place and it's starting to work very well.  " title=" Q    Can I just ask you about the plan for housing the people who are displaced?  I mean, do you ha" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266848" rowid="136529907" side="usa" srcid="266848" text=" Q    Can I just ask you on another topic, on the Koran, why the President decided it was important to directly tell Prime Minister Maliki that he had regret about it.  And can you talk a little about this -- whether it was actually an apology, or what significance the White House attaches to how he --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think we talked to you about this earlier today. The President yesterday had a regularly scheduled secure video teleconference with Prime Minister Maliki.  He opened the meeting -- I believe it was either the first or the second issue that the President brought up to tell Prime Minister Maliki he had heard about the incident, where a Koran was desecrated, and he apologized for that, in the sense that he said that we take it very seriously.	We were concerned about the reaction.  We wanted them to know that the President knew that this was wrong, and that the commanders in the field have publicly reprimanded the soldier and removed him from Iraq.  " title=" Q    Can I just ask you on another topic, on the Koran, why the President decided it was important " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272620" rowid="136530732" side="usa" srcid="272620" text=" Q    Can I just clarify a couple of things?  One, when you talked about targeted sanctions against the leader, his cronies and those who support the regime -- the part about &quot;those who support the regime,&quot; is that a reference to individuals and companies that do business with the leader in Zimbabwe?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  It could be, it's too early to speculate.  " title=" Q    Can I just clarify a couple of things?  One, when you talked about targeted sanctions against " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303868" rowid="136532161" side="usa" srcid="303868" text=" Q    Can I just clarify quickly one point on Iraq?  I took you to mean that an announcement on the next step in Iraq from the President is probable, except the timing.  Brianna asked, I thought, about is an announcement on troop withdrawals likely, and you said -- did you mean that that's probable -- the substance --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I just meant that the announcement is likely today or tomorrow.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Mark.  " title=" Q    Can I just clarify quickly one point on Iraq?  I took you to mean that an announcement on the " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320587" rowid="136534404" side="usa" srcid="320587" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to decline to comment on that because people are still trying to make all those determinations.	And I think that what we're focused on right now is how to provide short-term financing that could help them get over this hump while we work on a financial viability advisor who could then determine if the company is doing what it takes to have long-term viability in order to get more taxpayer money.  &lt;p /&gt; But remember, if the viability advisor says that they're not making progress, then that company, the automaker, would have to pay the taxpayer back right away.  So there's incentive for everybody to work hard to make this work.  &lt;p /&gt; Ann.  " title=" Q    Can I just follow on John's question.  Do you believe that the heads of the automakers have do" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304245" rowid="136532290" side="usa" srcid="304245" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    Can I just follow, Dana, please?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309538" rowid="136533110" side="usa" srcid="309538" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I'm going to go to Jeremy.  " title=" Q    Can I just follow?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-06#entryid_299631" rowid="136531561" side="usa" srcid="299631" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q    Can I start?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273755" rowid="136530952" side="usa" srcid="273755" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Three or four.  But there are different shadings to their contribution on the point.  So that's -- and so some countries are not ready to do that yet; other countries are ready to explore it a little more closely.  All of them have agreed that we must have a long-term goal.  All of them agreed the goal needs to be ambitious.  And you'll see specifically in the declaration, we are pointing to consideration of the ambitious IPCC scenarios for cutting emissions.  This is the U.N. assessment document that provides about 170, I think, scenarios for cutting emissions, but there's a sub-list of that that have the more aggressive pathways to stabilize emissions.  And that's what we'll be looking at.   MS. PERINO:  Last one for him.  " title=" Q    Can I try once more with respect on that &quot;several&quot; word -- does it mean three or six or half o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-23#entryid_267480" rowid="136530063" side="usa" srcid="267480" text=" MS. PERINO:  Next week?  " title=" Q    Can we actually expect to see them together at any point publicly?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-16#entryid_304973" rowid="136532369" side="usa" srcid="304973" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Yes, you can ask me one or two, if you have them.  " title=" Q    Can we ask you, do you have --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311479" rowid="136533286" side="usa" srcid="311479" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think it's too early to say.  I just don't know.  But I do believe that when the leaders get together on November 15th, they'll talk about when would be appropriate for the next time to get -- would be to get together.  So I don't think you could say whether or not there would be a second summit.	But the President committed to a series of them, so I can't say that he will or he will not.  But I don't think it would be unlikely -- I should say it's likely that he could, but I don't want to say for sure, because we need to have this first meeting and find out.  " title=" Q    Can we assume that this will be the -- this first summit will be the only one that President B" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-04#entryid_268995" rowid="136530254" side="usa" srcid="268995" text=" MR. HADLEY:  I think that the sense of the conversation you saw in the statements that the two leaders made at the head of the hour.  &lt;p /&gt; Bill.  " title=" Q    Can we assume they discussed it at some point?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307877" rowid="136532897" side="usa" srcid="307877" text=" MR. FRATTO:  You can check with the Treasury Secretary.  I don't have a copy of the letter myself.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Paula.  " title=" Q    Can we get a copy of the letter?  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321121" rowid="136534431" side="usa" srcid="321121" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, as Ann said, if AP is correct and we actually have final language and final text, you'll see it as soon as we do.  And this is not going to be our final word on this today.  We'll continue to update you as we have over the past several days.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Can we get more details just in terms of -  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308785" rowid="136533053" side="usa" srcid="308785" text=" MS. PERINO:  If you want to.  " title=" Q    Can we go to other subjects, as well?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268299" rowid="136530169" side="usa" srcid="268299" text=" Q    Can we just talk about what isn't true in the book?  I mean, you go to the part about weapons of mass destruction and the big threat wasn't great and gathering as the White House said.	And you said that's not true?  Was there no exaggeration?	Was there no hiding?  Was there no spinning about the war?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Not that I'm aware of.  But did we communicate about the war?  Yes.  And I would point you to the President's speeches -- all the speeches that the President made leading up to it; he made several comprehensive speeches making the case for why Saddam Hussein was a threat, which was, based on the intelligence that we had -- and not only the United States had, but that's what the world had.  And in addition to that he talks about -- in his speech especially on February 26, 2003, when he spoke to AEI; it was before I was a part of the press office, so I would encourage you to go back and look at it, as I've had to do myself -- where he talks about that the benefit to a free Iraq would be to the Iraqi people and also to the region, and establishing a change in the Middle East when it comes to freedom and justice and democracy.  " title=" Q    Can we just talk about what isn't true in the book?  I mean, you go to the part about weapons " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-27#entryid_267600" rowid="136530074" side="usa" srcid="267600" text=" MS. PERINO:  We'll see --  " title=" Q    Can we run that down at some point?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312327" rowid="136533338" side="usa" srcid="312327" text=" MS. PERINO:  Terry's ring is much more obnoxious.  (Laughter.)  &lt;p /&gt; Okay, the reason I'm late is I had an opportunity to go with the President to the Middle East Partnership Initiative.  This is a initiative that he and Mrs. Bush started.	It's a chance -- it's an advocacy organization, run out of the State Department, to help promote freedom and democracy.  It's also the organization that Mrs. Bush and many others, including Ambassador Brinker, have worked through to help spread information about breast cancer awareness.  And we've done that all across the Middle East, and Mrs. Bush has traveled there several times.  &lt;p /&gt; Today he met with a group of 43 women from across the Middle East and northern Africa.  They are involved in their elections in their home countries -- some of them running for office, others working on campaigns or a part of the election committees there.  And they're here in the United States for the next couple of weeks.  They're going to be fanning out across America to ten different cities, and they'll be monitoring elections here in our country and then taking that information back.  And the President spent about 45 minutes with them, and it was a very exciting event for us.  &lt;p /&gt; Also, I have a couple of announcements for you.  Earlier today, in yet another sign of security improvements in Iraq, primary security was turned back over to the Iraqis in the province of Babil.  The coalition forces turned that over to provincial Iraqi control.  That is a province that is south of Baghdad and home to the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon.	It becomes the 12th of 18 provinces to take a lead for its security operations in Iraq.  This brings the total to about two-thirds of Iraq that is now being controlled by Iraqis, and we anticipate an additional province will be handed over to them soon in the near future.  &lt;p /&gt; The President is appreciative of all the work that our forces have done, but also recognizes that the Iraqis have done a lot of work, too, to get to this point.  &lt;p /&gt; Finally, I have a statement by the President to read to you on the Beirut bombing anniversary, and then we will release it, as well:  &lt;p /&gt; &quot;Twenty-five years ago, a suicide bomb destroyed the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon.  We remember the 241 American Marines, soldiers, and sailors who lost their lives in that attack, and we pay tribute to their families and their loved ones.	The U.S. forces in Lebanon were serving as part of the Multinational Force working to bring peace and security to that country torn by years of civil war.  On the anniversary of this unconscionable attack we honor the memory of those brave servicemen and women through our commitment to succeeding in the war on terror.  We express our gratitude to those serving abroad to protect America and promote peace and freedom around the world.  And we reiterate our strong support for the voices of moderation and justice in Lebanon.&quot;  &lt;p /&gt; With that, I'll take your questions.  " title=" Q    Can we start over again?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317887" rowid="136534037" side="usa" srcid="317887" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't have it with me and a lot of details went into that.  &lt;p /&gt; Is this still on the economy?  " title=" Q    Can you -- are you able to hit sort of --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273456" rowid="136530896" side="usa" srcid="273456" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's just a little bit -- they haven't even had their meeting yet.  I think as much as we'd like to be a little more concrete for you guys, I think we should let the leaders meet first.   MR. PRICE:  Certainly, as I said, it has certainly been a theme and issue that the United States has been advocating since the very beginning of this G8 process.  " title=" Q    Can you -- hope is one thing, is it a little stronger than hope?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-27#entryid_267617" rowid="136530091" side="usa" srcid="267617" text=" MS. PERINO:  How's he feeling about being needed?  " title=" Q    Can you -- how is the President feeling about the idea of being needed as a McCain supporter o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303277" rowid="136532076" side="usa" srcid="303277" text=" MS. PERINO:  We've obviously seen the statements that they've given out over the past little bit of time.  A reminder to you that it was the United States, along with the other parties in the six-party talks, the other four -- so the five of the six, united in saying that -- I was going to say a different country -- that North Korea had to comply with the protocol and that one of those agreements was a verification mechanism.  We don't have that yet.  Our whole premise has been action for action.  We have fulfilled our obligations when the North Koreans have fulfilled theirs.  &lt;p /&gt; And so we will be taking a assessment along with our international partners.  This is not going to be a decision that the United States makes alone.	And we're obviously troubled by it and it's very unfortunate for the North Korean people, who could be greatly helped by the action-for-action mechanism.  And once North Korea simply agrees to a verification protocol, then the United States would take them off of our state sponsor of terrorism list.  But we're not going to do it without it.  " title=" Q    Can you add anything to news reports about North Korea reassembling its main facility?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-19#entryid_271263" rowid="136530523" side="usa" srcid="271263" text=" Q    Can you address the lessons the President, himself, has learned from Katrina in terms of his involvement in a crisis like this, in terms of when he goes onto the scene, when he -- his personal involvement?  I mean, obviously, you've talked a lot about FEMA in general in the past.  But I'm just kind of curious if you can address it in terms of -- is the President, himself, doing anything different now because of Katrina?  &lt;p&gt; ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  Well, I took over, what, in the second or third week of Katrina, and the President was involved intimately with me on a daily basis.  So all I can tell you is, everything that I saw, he was heavily involved, and I had, you know, regular access to him.  He even came to FEMA headquarters for our briefings.  I had nothing but full support out of him, I have to tell you.  " title=" Q    Can you address the lessons the President, himself, has learned from Katrina in terms of his i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324590" rowid="136534844" side="usa" srcid="324590" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't have any more details on it.  I'll refer you to the State Department who is coordinating that through the United Nations.  &lt;p /&gt; Elaine.  " title=" Q    Can you also give more details on the humanitarian aid?  The President said that -- promised f" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267052" rowid="136530015" side="usa" srcid="267052" text=" MR. FISK:  The NSC is not involved in the campaigns.  No coordination was done from my office, or I'm aware anyone else.	This was a White House event; these are the President's remarks, it's the President's policy, it's about where we are.  It's not a matter of --   MS. PERINO:  I'll find out.  I don't know specifically if -- on a specific policy change, if that was alerted to the campaign or not, but I'll check.   MR. FISK:  I guess from the NSC perspective, no.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, sir.  " title=" Q    Can you also say, was this speech coordinated in any way with the McCain campaign?  Was the ca" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266861" rowid="136529920" side="usa" srcid="266861" text=" MS. PERINO:  I just told -- said what our policy is and that our preference is to solve this diplomatically.  And that's what we're trying to do.  " title=" Q    Can you answer yes or no to that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279321" rowid="136531075" side="usa" srcid="279321" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would just say that the feedback that we're getting from Capitol Hill from members of Congress is that they do believe that they'll be able to get something done and to the President.  And we are hopeful that they get it to us in a form that he can sign, which would include stripping out that CDBG money.  &lt;p /&gt; Peter.  " title=" Q    Can you be more specific about why you're optimistic?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280840" rowid="136531347" side="usa" srcid="280840" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  I think that this President -- President Bush got to know President Musharraf very well over a period of many years, and they went through some pretty rough times together and established a good friendship.  The President has started establishing a good relationship with this Prime Minister, as well, having first met him on May 26th in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, and then again today.  And I'm sure that if they have a -- I shouldn't say &quot;I'm sure&quot; -- if they had a chance to meet again before the end of this President's term -- he thinks he will, but -- I think they would meet.  &lt;p /&gt; President Bush believes and reaffirmed today with this Prime Minister that the relationship between the United States and Pakistan is critically important, and it's one based on democratic values.  Prime Minister Gillani did thank President Bush for their democratic elections.  So they -- there's a broad base of friendship there that is a foundation for moving forward.  And President Bush did say that whoever the next President is of the United States, that he believes that the good relationship will continue, if we can continue working together, especially on issues of counterterrorism.  &lt;p /&gt; Their economy is something that we also remain concerned about, and President Bush said that they would be talking about a little bit later today.	And of course when it comes to the humanitarian condition, President Bush is concerned about people who are not able to afford food, and that's why we provide -- are going to provide the $115 million in food aid.  " title=" Q    Can you characterize the relationship between President Bush and the Prime Minister, and Presi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-27#entryid_267611" rowid="136530085" side="usa" srcid="267611" text=" MS. PERINO:  I did over the weekend, though you may not have seen the comments, so I'll just repeat them here, which is that as you know, our practice has been for fundraisers that the President does, if they're at a venue like a hotel, that they are open to press.  The McCain campaign has a practice that's different, and that is that all of their fundraisers, regardless of location, are closed to the press.  And so to accommodate the practices, they decided to move it to a private residence today.  " title=" Q    Can you clarify the circumstances with the Convention Center versus a private residence?  Ther" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313269" rowid="136533467" side="usa" srcid="313269" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I'd refer you to the State Department for that.  " title=" Q    Can you comment about the possible closure of the embassy?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-29#entryid_268061" rowid="136530131" side="usa" srcid="268061" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not aware of that, no.  And I also know that President Bush would never ask anyone to knowingly go out and lie.  But do we defend the President's record vigorously?  Yes, you bet we do.  And I think -- parts of the book that suggest that there was propaganda or -- you know, I just don't know how substantiated that is in the book.	I would ask to -- you know, where, when, how, specifically?  What are you talking about, were there charts, were there et cetera that you thought were lies?	And I don't think that he's saying that either.  So I just question the accounts.  &lt;p /&gt; Anything else?  " title=" Q    Can you comment more generally about whether the President has ever authorized the leaking of " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-23#entryid_280365" rowid="136531257" side="usa" srcid="280365" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  President Bush has had similar sentiments before when he's talking about how over the years Wall Street was dealing with very complex financial instruments, and it's clear now to everybody that those markets didn't fully understand the risk that all of those instruments posed to the overall health of the economy and the instability in the market.  And the President has described it the way others have.  Obviously he did it in a very -- in a way that was with much candor.  " title=" Q    Can you comment on camera -- I know you had a lot of comment this morning -- about the Preside" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-27#entryid_312743" rowid="136533396" side="usa" srcid="312743" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to comment on it at all.  This could be a really short briefing.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Can you comment on Syria's protest?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304082" rowid="136532237" side="usa" srcid="304082" text=" MS. PERINO:  That's right after the UNGA meeting, and I can't confirm it now.  But since there are so many leaders who are going to be in the country at the time and going to New York, we will have some leaders coming around that week and so let me see if I can confirm Abbas -- there might be others, as well.  " title=" Q    Can you confirm that Mahmoud Abbas will be here on the 26th?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298485" rowid="136531376" side="usa" srcid="298485" text=" Q    Can you describe a little bit more the President's plans for attending church?  Is it going to be any different from what he's done in previous visits to Beijing?  And also, is it possible he'll meet with any religious leaders or other leaders at other points during the visit?  &lt;p&gt; MR. WILDER:  What I can say is that it's a different church than the one he attended the last time he was in Beijing.  And it is a church that we were interested in attending in part because it has actually a connection to many of these house churches.  In other words, the church operates as a learning center for many of these house church pastors.  And so the President is eager to go and hear about their efforts to work with those other pastors.	 And I can get you the name later; I don't have it right here right now.  " title=" Q    Can you describe a little bit more the President's plans for attending church?  Is it going to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-10#entryid_269739" rowid="136530335" side="usa" srcid="269739" text=" MR. HADLEY:  I can't as I sit here.  We've got it.  Let us get you a couple points on that; that's the easiest thing to do.  " title=" Q    Can you explain the difference between what they're talking about now, the package of incentiv" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273441" rowid="136530881" side="usa" srcid="273441" text=" MR. PRICE:  No, I really don't have anything for you on that.   MS. PERINO:  I don't know what he was referring to.  I don't know what he was referring to.  " title=" Q    Can you explain what President Kikwete meant when he said you have -- we have some things we w" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267015" rowid="136529946" side="usa" srcid="267015" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that you dismiss -- I think you need to go back and look at what the Israelis said and what I have just said, which is that we would hope that Syria would end its -- that these talks would result in Syria ending its sponsorship of terrorism.  We don't know where this will go.  We'll have to see how it progresses.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q    Can you explain why it's not appeasement for the Israelis to talk to the Syrians?  Isn't that " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320139" rowid="136534316" side="usa" srcid="320139" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'll see what I can say.  John.  " title=" Q    Can you find out for sure?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271968" rowid="136530636" side="usa" srcid="271968" text=" MS. PERINO:  We'll see.  " title=" Q    Can you find out?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323435" rowid="136534613" side="usa" srcid="323435" text=" Q    Can you give us a breakdown of who's getting what out of the first $13.4 billion?	And is there a distinction of how much you're making available in, say, loan guarantees, which is something Ford was more interested in, versus outright cash out the door?  &lt;p&gt; MR. KAPLAN:  Yes.  The loans that are being announced today are for the GM auto manufacturer and Chrysler auto manufacturing company.  Ford, in Treasury discussions with them, I believe does not believe that it needs a loan today.  &lt;p /&gt; Out of the total -- I mentioned that the total is $17.4 billion -- $13.4 billion of that is going to be made available to these two companies in December and January, and $4 billion is needed in February by GM.  So if I do my math correctly, I think that means that $13.4 billion also happens to be the number, coincidentally, that is going to GM, and $4 billion is the number that is going to Chrysler.  " title=" Q    Can you give us a breakdown of who's getting what out of the first $13.4 billion?	And is there" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-13#entryid_326205" rowid="136534970" side="usa" srcid="326205" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Sure, yes, absolutely.  That's something we can e-mail to you.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Mark.  " title=" Q    Can you give us a list later of who was actually attending today?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-10#entryid_300083" rowid="136531617" side="usa" srcid="300083" text=" AMBASSADOR JEFFREY:  I can't go into detail.  The President laid out our position.  He asked for the Russian views.  Putin, in particular, was concerned about the deaths of Russian peacekeepers.  We are, as well.  Those people, as well as civilians and military personnel on all sides, have suffered significant losses and we regret them all.  And we hope that there is no further bloodshed.	There has been too much bloodshed already.  &lt;p /&gt; And the second part of your question --  " title=" Q    Can you give us a little more of a readout on the President's discussions with Mr. Putin, and " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273433" rowid="136530867" side="usa" srcid="273433" text=" MS. PERINO:  Merkel bilat tomorrow?   MR. PRICE:  You know, Merkel is tomorrow.  I don't know that there is --   MS. PERINO:  Well, obviously President Bush and -- sorry, I can't remember the schedule -- President Bush and Prime Minister -- or Chancellor Merkel, excuse me -- met just three weeks ago --  " title=" Q    Can you give us a preview on Merkel?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-17#entryid_279594" rowid="136531117" side="usa" srcid="279594" text=" UNDER SECRETARY REY:  What he'll see in the aerial tour is areas of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest that have burned, as well as areas that have been thinned to reduce flammable materials.  He'll also see a couple of thinning projects that did result in our ability to put out a fire more easily.  &lt;p /&gt; Let me correct a number I gave you.  It's 640 acres per square mile.  So I've got to remember that.  I have a hard time with the metric system and all that sort of stuff.  I don't trust it.  " title=" Q    Can you give us an idea of what he'll see in the aerial tour?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301158" rowid="136531772" side="usa" srcid="301158" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Sure.  I would just say that negotiations are ongoing between our teams.  We've made progress over the last several months on the issue.	There's a number of areas that we'll need to continue having discussions on.  " title=" Q    Can you give us an update on the SOFA with Iraq?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-18#entryid_322975" rowid="136534583" side="usa" srcid="322975" text=" MS. PERINO:  I can say we're very close, but other than that I don't want to characterize it.  " title=" Q    Can you give us any indication of how far along the process is?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-29#entryid_302712" rowid="136531991" side="usa" srcid="302712" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure, happy to.  The President is looking forward to the honor of speaking at the Republican Convention on Monday night.  The speech expresses gratitude.  The President will thank his family, his administration, and most of all, the friends, supporters and volunteers in the convention hall who have supported him and the Republican agenda for these past eight years.  &lt;p /&gt; The speech reviews the major issues facing the country, from terrorism and war to the economy and the direction of our culture.  Above all, the speech reflects on the role of the presidency and the qualities that are demanded by the job, and makes the case that John McCain is the best qualified to be our next leader and commander-in-chief.  In particular, it highlights McCain's unique judgment, perspective, and experience to deal with the unexpected, to stand firm on his convictions, put the country above himself, and make hard decisions necessary to protect the American people.  &lt;p /&gt; The speech rallies Republicans to have confidence in America's future and to do everything they can to elect John McCain to the presidency.  &lt;p /&gt; A couple of things that the speech does not do:  Do not expect this speech to define the President's legacy.  This is not an opportunity to recap accomplishments of the past seven and a half years.  It will not serve as a farewell to the American people, and it certainly will not attack Barack Obama.  " title=" Q    Can you give us any indication of what he's going to be speaking about?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303126" rowid="136532052" side="usa" srcid="303126" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we left it up to the convention as to how they were going to decide what to do with the program.  Obviously, for Monday, they decided to not have an evening program at all.  And then, as of last night, even the convention hadn't made a decision as to what they would do today, and we said we would go along with whatever they decided to do.  &lt;p /&gt; And we can control a lot of things.  We can control the preparedness, we can control the response, but we can't control Mother Nature's timing.  And this hurricane decided to strike when it did, and I think the GOP has handled the timing of the convention and the program in an appropriate way.  " title=" Q    Can you give us any information about the decision?  Was it the President's decision not to go" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-09#entryid_269560" rowid="136530323" side="usa" srcid="269560" text=" MR. PRICE:  No.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Can you give us any kind of, you know, preview of what it might say?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-19#entryid_305524" rowid="136532526" side="usa" srcid="305524" text=" Q    Can you give us any more of a ballpark of the ultimate size of this program, the program involving MBS and illiquid assets.  And also -- the President also talked about looking forward to working with Congress on the transparency reforms.  Is that something you really anticipate getting done this year?  &lt;p&gt; MR. HENNESSEY:	On the first point, I'm sure you heard Secretary Paulson say hundreds of billions of dollars.  I can't add anything more to that, other than to say that the goal is clear:  We need for this to be a significant enough amount that it will have a clear and decisive impact on solving a root cause of this underlying problem going forward.  &lt;p /&gt; As for more specifics on the number, I don't have anything to add beyond what Secretary Paulson said.  " title=" Q    Can you give us any more of a ballpark of the ultimate size of this program, the program invol" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304054" rowid="136532209" side="usa" srcid="304054" text=" MS. PERINO:  This morning?  President Bush called to congratulate President Zardari and said he looked forward to seeing him at the United Nations General Assembly.  And they pledged to continue to cooperate and coordinate efforts.  " title=" Q    Can you give us anything else on the nature of the phone call?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-10#entryid_300079" rowid="136531613" side="usa" srcid="300079" text=" AMBASSADOR JEFFREY:  They have expressed great concern at the loss of Russian lives, both civilians -- as you know, many of the inhabitants of South Ossetia have Russian passports and there have been civilian casualties there -- as well as the loss of lives of their peacekeepers.  A fairly large number have been killed or wounded, according to various accounts.  And they have stressed that.  They have stressed their concern about the actions of the Georgian authorities.	And I would not say that they have told us that they are carrying out punitive actions.  " title=" Q    Can you give us some suggestion of how they have responded to this?  Are they rebuffing your c" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267017" rowid="136529950" side="usa" srcid="267017" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  " title=" Q    Can you go back to the Syria negotiations?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266851" rowid="136529910" side="usa" srcid="266851" text=" MS. PERINO:  What I'm saying is that President Bush was there at the Knesset to give a speech on the 60th anniversary of Israel and he restated longstanding United States policy.  And I don't think that he should have to change or sit back and wait out for the next six months while an election is going on.  &lt;p /&gt; Connie.  " title=" Q    Can you honestly maintain with a straight face that in an election season like this the White " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-18#entryid_305328" rowid="136532461" side="usa" srcid="305328" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not sure at exactly what point yesterday.  He spoke to Secretary Paulson several times; I know that they spoke last night about 7:00 p.m. in the evening and then that action that the central banks took happened just after midnight.  So it was probably in that phone call, but we can check.  " title=" Q    Can you just -- when did the President first get informed of the Fed's plans to inject $180 bi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-29#entryid_268060" rowid="136530130" side="usa" srcid="268060" text=" MS. PERINO:  About John McCain?  " title=" Q    Can you just give us any sense of what the President has been saying to the donors in these cl" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-26#entryid_272198" rowid="136530691" side="usa" srcid="272198" text=" Q    Can you just shed a little more light on the level of plutonium production?  And you mentioned the math is fairly straightforward -- I mean, you know that in terms of determining the number of bombs -- what is the range that you think this is going to fall into?  And what does it equal in terms of weapons?  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  I don't -- I'm not sure we've declassified that, so I can't give it to you.  And let me be clear this way:	We think you can get a sense of the number of weapons, but the big point is we want to understand the amount of plutonium and have a process by which that plutonium is taken out of circulation.  &lt;p /&gt; If you know you got all of the plutonium and you have a process by which it's all going to be brought forward and taken out of circulation, in a way, how much of that was actually in bombs and how much of it was still on the staff -- shelf, in a way, is less important so long as you know you're getting all of it.  And that's the point.  " title=" Q    Can you just shed a little more light on the level of plutonium production?  And you mentioned" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-19#entryid_305493" rowid="136532497" side="usa" srcid="305493" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't have -- I didn't tally it up for you.  I can just tell you he spent a significant amount of time with his senior economic advisors.  It's not just Secretary Paulson that he has worked with, but Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and the SEC Chairman Chris Cox; as well as Josh Bolten, his Chief of Staff; his Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Kaplan; Ed Gillespie, his Counselor.  You've had Eddie Lazear, the Chairman of the CEA involved; I've been there; your favorite principal deputy press secretary, Tony Fratto, has been around.  I mean, we -- it's all hands on deck, because it has to be.  " title=" Q    Can you just sort of -- how much time did he spend with Paulson last night, as this came toget" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303260" rowid="136532059" side="usa" srcid="303260" text=" MS. PERINO:  I always say that if there's anything about news reporters, the thing they hate the most is anything that affects -- that's new to them and that affects them, and change is very hard for the media.  It's like one of the most interesting things.  So we'll gently glide into this and we'll adjust if we need to.  Okay?  " title=" Q    Can you just stand at the podium all day long?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-16#entryid_270421" rowid="136530416" side="usa" srcid="270421" text=" Q    Can you just talk a little about the humanitarian initiatives that I think Prime Minister Brown was focused on in particular; you know, that the -- and the President talked about it, as well.  I think there was an initiative relating to, you know, preventing women from dying in childbirth, and a reference to 72 million, I think -- it was a very large number of children who don't go to school.  There was a whole cluster of that sort of --  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  There were a couple of things.  One of the reasons you want to deal with malaria, for example, but also these neglected tropical diseases, is these diseases make kids sick and keep them home, and so it leads to a high absentee rate from school.  So the irony is if you believe in education for young children, one of the first things you want to do is get them healthy so they can go to school.  So it's a little bit of a two-fer.  &lt;p /&gt; If you, for example, invest in dealing with neglected tropical diseases, invest in getting more healthcare workers, which is something Prime Minister Brown and President Bush have collaborated on, the effect is not only to increase health, particularly among children, but also to get kids more healthy and back to school so it also has an impact on -- it's a contribution you can make to education among youth in these developing countries.  That's what he talked about.   MS. PERINO:  We have time for one more before --  " title=" Q    Can you just talk a little about the humanitarian initiatives that I think Prime Minister Brow" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303127" rowid="136532053" side="usa" srcid="303127" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think the speech originally was around 15 minutes. And this one will be running a little bit less than eight.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    Can you just talk a little bit about -- you said his speech is shorter -- about how long the o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305167" rowid="136532422" side="usa" srcid="305167" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  I think the President -- you know, the President also wanted to make sure he understood why one company would be considered for federal help, and why one would not be.	He wanted more information about the considerations for the taxpayers.  He wanted to make sure that people had really thought through where we needed to go, in terms of the regulations, so that the idea was to, first and foremost, deal with the crisis at hand, last night's issue, and then, to continue to work with Congress in a bipartisan way to try to figure out a way to address the issue so that we can deal with it, so that we can prevent it from happening again.  &lt;p /&gt; That was one of the reasons that Secretary Paulson met with a bipartisan group of members last night.  " title=" Q    Can you just talk a little bit about -- you said the President had a lot of questions yesterda" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_325022" rowid="136534891" side="usa" srcid="325022" text=" Q    Can you just talk a little bit about how that's going to work? Are they going to have sort of substantive talks or some separate time for separate substantive discussions after the lunch?  And will there be any separate, just one-on-one between the President and President-Elect Obama?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think there is time for the President and President-Elect Obama to meet just for a little while prior to the other Presidents arriving.  They will meet in the Oval Office.  We're working on the details right now, but I think you'll be able to get a nice shot of them in the Rose Garden as they walk out of the Oval Office.  And then they'll return to the Oval Office, and then they'll have lunch all together.  &lt;p /&gt; So the way -- I think President-Elect Obama, I think, originally had the idea for this, but President Bush readily agreed, thought it was a great idea to get everybody together.  We checked and the last time that all of the living Presidents were able to get together at the White House was in 1981.  And so this is a historic moment for -- that we're looking forward to tomorrow.  " title=" Q    Can you just talk a little bit about how that's going to work? Are they going to have sort of " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_325017" rowid="136534886" side="usa" srcid="325017" text=" MS. PERINO:  Between the transition teams?  " title=" Q    Can you just talk a little bit about whether or not the pace has increased at all as far as me" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-02#entryid_324399" rowid="136534772" side="usa" srcid="324399" text=" Q    Can you maybe elaborate on -- since the crisis in Gaza, there doesn't seem to be an end in sight -- the extent to which the White House is briefing and keeping the transition team and the President-elect up to date?  Is Secretary Rice talking to him and his team daily, or how does that work?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  I'm not sure -- well, one, I know Secretary Rice has spoken to the President-elect at least once in the last week.	The President-elect receives the same intelligence briefings that President Bush receives.	So he is familiar with the intelligence and what we know about what's taking place there in Israel and Gaza.  But we're staying in close contact.  I can't speak to any other staff discussions, but we're providing them the information that they are seeking.  " title=" Q    Can you maybe elaborate on -- since the crisis in Gaza, there doesn't seem to be an end in sig" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-20#entryid_301287" rowid="136531808" side="usa" srcid="301287" text=" MR. CONWAY:  In terms of additional federal money, General O'Dell would tell you that he believes that there are enough resources that are in the pipeline, enough funds in the pipeline, to get the mission done.  When you take a look at the money that has not been spent yet -- for example, in the city of New Orleans, $411 million in CDBG funds that could be used for housing has not been spent yet.  And part of the reason why is there's a very comprehensive planning process that the city has gone through involving stakeholders and others where they have just recently come out with 17 targeted redevelopment zones.  Now, that process took a very long time, and it helps determine where housing will be.  " title=" Q    Can you quantify how much more federal money is going to be needed?  You mentioned the $126 bi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-31#entryid_314015" rowid="136533569" side="usa" srcid="314015" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I don't have numbers in front of me.  I just know that we -- when we are thinking about political travel, we have lots of choices.  And that has never, ever been a problem.  " title=" Q    Can you quantify that, more requests than you can meet?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-18#entryid_301039" rowid="136531768" side="usa" srcid="301039" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Toby asked whether the President has spoken with President Musharraf.  He has not today, and we'll keep you updated if that changes.  " title=" Q    Can you repeat the question?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-22#entryid_323792" rowid="136534643" side="usa" srcid="323792" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I think so.  I have no reason to believe I can't rule it out for this week.	The President goes to Camp David tomorrow afternoon.  &lt;p /&gt; Toby.  " title=" Q    Can you rule it out for this week?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-22#entryid_323795" rowid="136534646" side="usa" srcid="323795" text=" MR. FRATTO:  No, I can't rule it out.  I'm not ruling anything in or out.  " title=" Q    Can you rule it out?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316440" rowid="136533788" side="usa" srcid="316440" text=" Q    Can you say on Doha will there be a substantive discussion on it, or is it just a commitment to get an agreement by the end of the year?o  &lt;p /&gt; And one clarification on the Obama transition team.  Will there be a member physically present in the room?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  We have had no discussions about the presence of members of the team in the room.  Our discussions to date have been about substance.  &lt;p /&gt; With respect to Doha, as I said, I think what we've heard from both leaders and their representatives is their desire to provide at this meeting political impetus to resolving the outstanding issues that prevent agreement on modalities and to direct our ministers to seek to accomplish that objective.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, ma'am.  " title=" Q    Can you say on Doha will there be a substantive discussion on it, or is it just a commitment t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-19#entryid_271262" rowid="136530522" side="usa" srcid="271262" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  Every major disaster we've had, the President has gone to visit.	He likes to get out and talk to people.  He wants to make sure the cities are getting what they want.  He likes to talk to the governors:  &quot;Is what I'm seeing accurate?  Are they getting what they want?&quot;	He really has an empathy for individuals.  When we went to Greensburg, Kansas, he walked the entire neighborhood, and he would spend about two hours on the ground just talking to people, home to home.  So he really likes to do that.  It gives him a good visual of what's going on.  And when we get back on the plane, I get 40 questions, so.  " title=" Q    Can you say what the President hopes to accomplish on a trip like this?  What does coming firs" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322342" rowid="136534520" side="usa" srcid="322342" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would not be able to comment on that from here.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Can you say whether the administration, the Treasury, or the White House is negotiating direct" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-20#entryid_271391" rowid="136530555" side="usa" srcid="271391" text=" MR. FRATTO:  It's an -- on operational matters like that I just don't have any comment.  " title=" Q    Can you say why you can't comment?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-15#entryid_304826" rowid="136532332" side="usa" srcid="304826" text=" MS. PERINO:  I could share with you the same light that Bryan Whitman, the spokesperson at the Department of Defense did, which is that they've checked every source that they could possibly find and that believe that that is a false report.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Goyal.  " title=" Q    Can you shed any light on the shooting incident on the Pakistan border today of either Pakista" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280848" rowid="136531303" side="usa" srcid="280848" text=" DIRECTOR NUSSLE:  What we're doing, and we'll -- I think probably the best way to do that is to give you a copy of the amendment, let you have a chance to take a look at it -- but what we are doing is we are conforming the budget proposal itself to what the President has announced as part of his energy plan.  And we're calling on Congress to adopt that.	Congress, as you know, has a moratorium within their appropriation bill, and we're asking them to drop that moratorium.  And that's the budget amendment that we're sending forward.  &lt;p /&gt; So, time for -- we'll come back to two more real quick and then we'll be done.  Yes.  " title=" Q    Can you speak a little bit more about what you're sending to the Hill today -- the budget and " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298595" rowid="136531469" side="usa" srcid="298595" text=" Q    Can you speak to reports about the role the National Security Council is going to play in covert action?  Specifically The Wall Street Journal reported that the revised order says covert action will be run by the NSC at the White House.  &lt;p&gt; SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yes, I'd be happy to -- if you'll give me a second here I'm flipping through my well-thumbed copy of the executive order text.  I think you're going to find on examination that there's no basis for that report.	I did see it this morning and I will quote to you from section 1.2 of the revised executive order approved yesterday; it states that &quot;the NSC shall perform such other functions related to covert action as the President may direct, but shall not undertake the conduct of covert actions.&quot;  I think that's about as clearly as we can state it.  &lt;p /&gt; In the covert action area, you'll find it addressed in three sections.	The section I referred to where the National Security Council's role and the President's role are elaborated, the conduct of covert action activities as in the law, as in the previous executive order and as in practice over many decades, is assigned to the Central Intelligence Agency; and finally, a role for the DNI in providing advice to the President regarding covert actions, and also in the oversight of the conduct of covert actions is included in section 1.3(b).  &lt;p /&gt; So I would encourage you to take a very close look at the text of the order.	There is no change contemplated to the role of the National Security Council in regard to covert action.  " title=" Q    Can you speak to reports about the role the National Security Council is going to play in cove" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-20#entryid_305673" rowid="136532551" side="usa" srcid="305673" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Our policy is that the terrorism threat that is in the border areas of Pakistan and the border areas with Afghanistan is a threat to Pakistan, to Afghanistan, to the United States, and our friends and allies.  And therefore, it is a threat in which we need to be working together to try and deal with this challenge.  We have, as you know, encouraged trilateral cooperation between the United States, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.  We obviously have more to do.  &lt;p /&gt; It is -- we recognize that this is a problem that -- since it is sovereign Pakistani territory, the problem is going to be solved when Pakistan is in an ability to exercise control over that territory.  As you know, the border areas, particularly in the FATA, has been a challenge for 100 years for the authorities in power to exercise control over that area.  It is a challenge for Pakistan, one that we want to help them with.  &lt;p /&gt; But at the same time we recognize that in the short term, right now, there are threats emanating out of that area that threaten Pakistan, threaten our troops in Afghanistan, and potentially threaten the homeland.  And therefore, we want to cooperate closely with Pakistan.	We also need to ensure as best we can that threats do not materialize out of that area, and that's as far as I can go.  " title=" Q    Can you state what the U.S. policy is with respect to launching either missile attacks or arme" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270967" rowid="136530471" side="usa" srcid="270967" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Maybe.  Maybe I can.  " title=" Q    Can you take a look at it and give us some information on this?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323443" rowid="136534621" side="usa" srcid="323443" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  Sure.  The President explained why, I think, very well in his remarks.  In terms of the how, look, we thought the right approach was legislation for any number of reasons, starting with the fact that it has always been our very strong preference to preserve the TARP for financial institutions of the kind that you have seen it used to assist previously.  That was why we fought very hard to get agreement from the Democrats in Congress to use the already appropriated 136 funds.  &lt;p /&gt; There were other very significant advantages to going by legislation, the most important of which is that legislation is binding -- binding on this administration, binding on the next administration.  And one of the very important components of that legislation was a provision that said, if they do not achieve viability, not only is the loan called, but no further federal financing shall be available.  We thought that was a really important piece of leverage in that legislation.  &lt;p /&gt; Legislation didn't pass, though, and the President was faced with a decision about whether, in the absence of legislation, to permit these auto companies just to fail.  For the reasons he laid out in his remarks today, he did not think that was a acceptable or responsible alternative given our economic circumstances, and frankly given that there's a new President coming into office on January 20th.  And the President did not believe it would be responsible for him to hand off to his successor a disorderly failure in a very important sector of the economy that could have, you know, damaging consequences.  He didn't think that was the right thing to do for the economy or for the country, and he didn't think it was a responsible thing to do for his successor.  &lt;p /&gt; So once you've established that first decision, then the question becomes, how do you avoid a disorderly failure?	And there, there were a number of options and the President took a lot of advice and asked a lot of questions of his economic advisors about what is the best way to provide government assistance in order to avoid that very damaging economic outcome.  &lt;p /&gt; And there was, like I said, a lot of advice.  There was a lot of discussion back and forth.  We got, as you might imagine, a lot of recommendations from commentators and from members of Congress who -- some of whom had been in support of the legislation and some of whom had been support -- had been supportive of other approaches.  We got a lot of incoming from them and that was something that we took very seriously, and the President took very seriously, in coming up with what he believed what the most effective and responsible approach for the country.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, ma'am.  " title=" Q    Can you take a step back, also, and just describe kind of the process of how the White House a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-31#entryid_313954" rowid="136533526" side="usa" srcid="313954" text=" MR. FRATTO:  We'll take the question and Gordon Johndroe will get back to you.  &lt;p /&gt; Lester.  " title=" Q    Can you take this question?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306427" rowid="136532658" side="usa" srcid="306427" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think I did yesterday, but I'll be happy to go through it again.  " title=" Q    Can you take us through how this meeting came about?  Can you give us a little bit of a tick-t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313568" rowid="136533515" side="usa" srcid="313568" text=" CHAIRMAN LAZEAR:  Oh, I'll get you in a sec.  Either way.  You first, then you.  " title=" Q    Can you talk --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324569" rowid="136534802" side="usa" srcid="324569" text=" MS. PERINO:  We've been working on trying to get the assets in place so that we would be able to actually do it.  The President made a decision early on that Steve Hadley talked about in the statement that we released earlier today on Darfur that meant that the United States would be working with the United Nations and NGOs to try to get aid into the region.  And we're doing what we can as soon as we possibly can, and we worked to try to get it done so that we could talk about it with First Vice President Kiir today.  &lt;p /&gt; Ellen.  " title=" Q    Can you talk a little about the timing of the announcement on the airlift for Darfur?  Why has" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302652" rowid="136531927" side="usa" srcid="302652" text=" Q    Can you talk a little bit about the Black Sea and the various NATO ships that are there, and the Russians complaining about that?	I mean, is there a concern that a humanitarian effort or an unrelated NATO exercise could turn into direct confrontation with Russian forces?  &lt;p&gt; SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  The only thing I can tell you, if there are concerns -- and I know that I've read about press reports of concerns being expressed -- they're just completely baseless.  This is nothing but what we have said it is, which is a full-fledged effort to get humanitarian supplies in to people that have undergone enormous suffering.  That's what it is.	That's what we've told the Russians it is.  So far we've had a good record of getting that aid in.	Now we need to get it distributed to the people who need it.  " title=" Q    Can you talk a little bit about the Black Sea and the various NATO ships that are there, and t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326574" rowid="136535029" side="usa" srcid="326574" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  So we'll have -- the President will be fully staffed to the extent that he needs help.	There will be those of us around to do it, there just might be fewer of us, because there is quite an elaborate checkout system.  You have to turn in all of your equipment.  There is the ethics debrief.  You have to turn in any keys that you might have, your parking pass.  You have to go through all of that process.  &lt;p /&gt; And so in order to make sure that that's done in an orderly fashion, some people will have to start checking out.  And that really started around Monday of this week.  We're going to say good-bye to three of our staffers tonight, although it's not good-bye forever -- they're going to be tomorrow for the press briefing -- but Carlton Carroll, being one of them, who has been fantastic, and he has really -- rose to the occasion.  A lot you knew him when he just started out as a press assistant, and now he is a fantastic on-the-record spokesperson.  We couldn't be more proud of him.  " title=" Q    Can you talk a little bit about the whole apparatus that will be around the President, say Mon" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317658" rowid="136533985" side="usa" srcid="317658" text=" Q    Can you talk a little more broadly about the concerns that you expect to hear from particularly leaders from Asia about what the long-term effects of this global financial crisis are going to be on trade?  Aren't they worried about sort of an unraveling of their relationship that has developed across the Pacific between the U.S., in particular, and a lot of the Asian economies?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  I don't know that I would call it concern about &quot;unraveling&quot; the relationship.  Rather I think the concerns fall into a couple of different categories.  &lt;p /&gt; The first is, as I've said, there is a concern that we've heard expressed about nations turning inward, of focusing solely on themselves and taking steps that are disintegrative, if I can use that -- putting up trade barriers.  So I think it's going to be important to these countries to reinforce the message of free trade, of global integration.  I think that would be a principal concern that we can expect to hear.  &lt;p /&gt; The second is the potential drying up of trade finance.  And here, as you'll recall in the declaration signed at the summit over the weekend, there was an acknowledgment of the importance of ensuring adequate resources for trade finance.  I think there will also be a more generalized concern about resources for developing countries, which really has two parts:	One, ensuring that the IMF, the World Bank, and other multilateral development banks are adequately resourced to assist developing countries get through this crisis, number one.  And the second is a concern that nations that have made commitments on bilateral aid will fall down on those commitments, and as you heard our President at both the development summit and the recent summit, underscoring the importance of countries meeting their promises.  &lt;p /&gt; And if I could point out one other thing, John.  In the declaration that was just adopted this past weekend, there was a very interesting development because that declaration not only called on countries who have made commitments to honor those commitments, it called upon both developed and developing countries to make aid commitments consistent with their capacities and role in the global economy.  And I think that was an important acknowledgment that development assistance is no longer the purview of a handful of developed nations alone, but a shared responsibility of the major economies, as well.  " title=" Q    Can you talk a little more broadly about the concerns that you expect to hear from particularl" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318536" rowid="136534149" side="usa" srcid="318536" text=" MR. FRATTO:  No.  No, because --  " title=" Q    Can you talk about Geithner's role in the decision last night a little bit?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309533" rowid="136533105" side="usa" srcid="309533" text=" Q    Can you talk about the conversations the President had with the other leaders this morning?  And also, is there any sense that the U.S. was kind of in a way forced to do some of the things it did by the actions that the U.K. and other European governments did?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  No, we -- remember, the President met with the G7 on Friday; this follows all of his staff and his team, Secretary Paulson and others talking with their counterparts in those countries.  Then he met with the G20 on Saturday night.	Then Europe moved forward with its plan.  But we were coordinated.  &lt;p /&gt; It was important for us to be able to meet with those large institutions yesterday.  The Secretary of the Treasury held that meeting over there at the Treasury Department because we needed to understand -- needed them to understand the plan, engage their willingness to participate in the plan; they all agreed to.  And so it just took us a day to do that, but it was all well-coordinated amongst the other groups.  &lt;p /&gt; So what the President talked about today with those leaders is, one, thanked them for the coordination; two, talked about the importance of not letting up, but continuing to communicate and talk amongst one another.  And then he saw obviously Silvio Berlusconi last night, had a good meeting.  The Prime Minister will head back to Italy soon and then he'll be able to continue leadership on his behalf amongst Angela Merkel, Chancellor -- I'm sorry, yes, Chancellor Merkel, Prime Minister Gordon Brown.  They're all moving in lockstep.  &lt;p /&gt; But the other thing that's important to remember is that each country is going to have individual problems.  None of this coordination restricts activity by any one country.  But the coordination helps us make sure that one action isn't inadvertently or advertently hurting another country.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    Can you talk about the conversations the President had with the other leaders this morning?  A" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270973" rowid="136530477" side="usa" srcid="270973" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, look, I think we want to learn a little bit more from the producers and consumers there about how the market is operating.  No one is expecting to see announcements of increased production.	We'll want to explain our view of how the markets are operating in terms of supply and demand, and also in terms of some things that we think would help, like transparency and greater investment in oil exploration and development around the world.  So those are some of the things that Sam Bodman will be talking about, and we'll see what comes of it.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay, Roger.  " title=" Q    Can you talk about the expectations for that, now that that delegation has been announced?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298825" rowid="136531520" side="usa" srcid="298825" text=" MS. PERINO:  Oh, thanks for the warning.  (Laughter.)  The jobs report today was what we get every -- the first part of every month.  We had a loss of 51,000 jobs.  That was lower than what was expected, but the unemployment rate increased to 5.7 percent.  At the same time, I think you can fairly call this a mixed report, as wages rose by 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, and understandably higher energy prices do eat into those wages.  But it's better that they are increasing than going the other way.  &lt;p /&gt; Obviously we would prefer and we would -- we are working to improve the job outlook for our economy.  So we are displeased with this report. And while the economy is not as strong as we would like, we are encouraged that the overall economy seems to be doing slightly better, as the GDP report showed yesterday.  It showed what we had anticipated, which is that the stimulus package is having an impact.  And so that is a positive sign.  &lt;p /&gt; And as I mentioned, the higher energy prices that eat into people's wages and the housing downturn -- while all that is going on, our economy remains very resilient.  And Secretary Paulson this week at the Cabinet meeting stressed that he remains solidly confident in the long-term fundamentals of our economy.	Exports are strong, consumer spending has kept up, and productivity has been solid.  &lt;p /&gt; One thing we are concerned about is the impact of the extension of the unemployment benefits.	Our economists expect that the extension will add to the unemployment rate over the course of the year.  We used to provide 26 weeks of benefits; that was extended for an additional 13 weeks.	So that's almost three-quarters of a year for people that could get benefits.  For some it's taking them longer to find a job, but that's one of the consequences of increasing unemployment benefits is -- or extending unemployment benefits -- unemployment rate can go up.  It's of the problems with it.  " title=" Q    Can you talk about the jobs report this morning and the administration's reaction?  And I have" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298613" rowid="136531448" side="usa" srcid="298613" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, the President is going to continue to talk about energy, yes.  And I think that Republicans and Democrats across America are going to continue to talk about it, because if you look at all of the signs that the American public opinion -- where it's moving on these drilling issues, or looking for sources here in America in environmentally friendly ways, I don't think it's going to go away.  We have said that the high prices that people are paying at the pump are not something that can go away overnight, so people are going to be living with this.  &lt;p /&gt; And increasingly, Americans are more educated about the need to add more supply to deal with the rising demand that's happening around the world. So the President will continue to talk about it.  But I think, more importantly, constituents are going to start pushing Congress to try to get them to do more.  &lt;p /&gt; All we've asked this week is for Congress -- the Democrat leaders in Congress to allow for a vote.  And they haven't done that.  It looks increasingly likely that they'll skip town and go home on vacations and campaigning, and not actually deal with this one central question, which as we've said, would not have immediate impact, necessarily, on prices -- we don't know, and our market prognosticators -- but what it would do is send a signal that we're serious about trying to find more of our own resources here.  And if we had done this 10 years ago, today's outlook might look very different.  &lt;p /&gt; But of course, the President is going to be in Kennebunkport this weekend, and then he leaves for his Asia trip on Monday.  I'm sure in his bilateral meetings he'll have with the President of South Korea and then again in Thailand and China -- the issue of high energy prices is not something just Americans are facing, it's something that the whole world is facing.  And so we'll update you on the road, but I believe that he'll be talking about it there, as well.  " title=" Q    Can you talk about what lies ahead on the energy issue?  Is the President going to do more eve" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280845" rowid="136531352" side="usa" srcid="280845" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not able to comment on that report that you're referring to on a strike today.  I will tell you that overall in the meeting they talked mainly about counterterrorism after -- and especially what we can do to help provide training for their military.  Prime Minister Gillani also talked about something we've talked about here, which is how do you help change the lifestyle of people in the region so that they have a hopeful future, rather than one based on terrorism.  &lt;p /&gt; They have complex issues on the border there, especially when they have refugees -- about 3 million refugees from Afghanistan living in the border area.  The President pledged support for that, but when it comes to that specific report I'm not able to comment.  " title=" Q    Can you talk about what the discussion was like between the Prime Minister and the President a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304046" rowid="136532201" side="usa" srcid="304046" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, what I can tell you is that General Petraeus made his recommendation up through his chain of command.  And then Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen came to see the President last Wednesday, presented him with a video presentation, made their case for why they thought this was the best course of action.  &lt;p /&gt; And the President accepted their recommendation after thinking about it for a few days.  So I can't say why he didn't choose something else.  But he accepted their recommendation.  " title=" Q    Can you talk about what the main reason, or reasons, are that the President decided not to hav" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320596" rowid="136534413" side="usa" srcid="320596" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we had discussions over the weekend with members of the congressional staff.  In fact, our team met with committee staff Saturday night and we stayed in touch with them on our proposal.  Some progress was made over the weekend, as you said, but as of this morning we still haven't seen legislative language that the Democrats are working on.  So we can't give an assessment of something we haven't seen.  So one of the sticking points is that, is that we just need to see the language because that's always very important.  &lt;p /&gt; We've had some concern about the process this morning because the Democrats are saying that they want to vote tomorrow, but if they want to vote tomorrow it seems pretty soon if we haven't seen the language yet.  And as we understand it, it hasn't been shared with Republicans either.  So what we're looking for is a better bipartisan effort so that we can get this done.  &lt;p /&gt; When we do see the legislation, one thing we want to make sure is that it does not weaken the requirement that any long-term financing only be made available to firms that have a credible viability plan.  And so until we have the language I couldn't tell you exactly what the sticking points are, but that's the main issue -- right now it's just a process point.  " title=" Q    Can you talk about what the sticking points are between the White House and the Hill on an aut" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298612" rowid="136531446" side="usa" srcid="298612" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  As you know, he met with the leader of Abu Dhabi, and he'll meet with this leader this weekend.  It's a private and I would say important meeting, but also casual.  These are our hosts from when the President went to UAE in January.  He had a fantastic time when we went to the dinner in the desert.  But he also is very intrigued by their work to modernize their economy.	So I'm sure they'll talk about that.  I'm sure they'll talk about the issue of energy. Counterterrorism cooperation is always a big topic when it comes to talking with an ally like that.  So it will be a range of issues like that.  " title=" Q    Can you talk about whatever is going to be the subject at Camp David Sunday afternoon when he " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_325018" rowid="136534887" side="usa" srcid="325018" text=" MS. PERINO:  And about 18 minutes.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Can you talk at all --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326575" rowid="136535030" side="usa" srcid="326575" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes, a little bit.  " title=" Q    Can you talk just a little bit -- nuts and bolts -- about the next two days?  I think you've s" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303891" rowid="136532184" side="usa" srcid="303891" text=" MS. PERINO:  We proposed legislation -- we proposed legislation.  We tried to move forward.	I mean, there's lots of different ways, but there's only so much in our system that an executive branch can do when these are congressionally chartered agencies.  You have to have congressional buy-in, you have congressional action.  &lt;p /&gt; And just the intrinsic nature of the way that the housing industry was woven into the fabric of inside the beltway was hard to break loose. But I think that, going to Jim's question, as you said, the fact that we have had good cooperation since this announcement was made, I think is symbolic of the fact that everyone releases that this was not a game that could continue to be played.  And it had to be changed fundamentally.  " title=" Q    Can you talk to us about some of the steps the President took since 2002, other than simply sa" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313552" rowid="136533499" side="usa" srcid="313552" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I don't have anything to add that I -- that is new from what I said yesterday or the day before.  So it might be a little bit unsatisfying for you today.  But we continue to try to work on the tools that Congress gave us in regards to the 136 loans.  &lt;p /&gt; And the Treasury Secretary and Commerce Secretary and Energy Department -- Energy Secretary are in communication with the automakers.  We don't have anything new to say.  We understand that they've been facing tough times for a while.  They've made business decisions that unfortunately have put them in this position.	But we also recognize how big the companies are, how many families rely on these companies, and what it would mean for the overall economy.  &lt;p /&gt; So we're keeping that in mind.	But there may or may not be anything that we can do to try to help them.	What we're trying to do is work with the tools that we have, and that would be the 136 loans.  &lt;p /&gt; Jeremy.  " title=" Q    Can you talk to us about where things are with the automakers, the administration's potential " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-15#entryid_270350" rowid="136530411" side="usa" srcid="270350" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Yes, it's good.  You know, they are -- they've got a lot of issues before them.  They see the issues really mostly very much the same way.  Obviously, you know, Brown is a different personality than Blair.	The President, I think, has forged a good, close relationship with each and both of them.  And, of course, what underlines it -- underlines that relationship is the fact that the United States and Britain continue to have a very special relationship.  &lt;p /&gt; There was an article in the press today that somehow the President was looking past the special relationship because he was talking to Merkel, Berlusconi and Sarkozy.  Well, of course he's talking to Merkel, Berlusconi and Sarkozy.  He's not just coming to the U.K., he's coming to -- surprise, surprise -- France, Italy, Germany and the U.K.  So he will be talking to Merkel, Berlusconi, Sarkozy and Brown.  That does not take away from the fact that the United States and the U.K. have had, now have, and will continue to have a very special relationship between the two countries and also between the two leaders, the Prime Minister and the President.  " title=" Q    Can you tell us a little bit about their personal relationship at this state of the game?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270965" rowid="136530469" side="usa" srcid="270965" text=" MR. FRATTO:  He'll have an opportunity to just talk about the U.S.-China economic relationship.	They're here meeting as part of the Strategic Economic Dialogue that Treasury Secretary Paulson put together -- and a large number of our Cabinet are involved in these discussions with the Chinese -- and just talk about the importance of the economic relationship.  So that will be occurring over at the EEOB.  " title=" Q    Can you tell us anything about the meeting the President has with the Chinese delegation today" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-02#entryid_319781" rowid="136534255" side="usa" srcid="319781" text=" MS. PERINO:  I have to refer you to the State Department for that, because the last time I saw her was Sunday night before -- she was leaving for London right then, and the plans had not been finalized yet.  &lt;p /&gt; I know that she'll be meeting with the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Singh.  I'm sure the Foreign Minister will be there.  But beyond that, I don't know who else she is going to see.  I think that she's only scheduled to go to New Delhi when she is in India.  She will not be going to Mumbai.  " title=" Q    Can you tell us anything more about Secretary Rice's visit, what she's going to do and who she" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-15#entryid_309828" rowid="136533127" side="usa" srcid="309828" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Sure, yes, I'm sorry, I'm glad you asked.	The President saw the Vice President this morning.  The Vice President was in the morning briefings with the President, as he is usually, and the Vice President updated the President on his health condition that he'll be dealing with today.	I think the Vice President's office put a statement out on this, but the President was made aware by -- directly by the Vice President.  " title=" Q    Can you tell us what the President knows about Vice President Cheney's procedure?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326593" rowid="136535048" side="usa" srcid="326593" text=" MR. GILLESPIE:	I think we're putting that out later on today with bios and everything.  So I'll hold that for just a little bit longer, if that's okay.  " title=" Q    Can you tell us who is going to be in the audience, give us a sense of which people have been " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315268" rowid="136533638" side="usa" srcid="315268" text=" MS. PERINO:  Energy price -- Jon, it just -- it runs the gamut; it's everything.  And that's why when I said that all of the agencies are ready, I mean, you can imagine -- I'm not going to -- I can't -- there's no possible way, we'd be here all day if I went through all of the issues.  " title=" Q    Can you think of anything off the top of your head besides Iraq and the economy?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279345" rowid="136531099" side="usa" srcid="279345" text=" MS. PERINO:  As I just said --  " title=" Q    Can you understand why people might look at what's happening now and go back and think about w" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320404" rowid="136534357" side="usa" srcid="320404" text=" Q    Chairman Bernanke yesterday said that you need to be acting more aggressively in averting housing foreclosures, that the existing programs by themselves are not enough.  So why does the White House feel that what you're doing is enough?  &lt;p&gt; MR. STANZEL:  Well, we have -- like I indicated, we have the FHASecure program.  We have HOPE NOW -- helped 3.2 million homeowners avoid foreclosure.  We have also made some recent modifications to the FHASecure program, so that will help more people who are on the periphery of -- in danger of foreclosure -- help them prevent that.  So the -- also you've seen mortgage rates come down, which will address some of the issues in the housing market.  So we continue to evaluate ideas, but we think that those programs have been very helpful.  " title=" Q    Chairman Bernanke yesterday said that you need to be acting more aggressively in averting hous" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326556" rowid="136535011" side="usa" srcid="326556" text=" MS. PERINO:  I used the word &quot;reflective.&quot;  Maybe wistful -- I think wistful might have been the word.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Les.  " title=" Q    Charming in a childlike way.  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304057" rowid="136532212" side="usa" srcid="304057" text=" Q    Chavez also recalls that in 2000, news organizations devoted considerable investigative resources to track down unsubstantiated rumors about George W. Bush's alleged cocaine usage, even when there was no credible evidence that it was true.  And my question:  Does the President agree or disagree with Chavez's statement?  Yet those same news organizations --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Les, can I stop you there?  " title=" Q    Chavez also recalls that in 2000, news organizations devoted considerable investigative resour" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-15#entryid_300851" rowid="136531735" side="usa" srcid="300851" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I'll have to check tomorrow.  We'll certainly let you know.  " title=" Q    Cheney?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298801" rowid="136531496" side="usa" srcid="298801" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think it's second cousin.  " title=" Q    Chris Ellis is the President's grand nephew, is that right?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316872" rowid="136533862" side="usa" srcid="316872" text=" MS. PERINO:  Have they announced that, that they're coming back for sure?  " title=" Q    Congress is going to be coming back next week for at least a short lame duck.  A stimulus may " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-17#entryid_310369" rowid="136533184" side="usa" srcid="310369" text=" MS. PERINO:  Congressional staff is being briefed, as well.  " title=" Q    Congressional staff, okay.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317316" rowid="136533969" side="usa" srcid="317316" text=" Q    Congressman Hoyer says he is hopeful that the Democrats can reach a compromise with the White House on aid to automakers.  Does the White House believe that such a compromise can be achieved this week, or are you beginning to see this as something that's going to have to be left for -- to be worked out with the Obama administration?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, of course we remain hopeful that we can find a bipartisan solution.  We think that we already have a bipartisan solution, because we have legislation that's already on the books, where money has already been appropriated to help automakers through the DOE loan program, 136 loan program.  We've already put forward regulations that would guide how that would work.  What we're simply saying is that maybe we can work together to amend that process so that companies that can prove viability could take advantage and have that money sooner if they need it during this rough patch.  &lt;p /&gt; The House and Senate are in today, but they're having hearings.  I think tomorrow you'll probably see a little bit more action once they're able to bring something to the floor.  We still don't know exactly what they would bring to the floor.  But we think that we have a solution here that is very logical and very reasonable.  Perhaps it's so logical and so reasonable that people really just can't get their arms around it, because it's Washington, D.C.  But we think that we have a path forward.  And we'll let you know as we continue to work with members of Congress whether or not we can forge an agreement.  We hope to do so this week.  " title=" Q    Congressman Hoyer says he is hopeful that the Democrats can reach a compromise with the White " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268311" rowid="136530181" side="usa" srcid="268311" text=" Q    Congressman Wexler has called on Scott McClellan to testify before Congress, and Congressman Conyers says that he has directed his committee staff to reach out to Mr. McClellan to make arrangements for him to talk to the committee.	Does the White House have any objection to this kind of conversation?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I checked on it for you.  The White House Counsel's Office takes these things when we have a formal request.  We don't have a formal request yet.  When we get one, that's when we look at the request, weigh it fully -- as we do with all the others -- and it's just not a decision that we would make prior to getting a formal request.  " title=" Q    Congressman Wexler has called on Scott McClellan to testify before Congress, and Congressman C" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-20#entryid_305662" rowid="136532540" side="usa" srcid="305662" text=" MR. HADLEY:  We'll have to see on that.  He -- we have not actually got a draft into him.  He's been a little busy the last couple days.  " title=" Q    Considering the global concern about the U.S. economy, does he make some representations in th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302500" rowid="136531958" side="usa" srcid="302500" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes, he was just there in New Orleans and Mississippi to highlight and focus on the redevelopment and reconstruction of that area.  So we'll let you know if there's a change.  Right now it's just premature.  &lt;p /&gt; Brianna.  " title=" Q    Considering the third year anniversary of Katrina, is that something --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323436" rowid="136534614" side="usa" srcid="323436" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  Yes, there have been consultations ongoing between the President-elect's team and the administration.	I'm not going to get into any discussions that may or may not have taken place between the President and the President-elect.  " title=" Q    Consultation?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-24#entryid_271798" rowid="136530626" side="usa" srcid="271798" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think you've got to take a step back.  One, I think that, first of all, we know that Americans are concerned about the economy; we have been concerned about the economy.	And the President worked very hard to make sure that we put in place a stimulus package that was put in place earlier in the year.  And we made it clear then, and we have continued to, that it's going to take a while for the stimulus to take effect.  &lt;p /&gt; We know that about 75 million Americans have received their checks -- that's about a little bit more than halfway through the process.  There's some evidence that they are spending that money, and that's what the purpose was for, to -- people could do whatever they wanted with the money, but our economists believed that they would spend it.  But it's going to take a while to see that reflected in economic numbers such as retail sales.  &lt;p /&gt; We are confident that it will have the impact that we thought it would towards the latter half of the year.  We believe that the long-term resilience of our economy is very strong.  And Secretary Paulson, last week, gave a speech in which he said -- and I consider him our best authority on the issue -- that our economy is resilient, deep and competitive, and that the long-term fundamentals are very strong, and that if it were him, he would not bet against the U.S. worker, the U.S. economy, or the U.S. financial system.  " title=" Q    Consumer confidence dropped to its lowest level in 16 years.  Clearly people aren't satisfied " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-29#entryid_306876" rowid="136532737" side="usa" srcid="306876" text=" MR. FRATTO:  That's not something that -- that's not something that we share.	I mean, I can tell you that the President -- the President was briefed on the actions that the Fed took.  I can't tell you the specific timing; it's not something we would ordinarily do.  " title=" Q    Coordinated with other banks.  Was the President informed of this beforehand and --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-01#entryid_307375" rowid="136532800" side="usa" srcid="307375" text=" MR. FRATTO:  No, well, they would have a sense of whether that's enough.  That was to deal with a specific liquidity problem involving global banks and, in particular, problems with European banks, as well.  They've explained it.  I'd rather not go into too much detail into why they do the liquidity injections that they feel are necessary.  I'd rather have the Fed comment on that themselves.  " title=" Q    Coordinated with other central banks.  Did anyone ever say, isn't that enough on this whole si" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304062" rowid="136532217" side="usa" srcid="304062" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know of anybody that's talking about doing another round of those, although maybe members of Congress will come back and that will be one of their suggestions.  We'll have to see.  " title=" Q    Correct.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273169" rowid="136530794" side="usa" srcid="273169" text=" MS. PERINO:  Could be.  " title=" Q    Could be.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-22#entryid_305801" rowid="136532557" side="usa" srcid="305801" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would caution you to be skeptical of some of these claims.  " title=" Q    Could have been time change.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-28#entryid_312993" rowid="136533413" side="usa" srcid="312993" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I don't think so.  &lt;p /&gt; Bret.  " title=" Q    Could I ask just one more follow-up?  Rick Wagoner is the CEO of General Motors.  Has he seen " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304221" rowid="136532266" side="usa" srcid="304221" text=" MS. PERINO:  Quickly.  " title=" Q    Could I follow up, then?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-12#entryid_304587" rowid="136532322" side="usa" srcid="304587" text=" MS. GOON:  Julie Goon.  " title=" Q    Could I get your name again?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-08#entryid_273592" rowid="136530906" side="usa" srcid="273592" text=" MR. PRICE:  No, I think that's a complete mischaracterization --  " title=" Q    Could I go back to climate change for a moment?  So we've got the U.S. going -- or G8 going fr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-08#entryid_273588" rowid="136530902" side="usa" srcid="273588" text=" Q    Could I just ask you something about conversations between -- that may take place between the President and Prime Minister Singh of India? What are you expecting to come out of these discussions?  Are you expecting, in effect, to be told that there's an all clear for the nuclear deal to be implemented?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think it's a little premature to say, but obviously we've maintained a strong commitment to carrying through on our side of the deal.  And obviously India has had a lot of discussion amongst its political parties.  It's been a long road, and there's been a healthy debate.  And so, G8 meetings are good for a lot of reasons; one of those is so that all leaders can get together and have a discussion as a group.	But also, they're wonderful opportunities for bilateral discussions.  And so the President takes advantage of as many opportunities as he can to meet with leaders on an individual basis.  &lt;p /&gt; He'll do that tomorrow with Prime Minister Singh.  And we'll have to see what he's able to bring on the India Civil Nuclear Agreement.  I would say it's premature to say right now, and we'll let him come and present what he has for the President.	And it could be that he's ready to move forward, but it also could just as likely be that they have a little bit more work to do.  But we obviously recognize, as well, that we have a limited number of legislative days for our Congress to get a lot of work done.  So as soon as that meeting is over, we'll be able to hopefully provide you a readout.  " title=" Q    Could I just ask you something about conversations between -- that may take place between the " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268310" rowid="136530180" side="usa" srcid="268310" text=" MS. PERINO:  Conceivably?  " title=" Q    Could the White House block him from testifying if he wanted to testify?  Or how does that wor" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-26#entryid_319104" rowid="136534182" side="usa" srcid="319104" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, look, I think right now we are using the tools of government to put more money available for taxpayers into places that are most needed, and that's in housing and our consumer credit markets.  So that's what we're focused on.  &lt;p /&gt; Thank you.  " title=" Q    Could we see it again?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271965" rowid="136530630" side="usa" srcid="271965" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm working on it.  I'm not exactly sure yet.  But it could be that it's just a statement from me at first, and then we'll get you some more soon after that.  But I don't want anyone to think that we're going to get up at 3:00 a.m. and do a statement in the Rose Garden.  " title=" Q    Could you -- is that going to be a statement issued by a White House spokesperson?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-26#entryid_272216" rowid="136530709" side="usa" srcid="272216" text=" Q    Could you clarify -- does North Korea come clean about its cooperation with Syria on its nuclear program?  Does it document how many nuclear bombs, nuclear weapons that it has?  And does it come clean about uranium enrichment?  You said that these are things you need to get to the bottom of.  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  Right.  " title=" Q    Could you clarify -- does North Korea come clean about its cooperation with Syria on its nucle" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303290" rowid="136532089" side="usa" srcid="303290" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  What it looks like now is Baton Rouge got hit pretty hard.  They got hit worse than New Orleans did.	So there's obviously no power, lot of trees are down, windows blown out in buildings, roofs gone -- so that type of damage.  So we get down, I'll be able to see better, but just based on what my staff is telling me of what type of damage is there.  " title=" Q    Could you describe the damage in Baton Rouge and put it in perspective for the rest of the sta" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309542" rowid="136533114" side="usa" srcid="309542" text=" Q    Could you explain for Americans who are out there looking at what the President announced today and who might be a little bit confused and say, &quot;well, okay, they've passed the economic rescue plan, so why do they -- why the shift to this?  Does the administration not have faith that buying those failed mortgages is the best way to go?  Are they scaling that back?&quot;  -- how would you explain to the average viewer why you're making this switch?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I would ask certainly that you help me as well, because when you're talking to the American people, I think it's very important to remind them, yes, we got the rescue package.  Part of the rescue package was making sure the Treasury Secretary would have flexibility to have the tools that he needed.  And one of the tools that they talked about was certainly the purchasing of assets, but as was capital injection, among a few other things.  What we said at that time -- and unbelievably, it was really only 10 days ago that all of this happened --  " title=" Q    Could you explain for Americans who are out there looking at what the President announced toda" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313244" rowid="136533442" side="usa" srcid="313244" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, the King of Saudi Arabia had started this dialogue, and this is the date of the meeting.  The President has agreed to accept the invitation that he join the King.  The President has been very supportive and appreciative of all that the King of Saudi Arabia has done, King Abdallah has done, to foster discussion and a dialogue about respecting other religions, and the President is going to be very happy to be a part of it.  " title=" Q    Could you explain why this interfaith meeting in New York is happening, especially now?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267029" rowid="136529974" side="usa" srcid="267029" text=" MR. FISK:  Well, in this case the State Department and the Department of Commerce will work together to change the regulatory structure.  It's a federal register; it's not an executive order.	Most of the embargo is actually contained in federal regulations.  " title=" Q    Could you just mechanically -- just one quick point:  So was this an executive order to adjust" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-15#entryid_316977" rowid="136533890" side="usa" srcid="316977" text=" SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  No.  I don't think that was certainly the tone of the discussion and I don't -- just let me pause for a minute -- I don't think there was ever an actual proposal along the lines of what you just described.  " title=" Q    Could you just, specifically on this, could you envisage the G20 dictating to the financial se" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-02#entryid_268512" rowid="136530185" side="usa" srcid="268512" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'll refer you to the CIA.  " title=" Q    Could you look --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300607" rowid="136531678" side="usa" srcid="300607" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not at this time.	We are focused on trying to get the bombing stopped, to get the cease-fire cemented so that the status quo ante of August 6th can be restored.  And from there we'll see where it goes.  Secretary Rice will brief her press corps at 3:00 p.m. today, and I'd imagine she'd get more of this -- more of these types of question and I'll refer you to her briefing.  " title=" Q    Could you say what the consequences will be?  The President talks about Russia's aspirations t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302663" rowid="136531949" side="usa" srcid="302663" text=" Q    Could you talk a little bit -- you mentioned energy on a couple of occasions there.  Can you talk a little bit more specifically about the concerns the U.S. has about the energy as well as Europe, obviously, with the pipeline and supplies, and also the expansion of Gazprom?  Does that contribute to the tension?  &lt;p&gt; SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I can't say too much more beyond the fact that the United States and Europe and Turkey and other countries have long been interested in ensuring a diversity of supplies and supply routes of energy to Europe and the international market.	And Azerbaijan and Central Asia and the Caspian Basin, in general, provide great opportunities to develop additional resources and put new reserves on the international market.  And the United States and our allies, I think, have long expressed support for helping those countries develop those resources.  And that's what we'll discuss -- what he'll discuss with President Aliyev and others.  " title=" Q    Could you talk a little bit -- you mentioned energy on a couple of occasions there.  Can you t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302653" rowid="136531929" side="usa" srcid="302653" text=" SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  No, I don't -- I mean, again, this is -- there are immediate needs in this crisis, and then there is a need and a very -- clearly, it is urgent, but there is a need to soberly and very responsibly figure out how we and our allies are going to proceed in this circumstance, given the stakes involved.  And that process is underway.  It is very, very active.  But I'm not here -- going to get into any specifics or details about it.  " title=" Q    Could you talk a little bit more about this strategic framework that you mentioned earlier, an" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320589" rowid="136534406" side="usa" srcid="320589" text=" MS. PERINO:  I actually can't.	I don't know.  &lt;p /&gt; Toby.  " title=" Q    Could you tell us if that is among the subjects of the negotiations?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-23#entryid_280349" rowid="136531241" side="usa" srcid="280349" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes, it looks like Monday night, September 1st --  " title=" Q    Could you tell us which day the President will speak at the Republican National Convention, pr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-24#entryid_312351" rowid="136533362" side="usa" srcid="312351" text=" Q    Countries worldwide took coordinated action several times to try and calm the financial markets, and it doesn't seem like it's had much of an impact.  So in the near term looking forward, what other steps can the United States take, along with its partners overseas?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I just told you that our three -- the President has three officials who are working with -- not just on the meeting, but they are tasked with making sure that their counterparts are well informed about all of our actions here.  It's going to take a little bit of time for the markets to digest all this information.  &lt;p /&gt; And four weeks ago one of the questions I got in this room was, is this just a United States problem?  And what we've realized is that it is not, and that individual countries all across the world are feeling effects -- not just developed countries, but developing countries as well.  And it's like wildfires that pop up, and you're trying to extinguish them in a coordinated fashion.  &lt;p /&gt; But also, countries are going to have individual ways of addressing these problems themselves.  We'll be working with them and coordinating with them.  You saw today that the IMF is continuing to work with developing countries.  And our Treasury Department is in contact with the IMF to try to help them get through this economic crisis.	So I don't have anything new to announce to you.  We're trying to implement the program that we have.  &lt;p /&gt; Kathleen.  " title=" Q    Countries worldwide took coordinated action several times to try and calm the financial market" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-18#entryid_305340" rowid="136532473" side="usa" srcid="305340" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would guess right now closed, but I don't even know what time the meeting is happening, so -- we'll update you though.  " title=" Q    Coverage of Paulson?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303105" rowid="136532031" side="usa" srcid="303105" text=" MS. PERINO:  As I just said, the trip that the Vice President is going on had been under consideration for some time, and he was planning to go to Georgia even before Russia invaded those two territories.  " title=" Q    Crisis management is basically a thankless task, so did the Vice President volunteer for the t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-23#entryid_318382" rowid="136534108" side="usa" srcid="318382" text=" Q    Dan, I had two questions, please, on the economy.	In its final declaration, APEC or APEC leaders said that the financial crisis be fixed in 18 months.  Can we assume that President Bush supports that timetable and believes in that timetable?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  That particular sentence was added by the President of Peru, as the Chair.  Certainly some in the region  think that recovery may take 18 months.  President Bush believes that the actions we are taking now will begin to produce results in the much nearer term, in the coming months.  But again, coming back to the key point that with countries agreeing to pursue pro-growth policies, reject protectionism, ensure continued trade and investment liberalization, the President shares the confidence that we will be able to get through this crisis.  " title=" Q    Dan, I had two questions, please, on the economy.	In its final declaration, APEC or APEC leade" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267036" rowid="136529988" side="usa" srcid="267036" text=" MR. FISK:  The same argument that's there is that the regime has set up as many of these structures as possible to where you do business with the regime.  The idea with the cell phones is they're going directly from family members to other family on the island.  This is not a case in which you're enriching the regime.  Lift the embargo, and let's --  " title=" Q    Dan, if sending cell phones is a good idea, why wouldn't it be a good idea just to remove the " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316447" rowid="136533802" side="usa" srcid="316447" text=" MR. PRICE:  I wouldn't predict market reactions to anything. But that said, I think it should be of great comfort to the global community to see leaders from these countries around a table having a discussion about these critical issues affecting financial markets, as well as issues affecting global prosperity, and reaching a common understanding on steps to be taken and the path forward.  " title=" Q    Dan, is there any concern that at this initial meeting that if the goals are not met and there" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273446" rowid="136530886" side="usa" srcid="273446" text=" Q    Dan, one of the leaders who has been opposed to sanctions has been President Mbeki of South Africa.  What did the President say today, if anything, to President Mbeki to try to encourage him to join the other nations that do think that sanctions are the correct way to go?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  Without getting into details of who said what to whom, I come back to the point that there was a very good discussion among the leaders, with virtually every leader participating in this discussion. And as Dana said and as I said, it is fair to say that not all African leaders are in a position to support sanctions at this time.   MS. PERINO:  But that doesn't mean that they don't all agree that the situation is tragic and needs to be dealt with.  And I do think that there has been significant effort -- time and discussion spent on trying to figure out -- on behalf of the African leaders trying to figure out how do we move forward, what's the best way to do that.  And some have talked about a power sharing arrangement, but what would that look like? I think there are just a lot of unanswered questions right now, and they're spending a little bit of time trying to figure it out, because it's not something that you can just -- it's not instant solution, just add water.  It's going to take a little bit of time.  " title=" Q    Dan, one of the leaders who has been opposed to sanctions has been President Mbeki of South Af" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-08#entryid_273603" rowid="136530917" side="usa" srcid="273603" text=" MR. PRICE:  The G8 declaration makes clear that the G8 is not seeking to impose its view on anybody.  In respect of the goal, the G8 declaration expressly states, we seek to share with all parties to the U.N. Convention the vision of, and together with them, to consider and adopt in the U.N. negotiations the goal of achieving at least a 50 percent reduction of global emissions by 2050.  &lt;p /&gt; So it's very clear that the G8 declaration, both in terms of long-term goal, in terms of the need for commitments by all major economies, the elements of financing and R&amp;D, was speaking not only to the G8, but to the major economies and the broader group of parties to the U.N. Convention.  " title=" Q    Dan, when this declaration was put out, was it with the anticipation on the part of the G8 mem" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279949" rowid="136531177" side="usa" srcid="279949" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sorry, she was still on the same thing.  " title=" Q    Dana --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280818" rowid="136531306" side="usa" srcid="280818" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to go to Ann.  " title=" Q    Dana --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304239" rowid="136532284" side="usa" srcid="304239" text=" MS. PERINO:  Does that follow on this?  " title=" Q    Dana --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306619" rowid="136532697" side="usa" srcid="306619" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to go to Elaine.  " title=" Q    Dana --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310069" rowid="136533131" side="usa" srcid="310069" text=" MS. PERINO:  Mark.  " title=" Q    Dana --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326559" rowid="136535014" side="usa" srcid="326559" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to go to Olivier first.  " title=" Q    Dana --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268280" rowid="136530150" side="usa" srcid="268280" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's okay.  " title=" Q    Dana -- and I'm sorry if it was addressed this morning; I apologize --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321323" rowid="136534465" side="usa" srcid="321323" text=" Q    Dana -- thank you, Dana, two questions.  Illinois Democrat U.S. Senator Richard Durbin has called upon President-Elect Obama not to replace Chicago's U.S. Attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald.  And my question: The President agrees with and is grateful to Senator Durbin for his support of Mr. Fitzgerald, isn't he?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Les, that will be a decision that the President-elect makes when he decides to make it.  " title=" Q    Dana -- thank you, Dana, two questions.  Illinois Democrat U.S. Senator Richard Durbin has cal" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298822" rowid="136531517" side="usa" srcid="298822" text=" MS. PERINO:  I understand the legislation is just coming to light this morning, so we will take a look at it and see if there's aspects of it that we could embrace.	I'm sure there are some things that are in line with what the President would like to see.  &lt;p /&gt; I think fundamentally we would need to see a bill that would increase the supply here in our own country across the board in a comprehensive way.  As you've heard us say, we believe that we need to find more of our own traditional resources, but in addition to that, look for more alternatives and renewable energies, as well as seeking out technologies that will -- limits the amounts that we need to fuel our cars or to turn on the lights.  " title=" Q    Dana, a bipartisan Senate group today approved an energy package called New ERA, which would e" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303098" rowid="136532024" side="usa" srcid="303098" text=" MS. PERINO:  What I did was refer you to the Department of Defense, which I'll just --  " title=" Q    Dana, a clarification on the weapons issue -- do I understand your response correctly as meani" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320581" rowid="136534398" side="usa" srcid="320581" text=" Q    Dana, a couple developments in Pakistan.  The Pakistan government moved in to detain or arrest one of the Lashkar-e-Taiba leaders that Mumbai blames for the attacks.  But separately, hundreds of militants have torched hundreds of NATO vehicles destined for the conflict in Afghanistan.  Is there a mixed message being sent by Pakistan here?  Do you think the arrest is a credible sign that they're ready to tackle the problem?  And do you think they need to take better steps to protect NATO vehicles?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think there's no doubt that Pakistan has made -- taken some positive steps.  We've seen the reports; I'll decline to comment on them in detail.  But what I will tell you what's critically important now is that we continue to work together -- the Indians, the Pakistanis, the United States and our allies -- to prevent follow-on attacks after the attacks in Mumbai.  That's what we are continuing to focus on.  &lt;p /&gt; And as to the second part of your question, I don't know if you could say that those things are related or not, and I'll have to refer you to the Defense Department as they continue to investigate that incident.  " title=" Q    Dana, a couple developments in Pakistan.  The Pakistan government moved in to detain or arrest" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-27#entryid_267615" rowid="136530089" side="usa" srcid="267615" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I mean, I think you look -- talk to candidates.  It's an exhilarating and exhausting experience.  And twice around is plenty. And also you've heard the President say he believes it's harder to be President -- son of a President than it is to be President.  He's been involved in this for a long time and you can't wish for something that's not going to happen -- he doesn't wish for a third term.  He thinks it's good that we have a two-term limit in the United States.  It's good for the country to have that smooth, peaceful transition of power every four or eight years; one where you get new energy and new ideas across the board -- from the President on down, throughout the administration.  &lt;p /&gt; Also, in terms of as an observer, this is a man who understands politics very well; he understands what the candidates are going through.  And I can just imagine that when you have a chance to sit back and observe it, it's very different than if you are on the ticket yourself and responsible and accountable for trying to win that election in November.  " title=" Q    Dana, a couple follows on that, please.  You said in many ways it's good to be an observer.  C" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321351" rowid="136534493" side="usa" srcid="321351" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to decline to give you a list of who the President would be reaching out to, but the President and others are reaching out to senators today, listening to their concerns, listening to their questions, trying to answer their questions as best we can, making the case for why this legislation is the most effective and appropriate approach to help the auto companies become viable for the long term.  &lt;p /&gt; We've been talking to them about the auto czar position and the sweeping powers that that person would have for doing one of two things with these companies:  forcing a major restructuring or putting them into bankruptcy.  And then at the end of the day, in either scenario, the taxpayers would be paid back.  So that's what we're going to spend our day today trying to do, is convincing them that this is the most effective and reasonable approach.  " title=" Q    Dana, a couple questions on the auto legislation.	Who is the President calling specifically to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271620" rowid="136530587" side="usa" srcid="271620" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think you have to look at what Secretary Rice said this morning -- I'll just recap it here -- which is that the opposition clearly won that election on March 29th.  They agreed to a run-off election, consistent with their constitution.  Following that, President Mugabe made it abundantly clear that he wasn't going to allow the will of the people to be realized and had set about, with horrible intimidation measures and killings of innocent people and jailings of innocent people, such that even now the opposition leader is reportedly seeking refuge in one of the embassies because he fears for his life and for that of the people who have been following him.  &lt;p /&gt; We do not believe that the Mugabe regime can be considered legitimate until a free and fair election is allowed.  " title=" Q    Dana, a follow to that.  Are you -- is this administration looking at Mugabe as the legitimate" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-18#entryid_322958" rowid="136534566" side="usa" srcid="322958" text=" MS. PERINO:  Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Dana, a follow-up on that, if I may.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313541" rowid="136533488" side="usa" srcid="313541" text=" Q    Dana, a question about the TARP that has nothing to do with dividends, but actually executive bonuses.  Some companies, for example, like Citigroup, has apparently set aside something in the neighborhood of $25 billion, I think, give or take, for bonuses for employees at the end of the year.  And that, coincidentally or not, is about the same amount of money I think they're getting through the TARP program.  Is that a coincidence?  Or what about giving executive -- not dividends -- but what about executives getting these big, fat bonuses at the end -- is that something that should be allowed?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Every bank that accepted the taxpayer investment must first agree to the executive compensation limits that were in the law.  And as far as I know, all of those banks have agreed to do that.  If you're talking about other executives within the firm, it's always been our position that pay should be for performance, and that every company should base their pay based on how well somebody performs.  And that is still our position.  &lt;p /&gt; We would also hope that people would understand that we want banks to participate in this program; we have nine so far that have.  I think the Treasury Department continues to receive applications for others that want to participate.  And similar to the issue in regards to dividends, our goal is to get them money so that they can start lending again, and so that they can perform well.  Remember, they have to pay the taxpayers a quarterly dividend of 5 percent for the first three years, and it bumps up to 9 percent after that.  &lt;p /&gt; We're going to keep on them about that.  But they know that, and that's almost like a gun to their head, so that they know that they have to start making money to be able to do that.  I'm not here to defend Wall Street; I'm not here to defend their pay practices.  But this is the law as it was set out that was passed by Congress.  And as far as I know, all of the banks that have agreed to participate in the program have agreed to those compensation limits.  " title=" Q    Dana, a question about the TARP that has nothing to do with dividends, but actually executive " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309535" rowid="136533107" side="usa" srcid="309535" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay, thanks for the warning.  (Laughter.)  This is what the President wants everyone to know; that the government is determined to use the tools that it has at its disposal because of the rescue package to help save this economy.  And we are working in a coordinated fashion with the G7 partners and the G20 to make sure that everything that we are doing will help prevent any problems from hurting any other countries -- because one thing that we've all learned from this is how interconnected all of us are.  &lt;p /&gt; So we're committed.  We're going to use the tools; we're going to use bold and decisive action to make sure that we protect American taxpayers and we can get this economy moving again.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm sure that there are people out there who are very concerned -- retirees who have been watching with great interest, I'm sure, what's happened in the stock market, who are very concerned about their futures; baby boomers who are about to retire or want to retire in the next few years who are concerned about their futures.	Then you have -- all up and down the economic food chain, as I've said -- you have students who are probably concerned about will they be able to get a job.  And we believe that the best way to do this is to implement the rescue package.  We're only 11 days from the signing of the bill.  We'll continue to push for it, but we're moving as quickly as we possibly can.  And the markets are responding.  " title=" Q    Dana, a question about what you want the folks on Main Street to understand about what the Pre" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-15#entryid_304823" rowid="136532329" side="usa" srcid="304823" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q    Dana, a question on Hurricane Ike.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268277" rowid="136530147" side="usa" srcid="268277" text=" MS. PERINO:  I've not heard him say otherwise.	I don't know.  " title=" Q    Dana, a question.	Is the President satisfied with the response in the private sector to safegu" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-28#entryid_312987" rowid="136533407" side="usa" srcid="312987" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's certainly not our preference.  It wouldn't be what we want to do.  We want to be able to move forward with both a strategic framework agreement that we've organized with the Iraqis that talks about the broad contours of our relationship, both economic and diplomatic and also political.  So we want to be able to move forward with that with them.  &lt;p /&gt; But when it comes to the strategic -- I'm sorry, the status of forces agreement, we remain confident that we'll be able to get one.  However, if we don't, there will be consequences for that.	And Secretary Rice and Secretary Gates have both talked about that.  And I don't think there are Iraqis -- I don't think there are any Iraqis who think that they are ready to do this all on their own -- deep down.  They might say that and it might help politically for them in their own country domestically to be able to say that they could do it on their own, but even just yesterday we saw two of our soldiers who were killed in a suicide bombing, so Iraq still has a lot of violence that they have to deal with.  Our soldiers are the ones who are there to help them deal with it, and they're going to need our help for some time.  And that's how we got to the agreement that we have, with the broad outlines that you've seen reported in the press.  &lt;p /&gt; So we'll continue to work with them.  We'll see what the amendments say.  There might be something that we can work with, it might not.  So I need to see those amendments and I need to hear from Ambassador Crocker before I say any more.  &lt;p /&gt; Les.  " title=" Q    Dana, a quick follow-up on Iraq.  Are you considering a Plan B in case there is no agreement b" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321348" rowid="136534490" side="usa" srcid="321348" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that those who are working on this legislation are trying to figure out what could we do for short-term financing that would be able to help the companies while the auto czar takes a look at their plans and forces all the stakeholders to come to the table.  And I think that they think that the amount of $14 billion is about the right amount that they would need right now in order to do that.  &lt;p /&gt; Helen.  " title=" Q    Dana, a week ago you were talking about $25 billion, then it was $15 billion, now it's $14 bil" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310071" rowid="136533132" side="usa" srcid="310071" text=" Q    Dana, about a possible second stimulus package, Senator Reid, among the things he called for was money for infrastructure projects.  Is it the White House's opinion that that would help the economy by putting people to work in terms of roads and bridges, or is that more of a long-term project?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Infrastructure projects by themselves don't necessarily stimulate the economy.	And the Secretary of the  Transportation Department has put out information that says that only about 24 percent of any project's funds actually get out into the economy within the first year.  So we don't necessarily think that it's a good idea to try to put taxpayer dollar towards specific projects in specific districts.  That doesn't mean that those aren't meritorious projects.  There could be roads and bridges that need to be built or need to be repaired.  But there is a process to go through, and Congress should do that when they get back if they think that that's what they should do.  &lt;p /&gt; We are going to be looking very carefully, though, to make sure that anything we do that's in the form of a stimulus package will stimulate the economy.  " title=" Q    Dana, about a possible second stimulus package, Senator Reid, among the things he called for w" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267090" rowid="136529983" side="usa" srcid="267090" text=" Q    Dana, according to the Secret Service, there's going to be -- they are soon to come up with the conclusion of an investigation over this noose incident at the Beltsville Training Facility.  And they're saying that it looks like it wasn't racial and the fact that it wasn't a joke, and also that they're trying to determine if this Secret Service agent understood the meaning of a noose.  What did this administration say about this incident and about what I just told you, as the President has come out strongly on the issues of nooses?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, as you just said, the Secret Service is investigating the incident, and as you just said also, they have not completed that investigation.  So I am not going to get ahead of them and I'll let them do that.  But the President -- could you please put your hand down for a second so I can concentrate on April.  &lt;p /&gt; The noose symbol is a symbol that the President has talked about, as you said -- he did it in the East Room.  And he was amongst the first to say that it is not a joke, it is taken very seriously, and that is for good reason.  In fact, he said, &quot;The noose is not a symbol of prairie justice, but of gross injustice.&quot;  The President's position on that has not changed a bit.  But I think that it's only appropriate, April, to allow the Secret Service to conduct this investigation unfettered -- with unfettered influence from the White House.  " title=" Q    Dana, according to the Secret Service, there's going to be -- they are soon to come up with th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312294" rowid="136533305" side="usa" srcid="312294" text=" Q    Dana, after the 2001 -- well, 2000 election, in 2001 President Bush was working on issues of voting problems and the issues of hanging chads, dimpled chads, what have you.  Now there's a concern in this country about early voting -- some problems at the polls -- and also these voter forms -- registering to vote with ACORN.  Has the Justice Department and the President been talking about this?  And what does the White House have to say to those who are going to the polls?  There is already concern about problems.  And many people are doing this early, and for November 4th, long lines are expected.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  The Justice Department works with states -- remember, elections are run by states -- and so if there are problems the Justice Department can investigate, but they don't announce those in advance and the President doesn't get involved in those.  So I don't know if they have.  What I can tell you is that the President wants to make sure that everyone in America has a chance to vote, that they take the opportunity to vote, and that it be a process that is infused with integrity.  And so that's what he's focused on.  " title=" Q    Dana, after the 2001 -- well, 2000 election, in 2001 President Bush was working on issues of v" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304079" rowid="136532234" side="usa" srcid="304079" text=" Q    Dana, after yesterday's Fannie and Freddie announcement, mortgage rates seem to be headed down.  Is this a welcome development from the White House's point of view?	Or are you worried that the market may be returning to its freewheeling ways?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, what we wanted is market stability and we wanted availability of mortgages and affordable mortgages to be available to people.  Yesterday's action -- or, I'm sorry, this weekend's action that Secretary Paulson took was action, as I said yesterday, it was action that we needed to take, not that we wanted to take.	What we want is to make sure that we can establish those three goals of having the market stabilized, having mortgages be available and make sure that we protect taxpayers in the process.  " title=" Q    Dana, after yesterday's Fannie and Freddie announcement, mortgage rates seem to be headed down" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298815" rowid="136531510" side="usa" srcid="298815" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    Dana, also on something totally different -- logistical thing --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-27#entryid_267614" rowid="136530088" side="usa" srcid="267614" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, he is not.  As I said before, the President and Senator McCain have had -- have had a long, good relationship over the years. And if you were there for the Rose Garden event, I think one of the things that I tried to remind people of is how hard John McCain campaigned for the President in 2004 to help him win reelection.  The President believes it's our turn to try to help him, and we'll do that in whatever way he needs.  &lt;p /&gt; But at the end of the day, in November it will be John McCain who wins because he stood on his own two feet and talked about how he would lead the country in the future.  It's not about looking back; it's about looking forward.  " title=" Q    Dana, also, is the President bothered by some of the criticisms that Senator McCain has made o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-06#entryid_269328" rowid="136530307" side="usa" srcid="269328" text=" Q    Dana, an Israeli cabinet member who is very close to Prime Minister Olmert has said today that an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites would be unavoidable unless Tehran stopped uranium enrichment.	Does the U.S. see that as being an unavoidable consequence?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I -- look, I don't know who -- I saw the reports about the cabinet minister.  I'd refer you to the Israelis for anything more on that.  What we have tried to do across the board is to try to solve this diplomatically and working multilaterally with many different countries to try to pressure Iran to halt its enrichment of uranium so that we can make sure that their claims that they are not pursuing a nuclear weapon -- we just want to make -- the international community deserves to have the verification that that is true.  &lt;p /&gt; And sure, I understand that Israel is very concerned about their future and their safety when they have a neighbor in the region, Iran, who says they want to wipe them off the face of the map.  I think that's probably a strong concern of theirs.  &lt;p /&gt; I also would point out that Israel has a strong concern about Hamas, who daily is attacking its citizens, innocent civilians, with rocket attacks and injuring many of them on a daily basis.  And I think that's more their immediate concern.  " title=" Q    Dana, an Israeli cabinet member who is very close to Prime Minister Olmert has said today that" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304240" rowid="136532285" side="usa" srcid="304240" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we certainly disagree with it.  We would like to see more oil on the market, not less.  And that's exactly why President Bush has called on Congress, as they come back into session now after being away for a month, to take this opportunity to have an up or down vote on expanding responsible and environmentally friendly exploration here in our country.  &lt;p /&gt; We'd like to have more supply that we'd produce here.  They have some legislation that's in front of them that would be comprehensive.  It wouldn't just be about offshore oil drilling, but also look to oil shale, as well as more renewables and alternatives.  &lt;p /&gt; So we are looking for a comprehensive energy package that can help us add more supply to the market, and diversify the supply at the same time.  " title=" Q    Dana, any reaction to the OPEC decision to reduce production of oil?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-14#entryid_326359" rowid="136534994" side="usa" srcid="326359" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, and as you know we don't talk about pardons here.  And I truly don't know; I don't know if there will even be any more, but when there -- if and when there are, I'll let you know.  &lt;p /&gt; Victoria.  " title=" Q    Dana, any word on timing of more pardons, potentially?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-11#entryid_316200" rowid="136533770" side="usa" srcid="316200" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not that I'm aware of.  I think that we've just been talking with members of Congress to the extent that they're in town and that they're in touch, as they start to shape their agenda for next week.  It's very unclear what the Democrats will or won't do next week when they have their lame duck.  We've seen a lot of trial balloons floated out there, but there's no concrete proposals.  &lt;p /&gt; And so I think yesterday that both the President and the President-elect put forward ideas that they had to help improve the economy.  That's, I think, the goal that both leaders share.  And as I said yesterday, they have policy differences, but that doesn't mean they're not both interested in helping improve the economy for the benefit of American citizens.  But also, President Bush is thinking of the leaders around the country who are coming here this weekend, and he wants to make sure that they know that America is open for business.  " title=" Q    Dana, anything from the President's conversation either yesterday with President-elect Obama o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311205" rowid="136533239" side="usa" srcid="311205" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not yet, we're still working on that.  The President is consulting with other heads of state and working on figuring out both the where and the when, but also the what.	So we're working on all of those things, and hopefully have more details for you later in the week.  &lt;p /&gt; Wendell.  " title=" Q    Dana, anything more on the summit, like when or where or --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305163" rowid="136532418" side="usa" srcid="305163" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think you're talking about the auto industry, perhaps going towards -- going to Congress asking for them to implement a provision in a law that was passed December 2007 -- that was the energy bill then.  As we've said before, we're aware of the issue; we know that that provision was in the law.	If Congress decides to move forward on offering a $25 billion loan for very -- that law is very specific as to what that money could go to pay for, and a lot of it has to do with environmental improvements.  I don't think Congress has made a decision yet on whether or not they're going to move forward.  And so until they do, I don't think we'll be able to answer that.  " title=" Q    Dana, are the domestic automakers like AIG too big for the government to allow to struggle and" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-29#entryid_281002" rowid="136531368" side="usa" srcid="281002" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's not us that has had a problem with getting a handle on it.  It's the Congress, and they send us the bill, and as soon as we get it, we'll sign it.  So that question should be, I think, appropriately put to Speaker Pelosi's office as to when they're going to send it to us.  " title=" Q    Dana, are you getting any better handle on when the President will be signing the housing resc" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-29#entryid_302706" rowid="136531985" side="usa" srcid="302706" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I would look to -- you all can fact-check it yourselves.  We're not going to.  I'm not going to get into the -- into a back-and-forth with the Democratic presidential candidate, who had a really good convention and -- but we do recognize that this President has been unfairly attacked across the board by many Democrats for quite a while.	But certainly as we get into this last eight weeks of the presidential campaign, tensions will probably flare, but this President has a lot of class, he's very gracious, and he also is very focused.  And so nothing gets him off his game.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Olivier.  " title=" Q    Dana, are you saying that some of the criticisms that Senator Obama had last night in his acce" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326568" rowid="136535023" side="usa" srcid="326568" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know why he threw me under the bus on that.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Dana, as you heard Mr. Gillespie say, you're going to spill your guts about pardons.	Where is " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280829" rowid="136531328" side="usa" srcid="280829" text=" Q    Dana, as you know, Brian Williams sat down with President Ahmadinejad earlier today, and Ahmadinejad made what many are interpreting as conciliatory comments, saying that he's willing to try to seek common ground with the Solana channel in Geneva; that if the United States attitude would change, it would be -- the response by the Iranian people would be a positive one.  What's the response from the administration?	Do you see these as sort of a change and conciliatory -- new conciliatory attitude?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think we have to approach this with a big grain of salt.  President Ahmadinejad said one thing to the Iranian people on Saturday and another thing to an American journalist on Monday.  So I think that all of us need to consider this with a healthy dose of skepticism.  There is a new approach, one that we offered, one that the international community came together on and said, we do not believe that Iran should be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.  We have put together an incentives package with the P5-plus-1, and it calls for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment.  That's all they have to do is suspend and then this incentives package could move forward and so could negotiations.  And then the Iranian people could move forward to not be so isolated.  &lt;p /&gt; And we would hope that they would respond in a positive way.  And that's exactly why we went to the meeting 10 days ago, when Under Secretary Burns attended to say, we, as part of the P5-plus-1, are serious about this offer.	And the Iranians said to everybody, well, we're going to come and we're going to have a response.  And they came and they just continued to play games.  And Secretary Rice said that that actually reinvigorated our diplomatic process.  &lt;p /&gt; So we'll see what he comes back with in Geneva, but I think given that he says one thing on Saturday and another thing to an American journalist on Monday, just requires a lot of skepticism.  " title=" Q    Dana, as you know, Brian Williams sat down with President Ahmadinejad earlier today, and Ahmad" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272626" rowid="136530738" side="usa" srcid="272626" text=" Q    Dana, as you're talking about these stiff sanctions, possibility of stiff sanctions on Zimbabwe, how do you deal with that as this country is in a crisis, has humanitarian needs?  How do you implement a sanctions or put forth sanctions without hurting -- 80 percent of the population is in poverty and in despair.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, again, I think that sanctions would be targeted to the leader and his cronies and then those who support the regime.  But what we will continue to do is continue to provide food assistance to more than 1 million people, and then AIDS -- HIV/AIDS treatment to more than 40,000 people there in Zimbabwe who need that treatment.  We'll continue to do that -- and I believe that the NGOs were allowed to go back in and to try to help feed those people; that happened I think a couple of weeks ago.  But we're going to keep a close eye on it and we'll try to make sure that no one suffers humanitarianly [sic].  &lt;p /&gt; But this is also -- I mean, this is something that the leader of Zimbabwe -- now the discredited leader of Zimbabwe -- has done to his own country.  And he's led them to this so that -- whereas this was a country that was a shining jewel in Africa, one that was going -- that was able to export food, it was the breadbasket of Africa, is now one that is one of the most impoverished nations.  " title=" Q    Dana, as you're talking about these stiff sanctions, possibility of stiff sanctions on Zimbabw" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271616" rowid="136530583" side="usa" srcid="271616" text=" Q    Dana, at the gaggle this morning you -- back on energy and politics -- you suggested the public should get behind the President's plan and the Republican nominee, as well.  What's your philosophy going to be about campaigning from the podium?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, it's not as easy a line to walk as I would like. Obviously you've heard the President; he's spoken himself, and I've said here that the President supports John McCain for President, he believes that he's going to win.  And I think that -- I got a lot of questions over the weekend on whether or not we had agreed with Senator McCain's position, and obviously we did because we had the same one.  And I think that comes from serious people taking a serious look at a serious problem, which is our energy one, and that is that any of those people looking at that problem could come to the conclusion that we have to unlock the resources that we have in our own country and allow us to explore and produce more oil in domestically -- I'm sorry -- domestically, but also in environmentally friendly ways, because we know how to do it best here in terms of producing that type of fuel here.  " title=" Q    Dana, at the gaggle this morning you -- back on energy and politics -- you suggested the publi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305164" rowid="136532419" side="usa" srcid="305164" text=" Q    Dana, at the risk of further exasperating you, I want to take -- I want to take one more stamp at clarity, because I do think it's going to be newsy coming out of here that the, sort of a thumbnail way that the administration refers to the economy for a long time, the fundamentals of the economy are strong.  &lt;p /&gt; Today, it's just being referred to in a different way with a different phrase.  And I'm simply asking, does that reflect some decrease in confidence from the White House about the economy?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think it reflects a realization that we have today, the market dealing with a lot of information that's coming its way.  We believe in the strength of our -- and the resiliency of our system to be able to be flexible, to be able to handle that information, but it's just going to take us a few days, maybe longer, to see how that shakes out.  " title=" Q    Dana, at the risk of further exasperating you, I want to take -- I want to take one more stamp" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298807" rowid="136531502" side="usa" srcid="298807" text=" Q    Dana, at the risk of sounding like someone we all know, two questions.  (Laughter.)  Heavy and light.  Heavy and light.  First, just to clarify on Pakistan, you're saying that you are not going to comment on whether the issue of the Kabul embassy bombing came up during the meeting, not that it didn't come up.  Was that correct?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  That particular incident did not come up.  " title=" Q    Dana, at the risk of sounding like someone we all know, two questions.  (Laughter.)  Heavy and" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_272000" rowid="136530673" side="usa" srcid="272000" text=" Q    Dana, back in January, when Mexican authorities arrested a suspect in connection with the death of Border Patrol agent Luis Aguilar, who was run down while trying to stop some vehicles that he believed had entered the country illegally, and they were trying to flee, apparently -- at that time, several members of the administration came forward, they expressed his condolences, praised his work and praised -- they expressed their appreciation for cooperation that they got from the Mexican government in the case.  Apparently now the suspect who they arrested has been released.  Does the administration know why, what the explanation for that is?  And do you have any concerns about that?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I will look into it.  Your note to me a little bit earlier was just something I had not known about, so I need to check into it.  I wasn't able to check it with anybody in the time just now.  But we'll check on it, and we'll see.  &lt;p /&gt; Les.  " title=" Q    Dana, back in January, when Mexican authorities arrested a suspect in connection with the deat" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304226" rowid="136532271" side="usa" srcid="304226" text=" Q    Dana, back on 9/11.  John McCain is out on the campaign trail vowing to find Osama bin Laden.  Does that -- it kind of leads one to believe that if he's vowing to find Osama bin Laden and this administration hasn't found him in seven years, the conclusion -- it sounds like that you may not be finding him leading up to the end of this presidency.  Where does this White House --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm sure that this President and I'm sure future Presidents will continue to try to track down al Qaeda leaders.  We will continue to try to find Osama bin Laden.  The 2008 election doesn't play a lot of -- doesn't play any role in the President's trying to track down and find Osama bin Laden and his top deputies.  " title=" Q    Dana, back on 9/11.  John McCain is out on the campaign trail vowing to find Osama bin Laden. " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278855" rowid="136531023" side="usa" srcid="278855" text=" MS. PERINO:  We certainly urge all sides to remain calm in the wake of this decision -- or this announcement by the ICC.  We will monitor the situation in The Hague.  I'll remind you, April, that we are not a part of the ICC, and so our input isn't necessarily what was going to matter in this situation.  " title=" Q    Dana, back on Sudan, what's the White House say as to the actions of the ICC?  Were they just " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308544" rowid="136532999" side="usa" srcid="308544" text=" Q    Dana, back on the AIG situation, you've made some very strong words -- &quot;despicable&quot; one of them -- about what happened with the spa weekend or retreat after the money was given.  What could this White House do in reference to that?  Could the President direct the Justice Department to look into that, to investigate, to possibly find a way to recoup the money?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think the Justice Department is taking actions and looking into possible wrongdoing across the board.  I'm not singling out any company -- it would not be appropriate for me to do so -- but I'd refer you to the Justice Department for any details on that.  But obviously there have been investigations that have been reported in the press and confirmed by the FBI.  " title=" Q    Dana, back on the AIG situation, you've made some very strong words -- &quot;despicable&quot; one of the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317047" rowid="136533914" side="usa" srcid="317047" text=" Q    Dana, back on the automakers situation, it seems definitions seem to be a big thing as far as trying to negotiate this deal -- you talked about viable, but there's also definitions that lingering, the word &quot;fail.&quot;  You say that, you know, the President doesn't want the automakers to fail.  What is your definition of &quot;fail&quot; when many in the auto industry are saying they are failing right now, especially when their stocks are so low, too?  Ford last week, a dollar and some change; GM, three dollars and some change.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't think any of the companies themselves have yet said that they have failed.	They might feel like they are failing.	And one of the reasons that we're trying to help them is so that we can reverse those trends.  " title=" Q    Dana, back on the automakers situation, it seems definitions seem to be a big thing as far as " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273159" rowid="136530784" side="usa" srcid="273159" text=" Q    Dana, back on the issue of Zimbabwe, the opposition leader is not happy with the AU.  What is this White House saying about the fact that he wants the opposition leadership to have a major part in the new government, versus what the AU wants?  And are you also concerned that he should be the new President, versus Mugabe?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think he has -- well, we have said that.  We thought that the March 29th election should have stood, and we believe that because Mr. Tsvangirai won 48 percent of the vote to Mugabe's 43, that that was a clear indication.  However, under their constitution, if you don't have a clear majority, then you have to go to a runoff.  As we saw last week, President Mugabe made sure that it was a sham election, and Mr. Tsvangirai decided not to even participate, mostly because he was concerned about the safety of his supporters.  &lt;p /&gt; So Jendayi Frazer from the State Department, she is there in the region. She might be back now, but she has been very actively involved.  And I'm not sure if we -- what our position is at the moment on a power-sharing arrangement.  We do think that Mr. Tsvangirai won that election, and so we do not believe that Mr. Mugabe is the legitimate leader of Zimbabwe right now.  " title=" Q    Dana, back on the issue of Zimbabwe, the opposition leader is not happy with the AU.  What is " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-24#entryid_271781" rowid="136530609" side="usa" srcid="271781" text=" Q    Dana, back on Zimbabwe.  Some are saying that the elephant in the room is South Africa -- and has the President talked to Thabo Mbeki about this, I guess, conflict for South Africa?  Because Mugabe was once viewed as a freedom fighter and helping them overturn apartheid, and they're kind of keeping an allegiance with him.  Has the President talked to Thabo Mbeki about this?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I don't know when -- I couldn't tell you when the last time that they spoke, but obviously Secretary Rice has been in contact with them.  And I would point you back to the fact that this U.N. Security Council President statement yesterday had to be agreed to unanimously before it could be agreed to -- I'm sorry -- and released.  And South Africa was a part of that unanimous agreement.	And I believe that the international community spoke very clearly, with one, unified voice, and laid the blame at the feet of the Mugabe regime, and condemned the violence.  And so South Africa was a part of the course that was shining a light on the problems that we have with the Mugabe regime.  " title=" Q    Dana, back on Zimbabwe.  Some are saying that the elephant in the room is South Africa -- and " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-18#entryid_322954" rowid="136534562" side="usa" srcid="322954" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think he apologized to me.  " title=" Q    Dana, back to Ann's question and another question.  You were hurt in that shoe-throwing melee " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266845" rowid="136529904" side="usa" srcid="266845" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  I'm giving you the words that the President used, but certainly -- I mean, I don't want to use all the gestures and everything, but, look, the President is concerned about the reaction in the field.  He was glad that our military took immediate action, publicly reprimanded the soldier, and removed him from Iraq.  Not only that, but the general in the field went and visited many of the Sunni tribal chiefs and presented them with a gift of a new Koran as a gesture of how seriously we took the issue, and that we would certainly respect their religion, and we would never condone such behavior.  &lt;p /&gt; Les.  " title=" Q    Dana, back to the Maliki video conference, &quot;serious concerns&quot; seems like a little mild.  Was t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306597" rowid="136532675" side="usa" srcid="306597" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look, I -- one of the things that's very difficult about this situation is that we are dealing with a major crisis in the middle of presidential election.	I've worked very hard to navigate a path where I'm not inserting myself into presidential politics, and I think that Senator Reid -- I'll just let him speak for himself and I'll let political analysts or reporters like yourself try to ferret out whether they think it was a good or a bad thing to have the meeting.  &lt;p /&gt; I think we -- from our perspective, we think it was a good thing to have everyone there.  The President opened it up so that everybody would have a chance to speak.   Senator Obama and Senator McCain both had a chance to talk about their views last night in the meeting.  And ultimately, I think that it will be helpful, because we're going to get to a conclusion hopefully sooner than later.  " title=" Q    Dana, back to the meeting last night, Senator Reid has basically blamed this all on Senator Mc" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272603" rowid="136530715" side="usa" srcid="272603" text=" Q    Dana, before leaving on the 4th of July recess, the Senate confirmed 29 non-career nominees, including several judges.  I'm wondering, from your perspective, where things stand on judges?  And is the President hopeful that more of his nominees will get an up or down vote, in terms of judges?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, Congress has a short amount of time when they get back in order to get some more things done.  And one of them has to be following through on more of these nominations.  Obviously, there are the non-political career and military appointments that the President would like to see put to a vote; done quickly.	These people have had their lives on hold.  Many of them don't know where their children are going to go to school.	We're already -- we're almost in July, as of tomorrow.  So yes, that's first and foremost a priority.  &lt;p /&gt; But when it comes to judges, this Congress has really dragged its feet. And they said that they would be able to confirm a certain number of judges a month, and they really fell behind on that.  And I don't know if they'll be able to make up for lost time, but we certainly think that our judges need to be confirmed, especially because people who are out in America and want their day in court are, in many places, waiting for months, if not years, in order to actually get that day.  And in Michigan, we were just now able for the first time in the President's seven-and-a-half years, to seat a full bench in the 6th Circuit up in Michigan.  So it's not a good reflection on how the Senate has been managed over the past couple of years.  " title=" Q    Dana, before leaving on the 4th of July recess, the Senate confirmed 29 non-career nominees, i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317304" rowid="136533957" side="usa" srcid="317304" text=" Q    Dana, beyond the DOE loan program for the automakers, what the automakers really want to do is get a lot of their pension obligations off their books.  And there's talk that some of that would actually be pushed over to the pension benefit guarantee -- government entity.  So isn't it true that the true cost ultimately to the taxpayers could be far more than these DOE -- these energy figures that are being talked about?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think it would be inappropriate for me to speculate on what the companies may or may not do in the future with their pension obligations.  But, obviously, the PGBC exists for a reason.  And I'm sure people are thinking about that and are mindful of it as they move forward.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the things that we've talked about is that if we were to provide this money, it will be tied to viability.  And part of that means companies that will be willing to make the hard decisions necessary to restructure their firms so that they can be competitive in the long term, compete in the global marketplace like we want them to do.  " title=" Q    Dana, beyond the DOE loan program for the automakers, what the automakers really want to do is" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311216" rowid="136533250" side="usa" srcid="311216" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to go to Matt.  " title=" Q    Dana, but you are still --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300739" rowid="136531684" side="usa" srcid="300739" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q    Dana, by any chance is the President or the speech team working on the President's speech for " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306386" rowid="136532617" side="usa" srcid="306386" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    Dana, can I ask a different subject?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280165" rowid="136531227" side="usa" srcid="280165" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's very good.  I get to sit in the meetings every other Thursday when they have their SVTS and I would say that they have a good relationship.  I think the President and Prime Minister Maliki have learned a -- have come a long way together.  I think President Bush feels that Prime Minister Maliki is somebody that has gone through a lot, and President Bush has stuck with him through a lot of turbulent times.  But they've together worked to implement the surge.  And I think that now Iraq is beginning to see the fruit of some of that labor.  &lt;p /&gt; And they did also say -- I mean, we can't lose sight of the fact that they're grateful for all that the Americans have done.	And we want them to be -- we want our troops to be able to come home, too.	We want to transition our mission, but we're just not going to do it willy-nilly.  " title=" Q    Dana, can I ask you something else for a second?  How is President Bush's relationship with Pr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310079" rowid="136533136" side="usa" srcid="310079" text=" Q    Dana, can I follow up on Ann's question and do so against the background of the reports that you spoke of, and the market plunge of earlier this week?  Is the -- does the administration agree with those who now say that, yes, we are in a recession and that it is going to be long and deep?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm not -- I don't make those kind of forecasts, and they come out from other people, and I -- what we know is that we're going to have some tough economic times ahead.  But I don't know what the numbers are going to be, Mark.  &lt;p /&gt; Goyal.  " title=" Q    Dana, can I follow up on Ann's question and do so against the background of the reports that y" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310091" rowid="136533142" side="usa" srcid="310091" text=" Q    Dana, can I follow up?  In terms of what the President will say tomorrow, is it a matter of fine-tuning his message to find out what resonates with the American people or is it a matter of repeating over and over again the steps the government has taken so far so that the message sinks in?  Because clearly something is not getting through and Americans remain very anxious.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think what's happened is it's not just the President's words that are affecting the markets.  We have real -- a real systemic problem in that the banks haven't wanted to lend to one another; therefore, the credit market freezes up; that hurts small businesses; its hurts other -- it hurts all the people in the food chain that come -- that are going to and from work, that are working on their -- possibly trading if they're at home and they're thinking about maybe buying stock or not buying stock.  &lt;p /&gt; It affects everybody, and so we've had some earnings reports come out that were not great.  We had retail sales numbers that were down 1.2 percent.  There's a lot of news coming into the market that the market is trying to digest.  Again, I am not a market expert.  The Treasury Department has a lot of those over there.  I'd have to refer you to them.  &lt;p /&gt; But as for the President tomorrow -- he's going to talk to the Chamber of Commerce, as you know.	All across America, there are Chambers of Commerce, and this is where people go to be -- from small businesses to large businesses alike, all across villages and towns across America, people know what their Chamber of Commerce is.  It's a gold standard, people trust it, and the President will talk tomorrow to our Chamber of Commerce here, but he'll be really talking to people all across America so that they know that the government is committed to making sure that we help solve this problem.  &lt;p /&gt; It has only been 13 days -- I think, Mark -- since we passed the legislation on that Friday two weeks ago.  And it takes a while to make sure that they -- Treasury Department can do the due diligence that it needs in order to have an effect.  The Fed's announcement on commercial paper -- they announced that, but it takes a while to do the due diligence to make sure they have everything in place before it can actually take place -- before they can actually start buying up that paper or doing more of the loans.  The FDIC has to have rules in place.  &lt;p /&gt; So some of these things can't happen immediately, but it's important that we let people know that, one, that they're coming; and two, what effect it will have on them; and three, that the government is committed to making sure that we help solve this problem; and four, that in the long run, we make sure we have regulations in place -- because they are going to change -- to make sure it doesn't happen again.  " title=" Q    Dana, can I follow up?  In terms of what the President will say tomorrow, is it a matter of fi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303115" rowid="136532041" side="usa" srcid="303115" text=" Q    Dana, can I just clear something up?  You said to Mark's question that the convention -- that you talked to the convention about the timing and the President's appearance.  But you said in answer to mine that it was the President's decision; he wanted to stay here because of the hurricane.  Was there a discussion --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think that we would have tried to make it work no matter what the convention thought that they could work out.  If the hurricane had decided to hit on Wednesday, we probably would have still been able to make the appearance on Monday night.  But that's not how it worked out and --  " title=" Q    Dana, can I just clear something up?  You said to Mark's question that the convention -- that " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313260" rowid="136533458" side="usa" srcid="313260" text=" Q    Dana, can I just follow on the automakers?  I just want to clarify one point.	You talked yesterday and again today about the tools that Congress have given you to work with, but philosophically, does the -- you don't have to use those tools.  You don't have to pick them up and use them.	Is the administration supportive of the idea, or does it oppose the idea of bailing out the automakers?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that what we're really focused on right now are the regulations that we could work to finalize in regards to the DOE program.  The DOE program allows for loans so that these companies can help modernize and make more  energy-efficient cars in their facilities here in the United States.  So that's where our focus is.  Look, these are very big companies.  &lt;p /&gt; You know, the President has said all along, for all of these issues, that helping out private industry is not something that has ever been in his -- it's never been one of his instincts.  It was when Ben Bernanke and Secretary Paulson came to him and said we could be facing something worse than the Great Depression if we don't act, that the President realized that he had to put aside his instincts and focus on what he could do as President of the United States to help save this economy -- not to help save Wall Street, not to help save any individual economy, but to help individual Americans all across the country of all economic stripes.  And that's what we've been trying to do.  &lt;p /&gt; That doesn't mean that we're going to necessarily help any of the automakers.  It doesn't mean that we are or that we aren't.  I think that where I would leave it is that Congress gave us the tool to be able to use the DOE regulations.  We're trying to get those done as quickly as possible.  These things take a little bit of time.  They're very -- they're highly technical and there's a lot of caveats.	If you look at the legislation, it laid out very specifically what the money could or could not be used for.  And the automakers are well aware of that.  &lt;p /&gt; But I also know that we've said for some time the automakers are dealing with changing consumer preferences that really started happening when oil prices going up.  So we have parallel tracks on issues that we're trying to deal with.  On the energy side of things, more energy production, more energy efficiency, alternative fuels, renewable fuels, and at the same time, trying to help modernize their industry through the funds that Congress has appropriated.  " title=" Q    Dana, can I just follow on the automakers?  I just want to clarify one point.	You talked yeste" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300590" rowid="136531661" side="usa" srcid="300590" text=" Q    Dana, can I just get -- something that seems to be crossing from Reuters, I just want to get some either confirmation or knock it down -- that President Saakashvili says that Bush -- President Bush's statement means Georgian ports, airports, will be placed under U.S. military control.  Is that an accurate read of the statement?   Is that an inflection --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  No, not that I -- not how I read it, but I'll  -- obviously that's happening right here.  I don't even know if Saakashvili actually said that, so I'll take it back and check.  " title=" Q    Dana, can I just get -- something that seems to be crossing from Reuters, I just want to get s" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316090" rowid="136533758" side="usa" srcid="316090" text=" Q    Dana, can I just get back to the meeting for a second. I guess, in terms of generally characterizing the tone of what a meeting between the current President and the President-elect would be like, is it more of a sort of &quot;Welcome to the White House, this is what it's like and what you can expect,&quot; and sort of general?  Or are they going to be discussing specific issues and hot spots and that kind of thing?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  If I had a crystal ball I could tell you; I just don't know.  I'm sure that they'll talk about a range of issues.  Obviously, there is the Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Bush meeting, which is going to talk about how they will make their life here and how they will make the house a home and all the help that they will be -- at their disposal in order for them to do that.  &lt;p /&gt; And then the President and the President-elect will have a chance to talk.  I'm sure they'll talk about a range of issues.	I'll try to get you something later, but it's just very private and I'm sure this won't be the only time that they speak.  I'm sure that between our staffs and also between the two of them that they'll talk on the way forward.  &lt;p /&gt; I know one thing that the President will want to talk about is what he's been talking about in the phone call that he had with the President-elect and in his radio address and in the two statements he gave to you all last week, which is the transition of power this time around is so critically important -- one, in regards to the economy, and two, in regards to the attacks -- the threat of attack that we currently live under.  &lt;p /&gt; And we all know that as we've seen in other countries that that period of transition can be one where a country is vulnerable to attack.	And we really want to make sure that we work with them through joint exercises, through providing briefings, so that when we hand the baton to them they're able to move forward and continue to protect the country.  " title=" Q    Dana, can I just get back to the meeting for a second. I guess, in terms of generally characte" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-28#entryid_313009" rowid="136533429" side="usa" srcid="313009" text=" MS. PERINO:  I've seen a lot of reports about that and obviously the automakers are going through a particularly difficult time as they deal with consumer preferences that have changed over the years, especially when it comes to energy efficiency.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the things that we've been trying to do is to work with the tools that Congress gave us.	So Congress has given us a couple of different tools.	One was the language in the energy bill from last December which would allow us to provide for up to $25 billion in loans -- maybe it's more than that, but around $25 billion in loans to help these automakers retool their plants so that they can help build more energy-efficient cars.  We've been working on the rulemaking because that's what you have to do after you get the legislation.  But we actually didn't have any authorizing language* until Congress passed the continuing resolution this past August, so just about seven weeks ago.	So we're working on those rules that would help in that regard.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the things that I said yesterday and -- is that many of these automakers have finance arms such as GMAC or the like.	And what Congress provided us in the rescue package was within that Troubled Asset Relief Program, companies can apply to see if they are eligible for those type of funds.	And there's a whole range of tools within that TARP program, as Treasury calls it.  And the regulators at Treasury would determine whether or not those companies were eligible to participate in the TARP program.  &lt;p /&gt; So the automakers have been in contact with us.  We've been talking to them at various levels and at different departments, including Energy, Treasury and Commerce.  And we're trying to work with the tools that Congress has provided us.  &lt;p /&gt; The discussions on whether or not any companies decide to merge are discussions that they are having between themselves.  Those are choices that they are going to have to make themselves.  And at the end of the day, we'll see what happens.  " title=" Q    Dana, can we get an update on White House thinking about a possible GM-Chrysler merger?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313553" rowid="136533500" side="usa" srcid="313553" text=" Q    Dana, can we just follow up -- one more crack at this notion of dividends, because I'm not sure anybody got -- we got sort of a straight answer about the potential positive effects to paying dividends.  In other words, the Chairman was saying that Treasury might -- wants to do anything it can to get credit flowing again, and if I heard him correctly, that maybe there is some sort of parts of normal bank practices that may not strike people as making sense, but are important indirectly in getting the credit markets rolling.  Is paying dividends part of that?  Because I still think everyone is a little confused.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Regarding dividend payments, I think some critics believe that only rich people get dividend payments.  And that is not the case.  Mutual funds, retirees, teachers, pension funds are all beneficiaries of dividend payments.  They get dividend payments from banks.  And in fact, in this legislation, one of the things that we made sure of is that the taxpayers are going to get paid dividends on a quarterly basis at 5 percent for the first three years, and then at 9 percent after that.  &lt;p /&gt; So the banks have every incentive to start making money so that they can get back in the process of lending, make more money that way, and then continue about their normal course of business.  One is to lend money, but also there are dividend payments.  &lt;p /&gt; So I want to make sure people understand that a lot of people could suffer if they don't have dividend payments.  And some of those people might actually even be small business owners who rely on dividend payments to then help grow their businesses.  It's a part of the normal course of business.  I think that the story today was just a little bit skewed in that regard, because a lot of people receive dividend payments.  &lt;p /&gt; Jennifer.  " title=" Q    Dana, can we just follow up -- one more crack at this notion of dividends, because I'm not sur" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273186" rowid="136530811" side="usa" srcid="273186" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  There has been ongoing discussion in the administration about dealing with detainees at Guantanamo Bay for quite some time, but more intensively, certainly, since the Supreme Court decision.  &lt;p /&gt; Let me take you back.  A couple of years ago the Supreme Court said that the United States, both the executive branch and the legislative branch, needed to work together to come up with a way to -- a law that would allow detainees to challenge their detentions in our judicial system. The Military Commissions Act was passed, amongst other laws.  We took that action and then just recently -- I think it was about three or four weeks ago -- the Supreme Court decided against the Congress and the executive branch and said, actually, no, that's not good enough.  And for the first time in American history, the Supreme Court afforded constitutional rights to enemy combatants.  And there's a lot of unanswered questions that come from that decision.  &lt;p /&gt; And so after the President learned of the decision -- we were in Rome, and he said that he disagreed with the decision, but the Supreme Court is the law of the land and that we would work to understand the consequences, the ramifications and implications of this law.  That's what we're doing right now.  So there is a lot of smart lawyers working on this issue, and I think that we're in unchartered territory when it comes to understanding what all we're going to do when it comes to detainees.  It should come as no surprise to anybody that here at the White House we're coordinating amongst the interagency to discuss all of this.  &lt;p /&gt; And I think that -- one of the things that I would just remind you of is that the Department of Defense has been working for years to try to get many of these enemy combatants repatriated, and in fact we've gotten hundreds repatriated back to their country where they would be held securely.	But some detainees have been released, and some have returned to the battlefield, and some have even become suicide bombers. And we have to be really careful about what we're going to do with these detainees.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the possible consequences of this decision is that it is possible that some of these detainees, after challenging their detention in court, could be released into the United States.  And then you have further complication when it comes to our immigration laws, and how long you can hold a detainee, which right now under our immigration laws is for six months.  &lt;p /&gt; And so there's a lot of complicated issues that go into this decision, and we are working hard, but I will tell you there's no imminent decision that's going to be announced from the White House.  " title=" Q    Dana, can you characterize the discussions ongoing -- at what level are these happening -- abo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-06#entryid_269322" rowid="136530301" side="usa" srcid="269322" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, you'll hear from the President pretty soon, because at the swearing in for Steve Preston over at the Department of Housing and Urban Development I believe the President will address the housing number today.  &lt;p /&gt; We're obviously not happy with the unemployment number that had gone up. We do think it was in line with the expectations for the current economy, and we do also believe that it's important to look at a couple of things.  One, the number in large part was increased by new job applicants, and it usually takes new job applicants a little while longer to find work.  So while it's a concern that the unemployment rate jumped to 5.5 percent, that is still historically low, and lower than the averages of the '70s, '80s and '90s.  &lt;p /&gt; The most important thing we can do now is, first of all, make sure Congress does no harm.	And secondly, we would ask the Democrat leadership in Congress to really take a look at their time-management issues.  They just spent an entire week lobbying for -- or arguing about a bill that they knew was not going to become law.  They didn't spend even just an hour on the Colombia free trade agreement -- that's all that's needed, really, to have a vote on an agreement that we already had with them, and that would open up the market for our businesses to sell into the Colombian market and just level the playing field.  &lt;p /&gt; They could have spent that time talking about housing legislation, how to make sure that we modernize the Federal Housing Agency, how to make sure that we address the GSE problem.  They could have spent time on a lot of other things when it comes to the economy, and instead they chose to talk about a bill that would increase gas prices by another 53 cents a gallon.  &lt;p /&gt; And so we just question their priorities and we would hope that next week when they get back to work, they could actually take up the war supplemental and some of these other issues that I just mentioned, because we do think that that would have a positive impact on the economy.  &lt;p /&gt; And a last point about the economic stimulus package.  We are only one month into the economic stimulus package, and we have always said that we think that there will be about 500,000 more jobs added, but not until the second half of the year.  So we're at the beginning of June.  So while it's a concern, we do believe we have the policies in place to start to increase the job growth in the future.  &lt;p /&gt; Roger.  " title=" Q    Dana, can you describe for us the President's reaction to the latest economic numbers?  And do" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311460" rowid="136533267" side="usa" srcid="311460" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  " title=" Q    Dana, can you elaborate on the input you've gotten from the candidates because --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-23#entryid_280370" rowid="136531262" side="usa" srcid="280370" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  " title=" Q    Dana, can you expand on the thinking behind lifting the veto threat on the housing bill?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315275" rowid="136533645" side="usa" srcid="315275" text=" Q    Dana, can you flesh out a little bit the requests from world leaders and overseas diplomats to meet with the President-elect?  Is that just a matter of protocol that comes through the State -- is it coming through, like, the State Department, through the White House, how is it --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Whatever they come through -- I mean, they come through the State Department or they come through the National Security Council or the Situation Room.  We keep a log and we make sure that they get that information either if it's a phone call -- I'll get to you in a minute, Ellen -- if they get -- if it's a letter or a phone call or a request in some other way, we keep a log and make sure they have it.  " title=" Q    Dana, can you flesh out a little bit the requests from world leaders and overseas diplomats to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309532" rowid="136533104" side="usa" srcid="309532" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that it will take time.  And I will just have to refer you to the Secretary of the Treasury for that.	For those of you who have covered Washington, 11 days is like a record in terms of how quickly we've moved to implement these rules.  And we have to do so prudently to make sure that we protect the taxpayer, but we also get this right.  " title=" Q    Dana, can you give any estimate as to how long it will take for the plan to reach full impact?" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-18#entryid_305343" rowid="136532476" side="usa" srcid="305343" text=" MS. PERINO:  He always does.  " title=" Q    Dana, can you give us an idea of how the President is spending his day today?	You said he woul" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306626" rowid="136532704" side="usa" srcid="306626" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I would disagree that it fell apart at the White House.  The President invited the leaders and both presidential candidates to come to the White House yesterday, gave them an opportunity to each have the floor to express any concerns.	I would say the meeting was very constructive -- the large majority of it.  &lt;p /&gt; There's obviously concerns -- we've asked Congress to do something huge.  We've asked them to bite off a lot and to pass some -- pass a massive package in a very short amount of time.  And they've worked very hard.  They had hearings quickly; they've educated their members.  And the President thanked all of them.	The members thanked the President for the speech that he gave Wednesday night, which they thought helped.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, there are alternatives and variations that some House Republican members have wanted to put forward, and Speaker Pelosi has been very clear that she wants to see a certain number of Republican votes.  And John Boehner is working very hard to find -- to figure out a way, how can my members' considerations and concerns be included in this package in a way that will still solve the problem?  So that's what they're working towards.  &lt;p /&gt; Yesterday afternoon was something that I think was -- it was a good moment for everyone to vent their frustrations, as well, if they had them.  But I think what you see today, from the reaction of the members of Congress who left here, went back to Capitol Hill and worked until late into the evening -- they brought their staffs back in early this morning, and they're going to have further negotiations today.  They all understand that they can get it done, and I appreciate that Senator Reid said that he doesn't see any reason why we couldn't get this done before opening bell on Monday.  " title=" Q    Dana, can you help me understand what happened yesterday when there seemed to be a deal, and t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-19#entryid_305497" rowid="136532501" side="usa" srcid="305497" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  I don't think there will be a lot of meetings necessarily here at the White House, though White House officials and senior economic advisors will be working to support the Treasury and the two other independent agencies that are working on this.  We work with Congress quite a lot; we have staff that has regular and frequent contact with them.  The President will be kept updated over the weekend.  I think it's just too early for us to tell exactly how it will play out, but the Treasury Department's public affairs office, the Fed's public affairs office and the SEC's will be available over the weekend -- and you know that we always are, too.  " title=" Q    Dana, can you just give us a little bit -- what do you expect this weekend -- I mean, in terms" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273192" rowid="136530817" side="usa" srcid="273192" text=" Q    Dana, can you talk -- you probably discussed in the gaggle a little bit -- but on camera, if you could talk a little bit about when the President was first informed that there was some intelligence that maybe would lead to this Colombian rescue mission.  How early was he looped in?  How involved was the President?  Just kind of broadly speaking.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Sure.  I think you just heard from the President -- I don't know if you've seen it yet, but he was able to make a couple of comments about the hostages being released from the FARC down in Colombia.  The President got a call yesterday from President Uribe to let the President know that the operation had been successful.	The United States had been working with the government of Colombia for the last several years, ever since the American hostages had been taken, in order to try to free them safely and successfully in a way that would not cause any harm to the individuals.	And thankfully, that's what happened yesterday.  &lt;p /&gt; We were aware of the operation in its planning stages.	We provided some specific support, which I'm not allowed to go into the details on, but President Bush was certainly supportive of it.	But I will say that President Uribe and his government and his military really get the credit for successfully freeing these hostages, because they conceived of the operation and then they carried it through -- with some support from us, but it was largely a Colombian exercise.  And the President congratulates President Uribe and the military.  " title=" Q    Dana, can you talk -- you probably discussed in the gaggle a little bit -- but on camera, if y" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303275" rowid="136532074" side="usa" srcid="303275" text=" MS. PERINO:  I can't yet, but I believe that you'll be hearing something later on today from the State Department, and then I'll try to provide for you something.	It might be on our way back home on the plane.  " title=" Q    Dana, can you talk about the $1 billion aid package to Georgia?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-02#entryid_319779" rowid="136534253" side="usa" srcid="319779" text=" Q    Dana, can you talk about the event yesterday, the event today, and I think there's going to be a lot of stuff coming up where the President -- is he intending to highlight some of the successes of his tenure?  I mean, is there a concerted effort to do that?  There seems to be now a lot of events looking at --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  We have thought about it.  " title=" Q    Dana, can you talk about the event yesterday, the event today, and I think there's going to be" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-28#entryid_267829" rowid="136530110" side="usa" srcid="267829" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I couldn't quantify it for you.  " title=" Q    Dana, can you tell us how much contact he's had with the White House since he left?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-09#entryid_320807" rowid="136534421" side="usa" srcid="320807" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we met through the evening in person, over the phone, and we exchanged language with them last night, continuing those discussions this morning.  I would characterize it as the following:  that good progress is being made.  We are still working through a number of issues, some of them just small and technical, and other ones a little bit more meaty in scope, but, all in all, making sure we're headed in the right direction.  &lt;p /&gt; Our insistence on long-term viability be -- our insistence that long-term viability be reflected in the legislation is something that we have held very strong feelings about, and that has not changed.  If there is no long-term financing -- there will not be long-term financing if they cannot prove long-term viability.  " title=" Q    Dana, can you tell us, please, where negotiations stand with the Hill on auto legislation?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-20#entryid_310970" rowid="136533212" side="usa" srcid="310970" text=" MS. PERINO:  We think that there's ample opportunity when Congress gets back to talk about lots of those ideas.  What we've seen put forward so far by the leaders in Congress, the Democrats, were elements of a package that we did not think would actually stimulate the economy.	So we would want to take a look at anything very carefully.  " title=" Q    Dana, Chairman Bernanke this morning voiced support for a stimulus program, a second stimulus." />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-23#entryid_267456" rowid="136530039" side="usa" srcid="267456" text=" Q    Dana, Chris Hill is going back to the region next week, as I understand.  The State Department seems to be very optimistic that this is a big step towards getting a North Korean declaration.	Do you agree with that?  Should we expect to see a North Korean declaration over the next couple of weeks?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think we're going to have to wait and see.  I think the trip is an important one that Chris Hill will undertake.  I think State Department released the dates earlier today.  And we'll have to wait and see.  While we are hopeful that we are nearing a period where we can get a full and accurate declaration from the North Koreans, we have reason to be skeptical that it could happen on a certain time frame.  So I think instead of saying yes or no, I just think we need to wait and see what will happen.  " title=" Q    Dana, Chris Hill is going back to the region next week, as I understand.  The State Department" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303900" rowid="136532193" side="usa" srcid="303900" text=" Q    Dana, could you expand a bit, in terms of the President's sort of philosophical underpinning -- this is not exactly limited government, this takeover.	So how concerned was he -- just in terms of conservative political ideology, how concerned was he about doing something that seems to be sort of the opposite of all of that?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, it's again -- President Bush initiated a call years ago to try to reform this system because he did not want the status quo to continue.  Unfortunately, Congress didn't act on that.  And the systemic risk that was posed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to our entire economy was one that the President felt it was more important to deal with now, and start to work on now, so that the next administration would be able to work with the Congress and figure out a way to make sure that this would not be allowed to happen again.  And so far, cooperation with Congress since this announcement has been very good.  " title=" Q    Dana, could you expand a bit, in terms of the President's sort of philosophical underpinning -" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316060" rowid="136533728" side="usa" srcid="316060" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think I would refer that question to the First Lady's office since they know him best.  And they can talk to you a little bit more about -- in depth about it.  " title=" Q    Dana, could you tell us about Admiral Rochon's role in -- first, his role here, and then his r" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306399" rowid="136532630" side="usa" srcid="306399" text=" MS. PERINO:  Could I tell you about the conversation?  I think I already did.  " title=" Q    Dana, could you tell us about the conversation, the phone conversation with President Bush and" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-02#entryid_319785" rowid="136534259" side="usa" srcid="319785" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not able to talk about any of our intelligence community -- any of their cooperation with any other country.  It would not be appropriate for me to do so, so I have to decline to comment on that.  " title=" Q    Dana, did the U.S. warn India of possible attacks about a month before they happened?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-18#entryid_322967" rowid="136534575" side="usa" srcid="322967" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know if we have, in terms of a formal letter of response.  But we've got letters from all sorts of members of Congress and people from across the country, expressing their desires and opinions on this matter.  And we always respond in due course.  " title=" Q    Dana, did the White House reply to these seven Republican senators who urged the President not" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280172" rowid="136531234" side="usa" srcid="280172" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes, it appears to be just speculation and hypotheticals right now.  I would repeat that what President Bush said to President Medvedev and had said to President Putin beforehand on our missile defense plan is that we want to work with them, we seek a strategic partnership with the Russians.  We are working to prevent missiles from rogue nations.  We do not believe that Russia is a threat.  Nor do we believe that our missile defense system would be any sort of a match-up against the vast arsenal of weapons that Russia has.  &lt;p /&gt; So our target is not Russia.  In fact, what we would like to do is work as equal partners with Russia, with the Europeans and here in our own country.  We've been trying to have a dialogue with them.  The Russians have said that they will keep having that dialogue.  So on that specific report, I'll decline to comment, since it seems speculative at this point.  " title=" Q    Dana, did you look into the report about the Russian bombers in Cuba?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-02#entryid_268523" rowid="136530196" side="usa" srcid="268523" text=" MS. PERINO:  Anybody else on this?  " title=" Q    Dana, different subject.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321331" rowid="136534473" side="usa" srcid="321331" text=" MS. PERINO:  I do.  I have read it.  " title=" Q    Dana, do you have any intel on tomorrow's commencement speech, what might be in it?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-29#entryid_302688" rowid="136531967" side="usa" srcid="302688" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, but we were informed beforehand.  " title=" Q    Dana, do you know if Senator McCain consulted the President about his running mate choice?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317884" rowid="136534034" side="usa" srcid="317884" text=" MS. PERINO:  Which benefits -- the UI benefits?  I don't, but we'll get them for you.  &lt;p /&gt; Elaine.  " title=" Q    Dana, do you know what the extra benefits will cost?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324589" rowid="136534842" side="usa" srcid="324589" text=" MS. PERINO:  The President spoke about it Friday and the next work day is Monday.  And he's been working on it all weekend and I thought it was an appropriate time for him to address it.  And besides, if he hadn't, I'm sure that your question would be why didn't he.  So he did.  " title=" Q    Dana, do you know why the President decided to weigh in with an on-camera statement on this to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-20#entryid_310968" rowid="136533210" side="usa" srcid="310968" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that -- well, I think that, again, we'd like to see the details of what would be proposed, because there are several programs that have been recommended that are coming in a cloak of being stimulative, and we don't think that those would actually stimulate the economy.  So anything that we would do, we would have to take a careful look at, and I'm sure the Fed Chairman would want to make sure that those elements of a program would actually stimulate the economy and meet that test.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think we just need to wait and see.  We're open to ideas and we'll take a look at what comes our way.  " title=" Q    Dana, does the fact that Chairman Bernanke, himself, though, has said it could be a good idea," />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-29#entryid_302697" rowid="136531976" side="usa" srcid="302697" text=" MS. PERINO:  I reject the notion that expanded powers were given to Vice President Cheney --  " title=" Q    Dana, does the President believe, with his administration and the expanded powers given to Vic" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-20#entryid_310961" rowid="136533203" side="usa" srcid="310961" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, no, and I didn't talk to him about it on the way over, but what I would say is that in America the great thing is everybody is able to think about their -- who they're going to endorse in a election, weigh all the issues and come to their own conclusion, and then have the freedom to be able to express them.  And that's the great thing about our country.  " title=" Q    Dana, does the President have any reaction to Secretary Powell endorsing Senator Obama?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316856" rowid="136533846" side="usa" srcid="316856" text=" MS. PERINO:  Once again?  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Dana, does the President now regard himself as titular head of the Republican Party once again" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-03#entryid_319918" rowid="136534276" side="usa" srcid="319918" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to let Secretary Rice, who is there in the region, and Admiral Mullen, who is either headed there or -- well, he's in the region; I don't know if he's in Delhi yet -- let them report back to the President before I would comment on that.  But they're in the region at the request of the President to express solidarity and our condolences.  Obviously six American citizens were killed and many others were negatively affected.  So this feels a little bit different to us and we expect that Pakistan would cooperate fully, transparently, and follow this to its conclusion.  But I don't think that I can presuppose what they're going to come back and tell the President.  " title=" Q    Dana, does the White House support India's call for Pakistan to extradite Lashkar-e-Taiba lead" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279314" rowid="136531068" side="usa" srcid="279314" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think -- yes, he believes that he would have met him before.  I don't think that he knows him all that well, but he has met him before.  Certainly he's been -- Steve Payne has been somebody who's been involved in Texas politics for a long time and been a supporter of the Republican Party.	So he knows who he is.	I would repeat that he was never a employee of the White House, but he had been a part of advance trips in the past.  We use a lot of volunteers when it comes to advance.  " title=" Q    Dana, follow on that.  Does the President know Steve Payne?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269194" rowid="136530285" side="usa" srcid="269194" text=" Q    Dana, following on that, in the release from the Senate Democrats, their message -- the first sentence says that this report confirms former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan's account of how the Bush administration led the nation to war through a propaganda campaign.  What's your reaction to that?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Scott, by his very own admission, wasn't there at the time.  He was the Deputy Press Secretary for Domestic Affairs.  He has said, as I understand it, that looking back, even though he wasn't there, reading Bob Woodward's book, this is how he came to his conclusion.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think that the Senate Democrats and the Republicans took a lot of -- look, I don't know how well this report would stand up in terms of the processes.  I know that the Republicans on Capitol Hill have a lot of beef with how it was taken -- how it was done.  &lt;p /&gt; And so, when it comes to Scott, I would just remind you that he was the Deputy Press Secretary for Domestic Affairs.  He said that upon reflection, looking back at how the war was packaged -- and that's his words -- he disagrees with that.  That's fine, that's his opinion.	It doesn't change the fact that the information that the President has, the information he was given by the intelligence community -- he based that on the facts that he was given; he based his decisions based on the facts that he was given, and a political judgment.  The fact that the intelligence turned out to be wrong on WMD does not mean that anyone purposefully lied.  And that is the insinuation by some on Capitol Hill, and by a former colleague.  And that's why we were so saddened and disappointed and hurt by his words.  " title=" Q    Dana, following on that, in the release from the Senate Democrats, their message -- the first " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-24#entryid_280525" rowid="136531284" side="usa" srcid="280525" text=" Q    Dana, following on what Jennifer was asking about -- so the figures about sales for existing homes come out and it shows a downward trend, and the same share prices for Freddie and Fannie that were boosted yesterday as soon as the President said he wouldn't veto go back down.  And it seems to suggest a real sort of brittleness to the situation that may be beyond any kind of housing bill or government -- any kind of legislative approach.  Do you fear or worry that the tremors, especially in the housing market, are beyond something that the government can fix right now?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, we have said for a while that the housing crisis is something that we needed to deal with.	In fact, it was last August 31st when President Bush saw the -- listened to his advisors, who recognized that the housing crisis was coming, and asked Congress to act.	We're 11 months now from that time frame and we think that if we could have acted sooner, we could have helped do a couple of things, such as on this GSE reform getting a strong regulator in place to make sure that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are focusing on their core missions, which is to help homeowners, and in particular, help low-income homeowners.  We think that's what they should be focused on because that is their mandate in the statute.  &lt;p /&gt; But we also recognize that the GSE reforms would help stabilize the market, and that's one of the things that without this housing bill -- even though the housing bill -- even though the President said yesterday he wouldn't veto it, it still hasn't passed.  &lt;p /&gt; So -- I'm not a market analyst.  Things go up and down in a market all the time.  I think it's wrong for me from this podium to try to judge why that's happening.  There's lots of financial experts and I'm sure you can talk to them.  But I think let's take a look and see if we can get this bill signed and into law once the Congress passes it and up to the President, and then take it from there.  But we do think it will have an impact on the overall health of the market in terms of stability and confidence in the financial markets.  " title=" Q    Dana, following on what Jennifer was asking about -- so the figures about sales for existing h" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-23#entryid_267458" rowid="136530041" side="usa" srcid="267458" text=" Q    Dana, General Petraeus yesterday indicated that he believes there could be additional troop reductions in the September time frame.  Has he already talked to the President about that, given him any kind of indication that that's the line of thinking he -- that's where he's going?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, they talk regularly -- at least once a week, if not twice a week -- and they were able to see each other this week.  On Monday the President had a secure video teleconference with Prime Minister Maliki --  " title=" Q    Dana, General Petraeus yesterday indicated that he believes there could be additional troop re" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-29#entryid_302705" rowid="136531984" side="usa" srcid="302705" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I'm certainly not surprised.  And we continue to be dismayed that Russia has not fulfilled all of its requirements in the peace agreement that it signed, the one that Sarkozy sent that was a six-point plan.  So we are focused on trying to make that agreement -- or get that agreement fulfilled, so those obligations to be fulfilled, and for the Russian military to be back into its posture that it was in on  -- before the hostilities began on August 7th.  &lt;p /&gt; Georgia is going to need the support of the world.  There is unison when you look at the reaction about a country's sovereignty, its independence, and its territorial integrity.	And you've seen across the board, countries coming forward to announce their support for Georgia, and condemning the actions of Russia.  And the results of that are that Russia is increasingly isolated, and will bear the consequences of that isolation unless they fulfill that agreement and then make amends.  " title=" Q    Dana, Georgia has cut off diplomatic relations with Russia.  I wonder if you have a reaction t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304044" rowid="136532199" side="usa" srcid="304044" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think I'd refer you to the President's speech today.  Maybe you didn't see it, but he did talk about that a little bit in his speech.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Dana, given Afghanistan's objections to air strikes, would the U.S. consider changing its rule" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316058" rowid="136533726" side="usa" srcid="316058" text=" Q    Dana, given that the -- back on the auto industry for a second -- there's a lot of concern in Detroit and among the automakers that if Congress doesn't act this administration might not be able to do anything.  Would there be anything that the administration could do if Congress does not come back for a lame duck --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think we have -- we have to move forward with what we can do with the statutes that Congress has authorized us to put forward.  And as I said, Congress will have a chance to meet next week, and if they decide to move forward with something additional, we will be able to listen to their ideas.	But I think this is too early to say.  " title=" Q    Dana, given that the -- back on the auto industry for a second -- there's a lot of concern in " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313265" rowid="136533463" side="usa" srcid="313265" text=" Q    Dana, going back to the issue of how active the President has been or not -- not as active on the campaign trail.  You said that a number of events were canceled.  I do know when the fundraisers were canceled, you guys talked about it.  But can you say whether other events recently have been canceled?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  No, this was mostly just the fundraisers.  " title=" Q    Dana, going back to the issue of how active the President has been or not -- not as active on " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-10#entryid_309002" rowid="136533077" side="usa" srcid="309002" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know if you saw an update, but it was retracted.  " title=" Q    Dana, has anyone at the White House spoken to Berlusconi or any of his aides about his proposa" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-01#entryid_319626" rowid="136534229" side="usa" srcid="319626" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to decline to comment on the expected pending announcement from President-elect's announcement today, at 10:40 a.m.  So I'll let that go forward, but I will tell you that of course Secretary Gates sees the President nearly every day, if not twice a day sometimes.  And so if there is an announcement of that sort, maybe we can provide you something later.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Dana, has Secretary Gates conferred with the President about serving the Obama administration?" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311211" rowid="136533245" side="usa" srcid="311211" text=" MS. PERINO:  I read that report, and I honestly think, if you went back and you read my briefing from July 3rd, you could have written the same story.  I don't see anything that's new in that story.  &lt;p /&gt; What the President has said is that he wants to be able to get into a position where we could close Guantanamo eventually.  But it's very complex, it's complicated, it is difficult.  There are four basic issues that we're dealing with right now.  One of them is moving forward on military commissions.  That process is slow, but it is moving forward.  Another one is returning home or to a third country many of the detainees.  We had as many as 600 detainees at one point; we are now down to about 270.  So we're continuing to work on that problem.  Third, we're in habeas litigation when it comes to the Boumediene decision and then the recent decision from Judge Urbina on the Uigher case.	Just last night, the appeals court agreed with us and stayed that decision.	So we have that litigation going on.  And General Mukasey, backed by the President, supports legislation that Congress needs to pass.  And one of the bills that we could support has been introduced by Senators Graham, Lieberman, and McCain.  &lt;p /&gt; So there are four issues.  And I'm sure that this President and the next President will come in and realize how complicated this issue is, and that we are working very diligently to try to do everything right.  And it's not as easy as just snapping your fingers and closing Guantanamo Bay -- unless you don't care.  Because 7 percent of the people who have been returned from Gitmo have returned to the battlefield.  Many of them have been picked up again.  One of them couldn't be picked up again because he was a suicide bomber who killed nearly 40 people in Mosul.  &lt;p /&gt; So we are working on it.  But it's very difficult.  It's slow work.  But it's slow work because we are being very diligent in making sure that we do everything that we can to make sure that potential terrorists aren't in a position to be able to hurt innocent people again.  " title=" Q    Dana, has the President reached a decision on whether or not he'll close Guantanamo Bay?  Ther" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-01#entryid_302885" rowid="136532002" side="usa" srcid="302885" text=" MS. PERINO:  I know that he and the Vice President saw each other this morning.  The Vice President was in the Oval Office as we were leaving, and the Vice President said his trip is going ahead as planned. But I don't know, beyond that, the discussions that they had.  But let me check on that EU meeting.  " title=" Q    Dana, has the President talked about -- with the Vice President about the Vice President's upc" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-10#entryid_308986" rowid="136533061" side="usa" srcid="308986" text=" MS. PERINO:  The President is convinced that John McCain has still time to close up this race.  And remember -- he remembers when he was running in 2000 and how far he was down before the election, and he came back to win.  " title=" Q    Dana, has the President voiced any concern about what appears to be happening to John McCain's" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303437" rowid="136532112" side="usa" srcid="303437" text=" MS. PERINO:  In the United States?  " title=" Q    Dana, has the support grown after the recent events in Georgia?  From your allies?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-23#entryid_267467" rowid="136530050" side="usa" srcid="267467" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know if they've gotten that detailed yet, in terms of ramping up as we go over the next several months.  So at this point, I couldn't tell you.  And I'm not really involved in those scheduling discussions.  &lt;p /&gt; Roger.  " title=" Q    Dana, have decisions been made on whether he will do campaign trips with McCain?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-27#entryid_312722" rowid="136533375" side="usa" srcid="312722" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know in terms of specific White House employees, I'm not positive; it's certainly possible.	But I know that the Energy Department, Treasury Department, and Commerce Department at the highest levels have been in contact with them, yes.  " title=" Q    Dana, have the automakers been in contact with the White House over these various issues that " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-27#entryid_267609" rowid="136530083" side="usa" srcid="267609" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I believe the last time we were in Utah, in Salt Lake City, we did the same.	The President has --  " title=" Q    Dana, he is meeting with the President of the Mormon Church Thursday morning; is that right?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316882" rowid="136533872" side="usa" srcid="316882" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think -- as I said, let's let the meeting take place and see what comes forward.  And also let's take a look at the fact that those task forces will be able to come back with specific concrete actions.  I think that the goals that we've laid out for this meeting are robust, in terms of just identifying the problems and agreeing on efforts that are already underway, and then figuring out how do we move forward with principles for reform, and then asking the working groups to go back, work with their financial experts in their countries and in their governments, and identify specific concrete actions that can be taken.  &lt;p /&gt; We've always said that this was going to be a series of summits; nothing is going to be solved overnight.  But we're going to get a long way towards moving the ball down the field tomorrow night -- well, tonight and tomorrow afternoon.  " title=" Q    Dana, how do you push back, though, when other world leaders are -- some of them are looking f" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300601" rowid="136531672" side="usa" srcid="300601" text=" Q    Dana, how do you respond to The Wall Street Journal conservative editorial page today saying, &quot;So far the administration has been missing in action, to put it mildly.&quot;  Do you have any regrets about the administration appearing to be sort of slow to really push back against Russia here?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't have regrets, because I know what the actions actually are.  And I would point you back to your own reporting, your network's own reporting and your colleagues here.  Let me remind you that it's -- this conflict, this frozen conflict, has existed since the early '90s.  Increasingly over the past couple of years, there have been increased tensions and provocations.  I would say that -- you might not remember, but Secretary Rice was just in the region not too long ago -- I think it was early July that she was there -- talking to both the Russians and to the Georgians about making sure that they don't provoke one another.  &lt;p /&gt; Just this past spring, President Saakashvili was here.	President Bush has seen President Medvedev at least once now, as a member at the G8, and obviously had seen Putin before that.  So leading up to it --  " title=" Q    Dana, how do you respond to The Wall Street Journal conservative editorial page today saying, " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-03#entryid_319920" rowid="136534278" side="usa" srcid="319920" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know, Ed.	I haven't seen them.  I've had a few other things to do, but you wouldn't want me looking at them anyway because I couldn't tell you.  " title=" Q    Dana, how extensive is the material the automakers provided you all?  I mean, how long does it" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315287" rowid="136533657" side="usa" srcid="315287" text=" Q    Dana, how much direct contact do you expect the President to have with the President-elect?  I know that the President already reached out in more of a sort of informal way, but how much direct contact over the transition do you expect the two men to have?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  It's a little too early for me to say.  I don't know.  The President did extend the invitation for President-elect Obama to come at his convenience.  Obviously he's got a lot on his plate because you can imagine all of the thousands of positions that they have to fill in the government.  He first has to establish his Cabinet and his main senior staff here at the White House.	So we'll welcome him with open arms as soon as he can get here.  " title=" Q    Dana, how much direct contact do you expect the President to have with the President-elect?  I" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302482" rowid="136531926" side="usa" srcid="302482" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would point you back to what President Bush said when Barack Obama successfully secured the nomination back in the spring, in which he held it up as a wonderful moment for not just African Americans, but for all of America.  And so he has continued to feel that way.  And now the contest is between two candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain.  And I don't know how much the President has been watching the Democratic Convention.  He just got back yesterday afternoon.  " title=" Q    Dana, how much is the President paying attention to the Democratic Convention this week?  And " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324593" rowid="136534847" side="usa" srcid="324593" text=" MS. PERINO:  She's been working on this round-the-clock since it started.  I think that there's no leader in the world that knows this issue more intimately than Secretary Rice, and she knows the leaders of both the Palestinians and the Israelis very well.  And she's been working with the international community to try to establish this.  And we welcome the support of our allies in trying to help, because this is not something that the United States alone can solve.  This is something that the Israelis, the Palestinians, working within the world community can try to solve together.  " title=" Q    Dana, how quickly do you think you can get a cease-fire?  And does Secretary Rice have any pla" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_325013" rowid="136534882" side="usa" srcid="325013" text=" Q    Dana, how will it work around here -- I mean, two weeks out -- how did it work around here?  When do boxes start coming out?  When do you start putting things away?	When do the -- when does the First Family pack up and the moving vans come in?  How does all that work?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, you know how -- the President's style is always to be one that's a little bit prepared early, and he and Mrs. Bush have been working to box things up.	They didn't come with a lot of things; they didn't bring a lot of furniture here.  So mostly what they have are books, obviously their clothes, and then some of the things that they've picked up along the way on their travels as they've traveled.  &lt;p /&gt; So they're trying to box those things up, and then they'll be headed down to Texas I think over time -- over the next couple of weeks, a little bit before the 20th.  " title=" Q    Dana, how will it work around here -- I mean, two weeks out -- how did it work around here?  W" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300566" rowid="136531637" side="usa" srcid="300566" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, it's one -- as the President said, it's very complicated and complex, and that remains the case.  " title=" Q    Dana, how would you characterize the U.S. relationship with Russia after all this?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268273" rowid="136530143" side="usa" srcid="268273" text=" MS. PERINO:  The one from yesterday -- or was it two days ago?	I can't remember; it's been kind of a long week.  Well, we are deeply concerned about the humanitarian impact, not only of just cluster munitions, but really the whole range of munitions that are used at war.  It's a moral obligation to clean up, and we do so.  You need to try to do everything you can to clean up after a conflict zone to make sure that there aren't innocent victims that are hurt with unexploded weapons that are lying around on the ground.  &lt;p /&gt; We've played an important role in it since 1993.  We've spent more than $1.2 billion on such cleanup.  No other country in the world comes close to that.  We are strongly committed to working to address this problem.  I would refer you to the State Department because I believe that they will be able to articulate for you some of the disagreements we may have with the tactics or the venue for addressing this problem.  " title=" Q    Dana, I have a couple for you.  One is do you have a  reaction to the cluster bomb vote?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313546" rowid="136533493" side="usa" srcid="313546" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  Let me -- I checked in on this today.  The President was briefed on the latest developments in the region, both yesterday and then this morning by Steve Hadley.  Jendayi Frazer and the NSC Senior Director Bobby Pittman are in the region right now.  Secretary Rice spoke yesterday to President Kagame of Rwanda and the Foreign Minister of Belgium.  And today, she also spoke to Ban Ki-moon.  &lt;p /&gt; This is something we're taking very seriously.	We recognize that there are people that are suffering.  And Jendayi and Bobby are in Kinshasa to see Kibala -- I'm sorry, Kabila; and tomorrow they plan to travel to Rwanda.  They will also see President Kagame while they're there.  So we're trying to help bring some sort of political solution so that we can stop the violence and let people return to their homes.  " title=" Q    Dana, I have got a couple for you.  One is that the French, as the President of the EU, are ta" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303888" rowid="136532181" side="usa" srcid="303888" text=" Q    Dana, I have two questions.  One is you mentioned in your opening comments that the President was continually briefed by Secretary Paulson about this.  Did the White House, did the President, did the President's economic staff have any role in crafting the actual details of the plan, or was this basically a Treasury --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'll see if we can get that for you.  But I believe a lot of -- most of it was developed at the Treasury Department, where they have the experts.  And also at OFHEO, the housing agency.  " title=" Q    Dana, I have two questions.  One is you mentioned in your opening comments that the President " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279306" rowid="136531060" side="usa" srcid="279306" text=" MS. PERINO:  If he'd like to, I'd be delighted.  " title=" Q    Dana, I have with me today my colleague, Umar Cheema.  He's a prominent journalist in Pakistan" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325261" rowid="136534920" side="usa" srcid="325261" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think -- I think when Presidents meet, they can talk about anything that they want.	And I'm sure that there will be time to talk about issues that are facing the country currently, issues that they think might face the country in the future.  But I'm sure they'll also have a chance to talk about experiences and memories that they have in the White House, both on the personal side such as raising a family in the public eye and raising a family in the White House, and also what it's like to be in the post-presidency, as President Bush is about to experience in about 12 days.  " title=" Q    Dana, I just have a follow-up to what Ben was asking.  I mean, is today's meeting more persona" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-06#entryid_269325" rowid="136530304" side="usa" srcid="269325" text=" Q    Dana, I just want to ask you about Gitmo.	We've got 9/11 defendants talking about martyrdom, kind of lashing out at the President with some outlandish statements and calling him a crusader, among other things.  Is the President following that situation at all?  Does he have any reaction, being briefed about it?  And what's your general reaction to what's happening there?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, given that it is now in a trial phase, and that these people are now being given the chance to have their case said in court. It's inappropriate for the President, as Commander-in-Chief, to make any comments about it because of concerns about command influence.	So I can assure you he's being kept up to speed, and of course he checks out the newspapers, so he knows what's going on.  But I couldn't comment on what he feels about it.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    Dana, I just want to ask you about Gitmo.	We've got 9/11 defendants talking about martyrdom, k" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-28#entryid_313003" rowid="136533423" side="usa" srcid="313003" text=" Q    Dana, I just want to follow on something that Jim was saying.  If we -- if that's open to any company, then, with a financing arm, does that mean retailers could then come in and try to ask for money, since they have credit lines?  I mean, where does that stop?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  It's a good question.  It's not one that I can answer, because I'm not part of the -- I'm not an economist that is a regulator looking at the Troubled Asset Relief Program.  I don't want to -- I don't think the White -- I don't think the White House would be open to that, but I just don't know.  I think that -- I'm getting a little bit ahead of myself, and I need to let the regulators look at that and consider what eligibility would be.  I have -- I will just tell you, I have heard no one talking about other companies moving forward to create financing arms, or retailers asking for such type of support, either.  So I want to make it clear that I'm not suggesting that that is a possibility.  " title=" Q    Dana, I just want to follow on something that Jim was saying.  If we -- if that's open to any " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316857" rowid="136533847" side="usa" srcid="316857" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'll check.  I know that Dan Price, as he told you the other day, had been in touch with his counterpart on the transition team.  I don't know if they've actually spoken to those two individuals, but we'll check and get back to you.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    Dana, I know that the White House has been in contact with the transition team.  But specifica" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280169" rowid="136531231" side="usa" srcid="280169" text=" Q    Dana, I know you may not want to comment on Senator Obama directly -- we keep bringing this up, obviously -- but specifically today, Senator Obama had a press conference where he was talking about his meeting with General Petraeus.  And obviously, this is not a hypothetical; General Petraeus is still the President's commander and he obviously deals with him on a regular basis.  Senator Obama was saying that General Petraeus told him he's against a timetable for withdrawing troops.  Obviously we've heard that before, but Obama basically said, I'd listened to the commanders, but ultimately I'd have to make the determination, I see the big picture.  &lt;p /&gt; Are you concerned at all that he's sort of setting up a comparison to the way President Bush is operating now, and that Senator Obama is almost operating as if he's a head of state right now?  There's been some criticism of that.  Is this interfering at all with the administration's efforts in the region?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to comment on Senator Obama's trip, nor his press conference, but I can assure you that President Bush, the Commander-in-Chief, does not allow anything to distract him from his mission to make sure that we win in Iraq.  " title=" Q    Dana, I know you may not want to comment on Senator Obama directly -- we keep bringing this up" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306604" rowid="136532682" side="usa" srcid="306604" text=" Q    Dana, I think a couple things everybody agrees on is that the root of this problem and the downward spiral will continue until you have the housing market stabilized.  And another factor is crisis of confidence that also could cause this to worsen.  If you try to, as you said, put a massive package through in a very short period of time, and you're sending a message that if you don't do this the economy could collapse --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  And your question?  " title=" Q    Dana, I think a couple things everybody agrees on is that the root of this problem and the dow" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269172" rowid="136530263" side="usa" srcid="269172" text=" Q    Dana, I think just in the last few minutes some news broke that maybe some top Air Force officials have been asked to resign -- the Secretary of the Air Force, the Air Force Chief of Staff.  Is the White House playing a role in that?  Can you tell us anything about that, why that happened?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I will let DOD make an announcement, but I would say that the White House has not played any role in that upcoming announcement.  " title=" Q    Dana, I think just in the last few minutes some news broke that maybe some top Air Force offic" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267087" rowid="136529977" side="usa" srcid="267087" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    Dana, I want to ask a couple quick things on Cuba.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313270" rowid="136533468" side="usa" srcid="313270" text=" Q    Dana, I wanted to ask you about some recent developments in Syria.  Wire reports this morning said that embassy officials in Damascus have said that the embassy could be closed indefinitely to the public.  Also, Syria's government has ordered the closure of an American school and a cultural center in Damascus.  I'm wondering if you could characterize the President's level of interest, level of concern, related to what appears to be a response to the U.S. attack earlier this week.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I haven't commented on reports about that incident, and I'm not going to here.  " title=" Q    Dana, I wanted to ask you about some recent developments in Syria.  Wire reports this morning " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-29#entryid_268063" rowid="136530133" side="usa" srcid="268063" text=" Q    Dana, I wanted to ask you, I know you don't want to go line-by-line with the whole book thing, the Scott McClellan book -- but I'm thinking you may want to address this because there's something out there.  Not having the benefit of having the book in front of me, there's an allegation apparently made by Scott in the book that a reporter shouted a question to the President, on a trip that Scott had been with him on, just as they were getting on Air Force One, and it was Valerie Plame-related.  Basically, it prompted Scott to ask the President directly, &quot;Were you the one who authorized the leaking of Valerie Plame's name?&quot;  And the President apparently told Scott, &quot;Yes, I was.&quot;  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  Obviously I wasn't there and -- obviously I don't know the context.  I think the -- it's hard for me to say.  I don't have the book in front of me either and I don't know.  &lt;p /&gt; But what I do know is that what we have said before, which is defending the President's decision to go to war is something that we have done repeatedly, and the suggestion that the President had sent Joe Wilson to Africa was false.  And so I don't know if that was what it was in regards to or not, so I'm -- I don't know.  " title=" Q    Dana, I wanted to ask you, I know you don't want to go line-by-line with the whole book thing," />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306388" rowid="136532619" side="usa" srcid="306388" text=" Q    Dana, I wanted to follow something Yunji was asking you.  McCain's words this morning were the same things he said yesterday.  He said, &quot;No consensus has developed to support the administration's proposal to meet the crisis.  I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands.&quot;  That was as of 8:45 a.m. this morning.  That's very different from what you're saying --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm saying we have made progress every day and we are closer today to a conclusion than we were yesterday.  " title=" Q    Dana, I wanted to follow something Yunji was asking you.  McCain's words this morning were the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312319" rowid="136533330" side="usa" srcid="312319" text=" Q    Dana, I was going to ask if -- right now the Treasury said under the law there's no actual timeline for selling these stocks back.  I wanted to see if -- does the President believe that there should be a -- some sort of incentive or some sort of timeline to sell these stocks back to the private holders so that future administrations might not see it as a revenue source?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  The President is trusting his team over at the Treasury Department to design this program, and he believes that they're doing it the right way.	I don't have details for you on it.  So we'll let them -- we'll just trust our Treasury Secretary and those that he's tasked with to implement the program.  &lt;p /&gt; Kathleen.  " title=" Q    Dana, I was going to ask if -- right now the Treasury said under the law there's no actual tim" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317045" rowid="136533912" side="usa" srcid="317045" text=" MS. PERINO:  As we've been saying since July, when we said that we would work with the Iraqis to establish a date that we would aspire to -- we just keep getting success after success on the security front in Iraq.  And when you work with a partner on a negotiation, you have to concede some points.  One of the points that we conceded was that we would establish these aspirational dates.  We're only able to do this because of the progress that's been made by the great work of our forces, and by the Iraqi security forces as well.  They, every day, gain in number, confidence and competence.  And we are going to continue to work with the Iraqis, because while we did have a good step with the council of ministers approving the agreement, and then our ambassador and their foreign minister signing it today, there are still several steps left to go.  &lt;p /&gt; The council of representatives has to take it up.  There will be a reading of the agreement.  Then there will be debate about it.	And then a vote after that.  So we have about another week or so to go.  So I don't think I'll say any more here, except to say that we have been able to reach this point because of the vision that the President had in sending more troops to Iraq, which was one of the most unpopular decisions that any President could have made if you think about what we were going through at the time in Iraq.  &lt;p /&gt; But it has worked.  And the Iraqis are now able to see a path where they can govern, sustain and defend themselves, which is -- which was our test for them.  Going back a couple of years ago, we said that that's what we wanted Iraq to be able to do:  to govern, sustain and defend itself.  And now, they are almost ready to do that on their own.  They're not quite there yet, which is why we think we need to be there for a while.  &lt;p /&gt; This doesn't mean -- this agreement doesn't mean that a future President, the President-elect, would not be able to change this agreement later on if he saw fit or if the Iraqis saw fit.  But right now we are very comfortable knowing that we are able to bring -- already announced that we are going from 20 brigades down to 14 brigades.  This is sooner than we thought we would be able to bring troops home, and we're going to continue to bring them home.  And then we'll have more to say once it passes that final hurdle.  " title=" Q    Dana, I would like to ask about Iraq.  The President has said for months that he opposed any t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308551" rowid="136533006" side="usa" srcid="308551" text=" MS. PERINO:  He's been briefed several times, and as I said, you -- I expect to have a readout from a call that he's having with Chancellor Merkel soon.  And I -- but he'll be doing the remarks at the India civ-nuke bill signing.  I don't know if there will be any remarks -- could be.  It's obviously on his mind and he's been wanting to talk to the American people about it and to reassure them that the government is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that we can help stem the crisis.  " title=" Q    Dana, I'm just wondering what in general the President is doing relating to the economy today," />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315247" rowid="136533617" side="usa" srcid="315247" text=" MS. PERINO:  Tom.  " title=" Q    Dana, I'm ready, I'm ready.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326718" rowid="136535077" side="usa" srcid="326718" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think we're going to let him catch his breath and get through the call but -- and I'll keep you updated on whether there is a phone call.  There's no doubt that -- I think all of us were in awe that there any survivors, but the fact that everybody survived shows that this pilot was a remarkable hero and that everybody, it sounds like, for the most part kept a cool head -- literally, since it was so cold there in the water -- and that everybody survived is just a really great tribute to America and how far we've come in terms of safety and rescuing people.  &lt;p /&gt; Peter.  " title=" Q    Dana, I'm wondering your thoughts about the U.S. Air incident in New York yesterday, and if th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308559" rowid="136533014" side="usa" srcid="308559" text=" Q    Dana, if I could just follow on Terry's question for a second.  The rate cut by the Fed, and if you're looking at coordinated rate cuts around the world, clearly isn't enough for Wall Street.  And I know you don't want to comment on day-to-day movement in the markets, but could you comment on the sentiment coming off the street this morning that it's just not enough?  Because that's going to translate into a general sense, I think, of anxiety if not panic, as people in the country watch step after step, significant step, being taken and the market just continues to go down.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that -- again, a lot of this excess debt has to be shaken out of the system, and we're seeing that happen not just in our own country, but around the world in those world markets.  You're right, I can't comment on day-to-day market movements, but what I will say is that all of these efforts aren't necessarily going to have an instant effect.  And the work that the Fed is doing, the work that the Treasury Department is doing, collectively should help stem the crisis.  And we think that the rescue package will do what we need it to do to unfreeze the credit markets.  That doesn't mean there's not going to be pain along the way, because there will be, unfortunately, for all of us.  " title=" Q    Dana, if I could just follow on Terry's question for a second.  The rate cut by the Fed, and i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300588" rowid="136531659" side="usa" srcid="300588" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that that's way premature and hypothetical and speculative and nothing that I would comment on.  " title=" Q    Dana, if the cease-fire violations continue, do you foresee any circumstance where the U.S. mi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313555" rowid="136533502" side="usa" srcid="313555" text=" Q    Dana, if you could just answer the question I asked earlier about when might we see some kind of announcement on the mortgage assistance plan, what it might look like.  And also, how much money can the administration put forth for such a plan, given that, as Chairman Lazear just said, we've already put forth $700 billion?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Right.  So I think where I would -- what I would tell you is, one, Chairman Lazear got it right, that one of the things that we've been doing is trying to deal with the housing problem since we identified it well over a year ago.  So there's several different programs that are already in place and we're trying to implement those.  &lt;p /&gt; Two of those are HOPE NOW and FHASecure.  There's also Hope for Homeowners, which is something that Congress gave us the tools to use later on in the year.  So we have all of those things moving forward.  But what we've said is that we're willing to listen and think about other ideas and other policy options to help more homeowners.  &lt;p /&gt; We're doing a lot of analysis right now on several different ideas, thinking about the efficiency issues, how effective it could be; the fairness issues, how would you protect taxpayers -- and by fairness, I also include in that who would qualify and how do you -- how would you design it.  &lt;p /&gt; All of that analysis needs to be done.	And so we're not in a position right now of announcing anything imminent.  I think that -- I've seen this happen in Washington before where people float out ideas in the media.  What I can tell you is that we're in the middle of analyzing several different proposals.  If we find one that we think strikes the right notes and could meet all of those standards that we want to protect taxpayers, make sure that it's also fair and that it would actually have an impact, then we would move forward and we would announce it.  But we're not ready to do that.  " title=" Q    Dana, if you could just answer the question I asked earlier about when might we see some kind " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303128" rowid="136532054" side="usa" srcid="303128" text=" MS. PERINO:  One of the things that you learn in hurricanes is that just when you think everything is safe and sound, there are still concerns.  And in addition to that, we have many other storms that are churning out there.  We have Tropical Storm Hanna, and Ike that's following behind that, and possibly another one behind that.  And so it's appropriate that the President be able to be here at the White House.  &lt;p /&gt; And he did speak to Secretary -- I'm sorry -- Director Paulison this morning.  One of the things that they talked about is, how do you make sure, now that the people have heeded the warnings to evacuate, that they also heed the warnings not coming back sooner than the city officials can take care of -- they have to clear the streets.  There's many people still without power, and the reentry plan is really important.  We also have an issue to make sure that the hospitals are well equipped and have enough people to take care of those who are either in the storm or critically ill patients that need help now.  &lt;p /&gt; And so the President will stay behind.	Obviously, the convention is shaved by at least a day, and then the -- well, the program last night was quite truncated.  And the President is happy to have a chance tonight to address the GOP.  " title=" Q    Dana, if you say, &quot;so far, so good,&quot; why doesn't the President go up and deliver his address i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300755" rowid="136531700" side="usa" srcid="300755" text=" Q    Dana, in an op-ed this morning, the Georgian leader said only Western peacekeepers can end the war.  What are your thoughts about that?  And is there any chance or possibility, or not, that the U.S. would be able to send some peacekeepers in?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't know what the makeup of the international peacekeeping force would look like.	I think that's something that's going to have to be decided in the days ahead.  But I would point you to Secretary Gates's briefing today in which he said that we would offer assistance, but we would probably not have boots on the ground.  " title=" Q    Dana, in an op-ed this morning, the Georgian leader said only Western peacekeepers can end the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317294" rowid="136533947" side="usa" srcid="317294" text=" MS. PERINO:  Everyone did dress up.  We made it clear during the campaign season that we would not be doing press conferences.  Right now, the campaign season is over.  Are you eager to have them back?  " title=" Q    Dana, in July the President held a full news conference.  It's now November.  Is that a format" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310103" rowid="136533148" side="usa" srcid="310103" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's four hours -- it's like going to Florida from here.  So, look, they're around, they're here.  This is something that the President wanted to do to have them -- to come on down, and I wouldn't expect a lot out of it.  I think that -- I don't expect any new policy announcements.  I don't expect dates for meetings to be announced.  I think that it will just be a chance for them to continue the discussions that they've been having since the beginning of this situation, following on the G7 action plan from last Friday, the G20 meeting that they had Saturday, and then this statement that they had yesterday.  So I don't anticipate any new policy announcements coming out of this weekend's conversations.  " title=" Q    Dana, in terms of this weekend, what can we expect out of it?  I mean, I know they're somewhat" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300606" rowid="136531677" side="usa" srcid="300606" text=" Q    Dana, in the President's statement he mentioned communication with the President of Georgia and also with Sarkozy.  Can you just tell us what kind of communication there is between the President and Russian officials?	I know there's been discussion with Medvedev and I know he's talked to Putin. But recently, what the -- can you characterize sort of the tone and what these communications are like?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I would tell you that the administration at all levels has been in contact with counterparts in Georgia and Russia, including Secretary Rice and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley.  So we have ongoing conversations.	I'm not at liberty to describe them, but the President -- what I can tell you is President Bush has worked very hard over the years to develop good relationships with other leaders in which he can have frank and candid discussions and be very blunt about our concerns.  " title=" Q    Dana, in the President's statement he mentioned communication with the President of Georgia an" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-02#entryid_319786" rowid="136534260" side="usa" srcid="319786" text=" MS. PERINO:  I saw reports about it, but I think what I'll do is just decline to comment and let Secretary Rice get to New Delhi.  I think she'll be there tomorrow morning our time, maybe even late this evening our time.  Let me let her try to work on that and see what she gets out of it so that I don't get in front of anything she's working on.  " title=" Q    Dana, India is pressing Pakistan to turn over 20 fugitives as a kind of -- a show of good fait" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-06#entryid_299628" rowid="136531558" side="usa" srcid="299628" text=" MS. PERINO:  I saw that the allies said that they're going to get together on a conference call this morning, but I'm not -- I'm so confused as to what time it is, if it was European time or not.  So let's let that conference call take place, and they can move forward.  &lt;p /&gt; But in the absence of a positive response to the generous offer that we provided in our incentives package, I think that the allies will have no choice but to take further measures that would be punitive, given that we don't have a decent and responsive statement from the Iranians, which as I understand it just doesn't look like it's anything worth writing home about.  " title=" Q    Dana, Iran.  What's your understanding of what Iran has said to the P5-plus-1?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315274" rowid="136533644" side="usa" srcid="315274" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  It was characterized for me as about the same amount as when President Bush was elected.  " title=" Q    Dana, is it a surprising number of requests -- a lot?  Can you characterize?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303109" rowid="136532035" side="usa" srcid="303109" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know how that works.  Let me -- I'll check.  " title=" Q    Dana, is it an RNC camera he is speaking to in the Cross Hall?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311472" rowid="136533279" side="usa" srcid="311472" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't want to speak for them, but the President has had good conversations with a lot of different leaders over the past few days.  " title=" Q    Dana, is it correct to understand from what you have just announced that all the countries hav" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311217" rowid="136533251" side="usa" srcid="311217" text=" MS. PERINO:  Right now what we are focusing on is the urgent crisis at hand, which is to stop the bleeding, get the rescue package implemented so that we can unfreeze the credit markets.  That's the best thing that we can do for this economy.  It will help small business owners, it will help the unemployment rate, it should help people who are saving for college and for retirement, it will hopefully help stabilize the stock market and strengthen the stock market, give more confidence to it.  &lt;p /&gt; I think we need to allow that process to work.	Now it's -- we're a month out from when Congress even comes back.  So let's just all take a moment, let Secretary Paulson and his team do what they need to do.  And of course, we're always thinking about what we might need to do or not need to do in the future.  And one of those things centers around the issue of taxes.  &lt;p /&gt; Raising taxes on the American people right now would be the worst thing that we could possibly do for this economy.  That's something that the President will not be able to support.	So far, what we've seen from members of Congress that they've put forward in the guise of stimulus II would not stimulate the economy.  So there's going to be some tests that have to be met.  &lt;p /&gt; So far we haven't seen those.  That doesn't mean that people throughout Washington, including in this building, aren't thinking of some good ideas that [we] may or may not need in the future.  That's their job, that's what we do.	But right now we are focused on the immediate crisis at hand, which is stopping the run -- or unfreezing -- I was going to say un-thawing -- freezing in the credit markets.  " title=" Q    Dana, is it fair to just simply say you have no plans to put forth your own stimulus package? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-19#entryid_305491" rowid="136532495" side="usa" srcid="305491" text=" MS. PERINO:  I didn't know that it was back on our plate.  I don't even think that we've seen their C.R. plan or what's going to be in their C.R.  So we'll continue to keep you updated.	I just don't have anything specific to add to what I've already said this week.  &lt;p /&gt; Goyal.  " title=" Q    Dana, is it that they consider that as part of the C.R. but they're waiting to hear from the W" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-01#entryid_319634" rowid="136534237" side="usa" srcid="319634" text=" Q    Dana, is it your sense that unlike previous attacks -- and we've read about this, we've seen this sort of thing happen before on a smaller scale -- is it your sense that the temperature in the region between the two countries is at a boiling point?  And if so, what else can we do as Americans to sort of -- or the administration, in particular -- to decrease the temperature in the room?  It seems like this time it's much worse.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that tensions between India and Pakistan have been around for decades.  And we have -- as I've just explained, we've been trying to encourage and improve dialogue between the two countries.  The other thing we've tried to do is encourage them to break down barriers for economic trade and transit so that people could go back and forth.  &lt;p /&gt; So I don't think that tensions are new; what is new is we have an attack.  One of the things that we can do is continue to try to help them solve their differences; we can help assist in the investigation; we can encourage Pakistan to cooperate, as they said that they would do.  And Secretary Rice will travel to the region, and we hope that that will help, as well.  But we're in -- it's a very serious situation and there's no doubt there's a lot of tension.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  " title=" Q    Dana, is it your sense that unlike previous attacks -- and we've read about this, we've seen t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312323" rowid="136533334" side="usa" srcid="312323" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't usually do.  I'm just trying to be realistic, that we do look at the --  " title=" Q    Dana, is that language that you just used, the next GDP number not good, and then the quarter " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298448" rowid="136531425" side="usa" srcid="298448" text=" MS. PERINO:  When a President of the United States, no matter who it is, signs a bill, that's putting your name on it.  And we said last week that there was a provision of the bill that we think bailed out lenders rather than helping homeowners, and we didn't agree with it, but we recognized that the timing was such that we needed the bill sooner than later.  And having a prolonged veto fight that we were convinced we would win, and we proved that we would win, was not in the best interest of the housing market and of the credit market.  And so that's why the President signed the bill today.  " title=" Q    Dana, is the fact that the President didn't have a ceremony or a statement about the housing b" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316069" rowid="136533737" side="usa" srcid="316069" text=" MS. PERINO:  As far as I -- yes, absolutely.  " title=" Q    Dana, is the Oval Office meeting today just the two men for the whole meeting?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-24#entryid_280526" rowid="136531285" side="usa" srcid="280526" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we've had certainly a slowdown in our economy, and we want everybody in America who wants to have a job to be able to find a job -- and we've been working to do that.  We've said for a while that it was going to take some time for the stimulus package that we passed in February, for it to have an effect on job numbers.  We also realize that the headwinds that were caused by rising gas prices and also the housing crisis that we just talked about are all having an impact.  But we do think that towards the end of the year we'll be able to see some better growth, and that means jobs, too.  &lt;p /&gt; I would say that our unemployment rate in this country remains low by historic standards, but that doesn't mean that for the individual who is out there who is looking for a job or is concerned that they might lose their job, that the anxiety that comes with that makes for a less happy and productive life.  And so that's why we want to try to get ourselves back on a path to job growth.  " title=" Q    Dana, is the President concerned about the new unemployment numbers that came out today -- 406" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-29#entryid_280999" rowid="136531365" side="usa" srcid="280999" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, the remarks today are mainly focused on energy issues.  But clearly housing has been the other part of the headwinds that we have faced over the last year.  And there's no question that it still is having an effect on the housing market.  We can't put a timetable on when the housing market will be able to start to rebound, but we're doing everything we can, one, to help people stay in their homes in the meantime, while they go through this correction; and then to help us pull out of it sooner than later.  " title=" Q    Dana, is the President concerned about the steepest decline ever in home prices that just occu" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268798" rowid="136530236" side="usa" srcid="268798" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we are going to continue to try to work with and understand the South Koreans' position, and work with our Congress and our industry as we try to move forward.  Obviously the President's position on the safety of American beef is well known.	And so we'll continue to work with the Koreans and monitor their process.  " title=" Q    Dana, is the President disappointed in the South Korean President's leadership now that he's b" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308311" rowid="136532956" side="usa" srcid="308311" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not today, but we'll let you know.  " title=" Q    Dana, is the President going to talk to Chancellor Merkel for sure today?	Is that --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271972" rowid="136530644" side="usa" srcid="271972" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, it wasn't quite full funding that the President had asked for, so in that regards, the President is not satisfied.	And I think that everyone can look at the situation -- and bringing up obviously the one that Kathleen just mentioned, in terms of violence on the border -- this initiative, this Merida Initiative is specifically aimed at trying to deal with that problem, from the drug trade and the other violence that is happening along the border.  So we're going to continue to work with Congress, and we would hope that in the emergency supplemental that we expect for them to be able to pass this week that they would include full funding and everything else.  " title=" Q    Dana, is the President satisfied with the $400 million package that was approved by the House " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322344" rowid="136534522" side="usa" srcid="322344" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'll tell you I read the reports.	I've not talked to the President about it.  I've read all the news stories about it, and I will tell you -- I would have to maybe even check with him, because I haven't spoken to him about it and I just don't know enough.  Plus, given that it's now in the middle of litigation, I don't know if I'd be able to actually say anything anyway.  " title=" Q    Dana, is the President satisfied with the way the Securities and Exchange Commission has handl" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-23#entryid_318371" rowid="136534097" side="usa" srcid="318371" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  " title=" Q    Dana, is the President wistful after this final summit?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-24#entryid_271795" rowid="136530623" side="usa" srcid="271795" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that Secretary Rice said it best yesterday when she said that there might be some ideas out -- floating out there, but there's nothing concrete at the moment.  In regards to us reaching out and talking directly to the Iranians, President Bush goes out of his way every time he talks about the Iranian issue, which is often; he gets asked about it and he brings it up proactively himself.  &lt;p /&gt; But our concern is not with the Iranian people.  We respect them, we respect their culture, we respect their heritage, we think that they are good entrepreneurs.  It's their regime that is continuing to isolate them from the international community.  The international community is speaking with one voice in that regards, as well.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the things that we did last month was make sure that the incentives package that was released from the U.N. Security Council -- I'm sorry, from the EU plus 3 -- was the fact that we made that public so that everybody can see -- and hopefully Iranians that are able to have access to the media and have access to the Internet would be able to see that the United States and its allies does not have any problems with them as individuals; that we are actually wanting to work with the Iranians.  We've provided a path forward for civilian nuclear energy, and we want to have a relationship with them.  But their regime has to agree to halt the enrichment of uranium before we can do that.  " title=" Q    Dana, is the United States considering opening an interest section in Iran?  How close are we " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271608" rowid="136530575" side="usa" srcid="271608" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we'll -- what we've been waiting for is for North Korea to issue to the Chinese, as the chairman of the six-party talks, its complete and accurate and verifiable declaration.  And there is word that they would try to do that by Thursday.  This is a deadline that the North Koreans themselves have put out there.  We'll see if they decide to do that.  And from there, as you can see from the agreements that we've had, there is action for action.  &lt;p /&gt; But the key is we want a denuclearized North Korea, but part of getting there is getting this declaration.  Before any other actions are taken, that declaration has to be reviewed and considered verifiable.  " title=" Q    Dana, is the United States preparing to remove North Korea from the terrorism list?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315276" rowid="136533646" side="usa" srcid="315276" text=" MS. PERINO:  Obviously, I can't forecast what those numbers are.  There's no secret we've had a very shocking blow to our financial system over the past several months, more increasingly over the past two months.  Tomorrow's numbers I'm sure will be not anything that we will want to be happy about.  They will be of concern, because behind every one of those numbers there is an individual, a man or a woman who no longer has a job, and they're probably very worried about their future.  So the best and most important thing that we can do to try to help turn that around so that we have a better and more robust job market is to focus on getting credit moving back in the system.  That's how jobs are created, and that's what the Treasury Department is trying to do.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  " title=" Q    Dana, is the White House braced for a big jump in unemployment tomorrow?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308539" rowid="136532994" side="usa" srcid="308539" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't have anything for you yet on that.  Secretary Paulson will be, and I believe that the Fed Chairman will also be there.  We'll have representation there from the White House, as well, but not necessarily at the President's level.  So I'll let you know.  " title=" Q    Dana, is there any chance that the President would meet with the G7 finance ministers this wee" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317288" rowid="136533941" side="usa" srcid="317288" text=" Q    Dana, is there any kind of support around this White House for someone, a &quot;car czar&quot; to oversee any monies that will be given or could be given to the auto industry to prevent any kinds of mishandling of those funds, as we've seen with AIG --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well the program that we're talking about would be administered through the Department of Energy.	And so, those funds would be overseen by their officials and the inspector general at the Department of Energy.  So I don't know if you need anybody in addition.  But I'm -- if the President-elect thinks that that is something that he would want to have, then I'm sure we would work with him to consider it.  But I haven't heard any more further talk on that.  " title=" Q    Dana, is there any kind of support around this White House for someone, a &quot;car czar&quot; to overse" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280821" rowid="136531312" side="usa" srcid="280821" text=" Q    Dana, Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.  The Prime Minister -- Israeli Prime Minister said today he had told the parliamentary committee that he does not see an agreement happening this year and that basically Jerusalem is the problem.  There's no chance of an agreement on Jerusalem.  Are you disappointed that basically that's -- between that and the Palestinians saying the same thing, that's kind of the end of the President's hope --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  No, I don't think so.  I believe that Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas have every intention of trying to work together and seize this opportunity to try to come together.  But there are a lot of complications, one of them being the terrorist attacks on the Israelis coming from the Palestinians.  And obviously the Palestinians having a lot of issues to deal with, including announcements of new settlements, that certainly don't help the process.  It undermines confidence across the board.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm not exactly sure the context of what Prime Minister Olmert said.  We have always thought that we would be able to only define a state by the end of the year.  Part of that would be the issue of Jerusalem, that the parties are going to have to work out.  &lt;p /&gt; Let's let it play out a little bit longer.  Secretary Rice has announced that she'll be going to the region soon, and usually when she gets there, there's a little bit of activity beforehand and more voluble pronouncements about what may or may not be able to happen.  And then when she's there, they seem to be able to keep moving forward and -- not necessarily have breakthroughs, but keep the process moving along.  " title=" Q    Dana, Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.  The Prime Minister -- Israeli Prime Minister said toda" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266865" rowid="136529924" side="usa" srcid="266865" text=" Q    Dana, it doesn't -- you don't deny the premise of the Post article, the Jerusalem Post article, which was that a senior U.S. official said that the President and Vice President were of the opinion that military action is called for in Iran?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I have no knowledge of anybody saying that to anybody in Israel, no.	And as I said, I will restate that the United States position is to work with our international allies to bring diplomatic pressure to bear, both economic pressure and the diplomatic pressure that comes from working with all of our allies and also the countries in the region who have grave concerns about Iran's ambitions to obtain a nuclear weapon.  &lt;p /&gt; And we're going to work with them, and in fact, we're working on a new set of incentives package -- a new incentives package right now that Secretary Rice is helping lead, that would continue to bring that pressure on them, and to show the Iranian people that there is a way that they could be a part of the international community; they wouldn't have to be as isolated as their government has made them.  And we want to try to solve this diplomatically.  " title=" Q    Dana, it doesn't -- you don't deny the premise of the Post article, the Jerusalem Post article" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320160" rowid="136534337" side="usa" srcid="320160" text=" Q    Dana, it sounds like some on Capitol Hill may have already reached some kind of conclusion about the automakers.  Reid is already saying he doesn't think that they have the votes for the bailout.  And he and Pelosi have sent a letter to Treasury saying -- asking basically for temporary assistance to the automotive industry.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I certainly won't speak for Speaker -- for Leader Reid. But I think what he said yesterday is that they don't have the votes to change the TARP program.  We have always said that the TARP program was passed for a very different purpose, and that was to prevent the collapse of our financial institutions.  &lt;p /&gt; The automakers, on the other hand, have a pot of money that is there for the taking through the DOE program, called the 136 program.  We put forward a plan that we thought would be sensible, reasonable, and that could get bipartisan support.  And it is something that we believe, if allowed to come to a vote, that Leader Reid and Speaker Pelosi could actually have a victory on their hands, to be able to provide the assistance that they're talking about in the letter that they sent to us.  &lt;p /&gt; So we're going to continue to try to work with them.  I think we need to find out if they're going to -- if they're actually going to be in session next week -- I don't know if that's determined yet -- so let us get through the testimony today and tomorrow.  We're going to continue to put forward our plan for them to consider, and we think that it's the one that could actually get the most support and could achieve the goal that they're talking about in their letter.  &lt;p /&gt; Rachel.  " title=" Q    Dana, it sounds like some on Capitol Hill may have already reached some kind of conclusion abo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-03#entryid_319935" rowid="136534293" side="usa" srcid="319935" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm saying I'm not ruling anything out.  I think that we need to see their plans --  " title=" Q    Dana, it sounds to me like you're not ruling out more than $25 billion for the automakers.  Is" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326565" rowid="136535020" side="usa" srcid="326565" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yep.  " title=" Q    Dana, it's a tradition, I think, in the White House for outgoing staffers to leave something b" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313263" rowid="136533461" side="usa" srcid="313263" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's head of state -- I'll check.	I need to check on that.  I know that --  " title=" Q    Dana, it's just a detail, but the dinner on the eve of the summit, is it head of state or head" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303445" rowid="136532120" side="usa" srcid="303445" text=" Q    Dana, it's now September.	General Petraeus is soon to shift over to CENTCOM.  We've been hearing from the Pentagon that he's made his initial recommendations about troop levels in Iraq.  Obviously, the President still hasn't weighed in on it.  What are the plans?  What's the timing that we can expect?  What are the plans for rolling out a decision?  How will we learn about all this?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, General Petraeus as you'll recall, asked for a 45-day assessment period; that has ended.  That was after the President announced that the five brigades would be coming back.  That period now having ended, General Petraeus, through his chain of command, has given his assessment, and Secretary Gates and Chairman Mullen have briefed the President.  The President is now considering his options, and I would expect that as he works through that, as soon as he's finished with it, we'll be able to provide you more information.  &lt;p /&gt; I would point out to you I believe that there is a hearing next week that Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen are participating in.  I would expect that they would talk about troop levels in Iraq there.  " title=" Q    Dana, it's now September.	General Petraeus is soon to shift over to CENTCOM.  We've been heari" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312311" rowid="136533322" side="usa" srcid="312311" text=" Q    Dana, John McCain has been increasingly distancing himself from the President in these closing days of the campaign, and his criticism lately has gotten quite pointed -- in The Washington Times today, criticizing President Bush on, among other things, the early conduct of the war in Iraq, federal spending, growth in the size of government, the $10 trillion debt, the President's abuse of signing statements, his support of the Medicare prescription drug bill.  Do you want to defend the President on any of these points or take issue with any of his criticisms?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  This is all I'll say on it, is that the President stands by his policies.  The President believes that a Republican Congress has got a lot more done than the current Democrat-led Congress.  He supports John McCain and he still believes that he can and should win, and he'll continue to support him until election day.  " title=" Q    Dana, John McCain has been increasingly distancing himself from the President in these closing" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311198" rowid="136533232" side="usa" srcid="311198" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we knew it was going to take a little while to get this done.  I think we feel pretty comfortable with the strategic framework agreement.  That is a broader document; it talks about our relationship moving forward on the political and economic issues.  The strategic -- I'm sorry, the status of forces agreement is a little bit more complicated.  We knew that the Iraqis would have several steps to go through.  I saw reports that they want to -- today, and the Council of Ministers have suggested that they want to see some changes.  I don't think we have seen those yet.  And I'll let the negotiators in Baghdad talk about that when they get them.  " title=" Q    Dana, just a couple for you.  One is, how concerned is the White House about the pace and prog" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321337" rowid="136534479" side="usa" srcid="321337" text=" MS. PERINO:  Does anybody have anything else on autos?	Back here.  " title=" Q    Dana, just on another thing.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272602" rowid="136530714" side="usa" srcid="272602" text=" MS. PERINO:  Elaine is the last one.  " title=" Q    Dana, just one more?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278848" rowid="136531016" side="usa" srcid="278848" text=" MS. PERINO:  Wow.  There's a collective sigh of relief.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Dana, just one question today.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298788" rowid="136531483" side="usa" srcid="298788" text=" Q    Dana, just to follow on that, I can't help but wonder as I listen to you, at what point does the President conclude that while he has talked to President Hu about this many times, and made his views very strongly known, that talking isn't really working, and that maybe there are some other steps to be taken?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  What other steps, Sheryl?  " title=" Q    Dana, just to follow on that, I can't help but wonder as I listen to you, at what point does t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280826" rowid="136531322" side="usa" srcid="280826" text=" Q    Dana, just to go back to the President's meeting with Prime Minister Gillani -- the Prime Minister, himself, said that he had assured the President of Pakistan's commitment to fighting extremists and terrorists.  Did he -- did Prime Minister Gillani in fact tell the President that that would extend to stepping up -- that the military action against al Qaeda and Taliban in the border areas with Afghanistan?  Because the crux of the tensions or differences between -- with the U.S. have been over maybe Pakistan's use of dialogue, using tribal leaders as intermediaries.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Certainly he didn't rule it out, in terms of adding more from the military point of view.  And he did say that it was -- his singular focus was to try to deal with this counterterrorism issue.  I think that when he talks about the war on terror -- when it's from his perspective -- he doesn't think that this is a war on terror just being waged against the United States.	And his good friend, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, was killed by terrorists, so they have incentive and every reason in the world to try to go after them as well.  &lt;p /&gt; And he also said that average citizens in Pakistan are sick of the violence; they're tired of it, they want it to end.  And he has committed his government to try to help make that happen and he asked the President for some continued assistance and the President gladly gave it.  " title=" Q    Dana, just to go back to the President's meeting with Prime Minister Gillani -- the Prime Mini" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312320" rowid="136533331" side="usa" srcid="312320" text=" Q    Dana, last week you urged patience on this rescue package -- the logistics of setting it up.  Is it true to say that not a single dollar has changed hands as of today?  And how long is it forecast to take to get this thing up and running?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think that's accurate.  You'd have to check with Treasury to make sure.  Neel Kashkari, the Acting Assistant Secretary who is in charge of that program, is testifying on Capitol Hill today, so he might have already said that.  One of the things that they're doing is making sure that the due diligence is done to the greatest extent possible to make sure that the contracts are signed appropriately, that we have taxpayer dollars protected to the greatest extent possible, and that we are making good investments on behalf of the American people.  It will be temporary investments.  It will be investments that we believe the American people will get paid back, and possibly even make money on.  But all of that is going to take a little bit of time.  &lt;p /&gt; I think that the banks have seen that we -- they know this money is coming, and that's one of the reasons you've seen these credit markets start to unfreeze a little bit.  " title=" Q    Dana, last week you urged patience on this rescue package -- the logistics of setting it up.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316880" rowid="136533870" side="usa" srcid="316880" text=" Q    Dana, let me ask that same question but in a larger way.  Most of the leaders coming here are saying there needs to be very specific, direct, and comprehensive re-regulation of the financial sector.  Many of them are coming here saying the world needs to get together and do stimulus for everybody.  The President is reluctant on stimulus here in America, and warned yesterday, yet again, don't over-regulate.  Is he in danger of being the odd man out here?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that there might be some countries who feel that way.  But one of the reasons that the President wanted the G20 to be here is because it does represent 90 percent of the world's economy.  And by no means does everyone feel like they have all the answers at their disposal and that they should prescribe their solutions for their own countries to others.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, some people coming to the meeting, some leaders might think that they have solutions that could be applied worldwide.  That will be something that's discussed.  But I'm not going to get in front of the leaders on that.  And I think that it will be important when the President invites leaders from all these other countries that he not invite them and then ignore them; that he invite them and hear them out, because they have a stake in this, as well.  " title=" Q    Dana, let me ask that same question but in a larger way.  Most of the leaders coming here are " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280838" rowid="136531345" side="usa" srcid="280838" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't comment on any reported missile strikes.  So that's what I'm not commenting on.  " title=" Q    Dana, let me get an understanding of what you can't talk about as regards the FATA.  Is it the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268790" rowid="136530228" side="usa" srcid="268790" text=" Q    Dana, let me get at the Olmert question another way. President Abbas is in a very tough political situation, challenged by Hamas, by others.  You all have said how painful the concessions will be that are necessary to achieve a deal.  What possible incentive does he have to make concessions now to a government that may not be there in weeks?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  The Palestinian President?  Well, I think that, again, he's working with -- across the board, their whole government is working together.  And the two negotiators on the Israeli and the Palestinian side have established a very good working relationship, one based on trust and confidence.  And I think that what the President will continue to advise them to do is to have their negotiators work on those details, and for others to try to support them.  " title=" Q    Dana, let me get at the Olmert question another way. President Abbas is in a very tough politi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313548" rowid="136533495" side="usa" srcid="313548" text=" Q    Dana, looking ahead to the election, you said a while back that the President was trying not to give any press conferences while the campaign was going on, to let the candidates sort of have their own spotlight.  When will we hear from the President once the election is over?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  You'll probably hear from me that night, and then we'll see after that.  " title=" Q    Dana, looking ahead to the election, you said a while back that the President was trying not t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273189" rowid="136530814" side="usa" srcid="273189" text=" Q    Dana, looking ahead to the G8, a couple of global warming experts who are usually quite critical of the administration are now actually saying, wait a minute, there's a glimmer of hope on possible emission targets; that there's this thought that perhaps there's a exchange for the midterm, and you'll get a deal on the sort of 2050 limits.  &lt;p /&gt; Can you tell me how optimistic you are about a potential deal?	And these guys were saying -- they were characterizing the G8 as a &quot;lame duck summit,&quot; in terms of global warming issues, and now they're actually saying, wait a minute, there may be something here.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think -- when I read those quotes this morning, you could have knocked me over with a feather, too, because the President gets absolutely no credit for all that he has done here in our own country, because we have actually been able to reduce actual emissions from our country, even though our economy has grown over the past several years.  &lt;p /&gt; But to the G8, let me just take you back one step.  So, in May of 2007, President Bush announces a new way forward on climate change, because for the past several years, ever since the Kyoto Protocol, we have been stuck in this situation where only 30 percent of the countries that emit were required to be a part of Kyoto.  &lt;p /&gt; President Bush realized that, one, it would not solve the problem that we're trying to solve, which was to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, but instead it would hurt our economy while emissions continued to go up overseas -- just unworkable, from his point of view. What he thinks is going to work is a real push on technologies for research and development, but also having everybody committed, especially the emerging economies such as India and China.  &lt;p /&gt; So last May before the G8, the President suggested a way that we could all work together to get the major economies of the world all at the same table and working towards the same goal.  And that has held over the past year.  The emerging economies are still at the table. We're talking now in terms of &quot;our&quot; challenge and how &quot;we&quot; are going to solve this.  And the President laid out a way to try to work on both midterm and then a longer-term goal.  We're optimistic that we can get there, but there's a lot of issues that have to go -- have to be ferreted out.  &lt;p /&gt; And one of them -- if you just look at what happened, I think it was three weeks ago, when Senator Boxer's bill was brought up for a debate on the Senate floor.  There was considerable debate on the Senate floor, and you also saw a lot of people finally coming forward and saying, we've got some real problems with how this might actually work in the practical sense.  &lt;p /&gt; So that's not only happening in our capital, it's happening in all the other capitals as well.  So while I say we're optimistic that we can maybe get something, I want to make sure it's very clear that these are difficult issues and we have made progress -- I am not saying that we're going to be able to come out of there with a signed deal, out of the G8 -- that was never the purpose of this point of the process anyway.  We hope to get something done by the end of this year so that the major economies could feed into the U.N. process, which is going to take place next year.  " title=" Q    Dana, looking ahead to the G8, a couple of global warming experts who are usually quite critic" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269196" rowid="136530287" side="usa" srcid="269196" text=" Q    Dana, maybe -- it's been a couple of hours since the Senate report came out, so I just wanted to give you a chance on camera to talk a little bit about Senate Democrats -- I know Republicans are disagreeing on the Hill -- but Senate Democrats are alleging that it's not that intelligence was wrong, but that the administration maybe exaggerated some intelligence and maybe left out some key caveats about that intelligence in the run-up to the war.  And I wonder, for your reaction, especially since Scott McClellan -- it's not just Democrats, but Scott McClellan made a similar claim in his book.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, one, I would say that the issue of pre-war intelligence on Iraq has been thoroughly reviewed over the years by the Congress, as well as the independent WMD Commission.  The majority report today is a selective view.  And as you just said, the minority, the Republicans, have their own report, and I would encourage everyone to look at that as well.  Senator Bond has a press conference that is probably underway as I speak.  And so make sure you take a look at that.  &lt;p /&gt; The administration's statements on Iraq were based on the very same intelligence that was given to the Congress, and they came to the same conclusions, as did other countries around the world.  The issue about Iraq's WMD ultimately turned out to be false, and we have fully admitted that.  We regret it.  And we have also taken steps to make sure that we can correct it for -- in the future.  &lt;p /&gt; So for example, one of the things that the WMD Commission recommended was the creation of a -- we'll call it the Director of National Intelligence.  They wanted somebody to oversee and coordinate amongst the intelligence agencies.  Congress supported it, the President supported it, and we were able to stand that up.	And it is now -- first run by General Hayden, who now runs the CIA, but now run by General Mike McConnell, who was able to improve the process of how we gather intel and how that intel is presented to the President.  &lt;p /&gt; For example, they have improved the way that they talk about the confidence level in both the judgments that they are making and the sources that they are talking to.  Policymakers, because of this improved process, get an improved product, a more fulsome product, and we have a better service that's good for the President, that's good for the America people.  And I would just remind you, President Bush and other administration officials repeated declarations -- and it says this in the report -- repeated declarations that were substantiated by the intelligence community that turned out to be wrong.  That does not mean that anybody purposefully lied.  " title=" Q    Dana, maybe -- it's been a couple of hours since the Senate report came out, so I just wanted " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302505" rowid="136531963" side="usa" srcid="302505" text=" MS. PERINO:  We have no scheduling changes to announce.  Remember, this is Thursday morning.  Now the hurricane -- the tropical storm at this point -- if it turns into a hurricane, we'll have to then change the name.  But it's now scheduled to make landfall sometime on Tuesday.  So these storms have a tendency to change and so I don't have a scheduling update for you now.  Right now everything is on schedule.  " title=" Q    Dana, might Gustav's landfall alter the President's schedule next week?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-27#entryid_312718" rowid="136533371" side="usa" srcid="312718" text=" MS. PERINO:  Too early to say.	Those are certainly welcome numbers, but too early to say whether it's a trend or not.  That's why we have to keep working at doing what we're doing to try to recapitalize of banks, rework mortgages where we possibly can, help people stay in their homes.  &lt;p /&gt; But if it is a trend, we'll certainly welcome it.  But we're not going to rest and hope; we're just going to continue to work.  And maybe next month the numbers will show a continued improvement.  " title=" Q    Dana, new home sales, surprisingly up in September, and of course, we had existing sales up la" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-25#entryid_280659" rowid="136531295" side="usa" srcid="280659" text=" Q    Dana, Obama cancelled a planned visit to a military hospital in Germany based on recommendations from the Pentagon.  It would be deemed as campaigning or electioneering.  Did the White House have any role in persuading that to be cancelled, or did McCain?  Or, how did that all come about?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I have no idea.  I'd refer you to the Pentagon.  I don't think we had anything to do it with it, no.  I'd refer you to the Pentagon.  " title=" Q    Dana, Obama cancelled a planned visit to a military hospital in Germany based on recommendatio" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313551" rowid="136533498" side="usa" srcid="313551" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    Dana, on a separate -- new subject?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-23#entryid_318375" rowid="136534101" side="usa" srcid="318375" text=" MS. PERINO:  You guys are killing me.  Just kidding.  We're killing Ellen.	(Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Dana, on a separate topic --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278872" rowid="136531040" side="usa" srcid="278872" text=" Q    Dana, on another subject, is the White House disappointed that this lobbyist, Stephen Payne, is on a video tape suggesting that he can deliver high-level White House meetings, including with the Vice President, in exchange for big contributions to the Bush library?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'd say there's categorically no link between any official business and the Bush library.	Steve Payne was never an employee of the White House, but we do use hundreds of volunteers a year, as you know, for helping us do advance work.  And of course I don't know all of the facts about that situation, but we certainly would not advocate for such behavior.  " title=" Q    Dana, on another subject, is the White House disappointed that this lobbyist, Stephen Payne, i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303099" rowid="136532025" side="usa" srcid="303099" text=" MS. PERINO:  I haven't read the -- I wasn't aware of that update, and obviously we've supported ethanol programs so let me go back and look.  But as far as I know, there's been no change in our position.  We think that ethanol is going to be an important alternative and renewable fuel source that we can add to our mix here.  And one of the things President Bush is doing is trying to move the country away from corn-based ethanol to a cellulosic-based ethanol.  And the technology isn't quite there yet to be able to do that in a way that is efficient, but we're working on providing resources to that to make that more cost-effective.  " title=" Q    Dana, on energy and the convention, the Republican platform approved yesterday calls for dropp" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303902" rowid="136532195" side="usa" srcid="303902" text=" Q    Dana, on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, you've outlined the risk to taxpayers and the economy if these companies were to fail.  But what about the risk to taxpayers now that the government has taken them over and assumed that debt?	Is that a risk that the White House is concerned about?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  President Bush thinks that the move that Secretary Paulson worked on is the right move at the right time.	And this is not action that we wanted to take, it's action that we needed to take.  The goal is to prevent additional risk to the taxpayers, and in this plan Secretary Paulson has moved forward to make sure that the taxpayers would be paid back first.  If you're a shareholder or you're top management of these companies today, it's not a very bright day for you.  And taxpayer money will be safeguarded to the greatest extent possible.  &lt;p /&gt; Secretary Paulson and others made the determination in working through the options, and then finally talking with the President, that this was the best way to prevent a broader financial problem for our capital markets here in the United States, but also globally.  " title=" Q    Dana, on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, you've outlined the risk to taxpayers and the economy if " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316088" rowid="136533756" side="usa" srcid="316088" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's possible that they'll discuss it.  Again, I'm not going to presuppose what the two might discuss, but obviously the economy is going to be something that will be top of line for both of the leaders.  &lt;p /&gt; The Democrats have not yet determined how they will move forward and whether they'll move forward next week.  And before we speculate on what they might hypothetically put forward, I think it's best to let them continue to talk.  &lt;p /&gt; One thing we have heard a lot about in this election is the pledge of bipartisan cooperation.  And I think that the Democrats, instead of just asking what the administration can do, would be wise to be talking to their Republican counterparts in Congress so they can find out what those members of Congress are thinking about as we move forward to try to continue to help the economy.  " title=" Q    Dana, on Friday, Barack Obama voiced his strong support for a second stimulus.  Does that kind" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-27#entryid_312717" rowid="136533370" side="usa" srcid="312717" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, this is Israeli politics, as the President says, it's sometimes like full-court karate -- but they made a decision that this is how their system works, that they weren't able to form a coalition and they have to call for elections.  So they will have those elections coming up in the next couple of months.  &lt;p /&gt; From our standpoint, we're not going to get involved as to who should or who should not prevail in those elections.  What we will do, though, is remain committed to the Annapolis process, which started last November 30th -- so it's been about a year.  We made some significant progress through the two negotiators.  &lt;p /&gt; And in addition to that, we have General Jones, who is still on the ground there and is working to help the Palestinians build up their security capabilities, so that when they get to a point where they can define a Palestinian state, those security forces will be able to defend a state and also, prevent against terrorism.  " title=" Q    Dana, on Israel, what does the President think about the decision to call off coalition talks?" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271990" rowid="136530663" side="usa" srcid="271990" text=" Q    Dana, on Monday you said -- back to Zimbabwe -- the Mugabe regime was never going to allow a free and fair election to take place on Friday.  Does the President believe that the election in March should be the decision for the basis of a Zimbabwe government?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, a couple of things.	I think that we do believe that the people of Zimbabwe spoke very clearly on March 29th and that -- but consistent with their constitution, there was going to be a run-off, and it's that run-off that was not going to be free and fair.  And therefore, we think that the government of Zimbabwe currently is an illegitimate government because they didn't allow for their free and fair election.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think that you have to go back and look.  I do think that MDC won that election on March 29th, but consistent with their constitution was headed to a run-off.  " title=" Q    Dana, on Monday you said -- back to Zimbabwe -- the Mugabe regime was never going to allow a f" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-24#entryid_312333" rowid="136533344" side="usa" srcid="312333" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  Not at all.  The President and Secretary Rice and others, including Angela Merkel, have said that those meetings should go forward and we should debate those issues on the merits and see if we can get that process moving forward.  They said last April that they would meet in December at the foreign minister level.  As far as I know, that meeting is still to take place, and our position certainly hasn't changed.  " title=" Q    Dana, on NATO, NATO expansion plans.  Plans for providing MAPs -- Membership Action Plans -- t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272630" rowid="136530742" side="usa" srcid="272630" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that we'll have to see.  I don't know if that's necessarily clear.  What we would like is for people, first and foremost, to feel safe in their own country and to let their voices be heard.	I know that down in the area there's conversation about a possible power-sharing agreement.  I don't know a lot about that; I think that it's a little bit too early to say.	But first and foremost, we want people to feel safe in their own country.  &lt;p /&gt; More on Zimbabwe?  " title=" Q    Dana, on sanctions, what is the ultimate goal for the United States in imposing these sanction" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308761" rowid="136533029" side="usa" srcid="308761" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't have participants yet -- a list of those.	As I said the other day, the G7 finance ministers are usually -- G7 usually meets at the finance level; the G8 on the political level.  This will be a finance meeting.  However, as I said the other day, the Russian representative will be at least attending and listening to the meetings at the Treasury Department.  I don't have a -- I don't have a participation list yet.  But I'll hopefully have one in the next few hours.  " title=" Q    Dana, on Saturday's meeting, will there be any kind of Russian participation, either as observ" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313275" rowid="136533473" side="usa" srcid="313275" text=" MS. PERINO:  The venue is set.	It will be at the National Building Museum on the 15th.  The night before, there will be a head of state dinner here at the White House; it will be a working dinner.  And the President had identified Dan Price here at the White House and Dave McCormick at the Treasury Department to continue to work on setting up the agenda for the meeting and making sure that it's a robust one and that we make the most of everybody's time.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think that there will be probably two plenary sessions on the Saturday, but all of these details are still being worked out.	And so we'll continue to work on the details and I'll provide them for you as soon as I have more.  " title=" Q    Dana, on that issue, do you have any update on the November 15th conference?  Are there any pa" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-19#entryid_305498" rowid="136532502" side="usa" srcid="305498" text=" Q    Dana, on that point, you said that there's an understanding that they need to move as quickly as possible.  Did the President and the leaders discuss the second half of that, of &quot;as cleanly as possible,&quot; that this bill -- this legislation --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  He didn't get into the specifics with them.  And I actually wasn't there for the conversation, I was just given a readout of it.  So I think that what we'll do is just work over the weekend.  They know our position, Secretary Paulson laid it out very clearly for them last night, and then the President followed up today and thanked them for their stated commitments to work with us to get this done as quickly as possible.  " title=" Q    Dana, on that point, you said that there's an understanding that they need to move as quickly " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317064" rowid="136533930" side="usa" srcid="317064" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that's another thing to remember, which is that the TARP program was specifically designed to help taxpayers get a return on their investment.  This is monies that we are investing into companies.  We are providing capital.  And it has to be paid back.	There is no direct subsidy that we are suggesting in the TARP.  &lt;p /&gt; The Treasury Department has been making decisions based on what they think will at least make the taxpayers whole, if not help us get a return on that investment.  When we're talking about the auto industry, and while we haven't seen the Democrats' proposal yet, it doesn't seem that would be the case, that the taxpayers would actually be paid back.  &lt;p /&gt; But when we're talking about viability, what we mean is that a company needs to be able to show that they have long-term plans, so that they will be on -- have sound financing, and not have a vicious cycle of getting back into this situation again.  One of the reasons that we agreed to go forward with the 136 program was to allow the companies to have access to a stream of funds to help them retool their factories so that they could build more fuel-efficient cars, which is what consumers of today are looking for.	But in addition to that, the automakers have over time made some decisions based on their needs for their employees, and some of those decisions might have to be reworked, going forward.  &lt;p /&gt; So they're going to have to be able to show how they can survive.  If you look at their ability to compete worldwide -- we think that our companies can compete, but they're not going to be able to do so unless they make some of these really tough decisions.  " title=" Q    Dana, on that viability point, regardless of where the money comes from, whether it's TARP or " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-14#entryid_326361" rowid="136534996" side="usa" srcid="326361" text=" MS. PERINO:  President Bush every morning is working with his intel advisors, and obviously works with Steve Hadley every morning at 7:00 a.m., and Secretary Rice and he talk several times a day.  And we keep you updated when appropriate on phone calls; we don't read all of them out to you.  " title=" Q    Dana, on that, the President has said numerous times that he's sprinting to the finish in thes" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298828" rowid="136531523" side="usa" srcid="298828" text=" MS. PERINO:  I have seen that report; I have nothing for you on that report.  I'd have to refer you to the Justice Department for now. What I can tell you is that President Bush over the years has maintained an interest in this case and has periodically been updated by the FBI Director on developments in the case -- not necessarily so much in specifics, but in general, so that he can make sure that the FBI continue to work to try to solve the case.  " title=" Q    Dana, on the anthrax investigation and this Army scientist who has committed suicide, when was" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311184" rowid="136533218" side="usa" srcid="311184" text=" Q    Dana, on the economic package, Bernanke yesterday said that in addition to a stimulus that there should be some proposals to listen to the credit market and possibly incentives, tax incentives, to encourage businesses to lend.  Is the White House willing to consider those ideas?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  We'll listen to all good ideas.  And I'm sure that Ben Bernanke will have a large voice at the table, loud voice at the table.  He's got a lot of good ideas and obviously helped shepherd us through this period that we have now, but I don't know specifically what he's referring to.  We'll have to wait and see.  " title=" Q    Dana, on the economic package, Bernanke yesterday said that in addition to a stimulus that the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313268" rowid="136533466" side="usa" srcid="313268" text=" MS. PERINO:  Have they said that?  " title=" Q    Dana, on the economy, GM has asked the administration for roughly $10 billion in help --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280155" rowid="136531217" side="usa" srcid="280155" text=" Q    Dana, on the flip side of not plucking dates from thin air, is there a risk that making recommendations on troop levels, say, after September, or during September or after, goes into the prism of the campaign, that it risks being seen as perhaps trying to influence one side or the other in the campaign?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Nothing that President Bush will do will tie the hands of the next Commander-in-Chief, whoever it is, whichever candidate wins.  And -- but we do have to -- we are in a war, and if we are at a place where we're able to bring some more troops home, and that's based on conditions and that General Petraeus thinks we can continue to win with less troops, then the President will take that under advisement and make a decision from there.	So regardless of the political calendar, President Bush is Commander-in-Chief through January 20th at noon, 2009.  " title=" Q    Dana, on the flip side of not plucking dates from thin air, is there a risk that making recomm" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306408" rowid="136532639" side="usa" srcid="306408" text=" Q    Dana, on the Hill, one of the concerns among House Republicans seems to be that if they were to support the President, they were worried that Senator McCain might take a different position and they felt caught.  So does the President believe that it's important to get Senator McCain on board so that he can bring the party together?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm going to let -- I'll let The New York Times and the political reporters there hash that out and do the analysis.  I'm not going to do that here.  " title=" Q    Dana, on the Hill, one of the concerns among House Republicans seems to be that if they were t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-18#entryid_305325" rowid="136532458" side="usa" srcid="305325" text=" Q    Dana, on the issue of the fundraiser -- the President didn't go to Alabama and Florida today.  Is he going to somewhat curtail his fundraisers right now as he's dealing with the economy, the economic situation and the economy?  And will he go back to Alabama and Florida?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, we've had a couple of instances this week where Mrs. Bush was able to handle the President's fundraisers that he had earlier this week, when we were dealing with Hurricane Ike.  And then Secretary -- I'm sorry, Vice President Cheney was gracious enough to drop his schedule for today and go and handle the fundraisers for today.	And so we'll just take it as it comes, but the President has a lot of fundraising requests and we'll be out as much as we possibly can.  But there are times when matters in front of the presidency require you to change your schedule, and today was one of those.  " title=" Q    Dana, on the issue of the fundraiser -- the President didn't go to Alabama and Florida today. " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271602" rowid="136530569" side="usa" srcid="271602" text=" MS. PERINO:  Have I set a date for the six-party talks?  Well, no, I don't think so.  They obviously -- we talk regularly with all of our six-party members, and I believe Secretary Rice will be in Japan later in the week.  She's there for a ministerial before the G8.  But many of her partners will be there in terms of talking about the six-party talks, so she'll be there later in the week.  " title=" Q    Dana, on the North Korea issue, have you set a date for six-party talks?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313540" rowid="136533487" side="usa" srcid="313540" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I'm going to go up here.  Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Dana, on the rescue package.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-29#entryid_302713" rowid="136531992" side="usa" srcid="302713" text=" MS. PERINO:  We have no changes to the schedule, and we'll let you know if there are any.  " title=" Q    Dana, on the storm, does the President still plan to go to the convention, regardless of what " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317634" rowid="136534014" side="usa" srcid="317634" text=" Q    Dana, on the tape, what is the White House saying about the tape from al Qaeda's number two?	And also, does this raise the question again to the government officials here and those who are trying to work on this bin Laden case that he could, indeed, be dead?  Does that raise that question that he did not do this tape?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'd have to refer you to the intelligence community for that.  I don't believe that we have any intelligence that suggests that he is not living.  But let me address the tape.  What we have here is more despicable and pathetic comments by al Qaeda terrorists.  And in America, we are going to have a smooth transition from one administration to the next, and that will be a period of change in our country.  What won't change is our commitment as a country to fighting terrorism.	And I think that these comments just remind everybody of the kind of people that we're dealing with.  " title=" Q    Dana, on the tape, what is the White House saying about the tape from al Qaeda's number two?	A" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_325019" rowid="136534888" side="usa" srcid="325019" text=" MS. PERINO:  Fourteen days.  " title=" Q    Dana, on the transition, as we're now in the final couple of weeks here, can you talk at all -" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302507" rowid="136531965" side="usa" srcid="302507" text=" Q    Dana, on two of the topics you mentioned -- on the economy, is the White House at this point seeing any vindication in these numbers given the amount of gloominess that folks have used in describing the economy, or are you a little bit more cautious --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, we're pleased with the numbers.  We think that they are heading in the right direction.  We want to make sure that we do everything we can to keep them going in the upward trend.	But the way you described it, no, I wouldn't say that, and no one's doing a victory dance, but what we are doing is making sure that we continue to press Congress on one of the most important aspects, which is free trade.  &lt;p /&gt; If the American economy is increasingly able to export its goods and services around the world, that is good for all of us, and it's good for those countries, their consumers and their businesses, as well as for us.  And so that's why we are aggressive on free trade and will continue to be over the next month.  " title=" Q    Dana, on two of the topics you mentioned -- on the economy, is the White House at this point s" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321325" rowid="136534467" side="usa" srcid="321325" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look, I don't know what's going to happen.  This is Congress, after all, that we're talking about.	And we know that it's going to be a tough vote, and members of Congress are going to let us know how they feel about it with their vote, or over the phone with them as we're trying to reach out to them today.  And we also have members from our team who are up on Capitol Hill trying to talk to them.  &lt;p /&gt; I think I would just have to leave it as a chance, and I'm not going to qualify it any other way.  " title=" Q    Dana, one more question about the bailout.  You said a couple of times you think there's a cha" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321342" rowid="136534484" side="usa" srcid="321342" text=" Q    Dana, one of the concerns of some Republicans is this doesn't solve the automakers' problem.  Bob Corker says you're just kicking the can down the road.	With $14 billion you really only get them into the Obama administration.  Is that the solution to -- is this only a matter of holding off for a few months the ultimate collapse of one or more of the auto companies?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I don't think that the companies think that they have a few months.  That's why we are trying to act now.  I will let them speak for themselves, but I think they've been very open about the difficulties that they're having right now.  And that is why they've come and asked for help.  It's not an easy thing or a thing to do to come and ask the federal government for help.  You have to put away your pride and say, we want these -- we want our companies to be able to be successful; here's what we're going to be willing to do.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, the auto czar that we would put in place would have the opportunity to make them -- force them to make really tough concessions.  But the other thing is, is that if we don't act and these companies go away, we could wake up and not have any domestic auto industry, which is certainly not the outcome that this President wants and I would think that most members on Capitol Hill don't want it either.  &lt;p /&gt; But here's the thing, Wendell -- for those members who think that, I would ask them just to look at this legislation because there's really only one of two outcomes:  either fundamental restructuring that will make them viable in the long term, or an orderly bankruptcy filing.  And we're just asking for a little bit of help from money already appropriated to help the automakers in order for them to be able to either make their companies profitable or to go into an orderly bankruptcy.  Those are the two outcomes that we're seeking.  " title=" Q    Dana, one of the concerns of some Republicans is this doesn't solve the automakers' problem.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271982" rowid="136530655" side="usa" srcid="271982" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'd refer you to my answer to Jim.  But, no, I don't think -- I have no reason -- I have no reason to suggest that.  I think that the pressure is starting to build.	And it's because of the leadership of the U.N. Security Council through the President's statement.  But all of us are impatient and anxious and concerned for the well-being of the people who are there suffering in Zimbabwe.  And it's hard to imagine what they're going through; I'm sure they feel like there's no end in sight.  But I hope that they can take heart knowing that the international community is speaking with one voice and condemning the Mugabe regime and expressly working to make sure that the NGOs are able to get there in order to help people who are starving and in need of food.  " title=" Q    Dana, one on Zimbabwe, one on North Korea.  Zimbabwe, any reason to think that the administrat" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315257" rowid="136533627" side="usa" srcid="315257" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's going to be in the news today?  " title=" Q    Dana, one other thing.  There's speculation about who will be you in the next administration. " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300570" rowid="136531641" side="usa" srcid="300570" text=" Q    Dana, one question on MAP and one other query.  On MAP, doesn't the destruction, if reports are accurate, of a large part of Georgia's military arsenal, doesn't that complicate their aspirations to join NATO, since I believe that's one of the requirements for membership?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I don't know if we even know the extent to how badly the military was damaged.  But we'll take a look at it and let me get back to you on it.  I don't know yet.  " title=" Q    Dana, one question on MAP and one other query.  On MAP, doesn't the destruction, if reports ar" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317630" rowid="136534006" side="usa" srcid="317630" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we always want to see more and we want to see -- we want to see more improvement.  But that's what Secretary Paulson wants to see, as well, and he gets up every day, hardly sleeps, working to make sure that the investments that we're making will help solve the problem and get credit moving again -- which we're starting to see; help stabilize and strengthen the markets, which we're starting to see.  But it's going to take a while for all of this to shake out.  The economy suffered a tremendous shock.  &lt;p /&gt; And so we know that the Secretary of the Treasury and many other people across the administration are working on this day in and day out and we're satisfied that they're giving it their all.  We just know that, unfortunately, we're going to have to ask the American people for a little bit of patience as we put these monies to work on their behalf.  It's just going to take a while.  " title=" Q    Dana, Paulson took a pounding on the Hill from some members yesterday.  Is the White House sat" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-24#entryid_312335" rowid="136533346" side="usa" srcid="312335" text=" Q    Dana, President Bush often speaks proudly about Afghanistan's fledgling democracy, the need to support it and defend it.  And he talks about how women can vote there, and how young girls can go to school there.  I'm just wondering if he's aware of, or concerned about, the case of the young journalism student, the 24-year-old student Parwez Kambakhsh.  He's been -- he had been sentenced to death for blasphemy recently.	But it was just reduced to 20 years in prison.  And according to reports, he asked questions in class about women's rights under Islam.  And he also had printed an article off the Internet that asked why Islam does not modernize to give women equal rights.  &lt;p /&gt; Now a group of Reporters Without Borders has called on Hamid Karzai to intervene.  The case can still go to Afghanistan's Supreme Court.  Is the President familiar with it?  Is it something that he would consider bringing up with President Karzai?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't know if he's familiar with that particular case.  I am, having read reports about it.  And we're obviously disturbed about it.  We think that everyone should be able to express their views.  And of course, we think, and the President has been the biggest champion for women across the world, starting here in this White House and going all the way to Afghanistan, Africa, China, India -- any place.  &lt;p /&gt; But one of the things that we are very concerned about, as well, is that these reports are very disturbing.  But so are reports about what the Taliban is doing to innocent people.  And just this week you had buses -- a bus stopped where 30 people were brutally murdered.  And I think that Afghanistan has a long way to go.  They do have a fragile democracy.  We have NATO forces there.  I'm sure that the President and Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will talk about that today.  I will try to find out if he knows about this individual case and if he's brought it up with the President.  " title=" Q    Dana, President Bush often speaks proudly about Afghanistan's fledgling democracy, the need to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310125" rowid="136533161" side="usa" srcid="310125" text=" MS. PERINO:  We will have to see.  I don't know where it will be held.  They did agree that there would be a head of state meeting.  The President had been open to it, and yesterday the G8 leaders all came together in that joint statement to say there will be one in the near future.  I think one of the reasons it says &quot;near future&quot; is because we don't know exactly when it would be, and we don't know where it would be held.	But we'll let you know as soon as we know.  " title=" Q    Dana, President Sarkozy yesterday said that he would like to see the G8 leaders meeting held i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278859" rowid="136531027" side="usa" srcid="278859" text=" MS. PERINO:  Thank you.  " title=" Q    Dana, quick question.  First of all, on behalf of South Asian journalists, I pay my respect an" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302490" rowid="136531942" side="usa" srcid="302490" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I would say that we're just taking a very methodical look at the range of issues and working with our partners.  One of the most immediate focuses that we have is to return to the status quo before the hostilities began on August 7th.  That's the immediate issues that we -- issue that we need to deal with.  Then the other issues will come in time.  This is not something that we're rushing into.  " title=" Q    Dana, repeatedly since the crisis began, the White House has said that the U.S.-Russia relatio" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306622" rowid="136532700" side="usa" srcid="306622" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look, I don't think that there's --  " title=" Q    Dana, Secretary Paulson has said publicly that the approach the House Republicans want, mortga" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322341" rowid="136534519" side="usa" srcid="322341" text=" Q    Dana, Senator Bob Corker was -- had two sticking point;, one, John mentioned, the GMAC bond holders didn't want to take a hit.  But number two, he wanted the workers to take a pay cut next year, and their contract expires in 2011, and the unions said, we'll do it in 2011, we can't do it now.  Is the President adhering to Senator Corker's position, or does he have maybe a more flexible position?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm just not going to be able to comment on our discussions and our deliberations.	But once we have an announcement, then we can walk back through it and try to reconstruct everything for you.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    Dana, Senator Bob Corker was -- had two sticking point;, one, John mentioned, the GMAC bond ho" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306618" rowid="136532696" side="usa" srcid="306618" text=" Q    Dana, Senator McCain is heading to the debate now -- it's been announced, it's official.  First of all, what's the White House reaction to that?  And then secondly, does that -- should that be interpreted as a sign that things are well enough in hand, in terms of the negotiations, that his presence in Washington is no longer needed?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think you'll be very dissatisfied with my answer, that I'm going to let Senator McCain and political pundits decide what it means.  But I think what I would point you to is the public comments from Senators Reid, Senator Gregg, and the fact that the President has his whole team with all hands on deck to make sure that we get this solved.  " title=" Q    Dana, Senator McCain is heading to the debate now -- it's been announced, it's official.  Firs" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-28#entryid_312988" rowid="136533408" side="usa" srcid="312988" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, given that Senator Stevens has said that he is going to fight his conviction and that he is going to appeal -- and that is his right to do -- since it's going to be a matter of ongoing litigation, we'll decline to comment for now.  &lt;p /&gt; Laurent.  " title=" Q    Dana, Senator McCain today said Senator Stevens should resign.  Does the President believe Sen" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310128" rowid="136533164" side="usa" srcid="310128" text=" Q    Dana, since October 2007, when the Dow topped 14,000, investors have lost $8.3 trillion in pension funds, college savings plans, 401 and other investments -- 401(k)s.  What does the President tell the people who are looking at these statements and have real needs now?  He's been saying, you know, things will be fine in the long run.  But what about now?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I just gave you two examples of what we are doing now.  So you can have that.  " title=" Q    Dana, since October 2007, when the Dow topped 14,000, investors have lost $8.3 trillion in pen" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-11#entryid_316202" rowid="136533772" side="usa" srcid="316202" text=" MS. PERINO:  As I said, there was no linkage between --  " title=" Q    Dana, so just to make that even clearer, is it wrong to say that the President told President-" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-09#entryid_320802" rowid="136534416" side="usa" srcid="320802" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think as we've said all morning, we don't even have legislation yet, so we're not going to comment on any rumors about personnel announcements that would come after legislation has passed.  So we'll just have to wait.  " title=" Q    Dana, Speaker Pelosi said today that -- she suggested Paul Volcker as the &quot;auto czar.&quot;  What d" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305191" rowid="136532446" side="usa" srcid="305191" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know that they weren't, so I'd refer you to the Secretary of Treasury for that; I wasn't involved in those discussions. I know that --  " title=" Q    Dana, Speaker Pelosi says that AIG's global nature warrants international participation in thi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320144" rowid="136534321" side="usa" srcid="320144" text=" Q    Dana, speaking of issues that the President-elect is going to inherit, tomorrow's speech at the Saban Forum, did the President have some parting thoughts to impart to President-Elect Obama about the difficulties of Middle East peacemaking?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, in the speech he won't be directing it to the President-elect.  I think that to the extent that President-Elect Obama wants to speak to the President about Middle East peace, I think they probably did touch on it a little bit in their meeting before and in conversations that they've had.  &lt;p /&gt; The President will be happy to talk about it because it has been so -- it was so consequential, what he has been able to achieve in terms of -- now everyone agrees that there should a be two-state solution.	That's a very different place from where we were when the President first came into office, which hundreds of innocent Palestinians and Israelis died that year in the fighting.  Things have calmed down a little bit, but it's exceedingly complex there in the region.  They've come a long way.  &lt;p /&gt; So on the speech for tomorrow we'll try to get you a little bit of a preview of that later this afternoon -- I'm sorry, mid-afternoon if we can, try to get it locked down.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm going to go over here.  Go ahead, Mike.  " title=" Q    Dana, speaking of issues that the President-elect is going to inherit, tomorrow's speech at th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326727" rowid="136535086" side="usa" srcid="326727" text=" Q    Dana, speaking on behalf of the President, is there anything that you feel that perhaps the American people or the press corps has misunderstood about the administration, or about his goals, or something that you would hope would have been clearer in conveying from where you sit?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think we've done -- you know, over the past couple of months we've had a strategy to try to get the President out there and talk to the American people on a range of issues, all the consequential decisions he's made and the progress that we think that we've made, accomplishments that we've made.  And last night was the President's farewell address and a chance for him to talk to the American people.  &lt;p /&gt; I don't know whether this is lost on people or not, but let me just repeat it; that one of the things that I've always admired about President Bush is that no matter what anyone says about him, he lets all of the negativity roll off his back, and he cares deeply about every single American, no matter what they believe, if they support him or not.  And he has made decisions based on the best interests of the country.  " title=" Q    Dana, speaking on behalf of the President, is there anything that you feel that perhaps the Am" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280170" rowid="136531232" side="usa" srcid="280170" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know if he needs to make a call since they just spoke about two weeks ago when they were at the G8 meeting -- and they had a very good bilateral meeting -- and meetings on the side, as well, during the outreach meetings that the G8 held.  &lt;p /&gt; And we think that this idea of a U.S.-India civil nuclear arrangement is a good one for everybody.  It's good for India because it would help provide them a source for energy that they need, one that is non-polluting and one that doesn't emit greenhouse gas emissions.  And we think that we can move forward with this.  If their legislator -- legislature lets it move forward, then we can do the same here, and then we'll be able to get this wrapped up.  &lt;p /&gt; So I don't know if he necessarily needs to call since he just saw him and expressed his support.	But I'll let you know if it changes.  &lt;p /&gt; Ed.  " title=" Q    Dana, thank you.  Has the President, or will the President be calling India Prime Minister Sin" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298799" rowid="136531494" side="usa" srcid="298799" text=" MS. PERINO:  That's okay.  " title=" Q    Dana, thank you.  Sorry for the --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-17#entryid_310361" rowid="136533176" side="usa" srcid="310361" text=" Q    Dana, thank you.  Two questions.  At the World Policy Forum in France, the Reverend Jesse Jackson declared, &quot;Although Zionists, who have controlled American policy for decades, remain strong, the decades of putting Israel's interests first would end once Obama becomes President.&quot;  And my question:  What does the President --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to comment.  " title=" Q    Dana, thank you.  Two questions.  At the World Policy Forum in France, the Reverend Jesse Jack" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266839" rowid="136529898" side="usa" srcid="266839" text=" Q    Dana, thank you.  Two quick questions.  One, many people are hurting around the globe as far as high oil prices are concerned.  Do you believe two things:  one, if the oil-producing countries, especially the Middle Eastern, they are blackmailing the -- blackmailing; and second, investors in the  &lt;p /&gt; -- on the New York Stock Exchange are predicting that maybe it will hit $150 a barrel, and do you think investors are blamed because there are more -- people are buying more oil on the New York Stock Exchange?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm going to refer you to -- there's lots of experts who can decide what's happening in the markets.  I won't do that. Obviously, we think that the problems exist between the laws of supply and demand.  That's the -- that is a law that's not going to be altered, even in the halls of Congress.	So we believe that what we need to do is increase supply in a responsible way, and decrease our demand in a responsible way, which the President has started doing.  But it's going to take us a long time to get out of this problem.  And we remain terribly concerned about the high price of gasoline on families, and what they're going through.  So we'll continue to make sure that, first and foremost, that Congress does no harm in exacerbating the problem.  &lt;p /&gt; Peter.  " title=" Q    Dana, thank you.  Two quick questions.  One, many people are hurting around the globe as far a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317897" rowid="136534047" side="usa" srcid="317897" text=" Q    Dana, thank you.  You have said that the TARP program should only be for helping out financial companies, and yet Secretary Paulson has shifted direction on what he thinks the TARP should be used for.  Is it possible that the White House can also shift direction and say, well, maybe using some of the TARP funds for the automakers isn't such a bad idea, after all?  Are you still sticking to your guns that TARP is not to be used --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Especially when it comes to the capital injections, that's exactly what the TARP was designed for, was financial institutions.  So there was never an intent of Congress to help a specific industry or a specific company, and that hasn't changed -- unless Congress decides to change it, which it doesn't seem like they're going to get anything done this week.  " title=" Q    Dana, thank you.  You have said that the TARP program should only be for helping out financial" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326696" rowid="136535055" side="usa" srcid="326696" text=" Q    Dana, thanks for keeping us updated on the world leader calls -- any friends, as well, any private -- now-private citizens, as well.  The British Foreign Secretary says that Pakistanis should do more to combat extremism.  And the CIA Director says that the area along Afghanistan and Pakistan is no longer a safe haven for extremists.  Are these reconcilable notions, and do you agree with -- does the President agree with the CIA Director?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I haven't seen either of those comments in context, but I could see that yes, both could be true.  I'll defer to the CIA Director to make judgments about that area, but when it comes to everyone should be able to -- should be doing more to combat terrorism, absolutely.  And that includes ourselves.  " title=" Q    Dana, thanks for keeping us updated on the world leader calls -- any friends, as well, any pri" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-10#entryid_309004" rowid="136533079" side="usa" srcid="309004" text=" MS. PERINO:  Tuesday -- yes, he's going to sign the bill at the White House and then he'll go over to the Pentagon for the briefings in the Tank.  " title=" Q    Dana, that's at the Pentagon; is that what you said?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325244" rowid="136534903" side="usa" srcid="325244" text=" MS. PERINO:  Secretary Rice says as much yesterday, that our goal is the stabilization and normalization of life in Gaza, and the return of the authority of President Abbas, who is the President of all Palestinians, for the cease-fire to actually take hold and for there to be any prospect of peace in the future.  " title=" Q    Dana, the '05 agreement on reopening the borders between Gaza and Israel envisions Palestinian" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-27#entryid_312723" rowid="136533376" side="usa" srcid="312723" text=" MS. PERINO:  I wouldn't want to put a time frame on it right now because they are trying to do all the due diligence and dot the &quot;I's&quot; and cross the &quot;T's,&quot; and I wouldn't want to put a time frame on it that they either meet or don't meet and it wouldn't be fair to anybody if I did that.  But I can tell you that they're working to get it done as quickly as possible.  " title=" Q    Dana, the 136 loans -- do you have any idea when the rulemaking might be completed, when the r" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305171" rowid="136532426" side="usa" srcid="305171" text=" Q    Dana, the administration first made a strong point of -- they were very insistent on holding the line on AIG and not being willing to put taxpayer money at risk.  By caving in so quickly on that, does it -- is there any concern within the administration that it now sets a precedent for other companies, other troubled companies that will be coming forth in coming months and weeks?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think that if you look at the actions that have been taken, as they're taken on a case by case basis, I don't think any company could be guaranteed anything.  I think that everything will be reviewed individually and on its merits.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    Dana, the administration first made a strong point of -- they were very insistent on holding t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311215" rowid="136533249" side="usa" srcid="311215" text=" Q    Dana, the administration has already heard some proposals, some ideas from various Democratic members and leaders, and has rejected those so far -- has not seen one that it likes -- that it sees it being stimulative of the economy.  Does that mean that if they were to take his proposals forward, and put that in the form of legislation, the White House would veto that?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that, first -- just go back and look four weeks ago, when they actually held their vote.  I don't think that it was something that could even pass the current Congress.  So I think asking if whether or not the President would veto something, it's a little bit premature.  We don't even know what they would put forward, or if they're even going to put forward anything.  So it's a little premature.  We'll keep an eye on it though.  " title=" Q    Dana, the administration has already heard some proposals, some ideas from various Democratic " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278863" rowid="136531031" side="usa" srcid="278863" text=" Q    Dana, the administration has taken steps to shore up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  Is that the extent -- maximum extent to which the administration is willing to go to throw a lifeline to these mortgage heavyweights?  In other words, is there -- is the idea of a bailout off the table as a -- if things take a turn for the worse?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think you're referring to what Secretary Paulson announced last night, which was a package to help restore stability and confidence to what has been a very nervous market.  The actions that he's taken were done in order to prevent any taxpayer dollars from being at risk.  And as far as I know, the two companies, which their own regulators say they are well capitalized, have not taken advantage of the borrowing opportunities yet.  &lt;p /&gt; We do hope the Congress, when they get back tonight and tomorrow, since we have heard some good, positive responses from them so far, would be able to work quickly, because we think this is urgent pieces of legislation that need to get done, and that will be important for increasing confidence and stability in the market.  " title=" Q    Dana, the administration has taken steps to shore up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  Is that the " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-05#entryid_273363" rowid="136530830" side="usa" srcid="273363" text=" MS. PERINO:  I didn't say that.  I think we're going to have to see what we're able to achieve.	I'm not going to foreshadow it here.  It's always a tricky thing that the press tries to get us to do, as we're going into a meeting that hasn't even started yet.  So let us see how it goes, and then we'll keep you updated along the way.  I have Jim Connaughton who is on board as well.  If he has more on the flight, we could bring him back, or we'll just keep you updated while the meetings are ongoing.  I'll have him and Dan, and be able to get information out of those meetings as quickly as possible and feed it back to you.  " title=" Q    Dana, the bottom line is, we are not going to see any long-term goal declared either by the G8" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-06#entryid_269324" rowid="136530303" side="usa" srcid="269324" text=" Q    Dana, the climate change bill and the action in the Senate.  What do you say to those who say that by threatening to veto this cap and trade system and with a Republican filibuster, that basically, let's just kick the can down the road for another year and postpone action on this issue?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think it would be, one, important for people to look at the fact of what really happened on this bill.	This was a -- they tried to have a vote on the Boxer substitute, which is Senator Boxer's bill, that had not been fully analyzed, had not been given any economic analysis, had not been given any environmental impact analysis, and the Republicans had a beef with how the Democrat Majority Leader was treating them when it came to an agreement that they felt they had on judges.  So there are parliamentary maneuvers that can be taken on both sides.  &lt;p /&gt; But I would also point you to many people who are concerned about the high price of gasoline today and worried about the impacts that this bill would have.  And not only that, Republicans were not going to be allowed to have any chance to amend it.  &lt;p /&gt; So here you have Democrats in Congress saying that this is the most important bill to face this Congress, and they weren't even going to spend enough time to allow people to have any chance of talking about it or amending it.  And this is a bill that would have a huge impact on the economy, and a huge impact on people, working people, in America, and probably not have a lot of impact overseas.  &lt;p /&gt; I think that the other thing that this debate shows us is that solving the climate change problem is not easy.  And by working on new technologies and working to make sure that China and India are at a -- are at the table, that's the way to try to tackle this problem.  And President Bush will certainly talk about this when he's in Europe next week.  " title=" Q    Dana, the climate change bill and the action in the Senate.  What do you say to those who say " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304208" rowid="136532253" side="usa" srcid="304208" text=" Q    Dana, the District of Columbia's gun law, which was recently turned down by the Supreme Court, or repealed by the Supreme Court -- there's going to be a vote this week in the House on a way to fill that in.  Critics say that it goes too far, that it allows people to have firearms in public, that there's no restrictions.  There's quite a fight over it.  I wonder if the White House has a position on any changes in the D.C. gun law and what those changes should be.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I know that legislation is pending in front of Congress and I haven't seen details of it.  What you've just described to me is not something I'm familiar with.  So let us take a look at it and Tony Fratto will get back to you.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, sir.  " title=" Q    Dana, the District of Columbia's gun law, which was recently turned down by the Supreme Court," />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280141" rowid="136531203" side="usa" srcid="280141" text=" Q    Dana, the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac standby authorities you want Congress to pass, the head of the Congressional Budget Office said today that, potentially, taxpayers could be on the hook for up to $25 billion if ultimately a lifeline is needed -- an actual full bailout is needed.  That's an eye-popping number.  Are you satisfied you have protections for taxpayers --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, the CBO is not a part of the administration, so we've just gotten the report, and we're reviewing it.  And so just give us a little bit of time to take a look at it, because they crunched a lot of numbers.  We've got to look at the assumptions that they made, et cetera.  &lt;p /&gt; But I would remind you, as Secretary Paulson has consistently said, our intention is not to need any sort of federal taxpayer monies in this regard.  Having the authorities in place that we've asked for, that we've asked Congress to pass, are important for market stability.  That's the reason that he asked for them.	We don't intend to use them, we haven't used them yet, and in fact their regulators say that the two companies are well capitalized.  I would consider this more of an insurance policy so no taxpayer dollars at this point are on the line.  &lt;p /&gt; If any -- if we were to use this authority once we were to get them, Secretary Paulson has said, and the President would make sure, that terms and conditions would be in place to protect the taxpayer.  " title=" Q    Dana, the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac standby authorities you want Congress to pass, the head o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320590" rowid="136534407" side="usa" srcid="320590" text=" Q    Dana, the financial viability advisor would have the power to press for concessions and even force the company into bankruptcy.  Presumably those concessions could include changes in leadership.	Does the White House take a position on whether there should be a change in leadership in those companies?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think I'll decline to state, as we continue to work with the Hill, and not negotiate from the podium.  And we'll try to get you more on that as we move forward.  " title=" Q    Dana, the financial viability advisor would have the power to press for concessions and even f" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312308" rowid="136533319" side="usa" srcid="312308" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to second-guess it because it is what it is, and the Treasury Secretary had a lengthy interview with The New York Times, which I'm sure all of you read, and I'll refer you and the President of France to that article.  And I'm sure if they want to talk about it when they get here on November 14th and 15th, they'll have an opportunity to do so.  They may have had an opportunity to do so at Camp David.  They might have already had a conversation.  " title=" Q    Dana, the French President has come out and said that the decision to let Lehman go under was " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273172" rowid="136530797" side="usa" srcid="273172" text=" Q    Dana, the French President is linking his attendance at the Olympic Games, the Opening Ceremonies, to the outcome of talks between China and representatives of the Dalai Lama.  What do you think of that position, and are you prepared now to say --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm sorry, who said that?  " title=" Q    Dana, the French President is linking his attendance at the Olympic Games, the Opening Ceremon" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300573" rowid="136531644" side="usa" srcid="300573" text=" Q    Dana, the G8 is an organization of industrial democracies, industrialized democracies.  You've long expressed doubts from this podium about the democracy that exists in Russia, but now -- your view is that Russia is now actively undermining a democracy that the United States wants to see in NATO.  Has it sacrificed its membership to the G8?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think -- I'm not here to make any announcements or any -- or to even say that there are deliberations ongoing.  Our focus is on the cease-fire and protecting human life and getting the humanitarian aid into the area.	There were will be time to discuss all those issues, and I'd refer you to Secretary Rice's briefing at 3:00 p.m. today.  " title=" Q    Dana, the G8 is an organization of industrial democracies, industrialized democracies.  You've" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-03#entryid_319912" rowid="136534270" side="usa" srcid="319912" text=" Q    Dana, the GAO, as you know, issued its latest -- its first audit, actually, on the financial recovery plan and it's very concerned about what appears to be a lack of oversight -- that banks are taking money and not tracking what they're using the money for, or may not in the future.  And there doesn't seem to be any wheels on this thing or any oversight.  What is the White House position on that?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, the report summarizes Treasury's progress in implementing the Troubled Asset Relief Program, and I think it's important to remember that that report was drafted before 60 days had even passed since the legislation actually made it through Congress and was signed by the President.  So the Treasury Department actually agreed with most of the recommendations in that report and have been implementing them, and they will continue to do so.  They've made significant progress on building the infrastructure to safeguard the taxpayers and make sure that the institutions are doing what they committed to do.  And we will just make sure that we continue to build out that infrastructure, take those recommendations on board, and do what we can.  &lt;p /&gt; Les -- actually, let me go to Mike real fast and then I'll come back. Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Dana, the GAO, as you know, issued its latest -- its first audit, actually, on the financial r" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312293" rowid="136533304" side="usa" srcid="312293" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to go back here.  Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Dana, the Labor Department --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324564" rowid="136534792" side="usa" srcid="324564" text=" Q    Dana, the last time the President protected undersea property, he put off-limits some valuable gas, like in the Destin Dome off Florida.  That was temporary.	This new protected area, do we know that there is oil and gas underneath the property that's now being protected?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't know if there are.  I don't think it will matter because now it will be a protected monument, but that's a great question you could ask Connaughton on the 4:00 p.m. conference call.  " title=" Q    Dana, the last time the President protected undersea property, he put off-limits some valuable" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271621" rowid="136530588" side="usa" srcid="271621" text=" Q    Dana, the leader of the opposition in Zimbabwe has abdicated his run for the presidency.  I'm wondering, what is the response officially from the White House?  And is there coordinated effort internationally to apply pressure on the regime there?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Absolutely.  The United States is going to the U.N. Security Council today; we want the world to be speaking with one voice to condemn the violence and intimidation that has taken place against the opposition and also against the Zimbabwean people.	It was abundantly clear that the Tsvangirai party won on March 29th.  And consistent with their constitution, they agreed to a run-off.  But subsequently, President Mugabe decided to subvert democracy and to thwart the will of the people of Zimbabwe, to the point that the opposition leader has decided he would no longer participate in the run-off in order to protect his own people.  &lt;p /&gt; And it's tremendously sad for the people of Zimbabwe, and it's very troubling.  What we are looking for is for the world to be speaking with one voice in strongly condemning the violence and making sure that anything that we do continues to put pressure -- bring pressure to bear on the Mugabe regime so that the will of the people can be realized.  " title=" Q    Dana, the leader of the opposition in Zimbabwe has abdicated his run for the presidency.  I'm " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298438" rowid="136531411" side="usa" srcid="298438" text=" MS. PERINO:  I cannot.	I am not able to comment on that story.  " title=" Q    Dana, The New York Times reported that an emissary was sent to Pakistan to confront concerns a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-14#entryid_326370" rowid="136535005" side="usa" srcid="326370" text=" Q    Dana, the Palestinians say their Gaza death toll has topped a thousand, with well more than half of those being civilians.  Has this given the administration any cause to reassert with Israel the need to take caution to prevent civilian casualties?  And has the U.S. -- is the U.S. pressing Israel to start wrapping things up in Gaza?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, from the beginning, we have been pressing Israel about civilian casualties and protecting innocent people.  One of the problems is that the enemy, Hamas, which is a terrorist organization, hides amongst innocent people and uses them for human shields.	But, yes, of course we continue to urge Israel to try to prevent civilian casualties.  I believe that they understand that and are trying.  We continue to work with other governments across the world to try to see if we can reach a durable cease-fire.  But we don't need the death toll number to go up in order to encourage us to urge Israel to be more cautious; we've been doing that from the very beginning.  " title=" Q    Dana, the Palestinians say their Gaza death toll has topped a thousand, with well more than ha" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308773" rowid="136533041" side="usa" srcid="308773" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, a couple of things.	Remember, what I said is that the President recognizes that each individual country has -- is going to address their individual needs as they see fit, but that coordinating is the responsible thing to do.  You saw the Fed governors decided to work together on a rate cut, so that was coordination that we could do all together.  That wasn't necessarily something that you could do country by country that would be effective.  &lt;p /&gt; So this meeting this weekend, actually tomorrow, Friday, and then Saturday, will be important going along the way to find out what we can find.  " title=" Q    Dana, the President again talked about the need to come up with a common policy for the countr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-10#entryid_300060" rowid="136531594" side="usa" srcid="300060" text=" Q    Dana, the President spoke in very serious tones about this in calling for the cease-fire and for the Russians to pull back to the status quo.  It would appear by what happened in the 24 hours since the President said that that he's been ignored by the Russians.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, let me point out something in addition that has happened in the last 24 hours.  Apparently there are reports that the Georgians have started to pull back from South Ossetia.  This, if true, could help us lead to a peaceful solution.  That is what President Bush had asked of the Georgians and the Russians as they work towards a cease-fire.  So let us continue to monitor that, see if that gets us to the next step, which is what we've been asking for.  " title=" Q    Dana, the President spoke in very serious tones about this in calling for the cease-fire and f" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302485" rowid="136531932" side="usa" srcid="302485" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay, those are like four questions in one.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Dana, the President's speech on Monday, what can we expect?  Is this going to be the President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-24#entryid_280524" rowid="136531283" side="usa" srcid="280524" text=" Q    Dana, the provincial elections in Iraq have been seen as necessary for reconciliation between the different groups there.  They're on indefinite hold right now over objections from the Kurds.	And Ambassador Crocker, in an AP story today, says he thinks it might take decades for the country to settle its economic and social problems.  Does that have any implications for how long the U.S. would be in that country?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  No, I don't think -- what Ambassador Crocker was talking about was long-term political gains and long-term democratic institutions that could solidify.  I think that we've already said that we think that we'll be able to start bringing -- keep bringing troops home based on success, given that we've been able to have a lot of the surge implementation take place over the past year, and it's taking hold in many places.	But as we've said, the gains aren't irreversible.  &lt;p /&gt; I don't think that Ambassador Crocker was suggesting in any way about troops, especially combat troops, being there for decades.  I think he was just talking about the reality of when you take a country that was broken by a dictator and you try to rebuild it.  Iraq is certainly going to be a lot farther along than Afghanistan, just given from -- where they started from.  " title=" Q    Dana, the provincial elections in Iraq have been seen as necessary for reconciliation between " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_272007" rowid="136530680" side="usa" srcid="272007" text=" Q    Dana, the Queen of England has stripped Robert Mugabe of his knighthood and I think people in this country are starting to pay a little bit more attention, especially with his rival holed up in the Dutch embassy.  What aside from putting -- making sort of the kind of moves that just sort of highlight the situation -- what can actually be done there to bring about some sort of significant change in the situation?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think what you will see, and what the President will talk about today with the U.N. Security Council permanent representatives -- who he's going to meet with in just a couple of hours -- that this is an issue where the whole world needs to be speaking in a unified way and which they can work together to bring pressure to bear.  And it's really important  -- the President has pointed out how important it is that, increasingly, the African leaders have banded together to put pressure on the Mugabe regime.  &lt;p /&gt; So it's not just across a continent or across an ocean -- that the Queen of England or the President of the United States are speaking individually; that there is a chorus of voices who are unified saying that the blame for the situation that we have in Zimbabwe, which is deplorable, can be squarely laid at the feet of the Mugabe regime.  And we have called for an end to the violence, and the U.N. Security Council will continue to talk about this.  We are working to make sure that it remains firmly on the agenda so that people just don't forget about what's happened down there.  " title=" Q    Dana, the Queen of England has stripped Robert Mugabe of his knighthood and I think people in " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308330" rowid="136532975" side="usa" srcid="308330" text=" Q    Dana, the remarks this afternoon will be the third time in two days that the President has spoken about the economy.  Does he feel that the American people need reassurance about the plan that was signed into law on Friday, and after yesterday's plunge on Wall Street?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, certainly the President of the United States recognizes that people all over America are watching very closely what's happening in the economy and they're concerned about their statements.  They're probably not looking forward to next month's statement when they get their retirement fund or their college fund bank statement.  And so the President understands that.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the things that the President can do is to remind them what this rescue package would do.  One of the most important things that it would do is to make sure that everybody knows that their bank deposit is safe, insured by the FDIC, and the legislation allowed for a temporary increase from $100,000 to $250,000.  This reassures people that their bank accounts are safe, and that's an important message.  &lt;p /&gt; But remember, with this rescue package, we asked the American people to do a really big thing and commit a lot of money in order to help prevent the credit freeze from affecting everybody lower on down the food chain.  And to that extent, yes, the President thinks that it's important that they hear from the President of the United States about how he understands that nobody wanted to do this legislation, however, it was the right thing to do.  And now that we've done it, the most important thing is that Treasury move in the most expeditious way possible, to be efficient and to be effective, to make sure that the plan will do what it's supposed to do and un-freeze these credit markets.  &lt;p /&gt; Ann.  " title=" Q    Dana, the remarks this afternoon will be the third time in two days that the President has spo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313251" rowid="136533449" side="usa" srcid="313251" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q    Dana, the rescue package?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-18#entryid_305335" rowid="136532468" side="usa" srcid="305335" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I'd refer you to the Fed -- I mean, they structured the deal, so I'd refer you over there.  &lt;p /&gt; Paula.  " title=" Q    Dana, the Speaker also said she wanted to know where the $85 billion for the bailout is coming" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279966" rowid="136531194" side="usa" srcid="279966" text=" Q    Dana, the term &quot;time horizon&quot; has to imply the setting of date, or dates, of some sort in this agreement.	How can you say that this is not a change of administration policy when the President had adamantly -- adamantly -- objected to the idea of time lines, time frames, deadline, anything related to time?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I just think that it's important that you make the distinction, Matt, that for many years, over -- since, I think it was '05, '06, and '07 -- many members of Congress suggested that we pull troops out in 90 days from X date, or, in six months from today we'll have no more combat troops there.  Those were arbitrary dates that tied the hands of the commanders, that did not give any consideration to conditions on the ground.  &lt;p /&gt; The whole reason we are able to have this conversation today with the Iraqis is because conditions on the ground have changed radically, and for the better.  And we are willing to talk with them about an aspirational time horizon when we would be able to have them take more security control of their country, as well as see them continue to make gains in their political reconciliation, which we increasingly saw even over the weekend, as the Sunnis agreed to come back and rejoin the government.  &lt;p /&gt; On the economic side, they just passed a supplemental for their budget. They're increasingly bringing in more revenues and they're paying for much -- almost all of their reconstruction costs.  So we're making gains.  &lt;p /&gt; Let me also mention that I do think that they've made a tremendous effort in the region, in the neighborhood, to improve the diplomatic relations with their neighbors.  And you're seeing that through the Kuwaitis, who have now said that they will send an ambassador for the first time in many years; the United Arab Emirates, who agreed to forgive their debt, which was a good step forward; Jordan has said that they would consider opening up their embassy there, amongst others.  &lt;p /&gt; So all of these tracks have been moving forward.  We are not setting an arbitrary date for withdrawal that is a date that is plucked out of thin air.  We are going to do this based on conditions.  Conditions have improved dramatically, and we want to get it on a trajectory that makes sure that that can continue.  " title=" Q    Dana, the term &quot;time horizon&quot; has to imply the setting of date, or dates, of some sort in this" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323411" rowid="136534591" side="usa" srcid="323411" text=" Q    Dana, the U.S. is signing a strategic partnership agreement with Ukraine this morning at the State Department.  My first question -- there are three brief ones -- my first question is, if this is so important as to do this a month before going out the door, why sign it at the State Department rather than at the White House?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm not familiar with what exactly the agreement is.  Maybe it's just that it's appropriate that it be signed at the State Department by the Secretary of State.  Obviously our support for Ukraine is well known and I don't think that's going to change in 31 days when the President-elect comes onboard.	I think the support for Ukraine is going to hold strong.  " title=" Q    Dana, the U.S. is signing a strategic partnership agreement with Ukraine this morning at the S" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311457" rowid="136533264" side="usa" srcid="311457" text=" Q    Dana, there have been a series -- there have been and will be this week a series of House meetings on the financial meltdown, where we go from here, that kind of thing.  Does the White House find these helpful or just finger-pointing, blame-gaming?	Has there been any consultation between the White House on what Congress is finding out this week?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, a lot of us -- a lot of administration officials have been testifying in front of those, so there has been consultation.  And Congress has a role to play.  And if they can help identify the underlying causes of the problem and then put forward helpful solutions we would welcome that.  And we all have to work on this together.  " title=" Q    Dana, there have been a series -- there have been and will be this week a series of House meet" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303432" rowid="136532107" side="usa" srcid="303432" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, one, we want some clarification on what is happening in North Korea.  I refer you to the State Department's briefing yesterday, in which it described what it knew about reports of new activity, or resumed activity in North Korea.  I think the most important thing that we can do moving forward, and why this meeting is important on Friday, is that you had the five parties of the six-party talks unified in a position that North Korea needed to come forward with a verification protocol.  And once it did that, under our premise of action for action, then we would move, as well.  And I think that that message will be delivered to the North Koreans.  &lt;p /&gt; And Secretary Rice said yesterday that negotiations -- tough negotiations like these have their ups and downs.  We're going to try to make sure that we keep North Korea headed in the right direction.  But up and until they move forward on this verification protocol, which is what the five parties agreed to  -- I'm sorry -- the six parties agreed to, then we are not going to remove them from the state-sponsor of terrorism list.  " title=" Q    Dana, there is a meeting Friday in Beijing of the six-party envoys.  What does the White House" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303867" rowid="136532160" side="usa" srcid="303867" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'll check in terms of the constitutional law aspects of those papers.  We'll get back to you.  &lt;p /&gt; Keith.  " title=" Q    Dana, there's a lawsuit being filed today about the Vice President's official papers.  In the " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315245" rowid="136533615" side="usa" srcid="315245" text=" Q    Dana, there's been a lot of analysis by pundits and commentators about the Obama victory and election, saying that that was in fact a rebuke or repudiation by the voters of eight years of George W. Bush's leadership.  How do you react to that?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think there's going to be plenty of time for a lot of political analysts to look at this election.  We know a couple of things:  One, it is very difficult for any political party to convince the American people to give them a third term.  It has only happened once since World War II, and that was when the President's father won in 1998.  So we were already facing -- sorry, 1988.	We were already facing that one challenge because the American people traditionally have shown that they like to have the pendulum swing back and forth in Washington when it comes to who's in power.  &lt;p /&gt; No doubt the economic crisis that hit our country right before the election was a challenge for Senator McCain.  And no one can doubt that Senator Obama tapped into something very special in the country and got a lot of people to come out and vote for him and celebrate his victory.  &lt;p /&gt; All of those things taken together I think made it very difficult for John McCain to be able to win.  That doesn't mean that he didn't have the right policies, from our perspective.  And also, when the President called him the other night after he conceded in his speech, I think the President said it well when he said that &quot;You left nothing on the field.&quot;  And I think that's how John McCain has lived his life.  And that's one of the reasons all of us have admired him for so long, and that he'll continue to make great contributions to our country.  &lt;p /&gt; Over the next couple of months our team will have an opportunity to talk about the President's record.  And for the past two years, we studiously followed the President's direction, which was to not insert ourselves in the campaign, not to rise to the debate when we were attacked.	And it was really hard sometimes.	I made the mistake one time of defending the President during one of the primary debates on health care, and I ended up -- was right in the middle of all the 2008 election debate, and that's not what the President wanted.  So we worked very hard to be disciplined and not get ourselves involved in the 2008 campaign.  Now we'll have a chance to talk more about what the President has done in the world of education, HIV/AIDS, immigration, energy policy, the economy.  We'll have a chance to do that, and I think you'll start seeing that sometime in December.  " title=" Q    Dana, there's been a lot of analysis by pundits and commentators about the Obama victory and e" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-25#entryid_280656" rowid="136531292" side="usa" srcid="280656" text=" Q    Dana, there's been a lot of talk this week about closed fundraisers.  We're on our way to another closed fundraiser today.  Can you give us some idea of whether or not we'll see the President in more open fundraisers, or preview what his campaigning will look like as the election draws closer?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Sure.  I think that Scott Stanzel talked to you a lot about this story this morning, but I'll repeat it for you here.  Yes, there have been a couple of closed press fundraisers.  There have been many. One of the things the President has done over time is helped to build up capacity in the committees, like the RNC and the NRCC and the NRSC, the victory committees, these congressional trusts, in ways that he can maximize the use of his time raising money for several clients -- not &quot;clients&quot; --  candidates, excuse me -- several candidates all at once.  &lt;p /&gt; I remind you that for the first time in 14 years, the President is not on the ballot.	He is not running for office, nor is he going to be serving with anybody that he is helping to elect.  And so you will see the President out.  There's more demand than supply can meet.  The President could be out doing -- you know, out on the road almost every day doing fundraisers, but he also has responsibilities as Commander-in-Chief.  &lt;p /&gt; And so you'll see him do -- he'll be out on the road doing some, but remember he's not on the ballot.  Senator John McCain aspires to be the leader of this party and we intend to make sure that the light can fully shine on him, as it should, as he heads into the last 90 days before the election.  " title=" Q    Dana, there's been a lot of talk this week about closed fundraisers.  We're on our way to anot" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304090" rowid="136532245" side="usa" srcid="304090" text=" Q    Dana, there's lots of talk on the Hill about a second stimulus package, some conversations up there, we're hearing more news from the Hill about a desire for that.  There's also been over the past few months periodically talk from here about considering the possibility of doing something else on the economy.	Can you give us the state of play?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think first where we should start is that the GDP numbers that we just saw have -- saw reported in the last week and the month before show that the economic stimulus package that we worked through in February is having its impact.  And we're always willing to listen to new ideas.  Growth is the goal, but growth with more expense that isn't stimulative to the economy would not be welcome -- I'm sorry, growth to the deficit.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the things that CBO just came out with today is their deficit projections, where the overall number is pretty much in line with the one that OMB put out before.  And I'm sure there will be criticism of that number coming from Democrats.  So I think that we have to be measured in what we consider for the economy because, on the one hand, you might want a second stimulus proposal, but on the other hand, you don't want to increase the deficit.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the reasons that the deficit number did go up is because of the economic stimulus package from January.  So we would walk into this in a very careful way, looking at the -- looking at what is actually truly stimulative.  &lt;p /&gt; What we do think Congress could do in the next three weeks that would really help the economy is in regards to energy and trade; those are the two main issues.  And then, of course, there's the housing downturn that we're dealing with.  So if we can move forward on trade that would increase jobs, and especially because if you look at the numbers on exports, that's where we're seeing most of the growth in our economy.  So we have free trade agreements that are there for Congress to work on:  the Colombia free trade agreement, South Korea and Panama -- those are three things they could do right away.  &lt;p /&gt; And then moving forward on energy legislation could help us with the economy overall in the long run.  " title=" Q    Dana, there's lots of talk on the Hill about a second stimulus package, some conversations up " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326713" rowid="136535072" side="usa" srcid="326713" text=" MS. PERINO:  Oh, there's so many, and I do think that that's one of the things I'm going to spend some time thinking about.  Up to now, I've just been thinking about how to get the excerpts out on time before you guys got mad at me last night.  &lt;p /&gt; So I've learned so much.  You know what I've learned a lot about in this job is about grace and dignity, and I learned that from President Bush.  And to follow his example has, I believe, made me a better person, and I hope that I can continue to be this way and be forgiving like he has shown me how to do as I move, and I don't get a chance to see him every day -- but I plan to keep in close contact with him.  &lt;p /&gt; Helen.  " title=" Q    Dana, this administration has been really big on lessons learned, and you're saying, no, that " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298442" rowid="136531419" side="usa" srcid="298442" text=" Q    Dana, this is according to Roll Call, they say a senior GOP aide says that Senate Republicans are going to accept Harry Reid's offer of four amendments to -- the chance to debate those -- to the energy bill.  So they'll get a chance for the up or down vote on those four.  Any reaction, thoughts on that?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I don't know which amendments they are, so I -- oftentimes they have these discussions to vote on whether or not there can be a vote.  So if they move forward and they get this, I guess that would be a step in the right direction, but that's only one step.  And remember, on -- especially when it comes to the Outer Continental Shelf, here at the executive branch, President Bush lifted his moratorium on Outer Continental Shelf drilling.  Congress has to do the same.  I don't know if that's part of the amendments or not, so --  " title=" Q    Dana, this is according to Roll Call, they say a senior GOP aide says that Senate Republicans " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273734" rowid="136530931" side="usa" srcid="273734" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that what you -- I think that is a reflection of, first and foremost, the positive developments that we've seen recently in Iraq, but in addition to that the negotiations are intensifying.  And so it's not unusual when that happens to have more vocal statements.  And this is, again, looking at Iraq and where -- how far they've come in a year, this is politics and this is negotiations and this is about their future.  And they want to take on more of their own responsibility -- and we want that, too.  We just want them to be able to do that in a way that is sustainable, to make sure that the gains that they have made are solidified and cemented in a way that they can continue to improve, and then become a thriving, prosperous, and democratic nation.  " title=" Q    Dana, this is I think two days now in which at first there were comments that suggested the Ir" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306420" rowid="136532651" side="usa" srcid="306420" text=" MS. PERINO:  I didn't describe it that way, and I think that we need to let the meeting take place, and then I'll describe it for you.  I don't know exactly how the meeting is going to play out.  " title=" Q    Dana, this sounds like a negotiating meeting at 4:00 p.m.	Is it?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303451" rowid="136532126" side="usa" srcid="303451" text=" Q    Dana, this was the first time that many Pakistanis were demonstrating against Taliban and al Qaeda in Pakistani.  And this new government also stood against Taliban.	So what do you think the future after this attack?  Because now they are after the new government -- not only the Prime Minister, but the new government, because they have stood against them.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Are you referring to the attack on the Prime Minister's motorcade?  " title=" Q    Dana, this was the first time that many Pakistanis were demonstrating against Taliban and al Q" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320141" rowid="136534318" side="usa" srcid="320141" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know of any, in terms of -- but if there are recordings of phone calls, especially between the President and foreign leaders, then those are appropriately taken care of by the National Security Council.  " title=" Q    Dana, this week the Archives have been releasing new Nixon recordings from phone calls, and to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313273" rowid="136533471" side="usa" srcid="313273" text=" Q    Dana, to follow on that for a second, do you think -- all this planning that's going on for an economic summit -- do you think there's a chance that everybody sort of wakes up on Wednesday and among the things they think is -- it kind of loses its value or loses its power?  Because at that point you're talking about a lame-duck President.	You have another -- you have a President-elect who everyone's going to be going to for these things who may not be an intimate, integrated part of the summit.  Does it -- do you worry about that at all?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't, given that it was the President and the other leaders that he identified in the G20 who recognized how important and serious the crisis is that we're facing in our financial markets.  And international coordination is key to returning strength and confidence to the marketplace.  We've taken some coordinated action so far.  We don't -- we didn't want the financial crisis to happen at all and we certainly can't control the timing of it.  The fact that it happened in the middle of the election is just the way that it is.  &lt;p /&gt; The President has said that he would look for the input of the President-elect.  And I think that the President-elect would not want us to hold off on having a meeting of this importance to wait until January, or even later, because there are some serious issues that we need to start dealing with now so that we can avoid this happening again.  " title=" Q    Dana, to follow on that for a second, do you think -- all this planning that's going on for an" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308775" rowid="136533043" side="usa" srcid="308775" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not positive, although I know Secretary Rice was here either yesterday morning or this morning -- I think yesterday morning, so I believe that he probably had been -- talked to her.  " title=" Q    Dana, to follow on that, has the President been briefed yet on Chris Hill's talks with North K" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280152" rowid="136531214" side="usa" srcid="280152" text=" MS. PERINO:  You all want me to talk about Senator Obama, and I'm just not going to do it.  " title=" Q    Dana, to follow up on Wendell's question, I'm not sure I understood your answer.  Are you stil" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320151" rowid="136534328" side="usa" srcid="320151" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that it has.  I mean, it's inevitable that when you're getting towards the end -- and as I can tell you every day, I know how many days we have left -- and that's because we don't have a lot of time to get a lot of the important things done that we would like to be able to do, which is to make sure that we resolve the auto issue if we possibly can, and continue to work on the economy.  &lt;p /&gt; You know, on Wednesday night, right before -- the day before Thanksgiving, as everyone is getting ready to spend time with family, we have a horrible terrorist attack in which six American citizens were killed.  And so the work of the White House never really stops.  &lt;p /&gt; But, yes, I would say the President and Mrs. Bush, as they start to realize that in just a month and a half they'll be saying good-bye to a lot of people who have helped make this house a home for them over in the Residence, senior staff who have been with them -- some for 14 years that the President has been in public office -- so I do think that he's thinking a little bit about saying good-bye.  &lt;p /&gt; There's a lot of things that end up being your &quot;last,&quot; like this will be the last time he participates at the National Christmas Tree lighting. There's that, and there's also the last time that you'll give your -- a speech at UNGA as President of the United States.  And as we've been working through this transition, the President has set the tone for all of us that we will have a smooth, unprecedented, professional transition to make sure that the next President of the United States, President-Elect Obama, will be able to take the baton, keep running.  &lt;p /&gt; And he's going to have a lot of issues to deal with.  And if you look at what happened today, we finalized the Iraq agreement, which puts that in a better place for the Obama team when they take over.	And on the economy, we're going to be continuing to work every single day that we can.  There's no road map for the problems that we're dealing with, but the President is committed to trying to deal with them.  &lt;p /&gt; But I think that you're right, he is a little bit more reflective now. And I think that's just because we're getting -- now we really can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  " title=" Q    Dana, to pick up on this a little bit, the President clearly is a little more reflective as yo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-18#entryid_305348" rowid="136532481" side="usa" srcid="305348" text=" Q    Dana, to that end, you said, you know, put politics aside and get some things done.  Do you anticipate anything over the next couple of weeks, since Congress is leaving for the elections to campaign, that anything can get done to immediately address the market turmoil?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think that will -- I don't know.  I think that there's a limited time.  I don't know if we will have specific actions that we would ask them to take.  Some of these things they've been -- they've been up on the -- they've been up in front of Congress for a while but Congress had put them on the back burner.  We'd like to see some of these things acted upon.  But I think Democrats themselves, and maybe some Republicans, have questioned whether or not they will be able to get anything done in the next two weeks.  And it probably isn't that smart to try to finalize a legislation in the middle of a market correction as we're trying to figure out what other possible necessary steps may or may not need to be taken as we move forward.  &lt;p /&gt; So, what we'd like to do, first and foremost, is to have them accept our invitations for briefings and to come together -- get everybody -- get all the policymakers and lawmakers working in the same direction.  " title=" Q    Dana, to that end, you said, you know, put politics aside and get some things done.  Do you an" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-05#entryid_303590" rowid="136532144" side="usa" srcid="303590" text=" Q    Dana, to the Woodward book, if you have any comments on the Woodward book in general?  And particularly, the allegations of spying on the Iraqi government?  The Iraqi government spokesman said today, &quot;If it is true, it casts a shadow on the future relations with such institutions,&quot; referring to the CIA and others.  And your concerns about whether this might slow down any sort of strategic forces agreement?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Okay.  I haven't -- I don't have a copy of the book yet. We did receive one or two at the White House late yesterday evening, and they are working through it.  So all I know is the coverage of the book that I've seen, and that I've read in news reports of it.  &lt;p /&gt; I would say that in general, the President of the United States, any President of the United States is criticized for lots of different things.  I think the results of the surge are undeniable.  And in Washington, sometimes you see that the process has been -- comes under extra scrutiny, and can be picked apart in ways that aren't reflective of the end result.  &lt;p /&gt; This President, it seems to me that he gets criticism that if he's perceived to be careful or deliberative, he's accused of being slow. And if he is decisive, he is accused of being impulsive and rash.  &lt;p /&gt; So with that said, I would just point to the fact that we would not comment on any of the assertions in the book regarding the allegation that you brought up.  What I can tell you is we have extensive cooperation with Prime Minister Maliki.  Our ambassador sees him almost daily.	President Bush speaks to him by secure video teleconference at least every other week, if not more.  And we have a good idea of what Prime Minister Maliki is thinking, because he tells us very frankly and very candidly, as often as he can.  &lt;p /&gt; And that's one of the reasons we've been able to succeed in a lot of these different areas, especially in the economic, diplomatic and security areas.  " title=" Q    Dana, to the Woodward book, if you have any comments on the Woodward book in general?  And par" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315243" rowid="136533613" side="usa" srcid="315243" text=" Q    Dana, to what extent now is the President making plans for his own transition back to private life?  You said that Mrs. Bush -- he and Mrs. Bush are looking for a house.  Can you share with us anything about it -- what he wants to do once he leaves office?  Have they found a place to live?  That kind of thing.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'll let Mrs. Bush announce that when they're ready.  They will have a home, a place to live in Dallas.  And then they'll have the ranch as well.	I think there's plenty of time for the President to talk about what he wants to do next.  He's obviously going to have the institute.  But in the meantime, as he said, we have to sprint to the finish and there's a lot to get done.  We have a lot on our plate, especially when it comes to the economy.  But hopefully, we'll have a little bit more for you as we get closer to the end.  " title=" Q    Dana, to what extent now is the President making plans for his own transition back to private " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308760" rowid="136533028" side="usa" srcid="308760" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay, that's progress.  " title=" Q    Dana, two non-election questions.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-06#entryid_299626" rowid="136531556" side="usa" srcid="299626" text=" MS. PERINO:  We were disturbed to learn that the Chinese had refused his visa.  We are taking the matter very seriously.  We have sent in our embassy in Beijing to d&amp;#233;marche the Chinese.  That is where we go in and we say we are concerned about this, and we want you to reconsider your actions.  So we would hope that they would change their mind.  And I'll hopefully have more for you later, but we had to also wait for Washington to wake up to take any further action.  " title=" Q    Dana, two questions on China.  First of all, do you have any reaction to the reported decision" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300773" rowid="136531718" side="usa" srcid="300773" text=" Q    Dana, two questions on Georgia.  The Georgian Prime Minister says a convoy of Russian tanks and other vehicles are moving deeper into Georgia.  Are you seeing any signs that the President's admonitions for a cease-fire are having any effect at all?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Again, as I cautioned this morning, I think the first reports have to be checked out.  And that is what we are continually doing, both here and at other places around the federal government.  We take those reports seriously and we'll continue to look at them.  &lt;p /&gt; Largely, the violence has died down over the last 24 hours, and what we want to see is a return to the status quo ante of August 6th so that both Georgians and Russians would go back to where they were at that time so that we can continue to work this out diplomatically.  " title=" Q    Dana, two questions on Georgia.  The Georgian Prime Minister says a convoy of Russian tanks an" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310077" rowid="136533135" side="usa" srcid="310077" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to comment on that, Goyal.  &lt;p /&gt; Toby, go ahead.  " title=" Q    Dana, two questions, quick.  One, if President believes that the economy is bad, like many Ame" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-14#entryid_326351" rowid="136534986" side="usa" srcid="326351" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  I can understand why because of its title, but under the law, the city or state or the District of Columbia can ask the administration, whichever administration it is, for more funds or access to more funds in case they need it in order to be able to protect people for some major event, whether it be a natural disaster or something like the Super Bowl -- I don't know if anybody has ever actually done that. But obviously this inauguration is going to bring a huge number of crowds, and there's going to be a large amount of security.  And therefore, we thought it was appropriate that when Mayor Fenty asked President Bush for access to additional funds that we'd provide it.  " title=" Q    Dana, two questions, thank you.  One, how can you explain to people around the globe as far as" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310101" rowid="136533147" side="usa" srcid="310101" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know, I haven't had a chance to see him.  I haven't had a chance to see him, so I don't know if he saw it or not.  " title=" Q    Dana, two questions.  First of all, did the President watch the debate last night?  What did h" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305169" rowid="136532424" side="usa" srcid="305169" text=" Q    Dana, two questions.  First, I wonder what the administration says to critics on Capitol Hill and elsewhere who say that the administration is thinking about the economy, its deregulatory approach, broadly speaking, helped create the climate that we find ourselves in today.  &lt;p /&gt; And secondly, the President has been careful in his public statements this week.  He did speak about the economy the other day.  Those reassurances didn't seem to reach the market.  And I'm wondering why we haven't heard from him since, if we're likely to hear him speak directly on these issues?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, let me first of all -- I don't know specifically what the critics you're referring to are talking about.  And I would ask, you know, what specific regulation, could they name one, that we sought to weaken when it came to regulating these financial markets?  I don't think that they could.  &lt;p /&gt; And in fact, it was this administration after the abuses of the 1990s that first implemented the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which dealt with accounting practices.  In addition to that, we've been calling for years for GSE reform, and Congress did not act until there was a crisis at hand.  &lt;p /&gt; We asked for RESPA reform, which would help people clarify their closing costs, so that everybody understands exactly what they're getting into. Congress failed to act.  We are now in the middle of a rule-making process that the Democrats are trying to block.  There's FHA modernization that we asked for, so that we could improve that agency. We didn't get that legislation until there was a crisis.  &lt;p /&gt; So for critics who are suggesting, or trying to affix blame to the administration, I would ask them to go back and do a little bit of self-examination before they start addressing us.  In addition to that, Secretary Paulson earlier this spring weighed out a regulatory blueprint for what he said needed to happen.  He said that the regulations that we have right now were put in place after the Great Depression.  And there have been a lot of changes in our financial system since then:	new companies, new products, new ideas, new innovations; and yet we need to improve oversight, increase transparency and increase the safety and soundness of our financial system.  We are hoping to work with Congress on that in the next several days.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, you did hear from the President yesterday.  There are times, believe it or not, when policymakers actually need to, like, work on making some policy.  Everyone was very busy yesterday making sure that all the I's were dotted and T's were crossed before they moved forward with action last night.  So you didn't hear from the President yesterday.  I will keep you as updated as I possibly can.  I don't expect you'll hear from the President today on this, either.  " title=" Q    Dana, two questions.  First, I wonder what the administration says to critics on Capitol Hill " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304043" rowid="136532198" side="usa" srcid="304043" text=" MS. PERINO:  What I'm telling you is I haven't heard that; I don't know of any travel plans by the President right now.  And I'll check on it, but there's just nothing on my calendar right now that says that we're traveling anywhere the last week of October.  Outside of domestic travel, I should say.  " title=" Q    Dana, two quick follow ups to other people's questions. This announcement in Tbilisi, I'm told" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268269" rowid="136530139" side="usa" srcid="268269" text=" Q    Dana, two quick questions, please.  One, as far as Scott is concerned, we all have known him very well and he was very close to the President, and the President is a loyal friend.  And also he was like a family to him, and also he was close to everybody in the White House.  What do you think have gone wrong?  Do you think he was bitter about something, or maybe influenced from his Democratic mother, or something?  (Laughter.)  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think I'll just leave that one alone.  What's your second question?  " title=" Q    Dana, two quick questions, please.  One, as far as Scott is concerned, we all have known him v" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-19#entryid_305490" rowid="136532494" side="usa" srcid="305490" text=" MS. PERINO:  On this subject?  " title=" Q    Dana, two quick questions.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311477" rowid="136533284" side="usa" srcid="311477" text=" MS. PERINO:  On this topic?  " title=" Q    Dana, two quick questions.  One --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273175" rowid="136530800" side="usa" srcid="273175" text=" Q    Dana, two quick questions.  One, as far as Afghanistan situation is concerned, Chairman Mullen yesterday at the Pentagon briefing said that it's very -- as far as Taliban insurgency is concerned, very complex problem and more to be done in Afghanistan.  You think this issue will be discussed, as President said yesterday, how much it will be discussed, and how will --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Where will it be discussed?  " title=" Q    Dana, two quick questions.  One, as far as Afghanistan situation is concerned, Chairman Mullen" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306592" rowid="136532670" side="usa" srcid="306592" text=" Q    Dana, two quick questions.  One, as far as Prime Minister of India's meeting with the President yesterday, he got caught in the midst of so many things happening in Washington.  You think this civil nuclear agreement still on, or it's going to take place, or going to pass this before Congress leaves?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  We hope so.  And we're trying to work with members of Congress to see if we can get it done before they adjourn.  " title=" Q    Dana, two quick questions.  One, as far as Prime Minister of India's meeting with the Presiden" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-15#entryid_304825" rowid="136532331" side="usa" srcid="304825" text=" Q    Dana, two quick questions.  One, as far as the U.S. economy or U.S. market is concerned, it affects the global market around the globe.  Now many leaders are now coming to the United Nations, and also including the Prime Minister of India here at the White House on the 25th.  What message you think President has for these leaders, or including the Prime Minister of India on the economy?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think there is no doubt that the way that our system -- our financial system works in a world now that everything is much more globalized and they are dependent on one another, which is why Secretary Paulson has been talking with his counterparts so frequently in the past several months.  And increasingly over the past weekend, they did that with more frequency.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm sure that the economy is going to be a topic at the UNGA meeting, which is going to take place next week.  It was a topic at the G8 meeting, and the G7 ministers continue to talk about it, as well.  So we'll just keep you updated as we move forward.  " title=" Q    Dana, two quick questions.  One, as far as the U.S. economy or U.S. market is concerned, it af" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316883" rowid="136533873" side="usa" srcid="316883" text=" Q    Dana, we had that briefing with Dan Price and he talked a lot about this weekend, wanting to identify the problem.	But beyond that, what are the White House's benchmarks for success out of this summit?  On Sunday, when we look back -- what exactly are you looking for to have gotten out of these two meetings?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, identifying the causes of the crisis are important, because you can't talk about solutions until you've identified the problems and really understand what they are.  There were problems here in our country, and there were problems in other countries, as we've since learned.  And having the G20 here was a good idea, because it represents about 90 percent of the world's economy.  &lt;p /&gt; We will also discuss the efforts that are already underway.  There have been lots of coordinated efforts, especially amongst our Fed offices both here in America and across Europe and other places.  Some countries have opted to put forward a stimulus package, like China has done.  So we'll discuss those efforts that are already underway.  And then we want to agree on principles for reforms that we can then ask working groups to come back with specific ideas on how to implement agreements that some of the leaders will make, particular leaders would make this weekend.  &lt;p /&gt; They would be asked to develop specific, concrete actions.  But that is going to take a while for them to come back and provide that.  So then the next thing that we'll do is we'll identify -- hopefully be able to identify when the next meeting should be.  Obviously, we're in the middle of a transition here from one administration to the next.  And so, we're working very closely and talking to President-Elect Obama's team on this during this week.  " title=" Q    Dana, we had that briefing with Dan Price and he talked a lot about this weekend, wanting to i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278867" rowid="136531035" side="usa" srcid="278867" text=" MS. PERINO:  In terms of when we would do it?  " title=" Q    Dana, what -- can you tell us the status of the veto threat on the Medicare bill?	Does that st" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320143" rowid="136534320" side="usa" srcid="320143" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, Treasury, HUD, and our senior economic team have been looking at all sorts of different proposals to help the housing industry, both from -- especially helping individuals.	We had the HOPE NOW program, FHASecure, and the Hope for Homeowners program out of HUD. So Treasury is considering a lot of different proposals.  We have no announcements to make, and I would have to refer you over to them for more, but I don't think they would have more to provide for you yet either.  " title=" Q    Dana, what can you say, if anything, about the Treasury's plans or considerations for mortgage" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300761" rowid="136531706" side="usa" srcid="300761" text=" MS. PERINO:  We've heard the reports, and we continue to monitor it.  We've always said that the issues of who would be in the leadership of Pakistan is going to be up to the Pakistanis.  I don't have anything more for you, although we've seen reports, but they go back and forth.  " title=" Q    Dana, what can you tell us about Pakistan?  There's reports coming out of -- everything rumore" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304088" rowid="136532243" side="usa" srcid="304088" text=" MS. PERINO:  I've seen the reports, but I don't have anything for you on it.  " title=" Q    Dana, what can you tell us about the health of Kim Jong-il?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-23#entryid_280361" rowid="136531253" side="usa" srcid="280361" text=" MS. PERINO:  In particular, one of my examples would be just the subprime loan packages that everybody has expressed some concern about, now looking back.  " title=" Q    Dana, what did you mean by financial instruments?	I mean --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321339" rowid="136534481" side="usa" srcid="321339" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  " title=" Q    Dana, what do you do to assuage concerns from congressional members who are concerned about wh" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305194" rowid="136532449" side="usa" srcid="305194" text=" MS. PERINO:  We do have a free market -- the free market is alive and well, and we have systems in place here in our country to be able to deal with shocks to the system like this.  And Secretary Paulson and the Fed Chairman have taken action where they think necessary in order to prevent broader shocks to the economy.  &lt;p /&gt; Look, the market has had a lot of information to digest over the past several days, and it's going to take a little bit of time for us to see where this goes.  But I think the considered judgment -- the collective judgment of most people today is that the action they took last night on AIG was the right move.  " title=" Q    Dana, what do you say to Americans who are looking at the AIG deal and saying, we don't have a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-23#entryid_280355" rowid="136531247" side="usa" srcid="280355" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we absolutely understand.  We are not supportive of that provision of the bill.	However, as I said, given that Congress is about to leave for eight weeks or so, by the time they get back -- if they actually -- if we were in a prolonged veto fight we wouldn't have enough time to actually get it done as soon as the Secretary of the Treasury says he needs the authorities.  So we had to make a hard -- a hard choice, and the choice that we made is that the President will accept Secretary Paulson's recommendation and sign the bill.  And we'll sign it as soon as we get it.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Goyal.  " title=" Q    Dana, what do you say to Republicans who are concerned that this amounts to a bailout in their" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316084" rowid="136533752" side="usa" srcid="316084" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, every President has the prerogative to change policies; that's nothing unusual.  That happened in our administration, too.  And what I will tell you is that policies that this President made have been carefully considered; all of the due diligence has been done on a range of these issues.  &lt;p /&gt; One of them I saw mentioned was on stem cells.	And unfortunately, the President's position on stem cells has been misconstrued over the years, with the suggestion that President Bush but a ban on research for embryonic stem cell research.  That is not true.	I think that -- I don't know if I need to go over it again with all of you here, but I would ask that people think about that carefully.  The President made a very important choice after a lot of careful deliberation -- in fact, it's detailed in Karen Hughes' book, &quot;Ten Minutes from Normal,&quot; there's a whole chapter dedicated to the decision-making process that went into that decision.  &lt;p /&gt; Since that decision, scientists from all over the world and especially here in our own country have shown their innovation and their abilities to do embryonic stem cell research and make huge leaps in achievement without destroying embryos.  So I think that we'll just keep all of that in mind as we move forward.  But we would say that our regulations that we put forward through executive order or through the rule making process has been carefully considered and have checked all of the boxes when it comes to the due diligence that are required for all of them.  " title=" Q    Dana, what does the President think about hearing John Podesta talk about a range of executive" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306413" rowid="136532644" side="usa" srcid="306413" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think, again, those are all details that are being worked out in the negotiations.  I'm not going to negotiate from here.  That's served me well in the past and I think I'll just continue to do that, as we work to finalize this legislation.	What I would remember people is that this legislation would authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to buy assets up to $700 billion.  The intent is that that -- then the United States taxpayer would, if we can hold them and then sell these assets back, that the United States taxpayer could either -- well, at least recoup a lot of the money, if not be made whole, in the future.  We can't promise anything in terms of return on investment, but that's what -- that's one of the messages that we've been trying to drive and that we'll talk about this afternoon.  " title=" Q    Dana, what does the White House think of the idea of phasing in the cost of this -- not doing " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-11#entryid_316196" rowid="136533766" side="usa" srcid="316196" text=" Q    Dana, what is the President's position on this aid for the auto industry, beyond any linkage or anything, but just -- and beyond the loans that were approved by Congress earlier this year?  Is he open to more help for the auto industry right now?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  What we've said is that Congress created a loan program for the auto industry.  When they were discussing the TARP program, Troubled Asset Relief Program, as we read it, we don't see anything in there that would give us the authority to help individual industries, but we are willing to listen to Congress as to how they might choose or not choose to provide additional authorities so that we can accelerate those loans to viable companies, as laid out in the statute.  &lt;p /&gt; We haven't seen that yet.  We understand that they're going through a very difficult time.  There's been business decisions they've made over the years that have led to this situation, but we have gone as far as we can with the authority Congress has given us in order to help industries.  We rushed through those regulations to write the rules so that they could apply for those loans.	If they believe that that's not enough for them, they need to continue to work with Democrats, and then we'll see what they can come forward with.  " title=" Q    Dana, what is the President's position on this aid for the auto industry, beyond any linkage o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300768" rowid="136531713" side="usa" srcid="300768" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm pleased to announce that negotiations are complete and that we have initialed an agreement.  It will be reviewed, and then we expect a final signing agreement to take place.  We certainly welcome the development.  We believe that missile defense is a substantial contribution to NATO's collective security.	And so we're pleased with the development.  " title=" Q    Dana, what is the status of a missile defense deal with Poland?  What's the latest on that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311189" rowid="136533223" side="usa" srcid="311189" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that we saw it in third quarter growth -- or second quarter growth, and that was at 2.9 percent, which was respectable by any means.  But certainly we're going to see a lot of tough times ahead, and I think GDP comes out next week and I don't expect it to be a very good number.  " title=" Q    Dana, what was the impact of the first stimulus check?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308557" rowid="136533012" side="usa" srcid="308557" text=" MS. PERINO:  His communications with the Fed is not something I can comment on either way.  " title=" Q    Dana, what was the President's role in the coordinated effort, if any, of the banks?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315259" rowid="136533629" side="usa" srcid="315259" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would say that we responded positively in order for this to be able to move forward in the Iraqi process.  But that's all I'm going to say.  " title=" Q    Dana, what was the response to the Iraqi amendments?  I mean, it's now no longer a negotiation" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-10#entryid_300062" rowid="136531596" side="usa" srcid="300062" text=" Q    Dana, what's the latest, from the U.S. perspective, on the tourist attack?  Is it over?  Would, by American standards, we consider it a hate crime, because clearly these people were Anglos?  Anything further, from your perspective, on the attack?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  First of all, let me express on behalf of the President and the United States our deepest sympathies for the Bachman family and their extended volleyball family.  Obviously the whole United States Olympic team has been struck by this, but of course they are, as always, stoic and stalwart, and are wonderful competitors, and so they are moving on to compete in the spirit in which the Bachman family would want them to.  &lt;p /&gt; President Bush thanked President Hu today for the help that the Chinese government has provided in providing care, as well as committing and putting the resources towards a comprehensive and thorough investigation.  &lt;p /&gt; I believe first reports indicate that this was apparently a random act of violence.  I would point out to you that while two Americans were attacked, so was their Chinese tour guide.  And I think that until the investigation is complete, it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further as to the origins of this crime.  &lt;p /&gt; But clearly a tragedy for the family, for their community back home, and for the entire United States.  And President Bush has been asking for updates on the health of the Chinese tour guide, as well as the American who remains in the hospital trying to recover from that attack.  Our team has been on the ground there at the hospital and providing the President those updates, and we will continue to support them in any way we can.  &lt;p /&gt; Others?  Mark.  " title=" Q    Dana, what's the latest, from the U.S. perspective, on the tourist attack?  Is it over?  Would" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299213" rowid="136531529" side="usa" srcid="299213" text=" MS. PERINO:  We think that, one, it will be very positive.  Any time the President has an opportunity to meet with troops, he takes it.	He wants to thank them for their service.  Many of them have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, so he'll have a chance to thank them and support them, and thank their families, also.  &lt;p /&gt; As with any trip that the President takes to a state, the delegation is invited to participate in the event or to travel with him.  Senator Stevens is already in Alaska and will participate in the event.  We think that's absolutely appropriate; he's been a very strong friend of the United States military and of his state.  So we have -- we're looking forward to the event, and the President will speak -- it will be somewhere between 10 and 15 minutes, I would guess, and then will probably work a bit of a &quot;rope line&quot; afterwards.  " title=" Q    Dana, what's the message to the troops in Alaska?	And is there any concern that Senator Steven" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315281" rowid="136533651" side="usa" srcid="315281" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we've long said that the package that they have put forward so far was not something we thought that we could support.  But I would also -- it takes three to tango in this town, right?  They have to have the House and the Senate approval and the White House.  I don't think that the Democrats are quite settled yet on how they would pass that through the Senate.  So I think we need to let them work that through and we'll see what they come up with.  " title=" Q    Dana, what's the President's reaction to Nancy Pelosi's call for Republican and White House co" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-24#entryid_312353" rowid="136533364" side="usa" srcid="312353" text=" Q    Dana, what's your message to people who are looking at what's happening -- another 400- or 500-point drop right now -- they're looking at this and seeing a disconnect between a multi-billion-dollar bailout that is seemingly at this point having no effect and saying, wait a minute, we could have got this for free.  What's your message to them about how to sort of -- why it's necessary to throw all that money and still have this kind of terrible fallout?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, we've looked for an opportunity -- ever since the bill passed said it was going to take a little bit of time for all of us to dot the I's and cross the T's to get all of the policies in place.	And that's taking place right now.  We've had Neel Kashkari, who is the Assistant Acting Secretary for the rescue package implementation, was on Capitol Hill yesterday talking about the progress.  &lt;p /&gt; What we tried to warn people about across the country is that it's going to take a little bit of time.  We weren't talking weeks, we're not talking months -- we're talking just a few weeks for us to be able to hire the contractors.  There are so many people that have to be hired and they have to -- we have to make sure that we're getting the right people.  And before money can go out the door we want to make sure that those contracts are rock solid and that we're doing the best we possibly can to make sure the taxpayers are paid back.  &lt;p /&gt; So we're in that period right now where -- we're waiting for that implementation.  We're closer than we were yesterday.  They work as hard as they possibly can.  So what I would ask is that Americans be a little bit patient with this program.  We do think it is big enough to solve this big problem; it's just going to take us a little while to get through it.  " title=" Q    Dana, what's your message to people who are looking at what's happening -- another 400- or 500" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298446" rowid="136531423" side="usa" srcid="298446" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well as I have read the coverage of it -- I haven't read the report, but as I read the coverage of it, there's obviously information in there that would cause concern to anybody.  And we agree with Michael Mukasey that -- the Attorney General -- that there was concern.  There should be concern any time anyone is improperly using politics to influence career decisions.  We believe that is improper.  We could absolutely not defend that.  And we are pleased that the Attorney General has taken steps to change it there at the Justice Department.  " title=" Q    Dana, what's your reaction to the Justice Department report where they -- the report essential" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271601" rowid="136530568" side="usa" srcid="271601" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that this is a date that they -- that's been out there for a while.	It's not anything that -- I didn't necessarily think of it as new because I'd heard and read about it in the past, so this is something  --  " title=" Q    Dana, when did the North Koreans alert the administration that they intended to submit the dec" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272617" rowid="136530729" side="usa" srcid="272617" text=" Q    Dana, when Kenya had a political crisis the President sent Condi Rice to support efforts by Kofi Annan.	Some Africa experts are calling for a diplomatic offensive here, where perhaps some high-level envoy might be sent maybe to a neighboring country, to be paired up with someone of similar stature in Africa, to bring pressure to bear.  Is anything like that under consideration?  Is the President --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Could be; I'm not positive and I'll have to -- you know, we can check with the State Department or you can check with the State Department to see if that's something that they're thinking of.  But I know Jendayi Frazer, who the President relies on greatly to help, such as she did in Kenya -- when we were there on our trip it was Secretary Rice that went with Jendayi to Kenya, as you know.  I'll see; I just don't of anything in the works.  " title=" Q    Dana, when Kenya had a political crisis the President sent Condi Rice to support efforts by Ko" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-18#entryid_305353" rowid="136532486" side="usa" srcid="305353" text=" Q    Dana, when you say they're looking at actions, is that exactly what they're doing this afternoon?  They're looking at what possible actions they could take?  Are they trying to figure out what they're -- specifically, are they looking at actions to take or are they just looking at possible actions?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think what I have to do is -- I can answer that broadly in that they are doing what the President has asked them to do, which is to continue to assess the situation and take any necessary steps, if there are necessary steps that need to be taken.	There are a lot of rumors out there for what the agencies may or may not be thinking about doing, and I'm just not at liberty to confirm any rumors or denounce any rumors.  I just am not able to comment.  " title=" Q    Dana, when you say they're looking at actions, is that exactly what they're doing this afterno" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-10#entryid_300061" rowid="136531595" side="usa" srcid="300061" text=" Q    Dana, while we have you on camera, can we ask you to summarize the state of play in terms of what America is asking both of Georgia and Russia?  It sounds, frankly, like you're much more concerned with what the Russians are doing at this point.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Our main concern is for the loss of life and for the innocent civilians who are caught in the middle of this conflict.  What we are asking is that all parties commit to a cease-fire -- the Russians and the Georgians and the South Ossetians, as well -- and that the Georgians and the South Ossetians could return to the dialogue, the direct dialogue that they were having beforehand.  &lt;p /&gt; What we are asking is for all parties, including the Russians, to return to what we call the status quo ante of August 6th.  This is before the most recent hostilities escalated.  We are very concerned about the disproportionate response that we believe Russia has engaged in.  That is why President Bush spoke last night with President Medvedev.  He also spoke with President Saakashvili.  &lt;p /&gt; President Bush will also speak today to President Sarkozy, who is currently the EU President.  We are going to be working on multiple levels in a multilateral way in order to try to address this as quickly as possible for the well-being of everyone involved -- the troops that are involved and the innocent civilians who are caught in the middle.  &lt;p /&gt; David.  " title=" Q    Dana, while we have you on camera, can we ask you to summarize the state of play in terms of w" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-27#entryid_312739" rowid="136533392" side="usa" srcid="312739" text=" MS. PERINO:  To give you an answer to that would be commenting in some way on it, and I'm not going to do it.  " title=" Q    Dana, why can't you comment?  Is it a reason for national security, or is it political?  I mea" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306404" rowid="136532635" side="usa" srcid="306404" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, as I said, Keith, we've been working in a bipartisan fashion and it actually has been a good spirit of cooperation.	Senator McCain had a good idea to try to bring everybody together.  They were out on the campaign trail; they were willing to come back to Washington, and the President thought it was a good idea to take them up on it.  " title=" Q    Dana, why did it take Senator McCain to call such a meeting?  Why didn't the President take th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311485" rowid="136533292" side="usa" srcid="311485" text=" Q    Dana, why do you want to wait until the President-elect is determined and not get the input ahead of time?  As you said, it's -- that's not -- 23 days isn't a lot of time.  You're cutting yourself even shorter.  Why not start the input now?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, how do you know that that hasn't happened?  " title=" Q    Dana, why do you want to wait until the President-elect is determined and not get the input ah" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-17#entryid_310365" rowid="136533180" side="usa" srcid="310365" text=" MS. PERINO:  Good question.  Let me see if I can get you a list.  I know Stephen Hadley will be there, Ed Gillespie, I think Dan Price from the National Security Council.  But I don't know, outside of this building, who will be there.	So I'll try to get it for you.  &lt;p /&gt; Lambros.  " title=" Q    Dana, will Paulson or any other economic officials be at Camp David tomorrow?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320573" rowid="136534390" side="usa" srcid="320573" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we'll see what we can provide.  Obviously these are going to be highly classified briefings, but I have a team member who is going to be out there and we'll see what we can provide later.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Les.  " title=" Q    Dana, will there be a readout this afternoon following the visit to -- and the briefing by the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272632" rowid="136530744" side="usa" srcid="272632" text=" MS. PERINO:  They could be.  " title=" Q    Dana, will those sanctions be unilateral?	Will the President be --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303886" rowid="136532179" side="usa" srcid="303886" text=" MS. PERINO:  You know, what I can tell you is President Bush thinks that this measure, to take the companies under conservatorship, was the right way to go at this time.  &lt;p /&gt; Victoria.  " title=" Q    Dana, would the President have preferred a permanent, long-term fix, or is that just the reali" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315252" rowid="136533622" side="usa" srcid="315252" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes, I think so.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Dana, would you recommend that it's important to have daily press briefings?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309515" rowid="136533087" side="usa" srcid="309515" text=" Q    Dana, yes, thank you.  Two questions.  House Minority Leader John Boehner said, &quot;The latest allegations of voter registration fraud by ACORN are further evidence that this group cannot be trusted with another dollar of taxpayers' money.&quot;  And my question:  Does the President agree or disagree with Mr. Boehner?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't know anything -- I don't have specific information about that group.  But what I can tell you is that the integrity of the vote is essential to our democracy.  And the Justice Department investigates where needed, but they don't comment on those investigations, and I can't either.  " title=" Q    Dana, yes, thank you.  Two questions.  House Minority Leader John Boehner said, &quot;The latest al" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310095" rowid="136533144" side="usa" srcid="310095" text=" Q    Dana, yesterday when the markets slumped after Ben Bernanke made his statement, is there ever any thought -- or what's the calculus when you're deciding whether the President is going to say something or not say something in a given day?  Is there ever too much -- is there ever thought given that maybe too much is said sometimes, on a daily basis with the news cycle, and it creates some of the wild swing?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  It's not an exact science when it comes to communicating about the situation.	I think it's important that leaders be out there talking about what they're going to be doing.  And I -- as we all are watching the daily movements in the market, we can't peg our policy decisions exactly to those daily fluctuations.  We have to focus on getting out that information.  &lt;p /&gt; I would submit to you that if we weren't talking and the market had still gone down yesterday, the questions I'd be answering today would be very different, and did we make a calculation on the wrong end and not have people out talking yesterday.  &lt;p /&gt; So we do our best to make sure that the American people have the information that they need.  We've asked a lot of them, a $700 billion rescue package, plus they've seen, as Terry said, the gains that they've made over the past several years erased in just about -- well, a year's period, but certainly in the last couple of weeks, increasingly so.  &lt;p /&gt; Because of that, I do think that it's important that the American people know that this President -- what he's doing on a daily basis to try to fix the situation, what the Secretary of the Treasury is going to do precisely with those funds -- and that's what we had on Tuesday, as part of that announcement.  I just don't know when we're actually going to reach the bottom of these problems.  But we're going to have to keep communicating while we work through it.  " title=" Q    Dana, yesterday when the markets slumped after Ben Bernanke made his statement, is there ever " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305187" rowid="136532442" side="usa" srcid="305187" text=" Q    Dana, you know, the public, we hear a lot of abstractions about the effects of these failures.  You used one, you said, a failure of AIG would have reached into the American pocketbook.  That's very vague. Now, yesterday we had a mutual fund, the oldest one in the country, break a dollar.  There are other mutual -- money market mutual funds under stress.  Did these concrete situations with money market funds or the very obscure credit derivative market enter into these discussions? Can you give us a concrete example of where the effect would have been catastrophic?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Look, I -- what I can tell you is what I learned from my experience being in the meeting yesterday with the Secretary of the Treasury.  There was discussion about possible broader implications, but I'd refer you over to there for specific examples like that.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Peter.  " title=" Q    Dana, you know, the public, we hear a lot of abstractions about the effects of these failures." />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-28#entryid_313004" rowid="136533424" side="usa" srcid="313004" text=" Q    Dana, you laid out some of the things that the administration is considering as it relates to the automakers.  Is there any kind of timetable that the administration is looking at as far as making decisions on its part of this whole arrangement?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, when it comes to the regulations for implementing the continuing resolution language that authorized the loan program, which was the -- on 136 loans -- I don't know why they're called 136, I think it's section 136 of the bill -- we're trying to get those done as quickly as possible.  And I think you hear a lot of chatter about it, is because people are starting to finalize and narrow down the final remaining issues before we can promote those regulations.  &lt;p /&gt; So that's one side of it.  And the other side of it is Troubled Asset Relief Program, which is -- has a range of tools.  And so I think it's just too early to say.  " title=" Q    Dana, you laid out some of the things that the administration is considering as it relates to " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326719" rowid="136535078" side="usa" srcid="326719" text=" MS. PERINO:  Issues?  Oh, gosh, I've loved getting to know all of the issues.  Some of the issues I had to really dig in and learn more about -- obviously energy and environment issues are the ones that you and I would tussle back and forth on, and those are always good.  But I think that the priorities of this President were the ones that I enjoyed talking about the most, and that was making sure that our country remained safe and that we had the tools to pass on to the next President and the President after that so that they can -- he could continue to do the same thing.  &lt;p /&gt; Mike.  " title=" Q    Dana, you mentioned -- well, you've had to deal with a lot of difficult issues, and I just won" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326721" rowid="136535080" side="usa" srcid="326721" text=" MS. PERINO:  No harm meant, I just didn't mention him.  " title=" Q    Dana, you mentioned Ari and Tony, but I don't think I heard you mention Scott.	Was that a slig" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306610" rowid="136532688" side="usa" srcid="306610" text=" Q    Dana, you mentioned in your opening remarks that the President called the leaders Boehner and McConnell this morning.  Has the President reached out personally to any of the rank-and-file House Republicans, either by phone or in person, to try to personally persuade them --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'll have to get back to you, because I don't know who all he might have seen over the past week.  But those are -- he's trying to work with the leadership as they try to manage their caucuses.  " title=" Q    Dana, you mentioned in your opening remarks that the President called the leaders Boehner and " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300597" rowid="136531668" side="usa" srcid="300597" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, South Ossetia is part of Georgia, so I don't know -- I don't think that that sounds right.  " title=" Q    Dana, you mentioned Secretary Rice's trip to the region in July.  It's widely reported she adv" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-17#entryid_310372" rowid="136533187" side="usa" srcid="310372" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I wouldn't call it involvement.  I would say that we are keeping them informed about activities.  And remember, certainly they have committee assignments and things like that, as senators, as well.  But what we have tried to do on this issue, as well as on the economy, on North Korea, is to keep them equitably informed throughout the process so that they can be aware of all of the issues.  One of them is going to win the election, and they will be taking over and having to deal with these issues as they take over office.  So it's only prudent for us to make sure that we get them the information that we think they need.  &lt;p /&gt; Roger.  " title=" Q    Dana, you mentioned the candidates being informed.  I guess, in this process, like so many thi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315285" rowid="136533655" side="usa" srcid="315285" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that we've been consulting with them, but they, I think, have already said that they don't -- I don't think that they've said that they don't plan on him attending it.  But we'll be consulting with them all along the way.  " title=" Q    Dana, you mentioned the economic summit.  Has President-elect Obama been invited to attend, or" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-05#entryid_303593" rowid="136532147" side="usa" srcid="303593" text=" Q    Dana, you painted a fairly upbeat picture of the economy despite the job losses, and yet most economists say that the kinds of job losses that were reported today tend to be the kind we see in the early stages of a recession.  What would it take for the President and the administration to begin considering a second stimulus package?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Look, we've gone through the recession thing before.  I just told you that the last two quarters showed growth.  There's plenty of economists out there and they have -- they're very -- I'm sure they're very intelligent and they have a lot of resources at their fingertips, but I just haven't heard anybody talking necessarily about a recession.  &lt;p /&gt; The economic stimulus plan that we put in place is having the strong impact that we wanted it to have.  One of the keys of that stimulus package was that it be stimulative, and we don't think that we need to consider a second stimulus right now.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the things we were concerned about and we warned about in the last supplemental, where we extended unemployment benefits -- which was not our preference, and we actually were able to shave back from 16 weeks back to eight weeks how much longer those benefits would be allowed -- part of what we were concerned about is that it lengthens the amount of time that people would be out of work.  &lt;p /&gt; And I think we're seeing that reflected in some of those numbers today. So we would want to approach any next steps very carefully.  We need to do a couple of things in the meantime.	One is continue to work through the housing crunch, through FHA Secure, or trying to help people stay in their homes through HOPE NOW.  In addition to that, there's the credit market issues, and also the high energy prices.  &lt;p /&gt; But there are other things that we can do, which is to -- if we were to be able to work with Congress in a bipartisan way to push forward on these free trade agreements, we could increase the amount of exports that we are -- that are leaving this country and that are really helping us -- helping fuel the economic growth that we have.  &lt;p /&gt; But there's no question that a 6.1 percent unemployment rate is absolutely unwelcome.  It is too high in the President's mind.	Compared to other countries it's relatively good, but when it comes to America, that's never good enough for us.  We want to make sure that anybody who wants to find work can find work.  And so we'll continue to work with Congress.  We'd like to work with them in a bipartisan way.  They've got three weeks to do something before they leave for the campaign trail, so we hope we can get something done.  &lt;p /&gt; Brianna.  " title=" Q    Dana, you painted a fairly upbeat picture of the economy despite the job losses, and yet most " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305180" rowid="136532435" side="usa" srcid="305180" text=" Q    Dana, you said a moment ago that there was discussion about the broader implications, as Paulson made his recommendations to the President.  Can you walk us through that a little bit on some of the notions that were discussed?  Was it, for example, the, perhaps, threat that other banks might topple, other businesses, other insurance companies?  Can you just elaborate on that a little bit?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm going to let Secretary Paulson describe that himself. But what I will tell you is, just more broadly, one of the things that they're concerned about is, with tightening of the financial markets that you'll have less capital for people to be able to get loans for their businesses or for their cars or for their homes, for their student loans -- those types of things.  It's that type of tightening that could hurt the broader economy.  &lt;p /&gt; Keith.  " title=" Q    Dana, you said a moment ago that there was discussion about the broader implications, as Pauls" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300752" rowid="136531697" side="usa" srcid="300752" text=" Q    Dana, you said it's not even logically possible for the Russians to be threatened by the missile defense that the United States wants to build in Eastern Europe.  The Russians say they're not so much concerned about the interceptors as they are by the radar, which could be turned inward toward Russia, monitor communications, troop movements and the like.  In this Polish agreement, are there any plans at all for Russian observers or technical teams or anything like that to come to Poland?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Not that I'm aware of.  But I believe our offer, at least up until this most recent conflict -- and I don't know if anything has changed, because I haven't heard that it has -- but we have been working with the Russians to see if they could cooperate with us on the radar system itself, so that they would be a part of it.  So I don't think that that argument holds much water, if the Russians are making it.  " title=" Q    Dana, you said it's not even logically possible for the Russians to be threatened by the missi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309516" rowid="136533088" side="usa" srcid="309516" text=" Q    Dana, you said that some were for the capital injection in the beginning of these negotiations.  Can you describe the President's feelings about that from the beginning and whether this was a particularly difficult move for him to make to go --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't think the President necessarily weighed in with an opinion either way.  He was listening to his experts and he was directing them to ask the tough questions and make sure that they found the right tools.	But he was glad that the rescue package -- and he insisted on the rescue package having the flexibility so that as this dynamic situation evolved they would be able to address it with the tools that they had.	So that's what the rescue package provides.  But I don't remember him ever saying specifically in meetings that I had, but just asking a lot of questions to make sure that they were going to prescribe the right remedy for the illness that we had.  " title=" Q    Dana, you said that some were for the capital injection in the beginning of these negotiations" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_325014" rowid="136534883" side="usa" srcid="325014" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, a couple of things on that.	I can't speak for the Israelis; I'll let them do that for themselves.  We are obviously very concerned about the humanitarian situation, which is why we have provided over $85 million through the United Nations so that aid could get into Gaza.	The Israelis themselves have opened up the crossings to try to get it there.  It's a very densely populated area.  It's obviously very troubled, and there's a lot of innocent people who have been affected negatively.  And we've always counseled that the protection of innocents is of utmost importance.  And I do think that the Israelis take every precaution that they possibly can.  But I'll let them speak for themselves.  &lt;p /&gt; Did you have a second question?  " title=" Q    Dana, you said that the White House has counseled the Israelis to be cautious.  Do you think t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279339" rowid="136531093" side="usa" srcid="279339" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, she came forward with the recommendation that the President agreed with, Sheryl.	I would not try to separate them.  But she has been the lead negotiator with the P5-plus-1 on this issue, so that's why I said it that way.  " title=" Q    Dana, you said the President does support Secretary Rice's decision.  Is it Secretary Rice's d" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305160" rowid="136532415" side="usa" srcid="305160" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we've talked about the definition of a recession before; it's two consecutive -- it's generally considered two consecutive quarters of negative growth.  We certainly haven't had that. I can't remember the exact number from last quarter, but it was certainly not in the negative territory.  " title=" Q    Dana, you say it's a mixed bag -- the economy.  What are the concerns in this mixed bag of the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-22#entryid_305815" rowid="136532571" side="usa" srcid="305815" text=" Q    Dana, you say you've had good responses so far to the  -- what I presume is the Treasury proposal.  The Democrats have put forth their ideas, which include limiting executive compensation, some oversight, et cetera.  What is the White House reaction to that?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, a lot of these issues are going to be discussed and worked out over the next week.	One of the things that we're most -- that we're primarily concerned about, and what Secretary Paulson discussed yesterday in all of the Sunday shows, is the need to get this done quickly.  In our experience, the quickest way to get something done is to do it cleanly.  And I would point you back to the President's statement and also -- of this morning, and Hank Paulson's statements of yesterday, in which he talked about the necessity to move quickly.  &lt;p /&gt; And there will be issues such as those ones that you mentioned.  Should they be dealt with on this particular bill, that's to be seen.	And I think that what we're looking for is something that would help us immediately help stabilize the markets.  And those issues of transparency and others will be ones that I think will be debated.  Whether or not it's on this bill I think remains to be seen.  " title=" Q    Dana, you say you've had good responses so far to the  -- what I presume is the Treasury propo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306417" rowid="136532648" side="usa" srcid="306417" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that we've made significant progress.  We're -- have a framework that we can try to close on, and we hope that we can get it done quickly.  I think that it's in everyone's best interest for us to get it done.  &lt;p /&gt; This is where Wall Street intersects with Main Street.	And we have a lot of work to do in a very short amount of time.  And we really appreciate the cooperation that we've had from the candidates, from the leaders and from the chairmen, who have worked tirelessly over the past several days.  This is to help not just financial institutions, but to help every single American, when it comes to their retirement accounts, college loans, their car loans, their homes, their very existence -- this is what we're trying to protect.  " title=" Q    Dana, you seem to be indicating that a deal is close.  Nancy Pelosi just spoke; she seemed to " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268794" rowid="136530232" side="usa" srcid="268794" text=" Q    Dana, you talk about the need to conclude this by the end of this year, on the President's schedule.  But putting it on the President's schedule, doesn't that create an artificial deadline that the President usually tries to steer clear of?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think you're mixing up a couple of different things there.	But remember, if you go back to November 30th, when the President invited all the leaders here at the Annapolis Conference, one of the things that President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert, amongst other leaders who attended, that they all said that they believe that it was the right thing to do to try to get this done before the end of the year.  That was their timetable.  And the President fully supports it. He wants to try to get it done, as well.  " title=" Q    Dana, you talk about the need to conclude this by the end of this year, on the President's sch" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280140" rowid="136531202" side="usa" srcid="280140" text=" MS. PERINO:  My list was not -- I didn't mean to exclude anybody, obviously.  That region, especially in the Northwest Territories, is an area of concern as well.  Just look what happened to Prime Minister Bhutto, who was assassinated by terrorists.  And this is a global war on terror, and it's called that for a reason, and that area is just as troubling as many others.  " title=" Q    Dana, you talked about Iraq and Afghanistan as being central fronts in the war on terrorism.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-23#entryid_267474" rowid="136530057" side="usa" srcid="267474" text=" MS. PERINO:  There's not -- I don't have details yet, but that's possible.  And we'll try to get you more information as we get closer.  &lt;p /&gt; Les.  " title=" Q    Dana, you're hinting -- when you said &quot;on departure and arrival,&quot; are you suggesting there mig" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278862" rowid="136531030" side="usa" srcid="278862" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q    Dana, you're planning to add that to the housing measure that's out there --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271626" rowid="136530593" side="usa" srcid="271626" text=" Q    Dana, you're saying it's about supply and demand.	But back in May when we were in Saudi Arabia, after the President met with King Abdallah and he said that he was not really going to increase production sharply, the administration was saying it was not about just supply and demand, that there were other factors affecting this.  What's changed since May?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't know, I was there on that trip and I don't remember necessarily that part of it.  Maybe you could refresh my memory, because you've got it all underlined there.  " title=" Q    Dana, you're saying it's about supply and demand.	But back in May when we were in Saudi Arabia" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305161" rowid="136532416" side="usa" srcid="305161" text=" MS. PERINO:  It is really weird that you're talking to me through your camera.  (Laughter.)  Try again.  Okay, I will compose myself.  " title=" Q    Dana, you're saying there's a mixed bag as far as the economy --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324587" rowid="136534838" side="usa" srcid="324587" text=" Q    Dana, you're talking about a durable cease-fire.  What is the United States doing to help implement a durable cease-fire?  To whom are we talking?  What other nations?  What should be done to get both sides to agree to a cease-fire in which no further exchanges occur?  And if we can't do it, who can?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, as I just said, Secretary Rice has been on the phone working with her allies and her partners around the world to try to establish this.  She's been working with the United Nations.  I'll leave it to them to detail all of them out.  But you also know who the President has called, because we've let you know.  &lt;p /&gt; It's going to take a commitment on behalf of Hamas to reject terrorism and violence and to accept that they could try to find a political way forward.  That way we can get to a point where we can establish a two-state solution.  " title=" Q    Dana, you're talking about a durable cease-fire.  What is the United States doing to help impl" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311209" rowid="136533243" side="usa" srcid="311209" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think if you look at the numbers this morning -- and I think that by all accounts a lot of the smart economists across the administration and around the world say that they're beginning to see some softening, and especially where banks are willing to lend to one another.  And I think that the facts will bear out once they have a chance to absorb this program, digest the news, and that the markets will hopefully stabilize and confidence will return.  &lt;p /&gt; That doesn't mean that we're not still in for a rocky period where people might have harder time finding work or where people might see their -- well, they won't want to open their 401(k) statement next month, that's for sure, but I'm sure when they do, they will realize that they lost a lot of wealth over the past year.  So there's a lot of work that we have to do.  But I think the proof will be in the pudding when they can look at some of these numbers coming out of it.  &lt;p /&gt; Peter.  " title=" Q    Dana, you're urging a lot of patience when it comes to judging the $700 billion plan.  At what" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317632" rowid="136534010" side="usa" srcid="317632" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, the decision of whether or not to use the additional funds -- he asked for the first $350 billion of the total $700 billion; I want to make sure people don't think we're asking -- we're not asking for an additional $350 billion.  He used the first -- not quite, hasn't used all of the $350 billion to start with.  &lt;p /&gt; And the decision whether to use the additional funds will be made by Secretary Paulson and we would have to ask Congress to be able to use that.  And he's continuing to work and design and develop programs to be able to help strengthen and make safe the financial system.  We're starting to make some headway in that, but if he doesn't think that he needs the additional $350 billion right now, then I think the prudent thing to do is not to ask for it.  " title=" Q    Dana, you've had to deal with a lot of difficult economic news from the podium.  Why not use t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268289" rowid="136530159" side="usa" srcid="268289" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not -- I won't question his motivations.  He's free to have his opinions and he's free to have a look back at his period.  I think one of the reasons I think it's sad is for those of who worked with him and saw how much he loved being press secretary, and how much he loved being a part of the back and forth in this room, and how much he delved into policy and tried to understand it as best as he possibly could, that to realize now that he looks back and looks so unfavorably upon his time at the White House -- I think that's one of the things that's really sad.  &lt;p /&gt; I mean, all of us are moderately talented people made very special because of an opportunity, and, you know, you can choose to use that opportunity in any way that you wish, and he's chosen this path.  It's not a path that I will choose, that many others have not chosen.	But I think that this is quite a unique circumstance, and I think that's one of the reasons it's sad.  He's obviously very displeased and discontented with his time here.  " title=" Q    Dana, you've used words like &quot;sad&quot; and &quot;disgruntled&quot; when talking about Scott and the book.  D" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268282" rowid="136530152" side="usa" srcid="268282" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to go here to Jim.  You had one this morning.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272608" rowid="136530720" side="usa" srcid="272608" text=" MS. PERINO:  Goyal.  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298426" rowid="136531387" side="usa" srcid="298426" text=" MS. PERINO:  Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298826" rowid="136531521" side="usa" srcid="298826" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay, can I go to Roger first, then I'll come over to you?  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305150" rowid="136532405" side="usa" srcid="305150" text=" MS. PERINO:  Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306374" rowid="136532605" side="usa" srcid="306374" text=" MS. PERINO:  Go ahead, Les, one question, okay?  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313245" rowid="136533443" side="usa" srcid="313245" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to go to April.	Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316879" rowid="136533869" side="usa" srcid="316879" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to go to Andre.  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317301" rowid="136533954" side="usa" srcid="317301" text=" MS. PERINO:  Goyal, and then I'll come to you, Les.  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317628" rowid="136534002" side="usa" srcid="317628" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to go to Ann.  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-03#entryid_319913" rowid="136534271" side="usa" srcid="319913" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to go back here just real quick.  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320126" rowid="136534303" side="usa" srcid="320126" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes, Les.  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320137" rowid="136534314" side="usa" srcid="320137" text=" MS. PERINO:  Paula.  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320140" rowid="136534317" side="usa" srcid="320140" text=" MS. PERINO:  John.  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321343" rowid="136534485" side="usa" srcid="321343" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sorry, I'll go to Wendell and come back over here.  Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326695" rowid="136535054" side="usa" srcid="326695" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326699" rowid="136535058" side="usa" srcid="326699" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes, Goyal, go ahead.  " title=" Q    Dana.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313240" rowid="136533438" side="usa" srcid="313240" text=" Q    Dana.  Thank you, Dana.  Two questions.  Was the President grateful or ungrateful that neither the Senator from Arizona, nor the Governor of Alaska allowed partisanship to keep them from calling for Republican Senator Stevens to resign now?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  That's just not a subject I'm commenting on, in regards to that case against Senator Stevens.  The government is the prosecutor in that case.  And since the defendant has said that he wants to exercise his right to appeal, we will decline to comment.  " title=" Q    Dana.  Thank you, Dana.  Two questions.  Was the President grateful or ungrateful that neither" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271603" rowid="136530570" side="usa" srcid="271603" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to go right over here.  I'll come back over there.  " title=" Q    Dana?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322352" rowid="136534530" side="usa" srcid="322352" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes, go ahead.  " title=" Q    Dana?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321132" rowid="136534442" side="usa" srcid="321132" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  We would look to move as quickly as we could.  We will obviously want to consult with members of Congress and with the President-elect's team.  I can't tell you exactly how quickly that will be.  Besides this briefing, I'm mostly focused on working with the Congress on the legislation itself so that we're in a position to have that -- to have the luxury of moving quickly on the person.  " title=" Q    Days?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268295" rowid="136530165" side="usa" srcid="268295" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure it is.  That's part of it.  And my job is to be his spokesperson.  But I also, as many of you in this room know -- especially you -- that I work very hard on behalf of the press as well.  I defend the press, I advocate for the press and I make sure that all of you have answers as quickly as possible to the best of my ability every single day -- Saturdays and Sundays included.  &lt;p /&gt; Ann.  " title=" Q    Define your job for me.  I know Scott in the book says that his job -- he believed his job was" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318555" rowid="136534166" side="usa" srcid="318555" text=" MR. FRATTO:  That's okay, Bill.  " title=" Q    Democrats are talking about another -- I'm sorry --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299232" rowid="136531548" side="usa" srcid="299232" text=" MR. WILDER:  I believe we're having constructive discussions with the North Koreans.  I believe that what we are asking for is reasonable and I think that the other five parties are very much in agreement on that.  So I think there shouldn't be a problem reaching this goal, but again, this is a decision the North Koreans have to make.  " title=" Q    Dennis, do you believe that you're making progress to that end?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299235" rowid="136531551" side="usa" srcid="299235" text=" MR. WILDER:  Certainly, I think that beef as an agenda item has receded.  As you know, we have a voluntary agreement between our beef exporters and Korean beef importers.	That agreement seems to be working extremely well.  American beef is going back into the Korean marketplace, it's popular.	The imports of American beef are going well, as far as we can tell.  &lt;p /&gt; And so I think that while this has been an issue, it is not the issue it was earlier this year.	And as Koreans have more and more beef on the market I think they'll become more and more comfortable.  " title=" Q    Dennis, I don't think you mentioned the issue of beef imports in that list.  Can you tell me f" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-10#entryid_300068" rowid="136531602" side="usa" srcid="300068" text=" Q    Dennis, in the days leading up to this trip, the President has talked about how he raises these issues in private with the Chinese leadership whenever he meets with them.  But on this trip, each day he's been here so far he's raised it in public -- the first day at the dedication of the new embassy; yesterday in the radio address; today at the church.  Can you put that into context for us, why this sort of new, more vocal, more public iteration of this on this trip?  &lt;p&gt; MR. WILDER:  You know, I've seen that speculated on in the press, and I'm just not sure I agree with that line of analysis.  If you look at what the President has been doing in terms of his being the first President to be in public with the Dalai Lama, his meetings at the White House with dissidents, his meetings at the White House with house church activists, his statements in Washington on religious freedom in China -- what we have been doing on this trip, and what he has been doing on this trip, is extremely consistent with the stance that he has taken publicly.  &lt;p /&gt; So it's a little surprising to me, frankly, that everybody is sort of saying we're saying more on this trip.	I think the reason that you may be drawing this conclusion is obviously we're in China for an extended period of time; the President has had occasions to speak to this issue each day, and therefore, it may appear to you a little more emphasis on it.  But that's -- I'm not sure that's really what's happening here.  " title=" Q    Dennis, in the days leading up to this trip, the President has talked about how he raises thes" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299228" rowid="136531544" side="usa" srcid="299228" text=" Q    Dennis, the free trade agreement the two Presidents are going to discuss -- what has the U.S. government communicated to the South Koreans about the likelihood of this free trade deal going through during this Congress?  Has the President said he's going to try, that it's going to get done?  What have we basically told the South Koreans about the likelihood this will get done?  &lt;p&gt; MR. WILDER:  I think in our discussions with the South Koreans we've been very realistic about the situation we face.  We have told them that we are going to work very hard, that American business coalition will work very hard on their behalf, but there are no guarantees that we can get this through the Congress this year.  Obviously with the Colombian free trade agreement on hold and the Panamanian free trade agreement also in a position of limbo at this point it's difficult to be more reassuring than that.  &lt;p /&gt; But what the President has said, and he demonstrated it by going to a meeting the other day on this topic, is that we're going to work for it.  And we hope that Congress will see the economic benefits that can be derived, because they're very apparent from this agreement.  This is the largest free trade agreement since NAFTA.  And every economic group that I know of says that it could add 25 percent to bilateral trade quite easily.  That is something that would be good for American workers and American corporations, and so it should be something that the U.S. Congress should be eager to pass.  " title=" Q    Dennis, the free trade agreement the two Presidents are going to discuss -- what has the U.S. " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-05#entryid_303587" rowid="136532141" side="usa" srcid="303587" text=" MS. PERINO:  I didn't deny it.	I said I declined to comment on it.  And I will decline to comment on it.  " title=" Q    Denying that there is -- that spying --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298816" rowid="136531511" side="usa" srcid="298816" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, it's a comprehensive agreement.  I mean, obviously they're narrowing it down to the issues, but since we haven't been commenting on what those are I'm not going to do so now.  But I will tell you that since it is comprehensive -- across the board from the economic issues, political issues, and diplomatic issues -- that they are -- there's a range of issues in this agreement because we've made it more broad-based; it's not just security-focused, but it talks about political cooperation, economic cooperation, but of course the issues that we've talked about in regards to an aspirational goal for a time horizon, and when we might be able to bring more of our troops home based on success, is part of the discussion and one that's still in negotiations right now.  " title=" Q    Details on what?  What are the --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306394" rowid="136532625" side="usa" srcid="306394" text=" MS. PERINO:  Before he called the President and told him before he made his announcement?  " title=" Q    Did anybody know about McCain's request at the White House before he made it, or was it just a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-10#entryid_300065" rowid="136531599" side="usa" srcid="300065" text=" Q    Did he bring up any individual cases of people who have been arrested recently, or previous lists -- that various people gave the President lists -- Congress gave him 600 names, and so forth -- did he bring up individual cases?	And the second part was about your reference to the door opening a little bit, according to President Hu.  &lt;p&gt; MR. WILDER:  The President -- we've never had the President actually hand over a list of names.  Ambassador Randt has provided the Chinese with a list of the persons of highest concern to us.  So the Chinese know full well who we are concerned about, and that list has been shared with the Chinese side by Ambassador Randt, by Secretary Rice, by others in the administration.  The President certainly talked about human rights and freedom, but he did not get into individual cases.  &lt;p /&gt; I think that it's difficult for me to explain the President of China's statements, so I'm not going to try and overanalyze this.  But I thought that the President of China was trying to say that we have made improvements and we are making improvements in the situation of personal freedoms in China.  I think President Hu was saying, you've gone to church today; you've seen Christians worshiping openly in our society.  I took it to mean that, I think in the future there will be more room for Christians and other religious groups in this society.  &lt;p /&gt; What I hope he means is that the registration of house churches will begin.  We very much hope that there are certain things that they can do here in the near future that would be very helpful.  Many of these house churches, as you know, live on the edge of Chinese law.  Many of them would like to have legal status, and we hope that the Chinese government can move in that direction.  &lt;p /&gt; We hope that the Chinese can move in the direction of Bibles being sold in many different places.	Today there's a restricted number of outlets for buying Bibles in China; we think that ought to be widened.  We hope for a substantial dialogue between the dialogue and the Chinese government, and we look forward to the next round of discussions between the Dalai Lama's representatives and the Chinese government.  So I think there are a lot of areas that we hope are part of what President Hu was alluding to today.   AMBASSADOR JEFFREY:  Back to Iran?  " title=" Q    Did he bring up any individual cases of people who have been arrested recently, or previous li" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303864" rowid="136532157" side="usa" srcid="303864" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't believe so, no.  I think that this has a lot more to do with the terrorists and the extremists and what happened in February of 2006 with the Golden Mosque bombing and the sectarian violence that spiraled out of control from there, than it does about us.  &lt;p /&gt; Look, wars are unpredictable.  You have to change strategy at some point -- at some points along the way.  And you saw that when it came to Iraq. You have to be flexible.  And there's lots of different parts to these wars, too.  This is not a military fight alone.  There was an economic, a political and diplomatic surge at the same time.  It was not just sending 30,000 more troops.  It was fundamentally changing the approach.  " title=" Q    Did he do too little of that potentially earlier, and relied too much on these senior military" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-16#entryid_304969" rowid="136532365" side="usa" srcid="304969" text=" MR. STANZEL:  I don't have a detailed readout of their call.  I was just made aware of that call as we were taking off, so I don't have a detailed readout of it.  &lt;p /&gt; Anything else?  " title=" Q    Did he hear anything this morning from Treasury Secretary Paulson about maybe any other firm t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269188" rowid="136530279" side="usa" srcid="269188" text=" MS. PERINO:  He did meeting with the Vice President.  I believe they had dinner on Tuesday night.  I don't know if that came up.  I'd refer you to his office for more.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  " title=" Q    Did he meet with Cheney?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-15#entryid_300837" rowid="136531721" side="usa" srcid="300837" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  He recorded it this morning.  &lt;p /&gt; All right, thank you all.  " title=" Q    Did he record it today?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-10#entryid_300069" rowid="136531603" side="usa" srcid="300069" text=" MR. WILDER:  He did not talk about that today.	I'm just reiterating what he's discussed in the past on that particular issue.  But that particular issue did not come up in the discussion today.  " title=" Q    Did he say -- did he raise this idea --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273760" rowid="136530957" side="usa" srcid="273760" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  I'll have to leave it to respective countries to speak on behalf of their leaders.  &lt;p /&gt; The other piece that binds, if you will, is the fact that this set of meetings, and then the commitments that flow from it, require us to work together.  So we don't have to -- we won't go back, if you will, to our climate negotiators only negotiating climate text; we now have active work on climate-related trade issues, active work on sectoral approaches.  There's going to be a very intensive exchange on the clean technology fund that was welcomed by all of the leaders.  And then as we develop national plans and strategies, there's much more international exchange on providing each other advice on the programs and strategies that each of us are implementing.  &lt;p /&gt; I had a half-hour hallway conversation the night before last with a senior representative of a major developed country who is very eager to know how we were doing our fuel economy standards and how we have set the criteria for our renewable fuel standards because they're considering doing the same thing.	We have never had that kind of discussion before.  And you're seeing similar programs being developed in the major emerging economies.  &lt;p /&gt; So at this point, I think it is fair to say that we are all very well interlinked, and there's no getting away from it.  " title=" Q    Did he say that in English?  I'm just curious.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-30#entryid_324146" rowid="136534723" side="usa" srcid="324146" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I'm not going to get into any more of the conversations than I've already read out.  But you can know that our position, both privately -- our position in private is the same as our position in public, and that is we see that Hamas needs to stop the rocket attacks.  " title=" Q    Did President Mubarak and the Palestinian leaders urge President Bush to talk to Israel and ha" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-28#entryid_267825" rowid="136530106" side="usa" srcid="267825" text=" MS. PERINO:  Never.  " title=" Q    Did Scott tell you personally about his concerns that he raised in the book?  Because I know y" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-24#entryid_271786" rowid="136530614" side="usa" srcid="271786" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  The President was updated on it.  " title=" Q    Did that come up today and was that part of --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321347" rowid="136534489" side="usa" srcid="321347" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, no, I don't think I -- I didn't say that.  What I was trying to say is that the -- in normal economic times, if a company -- an individual company or individual industry came to the United States government and asked for help when we were in the middle of job growth and GDP growth, then we probably wouldn't even be having this conversation.  &lt;p /&gt; What I'm just trying to say is that the state of the economy is terribly different now, and we have record numbers of unemployment, and we just do not believe that the economy would be able to sustain it.  The ramifications of that type of massive job loss would ripple throughout the entire economy and through the world, as we've seen.  &lt;p /&gt; So we think that we have a responsible and reasonable approach to provide some short-term financing while they also have to come to the table and make really tough decisions, and that includes the creditors, the unions, and the executives.  And there's, as Joel Kaplan told you yesterday, executive compensation limits throughout this bill.	So those are some of the details that we're trying to get to Capitol Hill today as they contemplate the legislation.  They're going to debate it today, and then hopefully there will be a vote later today.  " title=" Q    Did the President -- from your reports earlier -- the President did not foresee any of this fa" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272612" rowid="136530724" side="usa" srcid="272612" text=" MS. PERINO:  I couldn't comment either way, and I haven't on that story that was in The New Yorker.  So I couldn't comment.  &lt;p /&gt; Wendell.  " title=" Q    Did the President ask Congress for $400 million to send covert operatives into the -- on the g" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303273" rowid="136532072" side="usa" srcid="303273" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not that I'm aware of, no.  " title=" Q    Did the President hear from Senator McCain after his speech?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272614" rowid="136530726" side="usa" srcid="272614" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know if I would put it that way, and I don't have the words right in front of me.  But I was there, I think what the President -- a question was asked was, why did you ask Congress to move first, before just go ahead and taking unilateral action.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the things the President reminded them is that there's two moratoriums and you need both of them to be lifted before there could be any drilling in the offshore area.  So he said that he's asking Congress to move and that he would work in concert with them and lift his at the same time so that there would be incentive to get it done at the same time.  So I think that was more along the lines of what he said.  " title=" Q    Did the President tell the columnists today that he's considering repealing the offshore oil d" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-27#entryid_302313" rowid="136531897" side="usa" srcid="302313" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I think he saw some of the coverage of it.  I don't believe he was watching the convention itself.  But I'm sure he'll watch parts of it at some point this week.  You know, he's obviously a fan of politics and campaign politics and enjoys that, and I'm sure he'll find an opportunity to watch some of it here or there.  " title=" Q    Did the President watch any of the Democratic Convention last evening?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308540" rowid="136532995" side="usa" srcid="308540" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think he saw some of it, and then read a lot of the coverage this morning.  " title=" Q    Did the President watch the debate?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307864" rowid="136532884" side="usa" srcid="307864" text=" MR. FRATTO:  He did.  He saw about -- probably about the first half of it.  He thought it was a good debate.  He thought Governor Palin did very well.  " title=" Q    Did the President watch the Palin-Biden debate last night?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-04#entryid_268990" rowid="136530249" side="usa" srcid="268990" text=" MR. HADLEY:  There is -- you know, there are a lot of countries who have expressed interest in the F-22.  As you know, there's legislation that prevents it from being sold abroad, that's on the books.  " title=" Q    Did the Prime Minister ask the President to authorize the sale of F-22 Stealth fighters to Isr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280833" rowid="136531336" side="usa" srcid="280833" text=" MS. PERINO:  Keep that in that same category in terms of operations of things that I would not talk about from here.  " title=" Q    Did they discuss prospects for U.S. forces going into Pakistan at any time to go after these -" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298819" rowid="136531514" side="usa" srcid="298819" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would decline to comment.  " title=" Q    Did they discuss this in their talks that day?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-23#entryid_267457" rowid="136530040" side="usa" srcid="267457" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, no, and I think it might be just a little bit too early to tell.  Now, I don't know what they talk about in their private meetings, and I'm sure General Petraeus continues to give him an update.	On the good news side of things, Iraq has continued to improve from the Iraqi security forces.  Their economy is improving, and the political reconciliation that we are looking for, once the security situation has improved, is all starting to come to fruition.  &lt;p /&gt; And the President has said to General Petraeus, you've done the job we've asked you to do, you've done it well, and let me know what you need and how much you are going to need as you try to finish this out in order to complete the mission.  And one of the things he said to the families yesterday, the families of the fallen when we were at Fort Bragg, is that he can -- he didn't know how else -- how to provide them a lot of comfort, because he knows the pain that they are in.  But he did promise them that their loved one's loss would not be in vain.  &lt;p /&gt; Then he will look to General Petraeus and General Odierno to identify for them -- identify for him what they think can happen in the fall.  And I think that even General Petraeus said that while he would like to be able to and he thinks he'll be able to, it's too early to tell right now.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  " title=" Q    Did they discuss, though, in terms of --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320405" rowid="136534358" side="usa" srcid="320405" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Like we've said, that is a determination that's made by the National Bureau of Economic Research.  What's less important than a term that you ascribe to it is what is actually going on, and that is, many people are hurting.  We have seen problems in the financial markets.  We have small businesses that are struggling because of the credit crunch.  And what's more important is what we're doing to fix those problems.  And we believe we're taking aggressive action to make sure that we can return this economy to growth and -- so small businesses can start hiring, families can start buying products, and the economy will start moving again.  &lt;p /&gt; Paula.  " title=" Q    Did they ever tell you the word &quot;recession&quot;?  Did they tell you, we are in a recession, months" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_272003" rowid="136530676" side="usa" srcid="272003" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I don't think -- no, I don't -- the negotiators are getting into the details.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, David.  " title=" Q    Did they get into the details of it?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-10#entryid_300078" rowid="136531612" side="usa" srcid="300078" text=" AMBASSADOR JEFFREY:  Yes, they have said that if the Georgians cease their activities, pull back and take various steps of a political nature -- that I won't get into, and to some degree, I'm not sure on all the details  &lt;p /&gt; -- that this situation could be resolved peacefully.  So that is they have held that door open.  What we need to see is how they respond to the Georgian steps on the ground, which have been followed up by Georgian contacts with the Russian government, according to what we've heard from the Georgians.  " title=" Q    Did they give you any suggestion that they intend to stop?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273440" rowid="136530880" side="usa" srcid="273440" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think the point of them coming to talk -- to have a readout meeting -- of that meeting was for a couple of reasons.  One, there's a lot of issues that the G8 is dealing with in regards to Africa, from food and energy, clean energy development, water projects, the accountability issue that we just talked about.   MR. PRICE:  Infrastructure, health, education.   MS. PERINO:  NTDs -- neglected tropical diseases.  There's a wide range of issues.  And this G8 summit, in many regards, as it has in the past, has been overtaken by discussions about climate change, which is a very important topic and one that we will spend a considerable amount of time on tomorrow.  But this was a chance for the President to say, here I am with my friend, President Kikwete, who I met just in February of 2008, and we had very good discussions on a range of issues.	He's representing the African Union.  And it was a chance for him to announce that he'd invited President Kikwete to the White House and he'll be here at the end of August -- August 29th, I think is the date.   MR. PRICE:  And if I could say, there was very little discussion in these two sessions about climate change.  The focus really was on health, on agriculture, on education, on infrastructure development. And some of the observations that came from African leaders about climate change were more or less focused on what the G8 could do in terms of in the area of science and technology, developing technologies and making those available in Africa and the developing world.  " title=" Q    Did they just want to show that while they had differences on the sanction issue that the disc" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-11#entryid_316203" rowid="136533773" side="usa" srcid="316203" text=" MS. PERINO:  They did.	They spent almost the entire flight from Washington to New York with the President.  And so they had a chance to meet with him.  He told me that they were very inspiring and a very impressive group of people, and he enjoyed spending time with them very much.  &lt;p /&gt; A couple of facts for you.  Under this administration we have nearly doubled funding for veterans over the past seven years -- provided more than $1 billion over the past three years for the VA to support traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder -- both the research and the treatment of that disorder; expanding the time that family members of injured service members can take away from work to care for loved ones -- that's something that we announced more recently; made it easier for active-duty service members to transfer unused education benefits to family -- that was part of the legislation that we worked on, one of the things that the military members said that they wanted the most.  And since taking office, we helped enroll more than 1.9 million veterans in the health care system, and we've also cut the number of homeless veterans by nearly 40 percent.  But there's no time to waste and there's more work to do in that regard.  &lt;p /&gt; Had a lot of questions today about two reports, one in The New York Times and The Washington Post that were sourced to an unidentified aide, suggesting that they knew what the President and President-elect Obama had spoken about yesterday in regards to the economy.  What I would tell you about that is that they did speak about a range of issues, both domestic and international, and they did spend some time talking about the economy.  But in no way did President Bush suggest that there was a quid pro quo when it came to Colombia free trade agreement or the other free trade agreements.  They both shared their ideas as to what could be done to help improve the economy.  President Bush has long stood for the free trade agreements.  He believes that they can and should pass on their merits.  We are a country that should be open to foreign investment and also we should try to continue to grow our export business, which has been one of the things -- the bright spots in our economy, even during this downturn.  &lt;p /&gt; We have 20 leaders that are going to gather together Friday and Saturday in our nation's capital to talk about the financial markets, and one of the things that the President will be talking about there is the importance of free trade.  But while there's been a lot of discussion in regards to what the Democrats may or may not propose in regards to a second stimulus, as well as discussion about the auto industry, we have said we are willing to listen to ideas that the Democrats would come forth with if they have some on how to accelerate loans to the auto industry through that 136 program through the Energy Department.	We've been saying that for a few days.  We're anxious to see if the Democrats are going to come forward with anything.  We don't think we've seen anything yet.  &lt;p /&gt; I've also gotten several requests wanting to know if there is irritation at the White House towards the Obama team, and you're not going to hear that from me, because I think when you're dealing with unidentified aides, as we have done over the past eight years, from all different types of aides that choose to be nameless rather than to say what they feel like they want to say on the record -- it happens.  And we just want to make sure that we let everybody know that the President did not suggest a quid pro quo, but he did talk about the merits of free trade in hopes that the next administration will recognize that not only is that good for our businesses -- especially if you want to create jobs, one of the best ways to do that is to open up new markets for our businesses and our entrepreneurs.  &lt;p /&gt; And we've talked about, when it comes to Colombia -- in Colombia our goods go there and are taxed at a high rate, whereas the Colombian goods come into our country free of charge.  We think that that's unfair, and sitting in front of Congress right now is the opportunity to change that.  We also are pushing for free trade agreements with South Korea and Panama, and we think that by doing so, we would be able to help create a better job market and also bring in more money into our economy.  " title=" Q    Did they talk to the President?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-02#entryid_268527" rowid="136530200" side="usa" srcid="268527" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think it was actually -- I'm not sure if it's West Bank or Jerusalem.  So -- but our position on the settlements is that we don't believe that any more settlements should be built, and we know that it exacerbates the tension when it comes to the negotiations with the Palestinians.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  " title=" Q    Did you find out anything more about the new housing that was announced over the weekend in th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307880" rowid="136532900" side="usa" srcid="307880" text=" MR. FRATTO:  You hit the bulls-eye with that one, Mark.  (Laughter.)  It turns out that the excise tax is -- would be 39 cents an arrow, but it only costs about 30 cents an arrow to make, so there are very real reasons why you wouldn't want to have that kind of tax on that kind of product.  &lt;p /&gt; So I would point you to what Representative McCrery put out.  He has a document that explains each one of these provisions.  And the entire package of extenders is something that we are very, very comfortable supporting.  &lt;p /&gt; I'll get to you, Adam.	I'll get to you now, actually.  " title=" Q    Did you get the point?  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-19#entryid_271250" rowid="136530510" side="usa" srcid="271250" text=" MR. STANZEL:  I sure did.  " title=" Q    Did you go to Iowa State?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-10#entryid_309001" rowid="136533076" side="usa" srcid="309001" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I don't think so.  I think that it all happened so fast it was --  " title=" Q    Did you guys talk to him about retracting --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-23#entryid_318366" rowid="136534092" side="usa" srcid="318366" text=" MS. PERINO:  Bib?  " title=" Q    Did you have a favorite bib?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-23#entryid_318367" rowid="136534093" side="usa" srcid="318367" text=" MS. PERINO:  What?  " title=" Q    Did you have a favorite bib?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-23#entryid_318365" rowid="136534091" side="usa" srcid="318365" text=" MS. PERINO:  Bibs?  Or would you call them a poncho?  " title=" Q    Did you not see the bibs?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-16#entryid_304988" rowid="136532384" side="usa" srcid="304988" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  That's what the power companies are telling us.  By the end of the week, they should be back up around 70 percent.  " title=" Q    Did you say by the end of the week you expect 70 percent of the power in Houston back on?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-25#entryid_280662" rowid="136531298" side="usa" srcid="280662" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, for the tour?  To be determined; probably pool.  And then for the remarks, open.  I just don't know how large the space is.  &lt;p /&gt; Wednesday, the 30th, he will have a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room -- all right, no laughing?  I said the Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room and I got no laughs, nothing.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Did you say coverage on the economy thing?  Open?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301172" rowid="136531786" side="usa" srcid="301172" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Unembargoed.  So you'll have a chance to go ahead -- obviously tomorrow is a busy day.  There's two -- really two different components to it, with the VFW speech in the morning, whereas, as I said when Mark asked, I expect the President will address the latest on Russia and Georgia.  And then, afternoon, he goes to talk about Gulf Coast recovery efforts.  We thought it would be a good idea and a good opportunity for you all to go ahead and release the New Orleans remarks this afternoon so you have a chance to file on those.  &lt;p /&gt; Deb.  " title=" Q    Did you say unembargoed, Gordon?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-13#entryid_270275" rowid="136530393" side="usa" srcid="270275" text=" MRS. BUSH:  The grounds were very beautiful and the garden that I happened to walk by, that they walked with me by, was the Mexico Garden with the Virgin of Guadalupe statue, which was very interesting and -- for me to see because I've always had a particular interest in the Virgin of Guadalupe because of our closeness to Mexico in Texas.  It's a -- the Virgin of Guadalupe is also one of the saints that people in Texas look to.  " title=" Q    Did you see anything interesting on the grounds?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298606" rowid="136531434" side="usa" srcid="298606" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we can go back and check the transcripts, but there's -- nobody was saying that we expected big growth in that quarter.  And I think actually people were quite -- not surprised -- not pleasantly surprised, but pleased that we were at .6.  So now it's revised back.  I mean, that happens.  &lt;p /&gt; But since then, you've had three quarters where we see a trend going in the right direction.  A couple of reasons for that is the President recognized this problem early in the fall last year and worked to address it.  When it looked like we needed an even bigger emphasis on the stimulus package, the President came back from his Middle East trip and worked with the leaders in Congress on a bipartisan basis and got it passed.  And now we're seeing that stimulus package actually have an impact.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, the housing crisis has lasted longer than any of us would like, but we hope that this housing bill will be able to help us send a signal to the market to increase stability, confidence in the market, to help pull us out of it.  In addition to that, I think nearly all of the stimulus checks are out, and the retailers are showing signs of renewed vigor in their sector.  &lt;p /&gt; But there's no doubt that the energy prices are a drag on this.  And so we are going to have to keep working at it.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay?  " title=" Q    Didn't say flat.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-01#entryid_307393" rowid="136532818" side="usa" srcid="307393" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, we didn't want a lot of add-ons.  We didn't want things that we felt would be harmful to the economy.  But since we started working with the Congress 10 days ago on the actual legislation, we've made a number of changes and modifications.  The things that are being added on right now, on the tax extenders, these are things that we have all supported.  In fact, both Houses support extending the tax credits for renewable energy; both support AMT reform.  There's a dispute in terms of whether they should be offset, and of course, we have opposed increasing taxes to pay for fixing a problem in the tax code.  And the FDIC decision has been a recent one that we think will garner some additional support.  &lt;p /&gt; So, yes, look, this is not -- it's never a straight line in trying to get legislation like this, and we're very appreciative of the Senate's efforts to try to develop this legislation in a way that will be successful.  &lt;p /&gt; Wendell.  " title=" Q    Didn't you want a clean bill, though?  You didn't want a lot of add-ons and you're ending up w" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270980" rowid="136530484" side="usa" srcid="270980" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Actually, stay with oil and then --  " title=" Q    Different subject.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-30#entryid_324144" rowid="136534721" side="usa" srcid="324144" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Different topic.  Is anyone still on this?  All right, Elaine, go ahead.  " title=" Q    Different topic?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-19#entryid_271267" rowid="136530527" side="usa" srcid="271267" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  It's obviously not as big as Katrina, no question about it.  It's probably one of the largest ones we've responded to, particularly it's going to be housing side, and the number of states it's covered.  The next biggest was the California wildfires, but that only involved one state.  So this is several states, so this is the biggest one we've done since Katrina.  " title=" Q    Director Paulison, in terms of disasters that the government has faced since Katrina, can you " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303112" rowid="136532038" side="usa" srcid="303112" text=" MS. PERINO:  Of course he would have liked to have been there.	But again, we can't control the timing of the hurricanes, and not just Hurricane Gustav, but the ones that are churning out in the Atlantic.  " title=" Q    Disappointed that he won't be there?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267055" rowid="136530018" side="usa" srcid="267055" text=" MR. FISK:  It's our understanding that they work -- cell phones from the United States work there, as actually there are other services as well.  " title=" Q    Do cell phones from the U.S. work in Cuba, or do they have to be activated there?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324596" rowid="136534850" side="usa" srcid="324596" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that what the Gazans deserve is a chance to live in peace and security.  What President Bush has worked for is a chance to establish a two-state solution, so that the Palestinians could have their own state, so that they could live in their own democracy.  And that's what President Abbas, who is the President of all Palestinians, has been working towards.  " title=" Q    Do the Gazans have a right to defend themselves?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304045" rowid="136532200" side="usa" srcid="304045" text=" Q    Do you -- have you or the White House been able to get a sense of -- I think a lot of people were looking towards this -- towards the security gains that have been made in Iraq and thinking that there might be a bigger troop withdrawal announcement.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well one thing President Bush has said, and he asked his commanders, is how do we make sure that the gains that we have made in security are cemented enough so that when we do pull back, it won't be -- it won't mean that terrorists come back and fill that space.  So President Bush thinks that taking 8,000 troops out is the recommendation from the Pentagon, and the one that is prudent right now.  &lt;p /&gt; And Secretary -- I'm sorry, General Petraeus believes that further reductions are possible in the first half of 2009, but it's going to have to depend on conditions on the ground.	And so we'll continue to look at it.  I think that either way, the President -- people would question -- should he send more/should he send less?  He thinks that he hit it just right, that the Pentagon's recommendation was about the right size.  " title=" Q    Do you -- have you or the White House been able to get a sense of -- I think a lot of people w" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300772" rowid="136531717" side="usa" srcid="300772" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that it was not just the U.S. position; it was the U.S. joined by its international allies telling Russia and Georgia that this was our position.	Georgia immediately agreed two days before Russia did to a cease-fire.  But Russia agreed to the six-point plan that President Sarkozy put forward on behalf of the unified message of the international community.  And we expect them to live up to those obligations.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Toby.  " title=" Q    Do you -- to the degree that decrease in violence is happening, do you attribute that at all t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308769" rowid="136533037" side="usa" srcid="308769" text=" MS. PERINO:  Right.  I haven't seen the NIE.  It's not been finalized, and I don't -- and I believe Secretary Rice even said this morning that she hasn't even seen it.  &lt;p /&gt; So, however, having said that, I don't think it should come as a surprise to anybody that things are tough in Afghanistan right now.  We have been saying that for a while.  The purpose of what we're working on right now is to put Afghanistan on the right footing for long-term success.  &lt;p /&gt; We have done a variety of things over the past couple of years to deal with what is a dynamic situation.  The war in Afghanistan has changed dramatically.  We've made significant progress since 2001, but in several of the provinces, especially on the border -- in the border area, we have a lot of problems.  It's one of the reasons that we've increased our troop presence.  Let me just see here, just to check -- we now have a total of 31,000 troops in Afghanistan.  That's up from 21,000 that we had.  Secretary Gates yesterday was in Europe asking our allies to consider adding more troops, which they've been willing to do.  We also changed the command structure so that General McKiernan could have a more seamless chain of command to make sure that we are being as effective as possible.  &lt;p /&gt; We have some challenges in regards to just even dealing with the poverty of Afghanistan.  Some people might say that we're in the middle of reconstruction.  I think you could also say that we're actually in the mode of construction, because there was really nothing to rebuild.  &lt;p /&gt; So we have a long way to go, and we're working on it.  One of the things that this transition team will do is make sure that the next team has what they need, the information that they require, so that they can hit the ground running on January 20th.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Do you agree with the NIE that apparently said that Afghanistan is in a downward spiral and th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-28#entryid_267832" rowid="136530113" side="usa" srcid="267832" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think it's necessary to do that for this situation. You know, you can go through that, look at it yourself.  I don't think it's the White House's responsibility to do a fact check of someone's memoirs, where they're rewriting what we all thought was a very different history with him at the White House.  " title=" Q    Do you anticipate doing sort of a line-by-line denial of or go through --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-26#entryid_319134" rowid="136534212" side="usa" srcid="319134" text=" MR. FRATTO:  That's a decision that Secretary Paulson will make.  He continues to work on programs that he thinks will be effective.  If he feels that he needs to go back to Congress, he wouldn't hesitate to do so.  But he's still working on the development of programs, depending on what the needs are in the financial crisis right now.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Roger.  " title=" Q    Do you anticipate going back to Congress to get the second part of that $700 billion?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273414" rowid="136530862" side="usa" srcid="273414" text=" MR. CONNAUGHTON:  The issue of taking the lead is one that the developed countries currently have a strong commitment to in the context of the Framework Convention on Climate Change, which sets forth that principle as to developed countries.  One of the questions now with the joint leadership of the major economies is the extent to which other countries will join in leadership.  And so that's what I'd be looking for if I were you, because the G8 leaders have already made that kind of a statement in the past and they continue to support leadership by the G8.  " title=" Q    Do you anticipate that the statement by the G8 will say that the G8 countries will take the le" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-25#entryid_301991" rowid="136531867" side="usa" srcid="301991" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I can't speculate on when or how that would get done.  Like I said, we're focused on the other civil nuclear agreement right now.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Roger.  " title=" Q    Do you anticipate this agreement being completed this year -- the Russian agreement?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298798" rowid="136531493" side="usa" srcid="298798" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  I haven't heard whether Mr. Solana has heard any more from the Iranians.  We will consult with our allies in the P5-plus-1 talks, and see where we go from here.  I just haven't heard from the Iranians.  They're a little bit unpredictable in how they would respond.  I think they've sent some messages over the week that were very -- I would say the Iranians sent mixed messages this week, and it's really hard to tell what the bottom line is.  And so we'll need to wait and see if they do respond formally.  &lt;p /&gt; This was -- we asked them for -- we gave them two weeks, and you're right that that would be tomorrow.  And if there's something later today, I'll try to provide it for you.	But for the moment, I think maybe if you want to check with Mr. Solana's office to see if they've heard anything.  " title=" Q    Do you expect a response by the Iranians this weekend to the offer by the P5-plus-1?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278864" rowid="136531032" side="usa" srcid="278864" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would think so, but can I check with Legislative Affairs and just to see, because I -- part of this is not a time that we would decide.  We've tried to work with Congress and be respectful of when they're going to be here.  &lt;p /&gt; Matt.  " title=" Q    Do you expect a veto by Wednesday?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267018" rowid="136529952" side="usa" srcid="267018" text=" MS. PERINO:  We would like -- if you look at the vote count, an override is probably likely, just looking at the raw numbers of it.  But I do think that members are going to have to think about how they will explain these votes back in their districts at a time when prices are on the rise.  People are not going to want to see their taxes increased for farmers that we believe are already well taken care of in the marketplace.  So -- there are also some other interesting pieces of the bill.  For example, the increasing government intervention in the sugar markets is something that we strongly object to, amongst other things that you've seen in our statements of administration policy.  &lt;p /&gt; So as soon as the President vetoes that bill we will let you know.  And in the meantime we'll be continuing to work with members of Congress to explain why the President is going to veto this bill and why he thinks it's a bad deal.  And then they'll have to decide when it goes down to a veto vote how they're going to counter their vote.  &lt;p /&gt; Anyone else on farm bill?  " title=" Q    Do you expect an override?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303291" rowid="136532090" side="usa" srcid="303291" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  Well, we're looking -- we have Mississippi's, we're looking at that now.  We're going to evaluate it and see what kind of damage they had.  Obviously Louisiana got the brunt of the storm this time, so that was an easy one to do.	And we've got Mississippi's.  Florida submitted one, and I'm sure Alabama and Texas will be doing the same thing pretty soon.  " title=" Q    Do you expect any more disaster declarations today?  You did one yesterday for Louisiana; any " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-23#entryid_267455" rowid="136530038" side="usa" srcid="267455" text=" MS. PERINO:  Chris?  Ambassador Hill?  I don't know, but we can check.  &lt;p /&gt; Wendell.  " title=" Q    Do you expect him to stop here before he goes over there?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313274" rowid="136533472" side="usa" srcid="313274" text=" MS. PERINO:  Typically at these meetings there is a joint statement or a communique that's issued at the end of it.  I don't see any reason why that wouldn't happen here, but I don't  -- I can't tell you for sure because they're talking with all of their counterparts.  So when we have more I'll provide it.  " title=" Q    Do you expect that there will be any papers issued, drafts, prior to the --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320579" rowid="136534396" side="usa" srcid="320579" text=" MS. PERINO:  Will the President be briefed on it?  " title=" Q    Do you expect that to come up in today's trip to the DNI and the counterterrorism center?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-09#entryid_269551" rowid="136530314" side="usa" srcid="269551" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not aware of one, but we'll let you know.  " title=" Q    Do you expect the -- in the summit a combined statement as part of the declaration to include " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-09#entryid_269561" rowid="136530324" side="usa" srcid="269561" text=" MR. PRICE:  Yes.  We expect there to be a declaration coming out of the U.S.-EU summit, which will touch on a variety of the issues that both Judy and I have discussed.  There will be a section on that in that declaration on climate change and energy security, as there will be on many of the other economic and development topics.  " title=" Q    Do you expect the U.S-EU summit itself to produce any kind of statement on any of the climate " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-23#entryid_318376" rowid="136534102" side="usa" srcid="318376" text=" MR. PRICE:  I would say that these two summits coming in such close succession with the significant players all represented at one summit or the other -- it shows a renewed, if not newfound, commitment to completing a modalities agreement this year.  &lt;p /&gt; And if I could just offer a final observation, the United States came to APEC with an affirmative agenda -- not simply to say goodbye, but with a strong, affirmative agenda.  And that agenda we believe is realized and well reflected not only in the declarations, but in the statements of other leaders who signaled their broad support for that agenda.  &lt;p /&gt; Thank you.  " title=" Q    Do you feel that these two summits taken together -- would you go so far as to say that these " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-02#entryid_319780" rowid="136534254" side="usa" srcid="319780" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would not comment on that.  I think that unless they want to change their travel plans or announce anything, I'll just leave it to them.  " title=" Q    Do you foresee her going to Pakistan at all?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273756" rowid="136530953" side="usa" srcid="273756" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  I have high confidence that this meeting will occur next year and it will be successful in advancing the political impetus necessary to get a deal at the end of next year.  All of the specific numbers -- the long-term goal, the midterm goals -- those will ultimately be decided at the U.N. Convention at the end of next year, but there are things that countries can do with respect to their own national statements that can help provide some hope for a good outcome at the end of next year.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think between now and the meeting next year, I would expect that most if not all of the major economies will have clearly articulated their national strategies, and they'll begin to sort of -- all the countries will then sort of look at each other's and check to see how ambitious they are, check to see how realistic they are, and I think there will be a lot of technical exchange, just to make sure that everybody is carrying forward with a reasonable level of ambition, realism, and achievability.  So I think that will be one of the core tests for next year.  " title=" Q    Do you get the impression that these other countries are going to be there in Italy, or that t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298796" rowid="136531491" side="usa" srcid="298796" text=" Q    Do you guys have any response to China's rebuking the President for meeting with the five Chinese dissidents on Monday, saying that basically he -- they say the U.S. made irresponsible remarks on China's human rights and religious situations, rudely interfered in China's internal affairs, sent a wrong, seriously wrong, message to anti-China forces?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, President Bush has good relationships with the Chinese, which is why he is able to have frank, open and candid conversations with them.  And we are less concerned with their public comments than we are with actions on the ground in China.  We would like to see an improvement in human rights, freedom and democracy in that country.  And they know where the President stands.  And so I think we're just less concerned about what they would say about the President meeting with dissidents than actually what happens inside the country.  &lt;p /&gt; Sandra.  " title=" Q    Do you guys have any response to China's rebuking the President for meeting with the five Chin" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267082" rowid="136529967" side="usa" srcid="267082" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, this is much more -- let me go back and look at the drafts; they've been moving through the system and I saw an early one earlier in the week.  This is really about a slightly -- giving an update on where we are in Iraq, but mostly to thank the troops for their service and to welcome them back.  These are troops that are returning on success, so the President will spend a little time with them.  In addition to that, the President will spend time at a memorial service with families of the fallen before returning home.  " title=" Q    Do you have a little preview on the Fort Bragg speech tomorrow -- main message?  What's he goi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308531" rowid="136532986" side="usa" srcid="308531" text=" MS. PERINO:  Given that the Justice Department has completed that litigation, I wouldn't have a comment.	Obviously, they did the right thing.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Paula.  " title=" Q    Do you have a reaction to it from the White House?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308093" rowid="136532944" side="usa" srcid="308093" text=" MR. STANZEL:  That is at -- we'll get that to you.  " title=" Q    Do you have a time on that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325256" rowid="136534915" side="usa" srcid="325256" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look, she worked around the clock.  We're working to do it as fast as we possibly can, but there's a lot of other actors here, as well.  The easiest thing to stop the situation would be for Hamas to stop sending rockets into Israel.  I think there were 35 that were sent from Gaza into Israel yesterday, and if that was to halt, I think a cease-fire would be something that would be achieved much more quickly than if they don't.  " title=" Q    Do you have a timeline at all in mind?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-16#entryid_270424" rowid="136530419" side="usa" srcid="270424" text=" MR. HADLEY:  No.  As the President said, he'll go back and his policy advisors are looking at what can be accomplished.  He'll look at those -- that work and make some judgment about what is the best composition of the delegation to go represent our country.  &lt;p /&gt; You also heard them talk about Doha and what's needed to require -- needed to advance progress there.  And of course Zimbabwe -- a call for international presence on the ground for these elections coming up in a little less than two weeks; calling on the government to stop their intimidation against the opposition and their intimidation on their own people; and to let there be a free and fair election.  That's what's required.  That's what the Zimbabwean leadership owe their people.  &lt;p /&gt; That's basically a very productive meeting.  Questions?  " title=" Q    Do you have an idea of who is going for the United States?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279917" rowid="136531145" side="usa" srcid="279917" text=" MS. PERINO:  We can get it for you, but I think it's nearly 90 percent.  " title=" Q    Do you have any figures on how much of the construction costs are being paid by Iraq, Iraqis? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301169" rowid="136531783" side="usa" srcid="301169" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  We want to move them in as quickly as possible.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, sir.  " title=" Q    Do you have any idea how long it might be before there are international monitors?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312325" rowid="136533336" side="usa" srcid="312325" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't, although I would remind you that in the legislation, in the rescue package legislation, it gives you some tools -- gives us some tools as the federal government -- to work within that legislation, and I believe within those dollars, to be able to work on anything that we would add to this program.  " title=" Q    Do you have any idea how much this would cost or if there is a cost to taxpayers?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267047" rowid="136530010" side="usa" srcid="267047" text=" MR. FISK:  Well, that will be interesting to see how the Castro regime responds to that.  I mean, it seems to me that that's a very fair question and one to be asked of the people in Havana.  " title=" Q    Do you have any indication that mobile phones will actually be able to reach -- be allowed int" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-18#entryid_322957" rowid="136534565" side="usa" srcid="322957" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I don't.  " title=" Q    Do you have any information if the journalist has been beaten or tortured in Iraqi custody?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326704" rowid="136535063" side="usa" srcid="326704" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't -- you know, I don't know.  No.  Well, I don't know.  (Laughter.)  I'll take suggestions.  But I really haven't had a lot of time to think about what I'm going to do.  I hope to be able to get out and give some speeches about my experiences here.  &lt;p /&gt; But my husband and I are going to go and volunteer at a PEPFAR site that's south of Cape Town for a couple of weeks in February, and I want to be able to talk about that experience in some way when I get back, if any of you will listen, because I wanted to go -- you know, I talk about the statistics all the time and how only 50,000 people were being helped in Sub-Saharan Africa when the President took office, and now it's over 2.2 million.  &lt;p /&gt; I use those -- I say those statistics a lot to make the case for why that program is so good, but I want to go and experience it personally, firsthand, and to see how American taxpayer dollars are being put to good use, and hopefully come back and be able to tell you guys about it.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    Do you have any plans to write a book about your experiences here?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271607" rowid="136530574" side="usa" srcid="271607" text=" MS. PERINO:  Only based on past experience, that deadlines have been kicked down the road before.  But I couldn't say either way whether or not they'll meet this one.  We hope that they do, but when they do and if they do, it has to be one that is correct and verifiable.  &lt;p /&gt; Laurent.  " title=" Q    Do you have any reason to believe that they won't do it on -- by Thursday, as they --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326726" rowid="136535085" side="usa" srcid="326726" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm sure that that I'll have -- I'm going to go on a six-week trip with my husband, and I'm sure there will be long enough flights for me to think about all the things we could have done better.  Any press secretary always wants to be more proactive, but news happens all over the world.	And now with the 24/7 news cycle, in many ways sometimes you feel like you're just trying to keep up with that.  And so it's not a regret or a disappointment, it's just a fact of life.  &lt;p /&gt; I told someone earlier today that on Friday, I had finally cleaned out my in-box, got it down to 997 emails.  And when I got here on Monday morning, over the weekend -- and I had been working over the weekend -- I had then 2,172 emails.  So it's a brutal pace and a lot of information coming at you.  And that was just on a weekend where we didn't have a lot of news.  So I think it's time for me to exit stage left.  " title=" Q    Do you have any regrets or anything that -- or things you're particularly proud of or --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-20#entryid_301277" rowid="136531798" side="usa" srcid="301277" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No, I think the Department of Energy has issued a statement on that, so I don't have an --  " title=" Q    Do you have anything -- aside from this issue -- Secretary Bodman apparently is in a Boston ho" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-17#entryid_279602" rowid="136531125" side="usa" srcid="279602" text=" UNDER SECRETARY REY:  The death toll for these fires so far has been zero civilian deaths, three firefighter deaths.  One of those three was on duty, as a result of a heart attack.	The other two were off duty; one was a drowning accident, and the other was an automobile accident.  I don't have any updated numbers on injuries, although we have not had any life-threatening injuries.  " title=" Q    Do you have anything -- do you have anything on the death toll?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-16#entryid_304972" rowid="136532368" side="usa" srcid="304972" text=" MR. STANZEL:  No, I mean, the President spoke with Secretary Paulson this morning.  As you've heard the President say and as Secretary Paulson said, we're encouraged that economic officials and market participants are doing all they can to promote market stability.  The health of the financial markets is very important to our overall economy.  So it is something that we're watching closely.  The President is staying in touch with his advisors and paying close attention to what's going on in the markets, and he'll have an opportunity to receive a briefing from the working group this afternoon.  " title=" Q    Do you have anything new to report on the financial situation?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-29#entryid_268052" rowid="136530122" side="usa" srcid="268052" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm sorry -- but if the location is a private residence, then the practice is that they're closed.  " title=" Q    Do you have anything on --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-17#entryid_270685" rowid="136530428" side="usa" srcid="270685" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I don't.  I know that they continue the talks.  Sue Schwab, the USTR, and the Korean negotiators are continuing to discuss these matters.  We hope they can come to a conclusion that's good for both countries.  " title=" Q    Do you have anything on the beef negotiation?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-29#entryid_268051" rowid="136530121" side="usa" srcid="268051" text=" MS. PERINO:  I saw a brief report about it.  I don't know a lot about the decision.  I think that I would go back to that the President believes that we should try to make this decision based on a nationwide agreement for the what the definition of a marriage should be, and that activist judges and different states trying to impose something of that importance on the rest of the nation is to be looked at skeptically.  " title=" Q    Do you have anything on the Governor of New York's decision to recognize gay marriages from ot" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303276" rowid="136532075" side="usa" srcid="303276" text=" MS. PERINO:  I've seen the reports and I don't know.  I'd have to refer you to State Department on that.  " title=" Q    Do you have confirmation that these reports are true?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326705" rowid="136535064" side="usa" srcid="326705" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I think I'll be able to get you that over the weekend, but I think it's mainly going to be -- I think his parents will be on the flight with them, then a lot of long-time staffers.  So let us see if we can get that for you.  Some people who are headed back to Texas will be able to go back with him.  And Josh Bolten will be on the flight, and Joel Kaplan.  &lt;p /&gt; Mike.  " title=" Q    Do you have more details on who will be on the plane with the President when he goes back to -" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-17#entryid_310359" rowid="136533174" side="usa" srcid="310359" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't.  Let's move on, please.  " title=" Q    Do you have no comment --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-20#entryid_301292" rowid="136531813" side="usa" srcid="301292" text=" MR. CONWAY:  Well, you would have to look at it by sector, ma'am.  If you're talking schools, libraries, that type of thing?  " title=" Q    Do you have overall numbers for the whole Gulf Coast?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-05#entryid_273377" rowid="136530844" side="usa" srcid="273377" text=" MR. WILDER:  We don't have dates yet.  We're still working with the six parties to settle the exact dates, but we're coming close.  " title=" Q    Do you have rough dates?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266847" rowid="136529906" side="usa" srcid="266847" text=" MS. PERINO:  The military would have to decide what course of action would be -- would take place.  And the Multi-National Force in Iraq is prepared to answer those questions.  I talked to them a little bit earlier.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Do you know -- the Iraqis have talked about a trial for this soldier.  Does the President have" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_325007" rowid="136534876" side="usa" srcid="325007" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think it will probably be less than half an hour.  " title=" Q    Do you know about how long the one-on-one meeting with Obama will be?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_324997" rowid="136534866" side="usa" srcid="324997" text=" MS. PERINO:  I haven't seen it yet and I'll let her talk about that.  I'll see if I can get some more information.  I just know that it has arrived.  " title=" Q    Do you know anything about it or why they're doing -- because not every President does this ki" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-05#entryid_273358" rowid="136530825" side="usa" srcid="273358" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I don't, I really don't.  " title=" Q    Do you know anything?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-17#entryid_310368" rowid="136533183" side="usa" srcid="310368" text=" MS. PERINO:  National Security Council staff.  There's a range of people.  I'm not going to get into the details of the briefings, but I would say that they're at a high enough level that they will be sufficiently informed and have everything that they need and have the right people to ask questions of.  " title=" Q    Do you know by whom?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299212" rowid="136531528" side="usa" srcid="299212" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't believe he has.  I don't believe he has.  " title=" Q    Do you know if he is -- do you know if the President has spoken with Senator Stevens since the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-21#entryid_301405" rowid="136531820" side="usa" srcid="301405" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  He did not stay up, I think, to the very end.  But he was told this morning about the results, and you can imagine he thought it was very good.  " title=" Q    Do you know if he stayed up to watch the beach volleyball game last night?	(Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324566" rowid="136534796" side="usa" srcid="324566" text=" MS. PERINO:  I haven't been in the habit of talking about every time that they've spoken, but I think that they shared a New Year's Eve* call, but I don't know if they spoke about that in particular.  " title=" Q    Do you know if President Bush spoke personally to Barack Obama on the Gaza crisis?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322343" rowid="136534521" side="usa" srcid="322343" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't -- I have no idea.  I don't think so, but I don't know.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q    Do you know if the President has ever met Madoff?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-12#entryid_304566" rowid="136532301" side="usa" srcid="304566" text=" MR. FRATTO:  He saw some of the coverage.  He thought she handled herself well.  " title=" Q    Do you know if the President watched Governor Palin's interview on ABC?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-23#entryid_318372" rowid="136534098" side="usa" srcid="318372" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to comment on it.  I'm just going to refer you over there, to the Treasury Department.  " title=" Q    Do you know if the President would be supportive of a federal rescue?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321329" rowid="136534471" side="usa" srcid="321329" text=" MS. PERINO:  As far as I know, I think we're just to the library and back -- or to the school and back, excuse me.  But I'll check, I don't think there is anything planned.  &lt;p /&gt; Let me go back up here.  Ben.  " title=" Q    Do you know if there's any side trip to his father's library, or any other facilities while he" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-12#entryid_304568" rowid="136532303" side="usa" srcid="304568" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I don't know.  I don't know.  The President is -- you have to remember, this is an election all the way with a deep ticket.  I mean, with Senate candidates, State parties and members of the House of Representatives that the President wants to support and raise money for also.  &lt;p /&gt; And we need to be strong all the way through this ticket.  And the President has -- the President has raised a lot of money in this campaign.  He'll continue to raise more money.  And we're going to make sure that those funds are put to good use to help those candidates.  " title=" Q    Do you know if they're going to appear together at all?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-12#entryid_304571" rowid="136532306" side="usa" srcid="304571" text=" MR. FRATTO:  There will be more.  I don't have a schedule for you on other fundraisers.  " title=" Q    Do you know of any other fundraisers that Bush is going to be attending between now and the el" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298813" rowid="136531508" side="usa" srcid="298813" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not off the top of my head.  We have two SAPs out, so I'd refer you to those for now.  And Scott Stanzel back at the office might have more.  &lt;p /&gt; Kevin.  " title=" Q    Do you know what the concerns were?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306400" rowid="136532631" side="usa" srcid="306400" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't.  I'll try to check, but I don't know.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, April.  " title=" Q    Do you know what the plans are for the candidates, as well as the leaders, after the meeting? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-16#entryid_304994" rowid="136532390" side="usa" srcid="304994" text=" MR. STANZEL:  They talked about the financial markets.	I don't have any other details of their call.  " title=" Q    Do you know what they talked about?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311470" rowid="136533277" side="usa" srcid="311470" text=" MS. PERINO:  Of the date?  This morning.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, sir, in the back.  " title=" Q    Do you know when the candidates were informed of the date?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-02#entryid_324401" rowid="136534774" side="usa" srcid="324401" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  At the White House I'm not sure.  I think at the funeral of President Ford would have been the most recent time they all gathered together.  But I'm not sure if they were ever here at the White House.	But we'll check on that.  " title=" Q    Do you know when the last time the living ex-Presidents gathered at the White House was?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298814" rowid="136531509" side="usa" srcid="298814" text=" MS. PERINO:  I want to check on that, Peter, because I don't know if we've said that we -- if we have said that the President will sign that bill.  It was one of the bills that we had some concerns about.  I do think that they moved in our way a little bit.  So before I tell you when he would sign it, let me just make sure he's going to sign it.  " title=" Q    Do you know when the President might sign the Higher Education Act that had final congressiona" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268290" rowid="136530160" side="usa" srcid="268290" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know for sure, but I don't believe so.*  &lt;p /&gt; Mike.  " title=" Q    Do you know whether anybody contacted Scott McClellan about the content?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-19#entryid_271254" rowid="136530514" side="usa" srcid="271254" text=" MR. STANZEL:  I refer you to the previous comment I gave.  &lt;p /&gt; Any other questions?  " title=" Q    Do you know whether there's an actual answer, though, to that question?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300567" rowid="136531638" side="usa" srcid="300567" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's possible, but let us get back to you.  " title=" Q    Do you know who would have been informed, or -- would that have gone through State, do you thi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303420" rowid="136532095" side="usa" srcid="303420" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think they decided that they -- as far as I know -- I'll refer you to DOE for more -- but companies make these requests based on their assessments, and as the hurricane moved out they were able to do a better assessment and realized that they didn't need it.  There are other -- there are possible other companies that will be asking DOE for some support from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and DOE will make those decisions as they come in.  But they did reverse that last night.  " title=" Q    Do you know why?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279947" rowid="136531175" side="usa" srcid="279947" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  I think that if you -- you should go back and look at the things that Maliki has said and that even his spokesperson said again in his statement on Saturday, that they appreciate the sacrifices of the United States, they recognize the role we have played, and that they don't want to move too fast, too soon.  But I definitely don't -- I don't think that in terms of changing loyalties, that that is a part of this at all.  I think that they are wanting to take back more of their own control.  We share the same goal.  &lt;p /&gt; You're on the same thing, Roger?  " title=" Q    Do you know, does this administration feel that they are changing their stance at all; that th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313560" rowid="136533507" side="usa" srcid="313560" text=" CHAIRMAN LAZEAR:  We all have ideas on the causes.  I think I know the causes, but I'm sure that the French think they know the causes, as well, and I'm not sure we necessarily agree.	So this is a meeting to try to come to some conclusions on what we think are probably the best analyses.  &lt;p /&gt; Ma'am.	And we'll take this last --  " title=" Q    Do you mean you do not know the causes?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-24#entryid_312341" rowid="136533352" side="usa" srcid="312341" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we have several things that we would like to see.  One of the best ways to deal with one part of our economy that has been doing very well -- which has been exports, and it's been starting to shrink -- it would be to open up more markets to American workers and American businesses.  And we have three free trade agreements in front of the Congress right now: Colombia, Panama and Peru -- I'm sorry, South Korea.  And we'd like to see those voted on there in front of Congress.  It would be the fastest way to be able to help a lot of workers across this country.  That is something that we would like Congress to be able to do.  But when you asked me is there anything we need to have done, I don't think so.  " title=" Q    Do you need any action on anything?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-01#entryid_302897" rowid="136532014" side="usa" srcid="302897" text=" Q    Do you remember the confusion on the day that Katrina struck, as to whether the levees have broken or not -- it wasn't really until the evening that we got a clear picture.  Do you have a better -- is there a better way to monitor what's happening on the levees this time? Or when do you think you'll be able to know with confidence whether the levees held or not?  &lt;p&gt; ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  The Corps has several things.	They've got video cameras set up.  They also put in place safe houses for the operators of the pumps.  They have concrete bunkers.  They have it rated at 250 mile an hour.  They have windows that are rated at 250 mile an hour.  They also have measuring things out there to see what the water flow is.  So there are several things that should give us a better idea of how the levees are doing, and not be second-guessing like we were last time.  &lt;p /&gt; Anything else, guys?  " title=" Q    Do you remember the confusion on the day that Katrina struck, as to whether the levees have br" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303292" rowid="136532091" side="usa" srcid="303292" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  It was in Shreveport and it was one -- it was located at an abandoned Sam's Club building.  I don't remember the name of it.  But I heard there were some issues with it, so the Red Cross is going to go in -- although it is not their shelter -- just to go in to give them some advice on how do we get it back up and running.  " title=" Q    Do you remember the name of that shelter offhand?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-27#entryid_302318" rowid="136531902" side="usa" srcid="302318" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'm not into looking for signs.  I think we will continue to make our case.	Europe, the United States and other leaders around the world will make the case to Russia that this is a very short-sighted decision on their part, and it's forced them to take a step back with respect to their relations with the rest of the world, and that step back has costs and consequences.  &lt;p /&gt; I think you've heard others out there -- even since yesterday I saw David Miliband give a very excellent speech today in the Ukraine.  I think we would agree with I think everything that the Minister said in Ukraine.  " title=" Q    Do you see any signs from Moscow of a chink in their armor and backing down on this?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315282" rowid="136533652" side="usa" srcid="315282" text=" MS. PERINO:  One thing I can't do is divine what the Russians are thinking.  So I'll just say that our reaction to the statement yesterday is that it was disappointing and that our missile defense system is in no way designed to pose any threat to the Russians; it is designed to help prevent against threats from rogue states.  &lt;p /&gt; Matt.  " title=" Q    Do you see the Russians trying to use this transition time as leverage to their advantage?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317043" rowid="136533910" side="usa" srcid="317043" text=" MS. PERINO:  We support Hamid Karzai.  We think that he is a leader that has only the best interests of his country in mind.  What we have seen from the Taliban, however, and from Mullah Omar, who we haven't heard from in some time, is an unwillingness to renounce violence.  Just last week, little girls who were on their way to school were disfigured when acid was thrown in their faces, and this was done by the Taliban.  &lt;p /&gt; So we are skeptical about what the Taliban's ultimate intentions are, which is why we are working with our NATO partners to continue to put the pressure on them.  But we recognize that at some point there might be some Taliban that are willing to reconcile and to renounce violence and to be productive members of the Afghanistan society.	But right now, we just don't think that that's in the cards.  &lt;p /&gt; Paula.  " title=" Q    Do you support Hamid Karzai's move to negotiate with Mullah Omar?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304212" rowid="136532257" side="usa" srcid="304212" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we hope to establish, first and foremost, a verification protocol, and then that way we will be able to be assured that the Korean Peninsula will remain nuclear free.  &lt;p /&gt; The negotiations have had their ups and downs, as Secretary Rice has said, and we're going to continue to work on it.  I think that we are looking at the comments today from the second in command as positive ones that we can hopefully continue to work to bring them into compliance with what they agreed to do.  &lt;p /&gt; Paula.  " title=" Q    Do you think dismantlement of the North Korean nuclear program will be resolved by the time Pr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307858" rowid="136532878" side="usa" srcid="307858" text=" MR. FRATTO:  No, I don't.  " title=" Q    Do you think he was offended?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302481" rowid="136531924" side="usa" srcid="302481" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  I'll see.  " title=" Q    Do you think he'll watch the speech tonight?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320577" rowid="136534394" side="usa" srcid="320577" text=" MS. PERINO:  I haven't heard that statistic.  We can check on it for you and if -- I don't know what the source is, do you?  " title=" Q    Do you think he's likely to hear the report out of London that the Taliban now control 72 perc" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-05#entryid_303594" rowid="136532148" side="usa" srcid="303594" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't want to put -- I'll let the President make his announcement next week.  But he obviously listens to the commanders on the ground and to his military advisors.  &lt;p /&gt; And certainly there is something to be considered here when you look at the economic, political and diplomatic aspects of this, how many troops do you need to be able to help support some of those diplomatic efforts. So that's why Secretary Rice's involvement is very important too.  &lt;p /&gt; Matt.  " title=" Q    Do you think it's fair to assume he's likely to accept the recommendation?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-31#entryid_313959" rowid="136533528" side="usa" srcid="313959" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Any trips overseas?  " title=" Q    Do you think President Bush is going to take any initiative, since the time is running out, by" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-11#entryid_316195" rowid="136533765" side="usa" srcid="316195" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that we'll just have -- I think we'll have to see what the Democrats decide to put forward, and what they can work out with their Republican counterparts, if anything.  " title=" Q    Do you think something is more that's needed for the auto industry beyond what's already in th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308550" rowid="136533005" side="usa" srcid="308550" text=" Q    Do you think that his message is getting through?	I know that the small business leaders that he talked with yesterday said, you know, get out there, put that positive message forward; Americans need to hear it.  But do you think it's connecting?  Do you think it's resonating and that people are listening?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  It's hard to say.	I think that there's -- you could say on the one hand and on the other hand -- on any given day in the recent past, we would have days where you'd have good economic news mixed with bad economic news.	In the last few weeks we've had bad economic news.  And I'm sure that people are very concerned about their retirement accounts, especially those baby boomers who are getting ready to retire or thinking about how many more years they have to work, and they're probably very nervous and upset and angry, and I don't blame them a bit.  &lt;p /&gt; And President Bush has tried to be very measured in his comments to let people know that this is not going to be solved overnight, this is something that is going to take a while, but that people should be assured of two things:	The government is going to do what it takes to make sure this financial system does not collapse and that the government is committed to making sure that in the long term that this country, who has built the greatest capitalistic system in the world, will be able to continue to enjoy prosperity.  But it's going to take us a while to stabilize the system and return confidence to the markets.  " title=" Q    Do you think that his message is getting through?	I know that the small business leaders that " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-11#entryid_269913" rowid="136530352" side="usa" srcid="269913" text=" MS. ANSLEY:  I honestly don't know.  I know it's been a long-time request of the Italian government to be included in that.  And they're obviously included in consultations in connection with that, but whether they're made part of it, I don't know how realistic it is.  " title=" Q    Do you think that it's realistic that Italy would be --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316459" rowid="136533826" side="usa" srcid="316459" text=" MR. PRICE:  I actually think that there is a lot more common ground among countries who will be around the table than the rhetoric might suggest.  " title=" Q    Do you think that Sarkozy and Gordon Brown have set the standards, the expectations too high, " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320412" rowid="136534365" side="usa" srcid="320412" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Those are decisions that their boards will have to make as part of restructuring if that makes sense for them.  That's not something that we would weigh in on.  &lt;p /&gt; April.  " title=" Q    Do you think that the heads of the auto companies should be replaced?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-13#entryid_270282" rowid="136530400" side="usa" srcid="270282" text=" MRS. BUSH:  I don't really.  I mean, I think that's one of the things this donor conference shows.  I think the international -- certainly the United States and the international community realize that Afghanistan is building from nothing, and it was a country that was totally destroyed after 30 years of war and some years of a very, very oppressive regime  like the Taliban.  And they don't have any infrastructure, the big physical infrastructure that's very expensive, like roads and water treatment and electricity.  They have to build all of that from scratch.  And they don't have the infrastructure of laws and civil society that make it easier to build an economy that can support that very expensive infrastructure.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think what we're seeing is that the international community knows it's going to take time and that they're standing with Afghanistan.  " title=" Q    Do you think that the international community is getting weary?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-10#entryid_300073" rowid="136531607" side="usa" srcid="300073" text=" AMBASSADOR JEFFREY:  Right now our focus is on trying to end the fighting, to get people back in place, and to get a diplomatic process underway.  It's not helpful at this point to try to judge what may have, or may not have happened three or four days ago.   MS. PERINO:  Last one for Jim.  " title=" Q    Do you think that their move was justified?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-20#entryid_310967" rowid="136533209" side="usa" srcid="310967" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know all the details of every single program that's been proposed.	But obviously we were open to a stimulus package last January and one of the things that we agreed with Nancy Pelosi on was that the program needed to be targeted, temporary, and timely.  And so we worked very closely with the Democrats and the Republicans on Capitol Hill.  We were able to get a program put forward.  We do think that it will have the effect of helping prevent what could have been even a worse downturn in our economy.  &lt;p /&gt; So we're focused on getting those elements into place now both -- we finalized the stimulus package from last January and got those checks out the door, and now we're -- you know, and businesses continue to take advantage of the provisions that were allowed for, like depreciation, from last February 2008, from that legislation.  Now we're working on implementation of the rescue package, which has to happen immediately, and then we'll continue to talk with members of Congress about what might be put on the plate going forward.  &lt;p /&gt; In addition to that, we also have this other track running, which is on preparing for the summits that the President announced on Saturday.  So we have lots of different things moving forward.  " title=" Q    Do you think that there has been anything put forward so far that has any, you know, appeal to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-25#entryid_280654" rowid="136531290" side="usa" srcid="280654" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think it varies.  I know of instances where we are planning to be at -- in an area for an official event and then somebody there, maybe the state party or the victory committee or RNC or one of the candidates, will say, while you're here would you mind also doing a fundraiser.  But sometimes there's not an official event to do at the same time.  So sometimes you just have days like today where you just have a fundraiser.  " title=" Q    Do you think that will stick or is that part of helping the spotlight shine more on McCain?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306614" rowid="136532692" side="usa" srcid="306614" text=" MS. PERINO:  I just don't know.  But I think it'll be fun to watch.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Do you think the debate adds to or detracts from the work that will be done on the Hill?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-11#entryid_269904" rowid="136530343" side="usa" srcid="269904" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, and we answered this question previously, too -- which is that we understand that Iraq wants and needs to have good relationships with its neighbors, and so we saw that as a positive sign.  " title=" Q    Do you think the Maliki meeting with Khomeini was a push back in any way?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302486" rowid="136531934" side="usa" srcid="302486" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that what we are looking for is -- they've made a statement, but I think their actions are important, and I'll go back to the philosophy of action for action in the six-party talks is what has got us to this point, where they just blew up their cooling tower, where they have provided a declaration; those are the things that they were supposed to do.  But the other thing -- there was a third leg of that stool, and that was that they had to put forward a verification protocol.  They have not done that yet, and until they do, we will not move forward on the terrorism list.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Mike.  " title=" Q    Do you think the North Korea is in violation of their commitment through the six-party framewo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308328" rowid="136532973" side="usa" srcid="308328" text=" MS. PERINO:  You know I don't think that we know.  Obviously, this next quarter is probably not going to be a very good one.  And we know that.  But we know that the last quarter we had about a 2-percent* growth, which is not too bad.  But obviously, right now we are in a very difficult situation.  But we're working every day to make sure that we effectively put this plan to use so that we can pull up out of it and return to job growth.  &lt;p /&gt; So I couldn't say.  The classic definition of a recession is not something that we could determine now, or forecast.  It's something that people look back on.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Do you think the U.S. economy is in a recession?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316867" rowid="136533857" side="usa" srcid="316867" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that the intent of the Congress when they put forward the rescue package was for financial companies.  And that's what we have been focused on.  But at the same time, they did put forward a plan to try to help the automakers, and we rushed to try to get the regulations in place.	Now the question is whether or not Congress would put forward an amendment to try to accelerate those loans, and that's what we're waiting to see.  " title=" Q    Do you think there's no chance that the administration would use the TARP program to provide s" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-29#entryid_281000" rowid="136531366" side="usa" srcid="281000" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't have reason to believe that.  I know that they're just now back in town again after their long weekend of a recess, but I don't think -- you know, sometimes it does take a while to send bills to the White House for signing, but at some point you have to wonder why are they holding it back.  " title=" Q    Do you think they're delaying sending it over deliberately?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325237" rowid="136534896" side="usa" srcid="325237" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think the best thing for me to do is to let the Vice President-elect speak for himself when it comes to his trip.  But I will find out about the meeting today.  " title=" Q    Do you think this is in connection in some way that maybe he has some kind of consultation fro" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267041" rowid="136529998" side="usa" srcid="267041" text=" MR. FISK:  Pardon?  " title=" Q    Do you want a week of pressure, or do you want --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-25#entryid_318799" rowid="136534174" side="usa" srcid="318799" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that Tony Fratto responded to you, so you should have his response.  And, look, the numbers are what they are, which is they're troubling, and this is why we are having to act and take such bold actions that we are taking.  &lt;p /&gt; We think that one of the reasons that the data showed a decline was that consumers pulled back on spending, and we think a lot of that was because of the credit crisis, which is why we are so focused on unfreezing credit markets, and another reason why the Treasury and the Fed Reserve continue to try to find ways to fix the problem, as they're announcing right now as we speak.  " title=" Q    Do you want to ask about the economy numbers that come out today?	Are you guys going to commen" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270994" rowid="136530498" side="usa" srcid="270994" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I don't know what the technical capability in terms of the internal combustion engine can do in squeezing out miles per gallon.  I don't know what the ultimate limit of that is.	And obviously there are people out there trying to find that out, and there are people -- the automakers out there are trying to learn this also.  With this price of -- the gasoline at the prices they're seeing out there, they're out there trying to find cars that meet the demand of their consumers, of the consumer market.  And what they're finding from consumers right now are consumers want lighter, smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.	And like anyone out there, they're going to -- like any business out there, they're going to try to give their consumers the products that they want to buy.  So, yes, that could have an incentive on it, on that end.  &lt;p /&gt; In terms of drilling, we know where the oil is.  As Keith said this morning, a lot of these areas have been previously explored and they had the geologists in there trying to determine how much oil there might be.  And so we know it's there and the only thing that's stopping us from getting to it and bringing it to market are these federal regulations.  " title=" Q    Do you want to go there?  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307886" rowid="136532906" side="usa" srcid="307886" text=" MR. FRATTO:  We'd like to sign it as -- if the bill passes, we'd like to sign it as quickly as possible, as soon as they get it to us.  &lt;p /&gt; Kathleen.  " title=" Q    Do you want to sign it today?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320147" rowid="136534324" side="usa" srcid="320147" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, sometimes.  Like, for example, when we did the Charlie Gibson interview last week, and I saw the President and Mrs. Bush talk about what their biggest accomplishments were during the past eight years, you realize the momentous presidency that this has been, the consequential presidency that it's been.  And all of us are thinking a little bit about that.  &lt;p /&gt; But I will tell you that just when you think that you're going to be able to be reflective and relax, something else happens.  And so the President learned that you have to expect the unexpected when you're President, and that's true for the staff, as well.  So we have to continue to get up every day, work hard, and make sure that we're doing the work that we need to do on behalf of the American people.  " title=" Q    Do you, when you walk out of the Oval Office, or when you conclude an interaction, do you some" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312309" rowid="136533320" side="usa" srcid="312309" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, he doesn't.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  " title=" Q    Does Bush take it personally at all?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278846" rowid="136531014" side="usa" srcid="278846" text=" MS. PERINO:  You said one question.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Does he -- why not?  Why not?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-29#entryid_268057" rowid="136530127" side="usa" srcid="268057" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, not recently.	But it depends.  Sometimes he will; but the past few, no.  We've obviously been on a pretty tight schedule.  " title=" Q    Does he answer questions usually?	Do people --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311468" rowid="136533275" side="usa" srcid="311468" text=" MS. PERINO:  I couldn't say.  I don't know.  I think we're in for a very tough GDP number next week.  I don't think anyone should -- will be surprised by that, given what we've dealt with in the past couple of months, but we hope that the actions that we've taken will help us pull out of this sooner.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    Does he at least then feel that there's still the opportunity to avoid a recession?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-29#entryid_302695" rowid="136531974" side="usa" srcid="302695" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think it will just depend.  President Bush has relied on Vice President Cheney for many things, and one of it was the experience and judgment that he brought to the job in a variety of areas, for all of the service and dedication that he had had over the years.	And he's been a steady hand and a good confidential advisor for this President.  &lt;p /&gt; And -- but every President gets to make their own decision as to how their Vice President would work.  But what I saw today was that Senator McCain fully intends that Governor Palin will be by his side and will be a strong partner for him, and I think he couldn't have -- made a better choice.  &lt;p /&gt; Goyal.  " title=" Q    Does he believe he has set a model for future administrations in that regard?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316854" rowid="136533844" side="usa" srcid="316854" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not that I've talked to him about.  " title=" Q    Does he have a candidate in the contest?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317057" rowid="136533924" side="usa" srcid="317057" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we have this lame duck session that we're focused on right now and trying to see if we can get legislation passed to help the automakers in the way that we have defined.  So that's going to be one goal.  &lt;p /&gt; We have also asked Congress if they really want to help the economy and jumpstart jobs in our country to pass the free trade agreements that are in front of them -- Colombia free trade, in particular, is one that is ripe for the taking.  But they also have South Korea and Panama that they're able to vote on, as well.  &lt;p /&gt; And hopefully -- maybe by the middle of -- maybe the beginning of December I'll be able to provide you some more about what the President is thinking towards the rest of the term.  Right now we've been so focused on getting that G20 summit finished, and this lame duck finished, and the APEC meeting, and then of course there's Thanksgiving -- then after that I think we'll be able to work on closing it out.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q    Does he have any final goals for --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-10#entryid_274079" rowid="136530989" side="usa" srcid="274079" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I don't have a comment on what Senator Obama's thinking was on it.  But there were a large number of Democrats who voted for the FISA bill, and we think for very good reasons.  And one of the leaders in crafting this bill and crafting an earlier bill was Senator Jay Rockefeller, for example.  And there was great bipartisan cooperation on this to make sure that it gave the intelligence community the tools they need, but also significantly protected civil liberties.  And that was something that was important to us also.  &lt;p /&gt; So this bill was, you know, very -- thoroughly debated.  It was negotiated by very serious people from both sides of the aisle for a great deal of time, and really going through every word in this document to make sure that it accomplishes what we think is necessary for the country to keep it safe, but again also to protect civil liberties.  And I think that's something that people on both sides of the aisle felt that they could support, and we saw that in a very strong vote yesterday.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, John.  Okay, then I'll get you next.  " title=" Q    Does he have any thoughts, perhaps, on why he was able to win over some Democrats, such as Bar" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326586" rowid="136535041" side="usa" srcid="326586" text=" MR. GILLESPIE:	I think, you know, that information is out there.  We've obviously talked in different policy speeches about the decisions he's made and the policies that were adopted.  And, you know, I think we've -- I like to think that we've put information out there that will guide or at least give historians accurate data from which to judge things.  &lt;p /&gt; Obviously we've highlighted some of the things I've talked about here -- the prescription drug benefitting 40 million seniors and disabled Americans who -- you know, 90 percent of whom say that they very much appreciate this benefit; highlighting the increase in test scores for minority students and white students, but the gap being the lowest that it's ever been in the NAPE scores; the 30 percent reduction in chronic homelessness; the 25 percent decrease in teenage drug use; the fact that -- obviously we're very concerned about our economy right now.	The President has acted boldly.  When he came into office, he inherited a recession.  We had the attacks of September 11.  But from that third quarter of 2001 through this most recent economic downturn, we had 52 months of uninterrupted job creation in this country.  That's the longest in the history of the United States of America.  People saw their after-tax incomes go up by 12 percent, productivity higher than it was in the '70s, '80s, or '90s.  &lt;p /&gt; So all that is out there, I think, for historians.  They can judge.  That's what historians do.  But this speech is not -- that's not the nature of this speech.  That was just the nature of my little riff there.  (Laughter.)  &lt;p /&gt; Mike.  " title=" Q    Does he spend any time tonight defending the more controversial aspects of his record, or is h" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307863" rowid="136532883" side="usa" srcid="307863" text=" MR. FRATTO:  He does, absolutely.  &lt;p /&gt; Goyal.  " title=" Q    Does he think she's qualified to be Vice President?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278884" rowid="136531052" side="usa" srcid="278884" text=" MS. PERINO:  It doesn't.  It doesn't.  " title=" Q    Does his action today revoke entirely the executive order his father signed, or is it more nua" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316080" rowid="136533748" side="usa" srcid="316080" text=" MS. PERINO:  I cannot comment on our methods of going after al Qaeda terrorists.  What I can tell you is that we're committed to doing so and bringing them to justice one way or the other.  &lt;p /&gt; Andre.  " title=" Q    Does it get to the point of a presidential level -- we know -- we've confirmed that the Defens" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322345" rowid="136534523" side="usa" srcid="322345" text=" MS. PERINO:  You know, I don't know what the conversations are about that, so I think I'll just wait, and we'll hopefully be able to -- well, we will answer all of your questions to the best of our ability as soon as there is something that is announced.  &lt;p /&gt; Peter.  " title=" Q    Does it make a difference if you have a car czar right now during this sort of shorter interim" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-18#entryid_279775" rowid="136531133" side="usa" srcid="279775" text=" MR. STANZEL:  These are -- of course, the President has always believed that we don't want American troops in Iraq one day longer than they're needed.  So reaching a point where we can have fruitful discussions with leaders in Iraq about these aspirational goals is just where we want to be.  And we're there, quite frankly, because of the difficult decision that the President made to surge troops into the country to take greater control of the security situation.  &lt;p /&gt; So, unfortunately, it sounds like the President is wrapping up now, so we can continue this discussion on the plane, if you all want. Thanks.  &lt;p /&gt; * * * * *  " title=" Q    Does it represent a concession on the part of the administration?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279313" rowid="136531067" side="usa" srcid="279313" text=" MS. PERINO:  Access to access?	I would -- possibly.  I don't know, in terms of -- I've never met him so I don't know in particular.  " title=" Q    Does Mr. Payne have any ability to facilitate people getting in contact with this White House?" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-06#entryid_299637" rowid="136531567" side="usa" srcid="299637" text=" MS. McBRIDE:  Well, I think the Thai government has welcomed these refugees; is the only country really in the region that allows this type of settlement to exist.  I think it will be a continuation of the message both she and the President have consistently had, hoping for political reconciliation amongst all of the political prisoners, the minorities of Burma, so that they can participate in a civil society in their own country.  That's a message she'll continue to say.  &lt;p /&gt; The President is meeting with Burmese activists at the same time Mrs. Bush will be at the camp.  We've really worked hard to organize the schedule so that they both can work on these issues while they are in Thailand.  &lt;p /&gt; So, sure, it's a continuation of a message that she's consistently had for years now, and the President has had.  " title=" Q    Does Mrs. Bush have a political message that's intended with this visit, either towards the Bu" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280157" rowid="136531219" side="usa" srcid="280157" text=" MS. PERINO:  The President has believed that both fronts are critically important.  We have been able to see some tremendous gains in Iraq.  And Iraq and Afghanistan are quite different for many different reasons, one of them being just from where they started -- Iraq actually having roads and some semblance of infrastructure, as crumbling as it may have been.  But they had an element of civil society that was able to be brought back into the forefront.  &lt;p /&gt; In Afghanistan, we're dealing with a fundamentally different issue.  There's hardly any roads.  There's no electricity.  There's hardly any jobs.  The oppression was different in terms of -- especially when it comes to women.  And so we are working with our NATO allies in order to help bring Afghanistan back, but it's going to take longer there.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the reasons we've seen more casualties there is because we have been increasingly taking the fight to the enemy, and the Taliban have come to areas where they haven't been before.  And we're very grateful to the French and others, but the French in particular were able to move to the east, which meant our troops could move to the south.  We've been sending more troops there, and we think that that's appropriate.  But I do think it's very important to remember that in this global war on terrorism, when you look at those two fronts, Iraq and Afghanistan, they're very different, especially if you look at where they started from.  &lt;p /&gt; Iraq is now able to pay for most of its reconstruction, whereas Afghanistan is flat broke.	And that's why we had to go and do the Donors Conference in Paris, which was very successful.  But it's going to be a longer haul than Iraq.  " title=" Q    Does President Bush still feel that Iraq is the central front in the war on terrorism?  And wh" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-26#entryid_272199" rowid="136530692" side="usa" srcid="272199" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Well, one of the things he said in his statement this afternoon is we have a lot of problems with North Korea.  We have problems about how they treat their own people.	This is a country that is -- where the people are in difficult straits.  And as you know, we've entered into arrangement to provide food assistance, and we think it's a good thing that North Korea has worked with us so we can provide that assistance.  We've been very concerned about human rights in North Korea, the lack of freedoms by the people in North Korea.  We're obviously concerned about their nuclear activities.  We're concerned about their ballistic missile activities.  We're concerned about the threat they potentially pose to their neighbors because of their ballistic missiles and because the large conventional forces they make.  &lt;p /&gt; So we have a long agenda with North Korea.  And as the President made clear today, we are in the process of addressing the nuclear issue, but before we can have the kind of relationships we would like with North Korea, and like with the North Korean people, these other issues are going to have to be addressed.  " title=" Q    Does President Bush still regard North Korea as part of an &quot;axis of evil&quot;?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-10#entryid_300085" rowid="136531619" side="usa" srcid="300085" text=" AMBASSADOR JEFFREY:  We're alarmed by this entire situation, and every escalatory step is a further problem.  " title=" Q    Does that alarm the U.S.?	I mean, what is your view of it, if true?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-06#entryid_269319" rowid="136530298" side="usa" srcid="269319" text=" MS. PERINO:  Remember, the -- this administration has followed precedent of previous administrations.  No administration has increased -- or extended unemployment benefits when unemployment was this low, at 5.5 percent.  Now while we've seen an increase, it's still at historically low levels.  &lt;p /&gt; And so we will continue to work with Congress on the other things that we're trying to do.  And at the moment the most important thing they could do is to try to -- for example, on the Colombia free trade agreement -- if they were able to move forward on that, then these companies that want to sell into Colombia, such as these big heavy-duty equipment -- if you just think of the event a week or two ago out on the South Lawn -- how many jobs that that could create.  Or if we wanted to increase domestic or -- domestic production or exploration when it comes to oil and gas, how that could increase the number of jobs that are out there.  &lt;p /&gt; There are a number of ways that the American entrepreneur could take advantage of some of these things if they were just given the chance. And on the Colombia free trade agreement, it's a great example where Congress could act but has chosen not to.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q    Does that get any currency down here?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-18#entryid_301030" rowid="136531759" side="usa" srcid="301030" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  You know, I think it's premature to talk about any specifics of what that reconstruction effort might be.  But there should be no doubt that the United States is committed to helping Georgia rebuild.  " title=" Q    Does that include things like their radar facilities that were apparently heavily damaged --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323416" rowid="136534595" side="usa" srcid="323416" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  You know, I think in the near term -- meaning the next 30 days -- what they really need to do is knock heads together themselves.  And they need to sit down and say, okay, guys, we've got until March 31st; we've got an interim deadline by February 17th; we need to get to work and we need to figure out what's a business model that adds up to success and viability.  &lt;p /&gt; Like I said, if the President-elect's team believes it will be helpful for us to name somebody, with their concurrence and suggestion, we would certainly be open to that.  But given that the number of days is now short for this administration, we thought the most important thing was to get the loan terms and the conditions established and get those out the door.  &lt;p /&gt; Ed, and then I think this is the last question.  " title=" Q    Does that mean Paulson is going to be getting folks together and knocking heads together, or i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300596" rowid="136531667" side="usa" srcid="300596" text=" MS. PERINO:  Do you want to rephrase the question?  " title=" Q    Does that mean that --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300595" rowid="136531666" side="usa" srcid="300595" text=" MS. PERINO:  I deny that Georgians were not in -- shouldn't have been in South Ossetia because South Ossetia is part of Georgia.  That's part of their territorial integrity.  " title=" Q    Does that mean that you can deny it, you can say it is not true?  The reporting is that --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321126" rowid="136534436" side="usa" srcid="321126" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  Well, look, the jobs that we're talking about that are going to be lost here, many of them are in this country -- most are in this country.  Some of them are in other countries.	These cars have -- excuse me -- these companies have plants, lots of them, in Canada, for instance, and in other places.  We are focused right now during this very critical time for our economy on the impact an uncontrolled bankruptcy would have on that manufacturing base and those jobs and the affiliated jobs at supplies and dealers, et cetera.  &lt;p /&gt; So that's what we're talking about in the near term.  The shape of what it takes for this industry or these companies to become viable over the long term, I couldn't stand here and tell you today what the answer to that is.  I'd be surprised if anybody is expert enough to do that without really getting into their books and having conversations, and that's what this person will be empowered to do.  &lt;p /&gt; And we think he can be successful if there's the goodwill and the good faith and just the flat-out willingness to make concessions by a lot of people who have a stake in this.  And we hope that that will be successful because we want there to be a viable U.S. auto industry.  That's the goal here.  And we think this legislation provides the best possibility for that to happen.  &lt;p /&gt; Thank you.  I'm going to turn it back over to Dana.  " title=" Q    Does that mean they'll be the same?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303453" rowid="136532128" side="usa" srcid="303453" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm just not going to comment on the incident in any way.	And to answer your question, I would have to do that.  So I'll decline to comment on it.  " title=" Q    Does that mean you're trying to improve letting them know ahead of time when something like th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320414" rowid="136534367" side="usa" srcid="320414" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Well, we have 45 days to go, and as evidenced by the magnitude of the issues that this President is dealing with, he is going to sprint to the finish.  But there will be some things that we won't be able to address.  &lt;p /&gt; Mike.  " title=" Q    Does that reflect some sort of understanding that there are things you're just not going to ge" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324578" rowid="136534820" side="usa" srcid="324578" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I'm just going to let her define them the way that she would like to, and refer you to the State Department briefing for now.  &lt;p /&gt; Goyal.  " title=" Q    Does that suggest the tiers are still being negotiated?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-26#entryid_272213" rowid="136530706" side="usa" srcid="272213" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Yes, it's pretty easy to do the math, because we generally know -- have some sense of the weapons that they tested, generally know what kind of plutonium -- how much plutonium is required to make a nuclear device.  So it's a good starting point, but obviously we have more to do.  &lt;p /&gt; Bill.  " title=" Q    Does that tell you, then, that -- does that amount, what they say, does that tell you how many" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-12#entryid_304582" rowid="136532317" side="usa" srcid="304582" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'll let Secretary Paulson comment on what he thinks he may or may not need to deal with financial market issues.  " title=" Q    Does the administration have all the tools it needs at this stage?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310093" rowid="136533143" side="usa" srcid="310093" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  I mean -- I would say not necessarily.  But sometimes we do think about when should the President speak.  So, for example, tomorrow morning he will speak before the markets open at 8:40 a.m.  So we make a little bit of calculation on that regard, but we don't try to peg the President's statements or Ben Bernanke's to affect daily market movements.  " title=" Q    Does the communication team factor that in when deciding whether or not the President will say" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304066" rowid="136532221" side="usa" srcid="304066" text=" MS. PERINO:  I really -- you know, I don't -- I think you and I are talking past each other and maybe it's me, I don't know -- it could be you.  (Laughter.)  I think that --  " title=" Q    Does the fact that you have to do a bailout now of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac box the administ" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324588" rowid="136534840" side="usa" srcid="324588" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  No.  " title=" Q    Does the ground incursion at all change the equation?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266858" rowid="136529917" side="usa" srcid="266858" text=" MS. PERINO:  I just said what the United States policy was, which is, our preference is to try to solve this diplomatically.  " title=" Q    Does the President -- do the President and the Vice President think an attack is called for on" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-25#entryid_301984" rowid="136531860" side="usa" srcid="301984" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Obviously -- let me just say this -- I mean, for Senator Biden to be selected to run on his party's ticket for Vice President is a great honor.	It's a great honor for anyone who has that opportunity to run in a national election like that, to aspire to represent the country; and so a very personal thing for him and his family.  Obviously, we're -- we would be happy for him.  &lt;p /&gt; As for Secretary Rice, I think Secretary Rice has made clear who she intends to vote for, and that will be Senator McCain and whomever he chooses to join him on the ticket.  " title=" Q    Does the President agree with that assessment?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320570" rowid="136534387" side="usa" srcid="320570" text=" MS. PERINO:  I haven't asked him about this recent --  " title=" Q    Does the President approve of the blockade -- Israeli blockade of Gaza?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-10#entryid_274062" rowid="136530972" side="usa" srcid="274062" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Are any of them here to defend themselves?  Doesn't look like it. (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Does the President believe it was right for The Washington Post, for The New York Times, and T" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312316" rowid="136533327" side="usa" srcid="312316" text=" MS. PERINO:  As part of the program that we have -- remember, in July we had the legislation that allowed -- I think maybe it was August, in the continuing resolution that passed, that was monies that were given to FHA so that they could consider trying to buy up some of those old mortgages, or, at the same time, use that money to try to rework some of these loans so that people can stay in their homes.  We'll try to move forward as quickly as possible.  In the rescue package, there was language that allowed that to happen, as well; that was the asset purchase program.  And the Treasury Department is just working through all the details to do it to the greatest efficiency and effectiveness possible.  " title=" Q    Does the President believe now is the time to start directly dealing with homeowners and buyin" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317619" rowid="136533984" side="usa" srcid="317619" text=" Q    Does the President believe or reject the contention that the First Amendment grants the 33-year-old Summum organization a right to erect a monument to its Seven Aphorisms in the city of Pleasant Grove, Utah, because there's a Ten Commandments monument?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Les, I really don't understand why you ask me these questions at the briefing.  It's kind of a waste of your time, and it's a waste of everybody else's time.	And it's really a waste of my time.  " title=" Q    Does the President believe or reject the contention that the First Amendment grants the 33-yea" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324601" rowid="136534855" side="usa" srcid="324601" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, you heard from the President just a moment ago when he was talking about Israel and Gaza and the troubles that are happening in that region.  One of the things I would point you to is the State Department briefing today that my colleague, Sean McCormack, held, in which he talked about our efforts to try to establish a durable cease-fire.  What the President has said is that of course we want the fighting to stop, but we don't want it to create a situation where one side is allowed to continue lobbing rockets into innocent people's homes and neighborhoods and businesses, while the other one is accused of not holding on to the cease-fire.  We want something that is durable.  &lt;p /&gt; And Secretary Rice has been on the phone with multiple world leaders, trying to see if we can get to a place where we could establish this three-tier cease-fire.  " title=" Q    Does the President believe that a cease-fire, talks about a cease-fire are premature?	And seco" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322351" rowid="136534529" side="usa" srcid="322351" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think the President believes that Iraq is a sovereign country, a democratic country, and they will have a process that they follow on this.  But as I said, the President harbors no hard feelings about the incident.  " title=" Q    Does the President believe that the journalist needs to be punished?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-10#entryid_274070" rowid="136530980" side="usa" srcid="274070" text=" MR. FRATTO:  All I could say is that we would be hopeful that it could, but the best way to ensure that it does is that we take some of these necessary measures and send a signal to the market that we intend to bring supply on and that we intend to continue as we've done on the conservation side through increased fuel economy standards and through the increased use of alternative fuels, so that we can try to lower the demand on oil as we're increasing supply.  " title=" Q    Does the President believe the price of gas -- there is a chance it would drop below $4 a gall" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269202" rowid="136530293" side="usa" srcid="269202" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that information is still coming in.  We believe that the -- we're thankful that they appear to be safe.  But we are outraged by this deplorable act.  And while this incident has been resolved, it won't be forgotten, and the State Department will continue to talk to the Zimbabweans and make sure that they know how -- just how displeased President Bush is.  " title=" Q    Does the President have a clear picture of what happened to the British and American diplomats" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-16#entryid_304970" rowid="136532366" side="usa" srcid="304970" text=" MR. STANZEL:  I don't have any comment on that.  " title=" Q    Does the President have some concerns about that, or does he have thoughts about --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316875" rowid="136533865" side="usa" srcid="316875" text=" MS. PERINO:  There's no separate bilateral setup.  But I would never say that the President of the United States wouldn't have -- if there's an opportunity to talk with another leader about a certain issue, or if another leader wants to talk to the President about an issue, that they wouldn't be allowed to do that.  But there's probably not going to be a lot of time.  It's a pretty full agenda.  " title=" Q    Does the President plan to confer with any of his guests individually like -- or bilaterally? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303278" rowid="136532077" side="usa" srcid="303278" text=" MS. PERINO:  There are a couple of reasons.  One, they are still evacuation orders in place in New Orleans, okay.  The businesses are just being invited back in today and there's -- the Emergency Operations Center overseeing the operations for the whole state is in Baton Rouge, so it's the right place to go to be able to do what he wants to do, which is get some business taken care of to make sure that they have what they need from the federal side.  " title=" Q    Does the President plan to go to New Orleans at some point, or is it because it wasn't as hard" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-22#entryid_323796" rowid="136534647" side="usa" srcid="323796" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I don't have anything on the schedule on that right now, but we'll see, and you'll all be the first to know.  " title=" Q    Does the President plan to have a news conference before he leaves office, say, maybe tomorrow" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326564" rowid="136535019" side="usa" srcid="326564" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes, he'll -- he plans -- it's tradition for the President to leave a note for the President-elect, and then the President, in the desk of the drawer in the Oval Office, and President Bush plans to do that.  I've -- I will do the same for Robert Gibbs.  When he was here last week I showed him the flak jacket, but told him that whenever he has a quiet moment then he can read through all the notes.	They're really special and it's a private thing that Press Secretaries share and that's a real privilege.  " title=" Q    Does the President plan to leave anything for President-Elect Obama?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311214" rowid="136533248" side="usa" srcid="311214" text=" Q    Does the President regard these as the same problem?   The financial rescue that is now -- you've got in place, and the economic slowdown that might need a stimulus, are those the same problem?  And when he mentioned yesterday that Americans were in near panic, and that was beginning to relax, which problem was he talking about, the financial rescue or the economic --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think he was talking specifically about the nervousness that we'd seen in the stock market over the past couple of weeks.  " title=" Q    Does the President regard these as the same problem?   The financial rescue that is now -- you" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-20#entryid_310958" rowid="136533200" side="usa" srcid="310958" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think from the federal government's perspective, we give the federal number -- we do it every six months out of OMB -- in terms of the outlook.  I think what the chairman was saying is that there are parts of our country that are hurting right now.  &lt;p /&gt; And the Bureau of Economic Statistics -- whatever it's called; I can't remember the acronym -- they do a lot of number crunching as to how the housing industry is affecting different parts of the country:  different states, different neighborhoods even.  They break it down into that type of granularity.  &lt;p /&gt; So the press is welcome to look at all of those.  And from our perspective, our concern is about the people who are hurting, and what can we do about it.  So the first thing we do is the stimulus package last January and February, when we recognized we were heading into a downturn.  Economic cycles always have -- someone is on the up and someone is on the down, even when you have a country that experienced, as we did, 52 consecutive months of job growth, you end up with some regions of the country not doing as well as others.  And our concern is about those individuals.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the things we've done over the past week was increase Social Security benefits, as well as LIHEAP money for people that might be hurting this winter.  Our main focus is to try to get people back to work if they are looking for a job, if they've been laid off or if they've been looking for a while, to try to help those regions.  &lt;p /&gt; Another thing that we're concerned about in the housing market is this whole issue of supply and demand that we've talked about.  We have a glut of housing supply, and that cuts down on the amount of houses that are being built, that cuts down on construction jobs, and it has a downward, spiraling effect.  So that's what we're concerned about.  " title=" Q    Does the President support Ed Lazear's comments yesterday on &quot;Late Edition,&quot; that parts of the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322361" rowid="136534539" side="usa" srcid="322361" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, it was just a shoe, and the President saw it from his vantage point.	He felt fine about it.	I think you saw he let the Secret Service know he thought he was okay, and the Secret Service jumped in as quickly as they thought they needed to.  And then they were able to back off and let the Prime Minister of a duly -- the duly elected Prime Minister of a sovereign Iraq taking questions from journalists there who never would have been able to do that five years ago.  And the President just thinks it was just a -- it was just a shoe.  &lt;p /&gt; People express themselves in lots of different ways.  Obviously he was very angry.	I can't think -- I don't -- I can't tell you exactly what the shoe thrower was thinking, but I can tell what the President thought, was that he was fine.  And he said immediately -- you saw his reaction was, don't worry about it; it was okay.  &lt;p /&gt; So we hold no hard feelings about it, and we've really moved on.  " title=" Q    Does the President think that, had the gentleman thrown something other than a shoe, or thrown" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308305" rowid="136532950" side="usa" srcid="308305" text=" MS. PERINO:  The President is not going to make determinations like that.  They'll have to live with themselves and figure out what they're going to do with those -- with that money.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Lambros.  " title=" Q    Does the President think these failed multimillionaire CEOs should get some of their money bac" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273438" rowid="136530877" side="usa" srcid="273438" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think there could be separate -- remember, this is what -- the President asked the Secretaries of State and Treasury to look at sanctions that they could do or -- whatever they could bring up.  And I think that it's a little premature still for that.  They're still working through those issues.  But I haven't have an update, I don't think, but I don't know if it's happening.  " title=" Q    Does the resolution to come up this week at the Security Council include the travel ban, arms " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303449" rowid="136532124" side="usa" srcid="303449" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  In fact, that's what I was just saying to Jennifer, that we are working to increase coordination, cooperation and supporting the Pakistanis as we work to fight against the Taliban in a coordinated way.  &lt;p /&gt; Matt.  " title=" Q    Does the U.S. have new strategy to go along with the new government?  Because that's what they" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303446" rowid="136532121" side="usa" srcid="303446" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not here to make news about this.  You know what the President's position has been.	It's been very clear.  I'll just refer to his previous statements.  " title=" Q    Does the U.S. reserve the right to unilaterally go --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272623" rowid="136530735" side="usa" srcid="272623" text=" Q    Does the White House believe that in the United States there have ever been as many demonstrations against Zimbabwe and against Amin's Uganda by black organizations like the NAACP than the 5,000 who picketed the apartheid South African embassy?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that any time anyone -- any time there is suffering or people aren't allowed to live free as everybody is guaranteed the right to under God, as the President has said, that that should be condemned.  I'm not going to comment as to how many protests there are against a regime.  " title=" Q    Does the White House believe that in the United States there have ever been as many demonstrat" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307663" rowid="136532834" side="usa" srcid="307663" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Your questions are far too complicated for me today, Les. (Laughter.)  I don't know what my view on that would be, nor the President's.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Does the White House believe that nationally syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin was wrong to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-24#entryid_280507" rowid="136531266" side="usa" srcid="280507" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'll answer the first, but not the second.  Yes, I think that everyone should try to cover candidates equally.  But it will be up to everybody else to analyze.  " title=" Q    Does the White House believe that our nation's media should strive for neutrality in covering " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-20#entryid_305660" rowid="136532538" side="usa" srcid="305660" text=" MR. HADLEY:  I think clearly the world wants to hear something from it, and they heard a lot on it today.  And you have -- if you look at sort of U.S. statements and then the movements in the U.S. stock market, foreign stock markets, futures markets and the like, it seems we're in a situation where the whole world is watching how we manage this challenge.  &lt;p /&gt; And I think they got some good news today, in addition to some pretty bold steps that have been taken over the last week or so, and that were also outlined in his speech today.  " title=" Q    Does the world want to hear something from him on the state of the U.S. --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318529" rowid="136534142" side="usa" srcid="318529" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'll let Treasury make that determination.  I think their views have been that they have programs that they've been working on that they've tried to develop.  They've tried to look at the financial landscape as far out to the horizon as they can.	They weren't ready to make a request last week; they didn't feel that they were in that position yet.  But they may well in the future.  And if they see that conditions warrant it and the development of the programs that are needed to address the financial crisis are ripe, then they wouldn't hesitate to go to Congress for the remaining $350 billion.  " title=" Q    Does this action make it more likely that you would tap the second $350 billion from the TARP " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302497" rowid="136531955" side="usa" srcid="302497" text=" MS. PERINO:  It just is -- to suggest that the United States orchestrated this on behalf of a political candidate just sounds not rational.  " title=" Q    Does this create an obstacle, what he said today?	Is this an obstacle in the communication bet" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-24#entryid_271775" rowid="136530603" side="usa" srcid="271775" text=" MS. PERINO:  There are times that it could, but I would point out President Bush is going to meet with President Lee in Japan while they're there for a bilateral meeting.  " title=" Q    Doesn't the G8 usually have a side trip or two associated with it?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-23#entryid_271612" rowid="136530579" side="usa" srcid="271612" text=" MS. PERINO:  Wendell.  " title=" Q    Don't sell yourself short.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279967" rowid="136531195" side="usa" srcid="279967" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  Look, I think that we've always said that we are trying to conclude this agreement by July 31st.  We're now at July 21st, and any time, in my experience, that you get nearer to the end of a negotiation, the conversation intensifies and sometimes gets a little bit more vocal.  So I don't think it's disconcerting, no.  &lt;p /&gt; Matt.  " title=" Q    Don't you find it just the slightest bit disconcerting that the Iraqis continue to talk about " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-19#entryid_271256" rowid="136530516" side="usa" srcid="271256" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Well, I think the approach of the federal government that Administrator Paulison talked about has continually improved.  The Administrator talked about pre-positioning supplies in and around, say, the St. Louis area.  The governor hasn't even asked for those yet, but it's the anticipatory sense of FEMA to make sure that they have the supplies they need in the area to respond as quickly as possible.  &lt;p /&gt; In some of these tornado-impacted areas, it's been a matter of hours and FEMA personnel are on the ground, responding and setting up emergency operation centers with the state and local officials, and working to assess the damage so they know how to quickly get that federal aid out to the people who are in need.  " title=" Q    Don't you think anything changed since Katrina, in terms of his approach?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316081" rowid="136533749" side="usa" srcid="316081" text=" MS. PERINO:  You are correct -- no comment.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Doubtful, but do you have any comment on the New York Times story about the secret orders for " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280863" rowid="136531333" side="usa" srcid="280863" text=" Q    Dr. Lazear, can you talk a little bit about what you're expecting for economic growth in 2009, and why you're seeing this big jump in the budget deficit over the February forecast in 2009 -- how much that has to do with the stimulus package, and how much it has to do with the much lower growth than you were expecting?  &lt;p&gt; CHAIRMAN LAZEAR:  I'll defer to Jim on the budgetary question, but I can certainly tell you about 2009.	We're predicting 2.2 percent for 2009.	We believe that that is a realistic forecast, that we should be back on track --  " title=" Q    Dr. Lazear, can you talk a little bit about what you're expecting for economic growth in 2009," />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-20#entryid_271387" rowid="136530551" side="usa" srcid="271387" text=" MR. FRATTO:  There are lots of reasons.  I mean, one is that you don't just drop a drill into -- whether it's offshore or on property -- and hope that oil comes out.	It takes years and years of geological study, environmental impact regulations that you have to deal with.	You want to make sure there is actually oil there that you can go out and extract and bring to market.  &lt;p /&gt; So it's a very long process, it's a very expensive process.  There are other places out there like the Outer Continental Shelf and ANWR where we know, in fact, that there are -- there is oil there that can be brought to market.  But the first step in all of this is exploration.  And even on those existing leases, you still need to go out and explore, and that takes lots and lots of time.  " title=" Q    Durbin said on the floor the other day that there's oil leases on millions and millions of acr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267073" rowid="136529949" side="usa" srcid="267073" text=" MS. PERINO:  The decision for Israel to have conversations and discussions with Syria was made by Israel, a sovereign state.  They had kept us apprised from the beginning of the initiative, so earlier today I was asked if we were surprised, and no, we were not.	We believe that progress toward peace in the region would be certainly welcome.  And the President recognizes that it will need to be a comprehensive peace. Israel is going to need to have good relations with their neighbors.  So there needs to be good relations between Israel and their Palestinian neighbors, Israel and their Syrian neighbors, and Israel and their Lebanese neighbors.  And issues such as Shebaa Farms when it comes to Lebanon are going to have to be resolved if we are going to have a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.  &lt;p /&gt; What we hope is that this is a forum to address various concerns that we all share about Syria -- the United States, Israelis and many others -- in regards to Syria's support for Hamas and Hezbollah, the training and funding of terrorists that belong to those two organizations.	We believe it could help to help us further isolate Iran so that we could get a position where they would verifiably suspend their nuclear enrichment program, so that we could bring them to the table and have conversations about how we integrate them into the international community.  &lt;p /&gt; We certainly appreciate the role that Turkey has been willing to play to mediate these discussions.  And then Israel will keep us apprised as they are ongoing.  I don't have a lot of detail as to all that they're communicating through the Turkish delegation with, but we did know about it.  We do believe that we're going to have to have Israel achieve a relationship with their neighbors to the point where they can function as a state and have security in their democracy.  &lt;p /&gt; Les.  " title=" Q    Earlier you said that the United States had no objection to them.  Do you actually support Isr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326576" rowid="136535031" side="usa" srcid="326576" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I think it was -- we've just been dealing with a lot of these questions for awhile about how does the President feel.  And last September -- I think what Ed was referring to was during the election when the campaign was hot and heavy, and the President was not out campaigning, as you know.  We were -- we decided to take a back seat at his direction, which I think was the right thing to do.  &lt;p /&gt; And people at that point started asking us, &quot;Well, is the President upset that he is not out on the campaign trail?  Is the President disappointed?  Is he sad?  Is he reflective?&quot;	I think that's what Ed meant.  &lt;p /&gt; I don't think that means now that the President is -- well, look, the President is being reflective at times.  But he also -- when he said, &quot;sprint to the finish,&quot; he absolutely meant it.  And while he might not be tired, I think all of us are still -- (laughter) -- some of us are trying to -- struggle to keep up with him.  &lt;p /&gt; But he is sad, in some ways.  I think if you have worked in the environment that we have, under the extraordinary circumstances that we've had, that when you come to the end and you realize that you're going to have to say good-bye, and you're going to miss all the good things, and you'll probably all miss -- I think I'll miss the adrenaline and all of that.  In four to eight years from now, when the Obama team is answering the same questions, I think they'll probably have the same feelings, just like the Clinton team I'm sure had in 2000.  &lt;p /&gt; Jennifer.  " title=" Q    Ed was talking about -- I believe when he was on that little winsome riff, he was talking abou" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326588" rowid="136535043" side="usa" srcid="326588" text=" MR. GILLESPIE:	Sheryl, I think he would like to be remembered as someone who has stood by his principles, someone who made decisions based on the best interest of the American people and what their -- with his care for them at heart; understanding that in making tough decisions not everyone is going to agree with the tough decisions that he's made, but I think hopeful that people will acknowledge that he's been willing to make tough decisions as President and not, you know, not kick the can down the road.  " title=" Q    Ed, in preparing for this address, I wonder if you've talked to the President about how he wou" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326577" rowid="136535032" side="usa" srcid="326577" text=" Q    Ed, the President's farewell speech to the American people has a global audience, too.  And this morning he said that he would ask the United -- the American people to continue to engage the world, confident in the power of liberty.  Is there any message at all to the global audience, as a new American President takes --  &lt;p&gt; MR. GILLESPIE:	I think, you know, one of the things that the President has made clear is that, as he said, in the Oval Office with the former Presidents, that this is an office that transcends any individual.  And the fact is, while we are about to witness one of the things that I like to think that people around the world admire most about this country, this peaceful handoff of power of the presidency from one person to the next, from one party to the other, and the way that that's being done, that we do have a responsibility to lead.	That responsibility transcends any one President, and falls to the presidency of the United States, and is something that we as all Americans -- that's a reason to rally behind our President.  So yes, I think he will touch on that a little bit here.  &lt;p /&gt; Thanks, all of you.  Enjoyed working with you.	If I don't get the chance to see you before Tuesday, thanks for this opportunity to spend a little time.  &lt;p /&gt; Thank you.   MS. PERINO:  All right, let me take a stab at your question that he had because -- no, Toby's.	(Laughter.)  But if you have another one, Mark, I'll be happy to answer it.  I did get a chance to go over, and it was wonderful.  It was a surprise for Ryan Crocker, that he was getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- a surprise, I think, for everybody.  But we kept that a secret because he is a very humble person, Ambassador Crocker.  And I can't think of anybody more deserving.  &lt;p /&gt; And I think that it was a fitting tribute to the Foreign Service Officers that the President has put in posts that usually go to political appointees, that something as important as Iraq and Afghanistan, especially Iraq when it came to having leadership there, especially during those dark days, which I'll get to in a moment, Ambassador Crocker was definitely one of the best leaders.  &lt;p /&gt; And for some of the younger people there, the younger career Foreign Service Officers, I think it was really good for them to see that hard work can be rewarded, and by a President who is very grateful for all that the Foreign Service has done under his watch and that they'll continue to do there.	They're consummate professionals.  I've had the pleasure of getting to know a lot of them.  &lt;p /&gt; So when it comes to Secretary Rice, I think what the President was getting at is that -- you all know, you've been writing about them -- there have been some very tough days in the administration.  And during 9/11, I think you can talk about that time period as being dark days.  During that period when we were going through the process of developing the surge strategy, there were days when all of us could -- if we didn't have leaders who were pushing us to get to the right answer and being optimistic that if we got to the right policy answer we could actually achieve success, like we have done in Iraq since they -- I'm not saying it's over.  I'm just saying that where we were a year ago, a year and a half ago in Iraq and where we are today, I don't think anybody in this room would have believed it.  &lt;p /&gt; What Secretary Rice and President Bush bring to the table is an optimism that -- it doesn't mean that you can't be optimistic and pragmatic at the same time; that's a false choice.  And I've seen some places reported, especially from columnists, suggesting that the President's optimism is -- has hindered America.  And I just -- I totally disagree.  &lt;p /&gt; I don't think that you can believe -- and I don't think you can achieve the goals that you've laid out, like a two-state solution, if you don't actually believe that you can get it done.  I think there is something to be said about the power of positive thinking.  But also there is a realism there, and we've tried to strike a balance.  &lt;p /&gt; I think that what he meant was that Secretary Rice shares his philosophy that to achieve the goals you have to believe that you can do it.  And you have to then be able to get up every morning wanting to work really hard so that you can try to do it.  And then you deal with the realities as it comes up.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay, John.  " title=" Q    Ed, the President's farewell speech to the American people has a global audience, too.  And th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326580" rowid="136535035" side="usa" srcid="326580" text=" MR. GILLESPIE:	You know, it's -- he's not tired.  I mean, he is -- you know, he just has a ton of energy.  But he is -- you know, I would say that he's gotten a little more winsome.  I remember somebody asking me back in, like, September, you know, things must be -- things must be getting winsome.  And I thought, you know, those of us who work here wish it were a little more winsome sometimes.  &lt;p /&gt; It's gotten a little more winsome.  And I think that he is looking back as we've gone through these series of lasts.  And it's a -- I wouldn't say emotional time, but it's obviously -- it's a moment -- look, when you work here, you work with colleagues like, you know, my friends here.  You go through a lot together.  And the President, I think, is thinking of all that we've been through and all the people who have been through it with him.  And there's a great deal of a sense of appreciation for those people.  &lt;p /&gt; Two more.  " title=" Q    Ed, you're with him every day.  What's the President's mood?  Is he sentimental?  Is he tired?" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324580" rowid="136534824" side="usa" srcid="324580" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not -- we're not going to change policy here, under this administration, to all of a sudden start to talk to terrorist organizations.  &lt;p /&gt; Wendell.  " title=" Q    Egypt is not the United States.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309541" rowid="136533113" side="usa" srcid="309541" text=" MS. PERINO:  Was it 11?  Of course Mark Knoller would know that.  (Laughter.)  I'm not even going to question it; I know he knows.  &lt;p /&gt; So what we said at the time was the Treasury Department is going to have to take a little bit of time, look at these balance sheets at the different institutions, figure out what's behind them, figure out how much they are worth, figure out what is the best way to spend taxpayer dollars efficiently so that we solve the problem and protect them at the same time.  And the Treasury Secretary, over time, as over the past several weeks have developed, as the legislation got passed and the credit marks changed a little bit, and we saw that terrible drop in the stock market, it was determined that one of the tools that was in the rescue package -- capital injections -- was the best possible way to move forward at this point.	So the Treasury Secretary announced that $250 billion of the $700 billion would go toward this capital injection.  &lt;p /&gt; I don't know how much would be used for asset purchases. That's still a part of the mix, and that's really -- the good thing about the rescue package is that we have this flexibility so that the experts can make sure they're making good decisions.  " title=" Q    Eleven.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271993" rowid="136530666" side="usa" srcid="271993" text=" Q    European officials, one would be the EU ambassador to the U.S.  Anyway, Senator Coburn has a hold on this, along with I think six other senators.  How involved has the White House been in trying to get an agreement passed on this?  Is it important to do it before the G8?  And does the White House agree with Coburn's position that there needs to be, I think, 55 percent of the funding going towards treatment?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think that we've made tremendous progress towards getting this bill passed in the Senate.  I think that while we would like to have it passed tomorrow, I don't think that we're putting a deadline on it in terms of the G8.  We really want to make sure Congress does this before they leave for their recess in August.	And we think that they could be -- they're in a position where they could actually get something done.  And I think that I would go back and look at some of the progress we've made, and maybe check back with Senator Coburn's office, because we've been actively engaged with them, and I think we're making good progress.  " title=" Q    European officials, one would be the EU ambassador to the U.S.  Anyway, Senator Coburn has a h" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278844" rowid="136531012" side="usa" srcid="278844" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  No.  Let's move on to Connie.  " title=" Q    Even giving this a chance --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308086" rowid="136532937" side="usa" srcid="308086" text=" MR. STANZEL:  He'll talk about -- as I mentioned, he'll talk about the need for a President to appoint well-qualified judges, and the need for the Senate to confirm them in a timely fashion.  And he'll talk about his own philosophy, appointing judges who do not legislate from the bench.  " title=" Q    Even though he's going to talk about the need to elect people who will appoint certain kinds o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309543" rowid="136533115" side="usa" srcid="309543" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that everybody in their districts thinks that their transportation projects are needed.  One of the biggest problems we have with transportation bills is that you can prioritize all you want on the authorizing part of the ledger, but when it comes to appropriating the money, I can't remember the number, but the amount of earmarks that go towards transportation bills that actually don't go to the priority projects is a real problem.  &lt;p /&gt; Kathleen.  " title=" Q    Even though there's not much argument that it's needed?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-26#entryid_319106" rowid="136534184" side="usa" srcid="319106" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, that's what we did, obviously, during the -- earlier this year.  Right now --  " title=" Q    Even though we're in an economic downturn, has there been any consideration of putting money i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-28#entryid_267822" rowid="136530103" side="usa" srcid="267822" text=" Q    Even though you don't -- you don't think there are others out there who maybe also were once supporters of the war, looked at the facts as we knew them at the time, and then to have now come around, as he says in the book, that he doesn't think it was the right decision?  That's not a question of intelligence.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm not saying that's not the case, and I don't know.  I don't go around and take a survey.  But your question was, do I think that other people are going to turn around 180 degrees and become this -- have these expressions of concerns that they did not voice when they were at the White House.  And so the question is, what did you really believe?  Did you believe what you said at the time, or do you believe what you believe -- say you believe now?  And I'm not going to be a judge of that.	You all have to figure that out, or he'll have to answer for it for himself.  I mean, I'm not going to -- as Jeremy suggested, the question being, would we go line-by-line through the book -- absolutely not.  We have a lot more important things to do than that.  " title=" Q    Even though you don't -- you don't think there are others out there who maybe also were once s" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316890" rowid="136533880" side="usa" srcid="316890" text=" MS. PERINO:  I know I referred you to this briefing.  And now we are here -- (laughter.)	Well, I went a step further to tell you that we have been supportive of those types of ideas in the past.  And so I'll let the leaders meet.  " title=" Q    Even you told us last week you might be able to tell us this week what --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323432" rowid="136534610" side="usa" srcid="323432" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  No, not evenly.  " title=" Q    Evenly, like --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308326" rowid="136532971" side="usa" srcid="308326" text=" Q    Excuse me.  The markets -- I think there were a lot of Americans and a lot of lawmakers who -- after what happened last week on Monday when the House failed to pass the rescue plan and the markets plummeted, many thought, well, okay, if we vote for it on Friday -- and many Americans again switched their calls and their e-mails and all to their lawmakers, saying, wow, okay we're in a crisis, vote for this thing, vote for this thing, and then everything will be better and the markets will be fine.  Would you say that -- did lawmakers, did Americans have an incorrect perception of what this rescue plan was going to do?  And again, when it comes towards the reassurance or acts of reassurance, is there anything else the administration is contemplating immediately that could give the calm and the reassurance that the markets obviously haven't found in this rescue plan?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think we need to give it a little bit of time.  And this plan is going to take us -- it's a huge plan and a huge amount of money.	And what the Treasury Department is doing is working as quickly as possible the find the right people to put in place so that they are protecting the American taxpayers' dollars and efficiently and effectively investing this money, and making sure that we can, first and foremost, protect the taxpayer, and also make good decisions.  &lt;p /&gt; And you can't make good decisions overnight.  You have to find these people, and actually the amount of time that we're talking about to actually get something like this up and running is a very short amount of time.  But if you're watching the markets on a daily basis or hourly basis or minute-by-minute basis, as many of us are, then it seems like it might be -- it might seem like it's too long.  But what I can tell you is, Treasury -- the Treasury and the Fed Reserve are working day and night to make sure that we do this right, not just do it quickly.  &lt;p /&gt; So to the extent that anybody had a false impression of what was immediately going to happen in the markets, I guess I can't really speak to that.  I would hope that wouldn't be true, because we have long said that it's going to take a little while to pull us out of it, but that we do think that this emergency package is the right thing to do.  &lt;p /&gt; Again, what you saw over the weekend and what you saw yesterday was people coming to grips with the reality that this problem is going to be felt not just in the United States but in emerging markets and established markets, like Europe, as well.  &lt;p /&gt; Wendell.  " title=" Q    Excuse me.  The markets -- I think there were a lot of Americans and a lot of lawmakers who --" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-22#entryid_267281" rowid="136530030" side="usa" srcid="267281" text=" MS. PERINO:  You tell me -- or the Democrats tell me.  " title=" Q    Farm bill -- where are we with the farm bill?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267019" rowid="136529954" side="usa" srcid="267019" text=" MS. PERINO:  Farm bill, on the timetable for the President -- we do expect the President will veto it at some point today, so let the phone calls to my office begin:  &quot;Has he done it yet?	Has he done it yet?&quot;  &lt;p /&gt; This bill is bloated.  It is bad for American taxpayers.  And when grocery bills are on the rise, Congress is asking families to pay more in subsidies to wealthy farmers, at a time of record farm profits.  We believe that the fact that they wanted to spend more than $20 billion over the current baseline is way too much to ask from taxpayers right now.  We think that they hid new spending with timing shifts.  There's a report today that one of the provisions in the bill actually would provide even more subsidies to farmers.  &lt;p /&gt; And so the President has been clear all along on this bill.  We worked hard to try to get to a place where we could sign a farm bill.  We were very clear with what our provisions would be, and at the end of the day Congress decided to go in another direction.  " title=" Q    Farm bill?  Timetable?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-15#entryid_316973" rowid="136533886" side="usa" srcid="316973" text=" Q    Fear is a great motivator, right?	Could you guys just -- this process that you've worked on very intensively and devoted a lot of your time to will now be out of your hands on January 21st.	As you guys leave, what specific -- and the President has also talked about the fact that there are temptations, strong temptations, to protectionism and closing down markets and all these sort of anti-free market measures.  Can you guys talk about, in light of that, what you will be watching when you leave, broadly or specifically, that might turn either way -- any possible concerns about things that would go in the opposite direction from the way that you've described today?  &lt;p&gt; SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I'm going to disappoint you.  I'm not going to talk about what I'll be thinking about when I leave.  We've still got a lot to do between now and then.  The leaders of the G20 have charted a course here; they have affirmed certain principles and made some very specific commitments, including in the area of protectionism.  So it's not just the usual statement that we want to get the Doha Round done.  I encourage you to read it.  It is different in quality and character than prior statements because it contemplates the possible direct involvement of leaders, number one; and number two, it is coupled with the commitment not to raise new trade barriers.  &lt;p /&gt; So -- please.   SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Can I add to that just two things that I would say really struck me here.  One was I don't know if it was universal but just about every single leader at some point in the course of the last day made the specific point about their concerns over protectionism, their commitment to pushing back on that, and I think it was grounded not in the feeling or need to say it, but in a genuine concern that as the anxiety around the world grows that that may be the response, and a need for leadership, political leadership at the highest levels across the major economies to push back on that.  &lt;p /&gt; The second thing that was said a number of times and I think with a level of commitment and intensity that really stood out was the belief that rhetorical flourishes, saying big sweeping things, was not going to do it, and that there needed to be a very focused set of actions both to deal with the crisis and on the reform agenda, and a process for going forward to ensure implementation that would make the efforts of this group credible, lasting and meaningful.  &lt;p /&gt; And so that's why, as you look through this, you have an enormous amount of specificity around the path ahead and the specific actions taken, because this was not meant to be the most elegant, poetic two-page document; this was meant to be a very specific set of actions and a plan for making sure they happen.   SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I just want to add just one last thing on the Doha point also is that -- the irony was not lost on us that we are here in this town where we are talking very pointedly about the importance of continued trade liberalization, other leaders in this town talking about continued trade liberalization, and today we are still waiting on Congress to pass very advantageous trade deals for the United States of America.  And that's something that we recognize, and it did come up on some side discussions.  " title=" Q    Fear is a great motivator, right?	Could you guys just -- this process that you've worked on ve" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-17#entryid_270687" rowid="136530430" side="usa" srcid="270687" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I wasn't in the briefing.	I'm not sure if Paulison put it in that context in the briefing with the President, but I think it's certainly the case.  Look, you know, when Katrina occurred -- I mean, the history on that, we're still dealing with it.  &lt;p /&gt; But there is absolutely no question that the agencies involved in emergency disaster relief across the country and the states and localities who are on the front lines in dealing with it, remember that, you know, even today -- you've asked about how things are going with the floods up there -- it's the state and local communities who take the lead and are on the front lines in dealing with their citizens in any disaster.  &lt;p /&gt; So they're on the front lines and they're taking the lead, and the federal government is there to give support and make sure that they have all the equipment and resources and logistics and logistical support that they need.  A lot of lessons were learned from Katrina, and I think you have seen them in place in how FEMA and the other agencies have responded to disasters since then.  " title=" Q    FEMA, having learned lessons from Katrina -- did Administrator Paulison mention any ways in wh" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305151" rowid="136532406" side="usa" srcid="305151" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not the next few minutes, but -- (laughter) -- well, yes, you will on Petraeus, but not on the economy.  I don't know yet, Roger.  " title=" Q    Few minutes?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312301" rowid="136533312" side="usa" srcid="312301" text=" Q    Final question.  On the broad timing of this, Secretary Rice said the window is closing.  She seemed to pressure the Iraqis, saying that they're dragging their feet.  Do you expect amendments soon?  Do you think that this is going to come together soon?  What's the deal?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Our negotiators are in regular contact with the Iraqi negotiators, so -- our main ones being Ambassador Crocker and General Odierno.  We have not seen the exact language that the Iraqis would propose, in terms of any amendments.  It would be a very high bar to see any changes to the agreement.  And I think Secretary Rice and Secretary Gates put it plainly that there are consequences for not moving forward.  But we are confident the Iraqis, once they can get through their political process that they have set up for this agreement, that we think we can get it signed.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm going to go over here to Ken.  " title=" Q    Final question.  On the broad timing of this, Secretary Rice said the window is closing.  She " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-29#entryid_302691" rowid="136531970" side="usa" srcid="302691" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not off the top of my head, but we can look for you.  " title=" Q    First off, do you know which convention was the first one the President ever attended?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312303" rowid="136533314" side="usa" srcid="312303" text=" Q    First, a couple of questions specific, and then another broad question.  One is, it says that the U.S. must release all detainees as soon as this agreement goes into effect.  Is there concern that the Iraqis have the capacity and capability to take all the detainees that the U.S. currently has in custody?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm not as aware of that provision as I am with some of the others.  I'll tell you that we believe that the text is a good one.  And we believe it's closed, or if not fully closed, then almost all the way closed.  And we haven't seen the changes that the Iraqis have recommended.  I'll check on that for you, because I'm not as aware of that provision as I was such as on jurisdiction or other --  " title=" Q    First, a couple of questions specific, and then another broad question.  One is, it says that " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312310" rowid="136533321" side="usa" srcid="312310" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to comment on the words that our candidate chooses to use.  All I'll say is that the President stands by his policies.  He also stands by John McCain.  " title=" Q    Follow on that, McCain said that the President had let things get completely out of hand.  Tha" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269184" rowid="136530275" side="usa" srcid="269184" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  " title=" Q    Follow on Zimbabwe?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315650" rowid="136533711" side="usa" srcid="315650" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Sure.  " title=" Q    Follow that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304213" rowid="136532258" side="usa" srcid="304213" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay, one more on North Korea.  " title=" Q    Follow up North Korea?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302477" rowid="136531916" side="usa" srcid="302477" text=" MS. PERINO:  Go here, and then I'll come right back.  " title=" Q    Follow up on Gustav, really quick --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-31#entryid_314014" rowid="136533568" side="usa" srcid="314014" text=" Q    Follow up on that, Tony?  Yesterday, the First Lady did a Republican rally in Mississippi; tomorrow Vice President Cheney will do one in Wyoming.  Why is that all right, but the President feels it's not appropriate for him to be involved in the -- in a presidential election?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  Well, because the President of the United States will get a lot more attention than obviously the Vice President or the First Lady will at these kinds of events.  And he does have work back here dealing with the implementation of and monitoring of what's going on in the markets, and meetings with staff on some pretty significant policy questions that we have to deal with over the rest of this administration.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Jim.  " title=" Q    Follow up on that, Tony?  Yesterday, the First Lady did a Republican rally in Mississippi; tom" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302493" rowid="136531948" side="usa" srcid="302493" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'll do Mark first.  " title=" Q    Follow up on that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320145" rowid="136534322" side="usa" srcid="320145" text=" Q    Follow-up on that, Dana.  We've seen the President doing a lot of these -- sort of a farewell tour, going to different agencies, and even to military bases, and thanking people.  How important does he think that is?  And I don't know really how unique it is for Presidents to do that.  And do these events bring him up, or down, because you do often see him getting a little emotional.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think they absolutely inspire him.  He has been so honored to be the Commander-in-Chief, and so, for example, last week when we went to Fort Campbell, the President -- of course, you saw he got a little teary-eyed.  When he said thank you to the staff out here the day after the election -- or two days after the election, he got a little teary-eyed.  Look, the President is always about right here in terms of the tears -- or, it doesn't take much, and he has admitted that over the years.  &lt;p /&gt; But it is a little bit of an emotional time, but at the same time we have a lot of work to do, so it's very much mixed, a mix of emotions. But we'll have plenty of time to say good-bye.	It's only December 4th.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    Follow-up on that, Dana.  We've seen the President doing a lot of these -- sort of a farewell " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-28#entryid_313005" rowid="136533425" side="usa" srcid="313005" text=" Q    Follow-up on that.  Can you confirm that the management of GM and Chrysler have directly asked the U.S. government for a $10 billion rescue plan to help fund the merger, where the government would then get -- they would provide $3 billion in exchange for preferred stock in the merged automaker -- can you confirm any of those --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I could not confirm that.	I don't know any of those specifics.  I do know that they have been in contact with the administration on various levels.  So I'll have to let that lie for a while.  " title=" Q    Follow-up on that.  Can you confirm that the management of GM and Chrysler have directly asked" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298794" rowid="136531489" side="usa" srcid="298794" text=" Q    Follow-up on the China -- you just asked about how it has to do with actions on the ground.  I mean, some of the actions recently are the Chinese have apparently gone back on their word.  They will now be censoring the Internet for all the traveling press.  And Nancy Pelosi has called for Bush to be more forthright, or more aggressive, I guess, in demanding human rights improvements when he's in China.  Do you have, I guess, reaction to this?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think President Bush is plenty aggressive when it comes to human rights, and he works in a way to try to be constructive and to try to actually effect change.  We are disappointed in any censorship of Internet access for anybody -- not just of traveling press but for the Chinese people.  Internet access has increased quite dramatically in China.	President Bush believes that they have -- that the Chinese have nothing to fear from people having more information and more ability to express themselves.  &lt;p /&gt; And when it comes to what he will do in China, I think that no one should question this President's commitment to human rights and democracy and freedom.	This is what he has shaped his whole presidency on.  And so we thank Secretary -- we thank Speaker Pelosi for her interest in it, because we think that everybody needs to be sending the same message.  " title=" Q    Follow-up on the China -- you just asked about how it has to do with actions on the ground.  I" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304064" rowid="136532219" side="usa" srcid="304064" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm going to go to -- okay.  " title=" Q    Following on that --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267100" rowid="136530003" side="usa" srcid="267100" text=" Q    Following up on that, it appears clear the farm bill will be overridden -- and, in fact, that might start as soon as today -- so there are overwhelming margins, and the President is vetoing anyway. When the Strategic Reserve bill was passed, the President opposed that, but signed it anyway, and part of the reason that we were given was because the margins in the House and Senate were so huge.  So how do you determine when to veto, when not, when it's clear what Congress wants to do?  &lt;p&gt; DIRECTOR NUSSLE:  Well, first on the SPR, it was, I believe and many in the administration believe, a fairly meaningless proposal with regard to our overall energy security, from the standpoint of reducing prices.  We wanted to ensure that our national security was preserved by ensuring that the SPR was available for a disruption in supply.  And so it was somewhat of a different situation.  The farm bill is a significant piece of legislation which will increase spending not only for the next five years, but sets the predicate for actually the next 10, based on the way that the budget has gone through this process.  &lt;p /&gt; Second, it's also important at a time when we're trying to expand trade around the world, and to ensure that we increase the amount of products that are available, to ensure that those who are in -- needing food have that available to them.  So this is a much more significant piece of legislation.  And we have worked over the last 16 months with the Congress in order to try and improve the farm bill.  And Congress has basically decided to thumb their nose at us.  " title=" Q    Following up on that, it appears clear the farm bill will be overridden -- and, in fact, that " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-04#entryid_268989" rowid="136530248" side="usa" srcid="268989" text=" Q    Following up on the issues that you spoke about, Ahmed Qureia, the Palestinian negotiator, said, yes, they're all on the table, we're discussing all of them, but big gaps still exist and it will take a -- pardon me -- and there will be no agreement this year &quot;unless there is a miracle.&quot;  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  Well, some people would say, given how long the Middle East conflict has gone on, any agreement reflects a miracle.  I think you can take that position.  &lt;p /&gt; Look, I think if you look at what's -- I guess -- I think it's helpful to put this into a little perspective.	If you look back sort of a year or two ago, when people talked about the creation of the Palestinian state, there was a lot of discussion in the press about how, well, the Palestinians want a Palestinian state that reflects all of the territory occupied in 1967, and the Israelis are taking about a &quot;Swiss cheese&quot; state that might involve 40 percent of the territory on the West Bank.  You remember all those reports.  &lt;p /&gt; I think if you look at the public statements and the discussions now, it is much more a focused discussion.  The parties, I think, are much closer together than what they have been historically.  Are there issues that still divide them?	Sure.  Are those difficult issues? Absolutely, on something that's been going on -- that has gone on this long, sure.  But is there a prospect for the first time, I think in a long time, to get an agreement?  I think there is, and I think if it wasn't the case, the parties wouldn't be at the table.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, is there a lot of public statements and jostling and a little bit of posturing going on on both sides?  Sure.  This is a negotiation like any other negotiations.  But I think what's important is what is going on in the room quietly when the parties get together.  They are meeting; it is intensive.  Our assessment is they're making progress. But these are obviously difficult issues.  " title=" Q    Following up on the issues that you spoke about, Ahmed Qureia, the Palestinian negotiator, sai" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280147" rowid="136531209" side="usa" srcid="280147" text=" MS. PERINO:  That's a decision that the Senator has to make and that other people can make judgments on; we're not going to.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    For a foreign politician running for office to campaign in front, let's say, of the Washington" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326560" rowid="136535015" side="usa" srcid="326560" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  I don't know.  " title=" Q    For a record, though, I mean, perhaps some of the past ones are published?  I don't know.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321345" rowid="136534487" side="usa" srcid="321345" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that we've -- look, I think there's lots of different factors.  One of them had been certainly the housing crisis. The President had worked for years to try to get Congress to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; that did not happen.  But we're not here to point fingers, okay.  We recognize that there are things that the private industry could have done to prevent it, that the independent regulators could have done, and that the private sector could have done.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the things I think that some of these members are mad about is that they feel that the executives of these companies and that the unions made some really bad decisions over a period of time, and that they think that this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fundamentally restructure these companies.  Well, we agree with that, and we actually think that we can do it in an orderly fashion through an auto czar that has sweeping powers to be able to say, this concession is not going to be good enough, come back to the table; and if you can't come back to the table, then I want the $15 billion -- or the $14 billion back into the taxpayers' bank account right now, and you're going to go into a disorderly bankruptcy.  &lt;p /&gt; There's really only one of two outcomes with this legislation.	If we don't have this legislation and we don't help them have an orderly bankruptcy, the ramifications of such widespread job loss would ripple throughout the economy.  And we're just trying to prevent that in the most responsible way possible.  " title=" Q    For everybody.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-20#entryid_301295" rowid="136531816" side="usa" srcid="301295" text=" MR. CONWAY:  Well, actually, let me -- I'm talking about levees, so let me be perfectly clear.  The levee protection system for Greater New Orleans, that target date is 2011.  If you're asking overall --  " title=" Q    For everything?  I'm talking the Gulf Coast.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316068" rowid="136533736" side="usa" srcid="316068" text=" MS. PERINO:  Although, I believe that the Chief of Staff and John Podesta will also try to meet.	But it would be separate and probably in the Chief's office.  " title=" Q    For the entire session?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326722" rowid="136535081" side="usa" srcid="326722" text=" MS. PERINO:  For everybody that's in this room, I think that -- and I was on a panel with Mike McCurry about a month ago and we both had the same feeling -- that in this room, and the reporters who show up every morning and are here late at night and work the weekends, that the people that are covering the President out of here, and the presidency, strive so hard to be fair.  And you have to fight for us with your other bureaus and with your other reporters, and I really think that everybody in this room, on a scale of one to ten, I give you a nine in terms of fairness and -- in fairness in working with us and then listening to us.  &lt;p /&gt; I do think that outside of the White House briefing room,  think the -- but I think the increase in the amount of commentary, I just think it's quite remarkable that everyone says they want to add more commentary to their news pages.  In some ways, I think, well, how is that even possible?  It seems sometimes that that's all that there is.  &lt;p /&gt; But I do think that in this room I think that that's true, and Mike McCurry said the same thing.  So I think by comparing Presidents and presidencies, I think it's probably similar.  &lt;p /&gt; But there's no doubt that your industry is going through a change and a transition and a transformation, and I really do think for the sake of democracy and the sake of our country we need to have more of you.  And good, tough reporting takes a lot of money and it takes investment, it takes time, and it takes the willingness from your editors to be willing to go off on assignment and to really hold your elected leaders to account.  I don't think that journalism is dead, but I think that we all have a responsibility to make sure that it survives.  " title=" Q    For the record, I just asked about bias.  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-21#entryid_301420" rowid="136531835" side="usa" srcid="301420" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  We remain in close consultation with members of Congress, the House leadership and Senate leadership, on the discussions with the Iraqis.  And so they have been a part of this from the beginning.  It was a commitment we made to the Congress, and we'll continue to have those consultations with them.  " title=" Q    Foreign Minister.	In any event, is there any role for the U.S. Congress to play in this, as we" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302496" rowid="136531954" side="usa" srcid="302496" text=" Q    France is saying that the European Union is getting ready to consider sanctions on Russia over this.	Have you heard anything about what types of sanctions they might be considering, and is the United States also considering some type of sanctions over this, or what kind of sanctions could you --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't know if France has shared their internal discussions with us, but even if they had, I probably couldn't discuss them here.  What I can tell you is that we are in the process of reevaluating our relationship with Russia.  And we are doing that in concert with our international partners such as France, but also many others, including Germany and all the NATO countries.  " title=" Q    France is saying that the European Union is getting ready to consider sanctions on Russia over" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-27#entryid_302322" rowid="136531906" side="usa" srcid="302322" text=" MR. FRATTO:  President Saakashvili called President Bush.  " title=" Q    From the President to --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-15#entryid_300849" rowid="136531733" side="usa" srcid="300849" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Yes, most likely, after he's received an update.  But we'll let you --  " title=" Q    From the President?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-12#entryid_304586" rowid="136532321" side="usa" srcid="304586" text=" MS. GOON:  Yes.  " title=" Q    G-o-o-n?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-23#entryid_323897" rowid="136534662" side="usa" srcid="323897" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, of course, that's looking backwards, and it's certainly not the worst of it.  That was for the months -- the late summer, early fall months were the third quarter.  And that was a quarter where we definitely saw a significant slowing in the economy.  The economy in the previous quarter, in the second quarter, had grown at about 3 percent, which is fairly healthy.  And we saw the economy slow down that quarter.  We also saw impacts from the hurricanes that hit the southern part of the United States, the impact of the Boeing strike.  In effect, I think our estimates from the Council of Economic Advisers estimates that that -- those two events, the hurricanes and the Boeing strike combined probably knocked about a full percentage point off of GDP.  So we may have seen positive growth in that quarter were it not for those events.  &lt;p /&gt; That's the third quarter.  The fourth quarter we know, because of the credit crisis, the standstill in credit as markets froze up, and the financial market turmoil, will be significantly weaker.  I think you have private sector forecasts out there that -- you can look up the ranges for what they're estimating.  But there's absolutely no question the fourth quarter is going to be a very weak quarter.  We see that already in the monthly payroll data that has been reported already.  &lt;p /&gt; So it's a tough quarter, there's no question about it.	What we've been focused on is implementing the financial rescue package and the efforts of the Fed to restore growth, to free up credit so that the economy can return to more normal practices and get healthy again.  And that's the most important thing we can do right now.  " title=" Q    GDP third quarter shrank 0.5 percent.  What is the outlook beyond that?  Is that the worst of " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308333" rowid="136532978" side="usa" srcid="308333" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, the President -- the reason that he was in touch with them today is that, obviously, our markets are interconnected, and something that happens here or there affects the other one, one way or another.  And, in fact, it's happening all over -- it's affecting everybody all over the world, including emerging markets like Brazil and Mexico.	So there's a lot of work that needs to be done.  I don't know if -- not everybody has dotted all the I's and crossed the T's yet on their plans.  I think that they're continuing to work on them.	So we're satisfied with the level of effort and coordination, but I don't think anybody has an end result yet.  " title=" Q    Generally speaking, you think they're doing the right thing?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280866" rowid="136531339" side="usa" srcid="280866" text=" DIRECTOR NUSSLE:  We did not leave out war costs.  In fact, we build in -- and we built into the budget for this year $70 billion for 2009.  We certainly understand that may not be the full cost of the war.	That number is still being developed by the Department of Defense, and when it is available and when it is developed, then it will be presented to the President for a decision about whether or not that is appropriate and needs to be sent up.  &lt;p /&gt; But we've made it very clear that we did not want to tie the hands of the next commander, that we wanted to provide flexibility to the next Commander-In-Chief.  The $70 billion we estimate will provide funding for the global war on terror through -- we believe at this point in time, through late spring, possibly early summer, depending on how the Congress develops -- or if they pass an appropriations bill for the Department of Defense this year, or whether we have to live under a CR.  &lt;p /&gt; So there is some, I suppose, uncertainty based on how they decide to proceed.  But the President has decided that the best way to not only ensure that we have funding through the next administration is to provide that $70 billion.  And Congress put that into the supplemental that they passed back in late June.  " title=" Q    Gentleman, the AP reports that you've left out war costs, and that violates new mandates in Co" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-20#entryid_301280" rowid="136531801" side="usa" srcid="301280" text=" Q    Georgia and Russia.  You know, you guys have spent a week, basically, telling Russia that they need to move their forces out immediately.  They haven't.  They're saying now that maybe by the end of this week they'll start pulling more out.  I mean, is there anything else that the United States can do?	Russia has already blocked that U.N. resolution that you guys were aiming for.  So what else can the United States do?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  Well, I think we are beginning to see the early signs of some withdrawal.  It is not significant and it needs to increase; both the size and pace of the withdrawal needs to increase, and needs to increase sooner rather than later.  &lt;p /&gt; I don't think they need any more additional time or need to set -- continue to set additional dates in the future, whether it's two or three days or whatever it is.  They just need to withdraw.  " title=" Q    Georgia and Russia.  You know, you guys have spent a week, basically, telling Russia that they" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272796" rowid="136530765" side="usa" srcid="272796" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, we've already taken steps on our own to expand FHASecure so that we -- so that FHASecure can go out and reach more troubled homeowners.  And so those are -- those administrative changes that we've been able to do are being implemented by Brian Montgomery over at the Federal Housing Administration.  They're doing those things.  The HOPE NOW Alliance is expanding their network and expanding their reach and dealing with lenders in ways to show how lenders can be -- take a more standardized approach to helping the individuals.  &lt;p /&gt; So all of those things continue.  All of the initiatives that the administration took are continuing and, in fact, expanding and trying to reach more people.  So that will continue.  &lt;p /&gt; But there's no question that it is -- we are now approaching a year since the President called on Congress to pass housing legislation.  I'll remind you, it was August 31st of last year.  It's hard to believe that we've gone 10 months now waiting for Congress to act, from that urgent call that the President made on August 31st of last year to pass FHA modernization, pass GSE reform.  And that was the day that he announced the creation of FHASecure.  &lt;p /&gt; Now here we are in July of the following year and Congress still has not sent the President legislation that he can sign.  So like we -- so, yes, you're right; every day that we wait, the problem gets worse, more people go into foreclosure.  We could really use the extra tools and some of the extra authorities that are contained in this legislation.  We would really like to see the GSE oversight part of this become law.	That would be a major contribution not just to housing, but also to the long-term risk factor for the federal government.  So it's -- this is critical legislation, and we need to see them move on it.  " title=" Q    Germane to that point is that things can get worse this summer before they get better with sub" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326723" rowid="136535082" side="usa" srcid="326723" text=" MS. PERINO:  Here's the thing.	I don't think that I would always be asked about my feelings about liberal bias in the media if there wasn't any liberal bias in the media.  If it was a moot question, then we wouldn't always have the discussion.  But I will say this about the reporters --  " title=" Q    Give us something to take the wrong way.  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-30#entryid_324147" rowid="136534724" side="usa" srcid="324147" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I think that a Hamas that is unable to rain terror down on the people of Israel is probably a Hamas that is better, even for the people of Gaza.  If Hamas is not able to carry out terrorist activities, hopefully they would see the light and start to serve the people of Gaza better.  Instead, they have -- they bring them nothing but continued poverty.  &lt;p /&gt; Toby.  " title=" Q    Given that Israel yesterday declared all out war on Hamas, would the administration object to " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326729" rowid="136535088" side="usa" srcid="326729" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't believe you will, no.  The President had his last public appearance last night.  And I don't -- barring some other major circumstance, I can't imagine that that would change.  So the next time you will see him is Tuesday on the 20th.  &lt;p /&gt; And your other question on the stimulus -- he's kept in -- I think the President's last act on the stimulus was to fulfill the request that the President-elect asked of him, which was to ask for the funds. But he has been kept in the loop by the Treasury Secretary on actions that they needed to take last night in order to continue to help get us on a path back to recovery.  &lt;p /&gt; Toby.  " title=" Q    Given that this is such a big deal, do you think we would hear from the President at all --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320588" rowid="136534405" side="usa" srcid="320588" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think it's very likely.	We've made a lot of progress on Friday.  If we could see the legislation -- and since it sounds like we have agreement on those basic principles that would be required for a bill that the President could sign, I don't see any reason why we wouldn't be able to make some good progress today.	And I think that they have an incentive to do so if they want to have a vote tomorrow and they want to get out of town.  There's no reason, I think, that if they came forward with the legislation quickly that we couldn't all work together.  &lt;p /&gt; We've shown a willingness to work at all hours.  Our team members were up there, I think, at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night.  So if they want to work with us, we'll meet them halfway.  " title=" Q    Given that you have not seen the proposal yet, what is the likelihood that you can reach some " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-30#entryid_307122" rowid="136532755" side="usa" srcid="307122" text=" Q    Given the breakdown of the House vote yesterday, that you had about 60 percent of Democrats, I think the number was, voting for the package, but only about 30-32 percent of Republicans, will the effort to get the extra votes -- will the White House's effort to get the extra votes focus on Republican votes at this point?  Is that the side of the liberal-conservative split that you're going to go after to get those extra votes?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  We will talk at great length with Republicans about their concerns, but this has to be a bipartisan effort.  I've been asked the question, are you going to try to get more Democratic votes; are you going to try to get more Republican votes?  We want to raise the number of concerned votes, people who understand that this is a real problem that needs to be fixed, and that these are solutions that will help our economy and deal with this problem.  And I don't think we're going to limit it to one or the other side of the aisle.  It needs to come from both sides of the aisle.  &lt;p /&gt; April.  " title=" Q    Given the breakdown of the House vote yesterday, that you had about 60 percent of Democrats, I" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298504" rowid="136531414" side="usa" srcid="298504" text=" MR. WILDER:  I think it has made a difference.	I would not say that progress is by leaps and bounds.  The Chinese system structurally does not move very quickly in these areas.  But I think we have seen, if you talk to Christians, certainly, about the growth of the church in China -- some people think there are a hundred million Christians now in China.  That has happened in a relatively short period of time.	And that means that while these churches may not be registered and the house churches may not receive the kind of treatment by the Chinese government we would like to see them receive, it does mean that people are able to express their religious faith in China.  It's just that, unfortunately, these churches are now unregistered, as opposed to registered, and we would like to see the government -- very much like to see the government register these churches so that they aren't living, as it were, on the fringe of Chinese law.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think, certainly in the area of religion, if you look back over the 30 years of the relationship or even the last eight years of the relationship, the room for religious expression has grown in China.  " title=" Q    Given the fact that he has that relationship and he does speak candidly in those meetings, do " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273753" rowid="136530950" side="usa" srcid="273753" text=" Q    Given the fact that you all have said that the major economies have to be a part of this process in going forward and making these kinds of commitments, do you feel you're walking away from this meeting having sufficient support, et cetera, to move forward within the U.S. rubric?  &lt;p&gt; CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  As you all know, there are few items in the area of climate change in which our political spectrum is nearly universally unified.  One of them is the fact that all the major economies have to make commitments that are binding in a new international agreement.	And that was the test of the Byrd-Hagel resolution before Kyoto, which was 95 to 0; that remains the test of the Senate, even in the last Senate debate on this issue, that progress can only be achieved in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and addressing long-term temperature trends if all the major economies with the most emissions are taking on new commitments.  &lt;p /&gt; We have taken a significant step in that direction with the language in today's declaration.  The G8 for the first time has been unified in its expression of the fact that all countries' national actions need to be bound into an international agreement.	And I think that provides a good platform for trying to come together on that point by the end of next year.  " title=" Q    Given the fact that you all have said that the major economies have to be a part of this proce" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303110" rowid="136532036" side="usa" srcid="303110" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'll let you figure that out.  I could ask the same question about the media's approval ratings, but I'm not -- I'm just not going to.  " title=" Q    Given the President's low popularity ratings, though, isn't there an advantage to the Republic" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278882" rowid="136531050" side="usa" srcid="278882" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that you have seen increasingly Americans are understanding the importance of this issue; they're becoming more educated about the advances in technology that have taken place that would protect the environment.  I know that across Europe, especially in the North Sea, there's a lot of offshore oil drilling that takes place, and they've been able to do it in ways that has been able to be protective of the environment.  &lt;p /&gt; So there's three more weeks left of Congress, and you've been in town long enough to know that oftentimes Congress gets most of its work done in just the remaining weeks right before it goes off for August recess.  One thing I know that the Democrats continue to recommend is that we -- or to suggest -- is that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is the answer to all of our problems.  We strongly believe that it's not.  That trick has been tried before and it doesn't work.  &lt;p /&gt; It's unfortunate that the only place Democrats in Congress seem to be able to think we can get oil is from our insurance policy, which is the extra supply that we have in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.  And to my knowledge, Speaker Pelosi or others have not indicated how long they would recommend -- or how many -- how long they would recommend taking oil out of the SPR.  They've not said what the price point is they're trying to get to.  They've not said how long it would last.  And so I think those are -- a lot of questions have to be answered before they could even be taken seriously.  I believe that Democrats believe a problem delayed is a problem half-solved -- and in this case, it doesn't work.  " title=" Q    Given the reluctance of the Congress to turn the other key, is it fair to call this a symbolic" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315641" rowid="136533702" side="usa" srcid="315641" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I mean, we've already extended benefits once and then in certain states there are federal-state matching programs to further extend unemployment benefits when a state hits a trigger.  Look, what every worker would rather have is a paycheck.  And I think right now that's what we need to be focused on.  If there's interest in Congress on taking additional measures, again, we need to see what their intentions are and whether it's something that they want to do while we're here to work with them on it.  But it's not at all clear what their intentions are right now.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Olivier.  " title=" Q    Given the runup in the unemployment rate, do you -- what are your thoughts about doing more in" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317306" rowid="136533959" side="usa" srcid="317306" text=" Q    Given the unpredictable nature of economy as it impacts the automakers -- everything from consumer attitudes to fluctuation in gas prices -- what are the benchmarks for them to predict their viability?  What is the administration looking for?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I'd refer you to one of the things that we've already done, which is the technical experts and the financial experts worked on those regulations to implement the 136 loan program out of DOE and they've defined viability there.  &lt;p /&gt; The proposal that Senator Reid produced yesterday does not require viability.  They talk around the edges of it, there's a lot of rhetoric, but it doesn't require it.  And that is going to be a test for us to be able to actually reach a compromise.  " title=" Q    Given the unpredictable nature of economy as it impacts the automakers -- everything from cons" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-09#entryid_325906" rowid="136534956" side="usa" srcid="325906" text=" Q    Given the very grim discoveries of bodies in the Gaza Strip in recent days, is the administration still convinced that Israel is doing all it can to prevent civilian casualties and to facilitate the entry of humanitarian relief to the people there?  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; MR. STANZEL:  We are very concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.  We have expressed that concern throughout this crisis.  Israel has indicated that they too are concerned and they are taking every step that they can to prevent the loss of innocent life.  And we want to see that situation improve.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p /&gt; However, it is a difficult situation.  It is a conflict area.  And this situation will not improve until Hamas stops lobbing rockets into Israel.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p /&gt; And so that is very much a concern, but it is something that we have expressed, the President expressed to Prime Minister Olmert, and certainly officials at the State Department have indicated their concern in their conversations with their Israeli counterparts, as well.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p /&gt; Yes.  &lt;/p&gt;" title=" Q    Given the very grim discoveries of bodies in the Gaza Strip in recent days, is the administrat" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-26#entryid_302152" rowid="136531880" side="usa" srcid="302152" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Secretary Rice addressed this.  Russia will do what is in its interest, and it is not in Russia's interest to have a nuclear-armed nation on its border on the Korean Peninsula.  I'm not aware of any degradation of our cooperation with respect to the six-party talks.  &lt;p /&gt; But with respect to North Korea's announcement today, we've been very clear with North Korea that there will be action for action.  And they have linked this to -- they have linked their action to not being taken off the state sponsor of terrorism list.	The other members of the six party have made it clear -- of the six parties have made it clear that we will -- that United States will not take North Korea off the state sponsor of terrorism list until we have a protocol in place to verify the dismantling and accounting for Korea's nuclear program.  &lt;p /&gt; So that's not a new demand; that's a longstanding demand.  It's not just a U.S. demand; it's a demand by the other five members of the six-party talks.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm sorry -- still on Russia?  " title=" Q    Given what's come out of North Korea just overnight about putting on hold their dismantlement," />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-25#entryid_280663" rowid="136531299" side="usa" srcid="280663" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  He'll be at the White House this weekend.  On Monday at 11:15 a.m. he meets with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Prime Minister Gillani.  At 3:20 p.m. he will participate in a photo opportunity with members of the Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program in the East Room.  That will be open to still photographers.  &lt;p /&gt; Then on Tuesday the President will travel to Cleveland, Ohio, to participate in a tour of Lincoln Electric Holdings, Incorporated.  He will make remarks on energy and the economy there.  And then he will also participate in another one of these Congressional Trust 2008 receptions, and that will be in Gates Mills, Ohio.  &lt;p /&gt; Then on Wednesday there will be a Cabinet meeting --  " title=" Q    Go ahead.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307861" rowid="136532881" side="usa" srcid="307861" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Go ahead, Goyal.  " title=" Q    Go ahead.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315649" rowid="136533710" side="usa" srcid="315649" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Mike.  " title=" Q    Go ahead.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322375" rowid="136534553" side="usa" srcid="322375" text=" MS. PERINO:  So polite.  " title=" Q    Go ahead.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299226" rowid="136531542" side="usa" srcid="299226" text=" Q    Going back onto the beef issue for a minute, the -- there's been a call for a large rally upon arrival for the President -- the President's arrival.  Does that indicate that while the two Presidents have reached their agreement on it, it's out of step with the Korean majority opinion?  &lt;p&gt; MR. WILDER:  Well, first of all, rallies in South Korea are a sign of a mature democracy.  We have no problem at all with the fact that the South Korean people want to provide their opinion.  But I think the real proof is in the pudding.  And the case -- in this case, the pudding is the consumer in South Korea.  And if this consumer in South Korea is buying the beef, then I think you have a situation in which clearly the South Korean people are indicating that they find American beef both well priced and safe.	So while there may be some people who will protest, I think you need to look at what's happening on the supermarket shelves.  " title=" Q    Going back onto the beef issue for a minute, the -- there's been a call for a large rally upon" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-07#entryid_308315" rowid="136532960" side="usa" srcid="308315" text=" Q    Going back to Ann's question about a recession, you said, we don't know.  And that's somewhat -- it's changing, especially from February, when President Bush emphatically said, when I did an interview with him, he said, we're not in a recession and we're not going into a recession.  He was emphatic about that.  What has changed since February to now?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Just look at what's happened.  That's what's changed, is what's happened in the market.  " title=" Q    Going back to Ann's question about a recession, you said, we don't know.  And that's somewhat " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316087" rowid="136533755" side="usa" srcid="316087" text=" Q    Going back to the autos for just a minute, Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid over the weekend sent Paulson a letter which seemed to suggest that their interpretation of TARP would include the auto industry as a critical part of the financial markets and the economy.  How does the White House react to that, especially since they're suggesting legislative intent of the TARP?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, the letter was sent to Secretary Paulson, the Treasury Department is still reviewing it and hasn't responded yet -- but I'm sure that they will and when they do, that will be public.  &lt;p /&gt; I would remind you, though, that the letter doesn't specifically say that that was their congressional intent.  It asked the Secretary of the Treasury to review the legislation and study the feasibility of using TARP funds for that purpose.  So I think that it's important that you recognize that distinction and let the Treasury Secretary review those discussions.  " title=" Q    Going back to the autos for just a minute, Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid over" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-20#entryid_301284" rowid="136531805" side="usa" srcid="301284" text=" MR. CONWAY:  No, I'm not saying it's a cap.  We can't predict what Congress will do.  Congress may see fit to authorize additional funds.  " title=" Q    Going back to the money -- so are you saying $126 billion is a cap?  There's no more federal m" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-19#entryid_305496" rowid="136532500" side="usa" srcid="305496" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to discuss it.  " title=" Q    Going back to what the President said about not adding controversial provisions that could del" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324662" rowid="136534811" side="usa" srcid="324662" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Thanks, Dean.  Good to talk to you.  " title=" Q    Good afternoon.  Thank you, sir.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320154" rowid="136534331" side="usa" srcid="320154" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes, good for me.	(Laughter.)  " title=" Q    Good for you.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304216" rowid="136532261" side="usa" srcid="304216" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    Good morning, Dana.  A couple of questions on North Korea.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-23#entryid_305995" rowid="136532596" side="usa" srcid="305995" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Hi, Ann.  " title=" Q    Good morning, Tony.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307889" rowid="136532909" side="usa" srcid="307889" text=" MR. FRATTO:  All right.  Very quickly, saw the jobs report this morning, the payroll data.  Obviously this is a very disappointing report.  We're dealing with a number of shocks to our economy and have been for some time -- still elevated energy prices, the housing correction, and obviously the credit crisis that we're dealing with now.  We think that one of the most important things we can do right now -- and of course it's on the floor of the House of Representatives this morning -- is to pass this emergency legislation to deal with the problem in our credit markets.  We're watching the debate and look forward to the vote coming up in a little more than an hour.  &lt;p /&gt; Just to let you know for your planning, you can expect to hear from the President at some point after the vote.  We'll try to give you details on that as we can.  &lt;p /&gt; Let me give you a little bit on the schedule and then we can go into some questions.  &lt;p /&gt; This afternoon the President will attend a Hulshof for Governor Dinner in St. Louis, Missouri, and then he'll spend the weekend in Crawford. On Saturday, the President and Mrs. Bush will attend a Congressional Trust 2008 fundraiser in Midland, Texas.  On Monday, the President and Mrs. Bush attend a Congressional Trust 2008 reception in San Antonio, Texas.	And then the President will make remarks on judicial accomplishments and philosophy in Cincinnati, Ohio.  &lt;p /&gt; On Tuesday the President will participate in a photo opportunity and make remarks to the members of the 2008 United States Summer Olympic and Paralympic teams here at the White House.  And we hear we should have a pretty impressive turnout for that, so we look forward to that.  &lt;p /&gt; And I'll go to questions.  " title=" Q    Good.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-02#entryid_268532" rowid="136530205" side="usa" srcid="268532" text=" Q    Good.  The Washington Post also reported of this Rules and Bylaws Committee, &quot;They decided to give Florida and Michigan half their voting rights -- one of the more arbitrary compromises since the 1787 decision that a slave should count as three-quarters of a person.&quot;  And my question:  Surely the President, as our chief executive, believes that no Florida or Michigan citizen of either party deserved to be treated as a half-citizen, doesn't he?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  He'll leave it to the Democrats to sort that out.	That's their decision.  " title=" Q    Good.  The Washington Post also reported of this Rules and Bylaws Committee, &quot;They decided to " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-22#entryid_301588" rowid="136531851" side="usa" srcid="301588" text=" Q    Gordon, a CNN producer outside Tbilisi saw some Russian soldiers making some slight modifications to their uniforms, putting on some white markers to appear as peacekeepers.  Have you heard any kind of reports like that, and what would you make of that, if, in fact, it turned out to be true?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  I have not seen that specific report.  There are a lot of different reports coming out of Georgia right now.  It's important to analyze them, assess them, determine what the hard facts are.  Obviously, that sort of behavior would be not only inconsistent with the withdrawal agreement, but I believe not consistent with the standard rules of conduct.  That's the type of thing that will need to be looked into.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay, Jeremy.  " title=" Q    Gordon, a CNN producer outside Tbilisi saw some Russian soldiers making some slight modificati" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-30#entryid_324151" rowid="136534728" side="usa" srcid="324151" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I've seen various figures about the number of people in Gaza killed.  It is not for me to speak to the facts of who has been killed or wounded in this.  We have urged the Israelis to avoid civilian casualties.  But I would also say, you know, let's be careful in assessing these numbers, and what the police force is or isn't -- whether the police force of Hamas-controlled Gaza is or isn't working on keeping the peace.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm not sure that that's something that any of us can say with any certitude.  Hamas had its tentacles throughout Gaza, and was recruiting and training.  And we see that manifested through these various rocket and mortar attacks.  &lt;p /&gt; And so let's be careful.  We want Israel to avoid civilian casualties. But let's be careful about some of the numbers we're seeing coming out of Gaza.  &lt;p /&gt; But also, what about the three people I believe I saw reported today that were killed in Israel by rockets.	I'm not going to compare numbers between the two locations.  I'm just saying that this is a conflict with two sides, and both of -- both these sides I think know how to end this: Hamas stops firing rockets, and Israel will not see a need to protect its people from rocket attack.  &lt;p /&gt; Patty.  " title=" Q    Gordon, a prison was bombed, police who were keeping the peace in that region have been killed" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-21#entryid_301417" rowid="136531832" side="usa" srcid="301417" text=" Q    Gordon, are you aware that NATO has announced that Russia is suspending all military cooperation?  That came out of the Alliance this morning.  What are the ramifications for relations between Russia and Europe, and Russia and the United States over a move like that?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  I think the -- for all practical purposes, military-to-military cooperation had really already been suspended with the Russians.  We -- NATO cancelled some exercises.  And I can't imagine a circumstance right now that we would engage in military cooperation with the Russians until the situation in Georgia is resolved.  &lt;p /&gt; So we will -- we are hopeful for the day that we will be able to resume military cooperation with the Russians, hopeful for the day that we're able to resume what I would call normal cooperation with the Russians.  Right now the Russians are making some decisions that are not in line with a commitment to become a part of a Europe, whole, free and at peace.  &lt;p /&gt; So the practical effects are that there won't be any exercises for the time being.	But as I said, I can't imagine a circumstance that, until the situation in Georgia is resolved, that we would engage in exercises with them.  " title=" Q    Gordon, are you aware that NATO has announced that Russia is suspending all military cooperati" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-21#entryid_301414" rowid="136531829" side="usa" srcid="301414" text=" Q    Gordon, back to Georgia.  There seem to be conflicting reports coming out about what's going on on the ground.  What are you hearing about what is really happening there?  And is the White House satisfied with some of the latest developments?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  No.  The Russians need to honor their commitment.  They made a commitment to withdraw; we expect them to withdraw.  The reports we have on the ground are -- if there is any withdrawal it's very limited.  And there are opposite reports that suggest there are new, additional troops, or troops that may be digging in.  Both of those -- if that's accurate, troops digging in -- what we know is accurate is that the withdrawal is not happening very quickly, if it, in fact, has begun.  The withdrawal needs to take place, and needs to take place now.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, ma'am.  " title=" Q    Gordon, back to Georgia.  There seem to be conflicting reports coming out about what's going o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-02#entryid_324407" rowid="136534780" side="usa" srcid="324407" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  She's been making, as she said and as we've said, a number of phone calls constantly.  We were talking about, just this morning before she went out, that over the New Year's time period it wasn't -- it really wasn't a holiday; it was a working week for her and for many people, as you can imagine.  So she's been on the phones constantly since last Friday and Saturday, for about a week now.  And so there's no -- don't see a particular need for her to travel to the region to deal with this when she can do this work from here.  " title=" Q    Gordon, can you explain to us why Secretary Rice doesn't think it's necessary to go to the reg" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-15#entryid_300846" rowid="136531730" side="usa" srcid="300846" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I want to say, in these conversations, I think both the President and the leader of whether it would be Estonia or Lithuania or the other countries that he's spoken with are in lockstep and in total agreement that Russia needs to withdraw its forces, and that we need to stand with Georgia -- the democratically elected government of Georgia and the people of Georgia.	So the conversations have really been about the need for everyone to remain standing together and standing strong for Georgia.  " title=" Q    Gordon, can you say anything more about what the President is discussing when he's talking wit" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-21#entryid_301424" rowid="136531839" side="usa" srcid="301424" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I think you probably heard from Secretary Rice, now in Baghdad -- you certainly have some comments from her on the plane, that she made last night on the plane into Baghdad.  Discussions are ongoing.  We have made some progress in the recent days on an agreement with the Iraqis, but there is no final agreement yet.  We will continue to have these discussions with the Iraqis.  &lt;p /&gt; And let me just remind everyone why we are having these discussions, why we are able to talk about the potential for more American troops to come home.  It's because of the security gains that have been realized since the President ordered five additional brigades and Marines into Iraq last January.  &lt;p /&gt; Those soldiers and Marines helped bring additional population security, especially to Baghdad, a capital that was about to fall.  The security in Baghdad allowed the government to come together and make some of the political reconciliation  -- make some of the political progress that we all sought.  &lt;p /&gt; So the conversations that we're having with the Iraqis now are based on the improvement in security and our mutual desire to bring more American troops home.  I think the President and every American wants to see American troops come home, but not until the job is done and there is more security, more political progress, and more economic progress inside Iraq.  And the Iraqis want to increasingly take the lead in their own country, especially for combat missions, and they are increasingly able to do that because of improvements in the capacity and the skill of the Iraqi security forces.  &lt;p /&gt; Discussions continue; they are ongoing.  I'm not going to get into the specifics of those discussions.  But we are -- they will -- we will continue to have these with the Iraqis over the days ahead.  " title=" Q    Gordon, can you tell us where the negotiations stand with Iraq and the United States, Secretar" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-21#entryid_301418" rowid="136531833" side="usa" srcid="301418" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I'd say the President has certainly been engaged in this process and has been involved in the discussions with Prime Minister Maliki, as well as with his own top advisors.  But I'm not aware of Secretary Rice planning to return to Crawford.	We'll continue to have discussions.  We'll get -- the President will certainly get an update from her.  Whether it's by phone or secure video, I'm not sure, but the President will get an update from her on her trip to Baghdad and her discussions there.  And I expect that, if not later today, then over the course of the next couple days.  He also wants to hear from her about her trip to Brussels and to Warsaw.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  " title=" Q    Gordon, did the Secretary's discussions this morning in Baghdad get to the point where she'll " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301175" rowid="136531789" side="usa" srcid="301175" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  She is not going to be attending the closing ceremonies now because of developments around the world.  " title=" Q    Gordon, going back to your announcement on Secretary Rice, is she skipping the closing ceremon" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-02#entryid_324408" rowid="136534781" side="usa" srcid="324408" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No, I don't think I'd address that issue this week, but I think I have been clear that Israel took this action because Hamas is firing hundreds and hundreds of rockets into southern Israel, rockets that are going farther and farther, it appears, every day, killing innocent Israelis.  Israelis are having to spend much of their time in bomb shelters now.  So clearly, what Israel is trying to do is deal with Hamas in a way that gets them to stop firing rockets on their people, on the Israeli people.  &lt;p /&gt; Laurent.  " title=" Q    Gordon, has the administration said whether it feels the Israeli response is proportionate or " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-13#entryid_316621" rowid="136533839" side="usa" srcid="316621" text=" Q    Gordon, I had two questions on the summit.  You made a comment that the President will make the point that we shouldn't dismantle the system that's been working -- I'm paraphrasing you.  Is anybody suggesting that the financial systems worldwide be dismantled?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  I think it's just a matter of making clear that free market capitalism has led to incredible growth and prosperity and has helped lift people in the developing world over many years.  And it's important that as we make changes and take steps to return not only the United States and the whole world to prosperity and creating jobs and continuing to thaw out the credit market, that we not take any steps that are against our underlying principles.  " title=" Q    Gordon, I had two questions on the summit.  You made a comment that the President will make th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-18#entryid_301037" rowid="136531766" side="usa" srcid="301037" text=" Q    Gordon, just as a practical matter, how can the resignation of a strong ally in the war on terror, in the midst of a impeachment crisis, in a country not known for smooth transfers of power -- how can that not have an upheaval or an effect on our prosecution of the war on terror?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  Well, one, we're going to continue working with the government of Pakistan.  The President had a good meeting with the Prime Minister a couple of weeks ago in Washington.  The Pakistanis realize that the threat of terrorism, the threat of extremism, is a threat to them, as well as the rest of the world.	So the government of Pakistan, the Prime Minister, realizes that they need to go after terrorists and extremists because they are trying to destabilize the government of Pakistan, as well.  So we're confident that while we certainly all have more to do when it comes to fighting terrorism, the government of Pakistan will continue in the effort.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    Gordon, just as a practical matter, how can the resignation of a strong ally in the war on ter" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301167" rowid="136531781" side="usa" srcid="301167" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  It needs to happen faster.  That's what they've agreed to, and I'll just leave it at that.  &lt;p /&gt; Kathleen.  " title=" Q    Gordon, on that, does the White House believe that Russia is being deliberately defiant and dr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-22#entryid_301582" rowid="136531845" side="usa" srcid="301582" text=" Q    Gordon, on the same subject -- Scott, did you -- thanks.  So you're denying that there's a tentative agreement between the United States and Iraq -- never mind the precise date of a withdrawal -- when these folks come out and say, we've reached a tentative deal; it now needs a ruling from the cabinet and other Iraqi institutions -- you're saying that's wrong; there is no tentative agreement.  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  There are still discussions ongoing.  And it's not done until it's done.  And the discussions are really ongoing.  " title=" Q    Gordon, on the same subject -- Scott, did you -- thanks.  So you're denying that there's a ten" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-02#entryid_324411" rowid="136534784" side="usa" srcid="324411" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Well, we want to make sure that there isn't a humanitarian crisis.  Israel has allowed -- I think yesterday's count was 93; before that there were dozens of truckloads of humanitarian supplies that entered into Gaza.  We want to make sure that flow continues.  And we want to make sure that that, the food and medical supplies, reach the people of Gaza.  &lt;p /&gt; The Israelis are reporting that Hamas hoards the humanitarian supplies and doesn't allow them to reach the people of Gaza, to create the idea of a humanitarian crisis.  I can't speak to the exact situation on the ground.  I can't speak to their allegation.  I can't speak to Hamas's allegation that humanitarian supplies are not flowing in fast enough.  We've seen humanitarian supplies flow into Gaza.  We want to see them continue to flow into Gaza.  " title=" Q    Gordon, recently Foreign Minister Livni told the French Foreign Minister Kouchner that there i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301156" rowid="136531770" side="usa" srcid="301156" text=" Q    Gordon, Senator Biden apparently came back from his trip to Georgia, saying that it would need probably about a billion dollars in initial aid from the United States.  Does that figure sound about right?  Are you in any kind of conversation with the Hill on a total amount of humanitarian aid?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  I mean, I think it's going to be a substantial commitment by the United States to Georgia for, one, immediate humanitarian assistance; and then, two, reconstruction of their infrastructure that has been needlessly destroyed; and then also the need to help them rebuild their military.  And so I don't want to put a dollar figure on it right now.  &lt;p /&gt; As you know and you pointed out, there are a number of senators and members of Congress who are traveling to and from Georgia.  I think Congress is well aware of the situation.  We will remain in touch with Congress.  It's premature for me to put a dollar figure on it now.  It will be a substantial commitment by the United States to Georgia.  &lt;p /&gt; Kathleen.  " title=" Q    Gordon, Senator Biden apparently came back from his trip to Georgia, saying that it would need" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-02#entryid_324409" rowid="136534782" side="usa" srcid="324409" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Well, President Bush spoke to President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad; he also spoke to President Mubarak of Egypt; he spoke to King Abdullah of Jordan, as well as King Abdallah of Saudi Arabia.  So we're speaking to a number of people who do have some ability to influence Hamas.	It's a difficult situation.  I mean, there's different factions in Hamas.	Egypt brokered the cease-fire that ended on December the 19th, and Hamas seems unwilling at this point to re-enter into another cease-fire, Egyptian-brokered or not.  &lt;p /&gt; So, anyway, we remain in touch with leaders in the region who have some -- I don't know whether it's influence or not, but at least the ability to talk to Hamas, and hopefully get them to see that serving as a terrorist organization does nothing for their own people or their own cause.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    Gordon, so if we don't talk to Hamas, who are we talking to, to try and arrange a cease-fire, " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-30#entryid_324152" rowid="136534729" side="usa" srcid="324152" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  As I've said, we think, one, we want to see an end to the violence.  But two, we want to see an end to the violence for the long term, not just the immediate.  So again, we don't want a ceasefire agreement that isn't worth the piece of paper it's written on.	We want something that's lasting, and most importantly, respected by Hamas.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q    Gordon, so when Ban Ki-moon calls for an immediate ceasefire, an end to the violence by all si" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301182" rowid="136531796" side="usa" srcid="301182" text=" Q    Gordon, thanks.  Foreign Minister Lavrov now says that the Russian withdrawal could begin, I believe, in the next three to four days.  Can you react to that, and explain what your understanding is about why Russia did not start its withdrawal meaningfully yesterday, as agreed?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  Sure.  I saw those comments.  Clearly, I think our allies in Europe and NATO have seen those comments.  They reiterated the need for an immediate withdrawal.  But I would say it didn't take them really three or four days to get into Georgia, and it really shouldn't take them three or four days to get out.  So I would expect them to begin an immediate withdrawal, which is their commitment.	We want them to honor their commitment.  &lt;p /&gt; Kathleen.  " title=" Q    Gordon, thanks.  Foreign Minister Lavrov now says that the Russian withdrawal could begin, I b" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-15#entryid_300863" rowid="136531747" side="usa" srcid="300863" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No, I think it's important to continue to send the strong message.  And this isn't a message solely to the Kremlin, and as I said, I think the Russian leadership knows exactly where President Bush and the United States and the international community stand.  But when the President speaks, he's sending a signal to the rest of the world, also sending a signal especially to countries that have recently transitioned to democracy, sending a message that the United States will stand with you and to stay strong.  " title=" Q    Gordon, the President made another statement today.  Does he not think the message is getting " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-18#entryid_301036" rowid="136531765" side="usa" srcid="301036" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I'm not going to comment specifically on what Russian units or equipment are in the area right now.  But let me be clear:  If it rolled in after August 6th, it needs to roll out.  That would be in keeping with the Russians' commitments on withdrawal.  &lt;p /&gt; Kathleen.  " title=" Q    Gordon, there's a report out of the Pentagon that SS-21 missiles are being moved into South Os" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-21#entryid_301421" rowid="136531836" side="usa" srcid="301421" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I'm not aware of -- I'm not aware of that.  " title=" Q    Gordon, this draft goes to the Iraqi parliament, I guess tomorrow?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-18#entryid_301022" rowid="136531751" side="usa" srcid="301022" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I believe he's in Pakistan, but I -- you should check with Pakistanis officials on that.  But I don't have any specific information or updates on his whereabouts.  " title=" Q    Gordon, to follow on that, do you know where he is now?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-18#entryid_301027" rowid="136531756" side="usa" srcid="301027" text=" Q    Gordon, Venezuela President Hugo Chavez says that the Russian -- Russia's fleet is coming to the Carribean and that they're welcome to come visit Venezuela.  What do you make of this latest statement of Russia -- Russo-Venezuelan military cooperation?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  Obviously, the Russians and the Venezuelans can engage in whatever cooperation that they would like.  But it's curious.  I'm not sure what Venezuela needs or gains by a visit by the Russian fleet.	And I haven't seen any specifics or am able to confirm that, or not.	But you would think that President Chavez would concentrate more on the problems that the people of Venezuela are having, rather than on inviting a fleet in for a port call.  " title=" Q    Gordon, Venezuela President Hugo Chavez says that the Russian -- Russia's fleet is coming to t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301176" rowid="136531790" side="usa" srcid="301176" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Yes.  The speech overall is a look-back on significant moments in the war on terror.  But I certainly expect the President will address the latest with regards to the situation in Georgia.  " title=" Q    Gordon, what can you tell us about the VFW speech tomorrow?  Should we expect the President to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-18#entryid_301032" rowid="136531761" side="usa" srcid="301032" text=" Q    Gordon, you said that the Pakistanis also want to fight in the war on terror.  But many in Pakistan actually blame Musharraf's relationship with the United States, with President Bush, for bringing more attacks and more instability into the country.  So how do you ensure that that relationship stays strong with the next leadership?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  Again, President Bush had a good meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan -- the new Prime Minister of Pakistan just a few weeks ago at the White House.  Secretary Rice, as well as our embassy in Islamabad, remain in close contact with the Pakistani government.  We are continuing counterterrorism cooperation.  As I just said, we are continuing to provide aid for a variety of social and humanitarian issues.  We want to help the people of Pakistan get through their food emergency, their -- the concern they have and that we have over the economic condition of Pakistan.  And so we're confident that we will maintain a good relationship with the government of Pakistan.  &lt;p /&gt; John.  " title=" Q    Gordon, you said that the Pakistanis also want to fight in the war on terror.  But many in Pak" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-22#entryid_301590" rowid="136531853" side="usa" srcid="301590" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Yes, I saw that announcement.  We will continue to monitor the situation, but we are not seeing that they are in compliance right now.  I think it's important that they adhere to the requirements that they agreed to in the six-point plan that President Sarkozy took with him to President Medvedev that's been signed by the Russians, signed by the Georgians.  And so compliance means compliance with that plan.	We haven't seen that yet.  " title=" Q    Gordon, you say that both Sarkozy and President Bush share the assessment that Russians are no" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-13#entryid_316618" rowid="136533837" side="usa" srcid="316618" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Nothing new.  " title=" Q    Got anything to say on Detroit and bailout of automakers?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_324995" rowid="136534864" side="usa" srcid="324995" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'll check with Mrs. Bush's office.  I just -- I haven't had the pleasure of seeing it yet.  " title=" Q    Got pictures of them?  What does it look like?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-21#entryid_301406" rowid="136531821" side="usa" srcid="301406" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  FEMA is looking at that right now, and I will check and see if we have an update right after this briefing, and we'll let you know.  " title=" Q    Governor Crist is calling for an emergency declaration from the President.  Is that in the wor" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-31#entryid_313996" rowid="136533550" side="usa" srcid="313996" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'm sorry, GSA.  I believe GSA has space for the incoming transition team, but I don't know where it is.  " title=" Q    GSA --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-14#entryid_326365" rowid="136535000" side="usa" srcid="326365" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think we have to -- let's wait and see what Hamas really does.  I mean, I think that it's right -- we have every right to be skeptical of things that you see in the newspaper reported about Hamas. And so I think we need to wait and see what actually happens.  And as things develop, we'll comment from here.  " title=" Q    Hamas is now indicating they're going to accept the Egyptian --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-17#entryid_270719" rowid="136530462" side="usa" srcid="270719" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I've seen news reports on that.  I haven't seen anything official yet, and until we get details and hear more from parties there we're not going to have a comment on it.  " title=" Q    Hamas leaders say they've reached a cease-fire agreement with Israel.  What's the U.S. reactio" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-09#entryid_269554" rowid="136530317" side="usa" srcid="269554" text=" MR. PRICE:  -- heard about previously.  " title=" Q    Has anybody a translator?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-27#entryid_312742" rowid="136533395" side="usa" srcid="312742" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  I don't know.  " title=" Q    Has anybody from the White House spoken to anybody from Syria?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279972" rowid="136531200" side="usa" srcid="279972" text=" Q    Has anyone reached out to Iraq's Prime Minister and his spokesman to find out what their feeling is about the President's agreement governing the presence of American troops in Iraq?  It seems as if they are emphasizing the 16-month formula that Barack Obama is talking about -- both the Prime Minister in the interview with Der Spiegel and the spokesman again today.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't know if anybody in particular has spoken to them, although I can tell you that Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General Petraeus meet with them, I think, daily.  So I do believe that we've had contact with them, but I also think that Prime Minister Maliki is now on his way to Italy and Germany for his trip abroad.  So I don't know.  &lt;p /&gt; And I don't know what aspirational time horizon is going to end up in the final agreement.  We're not going to negotiate here from the podium -- it obviously doesn't work; it's a tried and true policy and we're going the stick to it.	So we'll have to see.  &lt;p /&gt; I don't think that we'll be able to finalize this agreement by next Thursday.  We're working towards it, but it might take a few more days after that.  " title=" Q    Has anyone reached out to Iraq's Prime Minister and his spokesman to find out what their feeli" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273442" rowid="136530882" side="usa" srcid="273442" text=" MS. PERINO:  We're waiting to see what it would look like.  We don't believe the current situation -- well, clearly the current situation does not reflect the will of the people -- if you go back to the March 29th election, with the MDC party winning 48 percent of the vote, which was not quite a majority, which forced it into a runoff, and then the runoff became a sham election.  &lt;p /&gt; But I think &quot;sham&quot; is one way to describe it, but I think it doesn't reflect the horrors that the people that supported the Tsvangirai party went through, including deaths and displacements, maimings, kidnappings -- I could go on.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think that the African leaders are trying to figure out how best to help -- be constructive and try and solve the situation for their region.  But I would point you to also the African -- I'm sorry, the European leaders.  And their involvement and their leadership on this issue has been very important.	And if you look at the first U.N. Security Council resolution that came out, which was a unanimous resolution, it included South Africa.  And so that was a strong statement.  And the question is then how do you continue to move forward, given where we find ourselves now.  " title=" Q    Has Bush weighed in on that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273454" rowid="136530894" side="usa" srcid="273454" text=" MR. PRICE:  The President has made his views known very clearly.  " title=" Q    Has he been blunt?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302480" rowid="136531922" side="usa" srcid="302480" text=" MS. PERINO:  Nope, not practicing, but it's getting -- it's nearing completion in terms of the drafting.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Goyal.  " title=" Q    Has he been practicing his own yet?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268306" rowid="136530176" side="usa" srcid="268306" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure, as I talked to you about all week long -- I know I haven't been here for you, but we were out on the road -- (laughter.)  " title=" Q    Has he expressed any kind of feeling about it?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-12#entryid_304578" rowid="136532313" side="usa" srcid="304578" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I don't have -- I don't have anything for you on that story.  " title=" Q    Has he issued, like, an executive order, or a national security --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-10#entryid_274074" rowid="136530984" side="usa" srcid="274074" text=" MR. FRATTO:  We heard it's not the new normal.	He hasn't heard -- no one has --  " title=" Q    Has President Bush been told that $4 a gallon is now the new normal?  Does he expect prices to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268308" rowid="136530178" side="usa" srcid="268308" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, he's been regularly briefed.  I think he's read a lot of the articles about it, but I don't anticipate -- he may or may not read the book.  I don't know, we haven't talked about that.  " title=" Q    Has President Bush read this -- read McClellan's book or does he have any intention to, to sor" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313258" rowid="136533456" side="usa" srcid="313258" text=" MS. PERINO:  Since -- while I'm not commenting on the last part of your question, but, yes, he and the Prime Minister have spoken.  " title=" Q    Has President Bush talked to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki since the Syrian strike?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-09#entryid_320806" rowid="136534420" side="usa" srcid="320806" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think I would just say we're not quite closed down on everything yet, but we're certainly -- we certainly made a lot of good progress over the past several hours.  I would characterize the conversations as cooperative in spirit.  We're working fast, but we're also wanting to get it right.  So we have a little bit of time to continue to work with them to finalize these details.  " title=" Q    Has that issue been addressed to your satisfaction?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317053" rowid="136533920" side="usa" srcid="317053" text=" MS. PERINO:  What we have -- sure, we've done a lot of analysis and research, and you hear from a lot of different -- from the automakers; you hear from the environmentalists; you hear from members of Congress, and a lot of people are looking at this situation.  What the President has said is that we want to try to help these companies, we want them to succeed, and that's why we've provided a bipartisan way to do it -- to get there.  &lt;p /&gt; There is not going to be a path for them to be able to reopen up the TARP fund.  There are not the votes in the Senate to be able to do that.  Therefore, if they only have three or four days in session, why not choose the path that we can all agree on, which is that the 136 loans have already been agreed to.  We have $25 billion for the -- specifically for the automakers; it's there for the taking.	And we hope that they would take us up on our offer to be able to work with us.  " title=" Q    Has the administration done the math on what bankruptcy or collapse of an automaker or automak" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313255" rowid="136533453" side="usa" srcid="313255" text=" MS. PERINO:  In general?  " title=" Q    Has the Iraqi leadership expressed concern about Syria's role in moving terrorists inside Iraq" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320165" rowid="136534342" side="usa" srcid="320165" text=" MS. PERINO:  I haven't heard anything different, but of course I can't speak for them.  I think that they've welcomed it, as well, but this has been sort of a rolling approval of the -- by the Iraqis because of the process that they have been going through through the presidency council, their parliament, their cabinet of ministers.	They have a -- they had several different ways.  But if you remember, on Thanksgiving Day, we cleared one hurdle, and the President put out a statement then. Today, now it's all finalized.	And so you'll hear from the President through a written statement soon.  &lt;p /&gt; Laurent.  " title=" Q    Has the Obama team indicated that they're going to honor this and move forward with this?  Is " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321334" rowid="136534476" side="usa" srcid="321334" text=" MS. PERINO:  The President believes that it's a very serious situation, that the charges are astounding, but that because it is in the middle of a investigation that the U.S. attorney is conducting, we won't have further comment.  " title=" Q    Has the President been shocked, or what's his reaction with the Blagojevich scandal out in Chi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_272008" rowid="136530681" side="usa" srcid="272008" text=" Q    Has the President ever considered an executive order that would ban torture specifically?  There's a letter out now from a bipartisan group of former Secretaries of State, including Secretary of State George Shultz, with whom the President was a couple of weeks ago, and former Defense Secretaries and military officials saying that there should be an executive order with the force of law saying that torture is unacceptable.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, we certainly respect the views of George Shultz.  And one thing I would point to is that we have a set of laws that have been passed during this administration, and an executive order, in fact.  There was the Detainee Treatment Act, there was the Military Commissions Act, and then there was the President's executive order interpreting Common Article 3.  &lt;p /&gt; So we feel like we have taken steps to address that issue. And I would also point out that we face a very different enemy today than America has ever faced before.  We face an enemy that respects no borders, respects no uniforms, and certainly has no regard for civilians, especially innocent women and children and the elderly.  So we take his position seriously, but we do think that we have the mechanisms in place to address the issue.  " title=" Q    Has the President ever considered an executive order that would ban torture specifically?  The" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306403" rowid="136532634" side="usa" srcid="306403" text=" MS. PERINO:  With Senators McCain and Obama running for President?  No.  " title=" Q    Has the President ever held a meeting like this at the White House before on someone else's su" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271971" rowid="136530642" side="usa" srcid="271971" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  But what -- I don't know.  " title=" Q    Has the President ever met with a group of TV military analysts assembled by the Pentagon?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313259" rowid="136533457" side="usa" srcid="313259" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think I'll decline to comment on the specifics, although I will tell you that the Energy Department, the Treasury Department, and the Commerce Department are keeping the President fully informed of their discussions with the automakers.  " title=" Q    Has the President expressed to you any sense of where his instincts are now in terms of steppi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309529" rowid="136533101" side="usa" srcid="309529" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that if anybody who saw the statements yesterday by Prime Minister Berlusconi and others, all the conversations he's had, the United States is the one helping to provide the leadership necessary to steer this ship, so that we can all save our economies.  That's what this President is focused on.  He's not focused on the approval ratings as a lot of the media are.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Paula.  " title=" Q    Has the President felt any impact from the poll numbers that are out this week giving him a hi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-05#entryid_273362" rowid="136530829" side="usa" srcid="273362" text=" MR. WILDER:  No, he came to Washington.  He had a meeting in Washington with Prime Minister Fukuda.  And of course they spoke last week on the phone.  " title=" Q    Has the President met with the current Prime Minister before, the Japanese -- is this his firs" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-03#entryid_319914" rowid="136534272" side="usa" srcid="319914" text=" Q    Has the President received and is he considering the request from Senator Dick Durbin to commute the sentence of the 74-year-old former Governor of Illinois George Ryan as an act of compassion and mercy?  And also, can you share with us the President's thought process on this kind of thing, what types of criteria he uses when deciding whether to grant a pardon, commutation, or clemency?  And where does the process stand? Is he considering any more of those?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I can tell you that we have received the request from Senator Durbin, but I would not comment on the pardon process -- except for to say that anyone who is eligible for a pardon can apply for one, and those requests go through our pardon attorney, which is at the Justice Department.  And the President just pardoned I think 14 people right before Thanksgiving.  I wouldn't be surprised if there were more before he leaves office, but I couldn't tell you how many and I certainly couldn't tell you who.  " title=" Q    Has the President received and is he considering the request from Senator Dick Durbin to commu" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-10#entryid_308991" rowid="136533066" side="usa" srcid="308991" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  " title=" Q    Has the President signed off on the de-listing of North Korea from the terrorism list?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271991" rowid="136530664" side="usa" srcid="271991" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know in particular, but -- I'll check for you, but I think that I would check back with those offices because I do think that we've made some progress.  &lt;p /&gt; Bret.  " title=" Q    Has the President spoken to any of those Senators with the hold on it?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-29#entryid_302699" rowid="136531978" side="usa" srcid="302699" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes, I -- that's what I led off the briefing with -- he called her.  " title=" Q    Has the President spoken to her since he was -- since she was selected?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-27#entryid_312729" rowid="136533382" side="usa" srcid="312729" text=" MS. PERINO:  Let me say I assume so -- I do assume so.	In terms of financing beyond the $25 billion?  Not that I know of.  " title=" Q    Has the President spoken to Secretary Paulson on this type of financing, through the lending a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273735" rowid="136530932" side="usa" srcid="273735" text=" MS. PERINO:  Since he's been on this trip?  No.  No, he just spoke to him right before we left.  I can't remember what day we left, but the President had a secure video teleconference with Prime Minister Maliki -- I believe it was last Thursday.  And so they talk regularly, and then Ambassador Crocker, who is leading our negotiations, checks in with the President daily almost.  " title=" Q    Has the President talked to -- going back to Iraq for a minute -- did the President talk to Pr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-23#entryid_312300" rowid="136533311" side="usa" srcid="312300" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not yet, so we'll keep you updated.  Roger, did you have one?  " title=" Q    Has the President voted yet?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326563" rowid="136535018" side="usa" srcid="326563" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think so.	I don't believe so.  The last time we talked about this last week, he thought that he would probably wait until the 20th to compose it.  " title=" Q    Has the President written the note yet or --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-04#entryid_268994" rowid="136530253" side="usa" srcid="268994" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Obviously Iran is a subject that comes up all the time, and I think one of the things that you've seen over the last six months, or saw, and I think you saw it on the President's two trips to the Middle East, is increasing concern about Iran and the threat that a nuclear-armed Iran could pose to stability and -- in the Middle East, and to the cause of, quite frankly, freedom, democracy, and fighting against terror.  &lt;p /&gt; It is a problem that people are increasingly concerned about.  And I think the formula that we have all discussed is we need to increase pressure on Iran -- and that can take various forms -- and at the same time, offer Iran an opportunity, if it is willing, to suspend, come to a negotiation, and enter into and accept the offer that has been tendered to it that would result in a lot of benefits for the people of Iran. And that's where we are.  &lt;p /&gt; It is a diplomatic strategy.  As the President has said many times, all options are on the table.  But the focus of the efforts of the international community and the United States is on trying to achieve that diplomatic strategy.  " title=" Q    Has the Prime Minister urged the President to take military action against Iran before leaving" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267016" rowid="136529948" side="usa" srcid="267016" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would say that we were not surprised by the Israeli announcement today.  " title=" Q    Has the U.S. been aware of that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-18#entryid_301024" rowid="136531753" side="usa" srcid="301024" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No, not that I'm aware of, no.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, ma'am.  " title=" Q    Has the United States been involved in any discussions about possible relocation for Musharraf" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-17#entryid_310358" rowid="136533173" side="usa" srcid="310358" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not aware of it.  We'll get back to you.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Paula.  " title=" Q    Has the White House issued any statement yet on the July 2nd proposal to form, &quot;a civilian nat" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-01#entryid_319639" rowid="136534242" side="usa" srcid="319639" text=" MS. PERINO:  I just said Secretary Rice and Steve Hadley talked to their counterparts, and you can bet that they're -- just people from all levels of government are working on this issue, and we have been since they happened on Wednesday evening.  " title=" Q    Has the White House, or anyone within the administration reached out and talked to Pakistan ab" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315246" rowid="136533616" side="usa" srcid="315246" text=" Q    Has there been any direction at all from the President or from the Chief of Staff, or anybody else, to members of the executive branch about how to conduct themselves in the next two months?  At the end of the Clinton administration there were allegations that perhaps offices were not left as tidy as they should have been, of the missing Ws, what have you.  Has there been any, at all, direction about what is expected of staff members over the next two and a half months?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  We would be expected to conduct ourselves like we are expected to conduct ourselves on any given day, that we always represent the President of the United States and we have to always keep that in mind and work to make him proud.  So that is the direction that we have every day, and that will certainly be no different as we move forward.  &lt;p /&gt; I think this President has taken the transition more seriously than some might have anticipated.  This has been a year-long process, and he realizes how important it is to help make sure that we continue to keep the country safe, that we make it really smooth, and that we make it very professional.  And the cooperative spirit that we have enjoyed so far, even working with both campaigns before the election, has been very good.  And it warms the heart, because we are partners in this moving forward, and our country is quite remarkable in what it is able to do in a transition like this.  &lt;p /&gt; Matt.  " title=" Q    Has there been any direction at all from the President or from the Chief of Staff, or anybody " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326579" rowid="136535034" side="usa" srcid="326579" text=" MR. GILLESPIE:	I'm going to defer to Dana on questions that aren't related to the address tonight.  &lt;p /&gt; So, one more.  " title=" Q    Have all pardon decisions been made?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315657" rowid="136533718" side="usa" srcid="315657" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I don't know if they've actually started showing up to do that, but they're starting that process.  And it's -- we have to deal with our formal relationship with the transition team, and once that's done, that will happen.  But they are free to communicate with each other.  They have been communicating with each other.  They've been sharing information.  &lt;p /&gt; And Secretary Paulson I know is very interested in how the next administration will deal with the economic plans that he's putting in place for very important reasons.  Remember, these are programs he's putting in place to deal with systemic risk in financial markets.	And the last thing financial markets need right now is confusing signals and programs that might be started and changed in a very short time.  What they need is some sense of constancy as to what the government's policy response is going to be.  So they don't want to surprise markets, they want to try to make sure that they have predictable information for markets.  &lt;p /&gt; Jim.  " title=" Q    Have people started showing up?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-19#entryid_271251" rowid="136530511" side="usa" srcid="271251" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Well, I think that -- unfortunately with Director Nussle not here now, I think that might have been a great question for him, because he was obviously our lead negotiator, and was talking with members of Congress.  The severity of these floods has drawn the attention of people around the country, including members of Congress.  So I think there is broad agreement with the President and with what he said two days ago when he said we should put emergency supplemental funds in this supplemental to make sure that we are replenishing the Disaster Relief Fund so we can deal with those future disasters.  &lt;p /&gt; But to those discussions, to that level of detail, I'm not sure.  But maybe that's something that we can get back to you on.  " title=" Q    Have the floods had any -- had any impact on getting Congress to move or to reach a deal on th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-10#entryid_316065" rowid="136533733" side="usa" srcid="316065" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not that I'm aware of, but you could call the First Lady's office and check.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay, go ahead.  " title=" Q    Have the President's daughters spoken at all to the Obama family about that transition -- life" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-26#entryid_302148" rowid="136531876" side="usa" srcid="302148" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I haven't heard that they will not allow them.  That's not something that I've heard, except from your question.  " title=" Q    Have the Russians indicated they're going to allow these ships to dock at Poti -- the Navy shi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-20#entryid_271381" rowid="136530545" side="usa" srcid="271381" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Yes, week ahead.  Let's see, the President will be in Washington this weekend.  On Monday, June 23rd, the President participates in a photo opportunity and remarks to the Phoenix Mercury.  This is in the East Garden of the White House; open press.  At 2:50 p.m. in the afternoon on Monday, the President participates in a photo opportunity with the 2008 Presidential Scholars.	That's at the South Portico and it's open for stills.  &lt;p /&gt; On Tuesday, June 24th, the President meets with the President of the Republic of the Philippines in the Oval Office; pool at the bottom.  At 1:10 p.m., the President meets with the Prime Minister of Vietnam; Oval Office, pool at the bottom.  At 4:05 p.m., the President makes remarks to the 2007 and 2008 NCAA Sports Champions; it's on the South Lawn of the White House, open press.  I don't have a list right now of who all those champions are, but we'll try to get them for you.  " title=" Q    Have the week ahead?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308077" rowid="136532928" side="usa" srcid="308077" text=" MR. STANZEL:  You should talk with all of those individual agencies to find out their conversations.  But obviously that is a normal course of their activities.  " title=" Q    Have they been in touch with their counterparts going into this week?  Have they been in touch" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305144" rowid="136532399" side="usa" srcid="305144" text=" MS. PERINO:  Have -- well, no, I think that that ongoing.  " title=" Q    Have you completed the review of the -- review of, internal review of relations with Russia?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-01#entryid_302899" rowid="136532016" side="usa" srcid="302899" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  We got tropical storm force winds last night.	The hurricane force winds should be moving in very shortly now. So now the brunt of the storm is going to be hitting the city very soon, and we'll see what they do.  " title=" Q    Have you gotten any initial reports as the weather has moved in now?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-19#entryid_271253" rowid="136530513" side="usa" srcid="271253" text=" MR. STANZEL:  On this --  " title=" Q    Have you guys gotten much response from the local officials right now, in terms of what they w" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-27#entryid_312745" rowid="136533398" side="usa" srcid="312745" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to comment in any way on this; I'm not able to comment on that.  " title=" Q    Have you heard anything about whether the target was successful, that it hit the target?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301179" rowid="136531793" side="usa" srcid="301179" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I can't speak to Georgians taken as prisoners.  I understand there have been -- I think there have been some exchange -- exchanges of soldiers from both sides over the last few days.  I know it's a point that the Georgians and Russians are trying to work through.  &lt;p /&gt; With regards to U.S. equipment, we have seen those reports, we are aware of it.  There have been some indications from the Russians that they will secure the U.S. equipment.  I think that is something that we would certainly encourage them to do quickly.  And --  " title=" Q    Have you heard these reports that the Russians have taken that container of U.S. Humvees at th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-13#entryid_270273" rowid="136530391" side="usa" srcid="270273" text=" MRS. BUSH:  I have not met Carla Bruni, and I will meet her tonight.  In fact, I'm going to go -- she invited me to come about 30 minutes early to the dinner so that we'll have a chance to sit down with each other since -- before the dinner party starts, before the social part starts, and have a chance to talk to each other and get to know each other.  " title=" Q    Have you met the First Lady of France before?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303423" rowid="136532098" side="usa" srcid="303423" text=" MS. PERINO:  Didn't you see last night that Citgo reversed and they decided that they actually didn't need the --  " title=" Q    Have you received any -- or has the President received any thank-you notes or phone calls from" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-12#entryid_304580" rowid="136532315" side="usa" srcid="304580" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'll just tell you what I said, is that the President gets -- has been kept well-informed by his economic advisors at the White House and by Secretary Paulson.  " title=" Q    Have you talked to the President, and what has he, personally, said about the issue?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304203" rowid="136532248" side="usa" srcid="304203" text=" Q    He also says that twice in the last interview with the President, that the President mentions the word &quot;win&quot; in connection with the war in Iraq, and then immediately corrects himself and substitutes the word &quot;succeed.&quot;  Does the President see a difference between winning and succeeding?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't necessarily think so.  I read those interview transcripts and I don't -- I think what the President is saying, that we would win and succeed, I think that he uses those interchangeably.  " title=" Q    He also says that twice in the last interview with the President, that the President mentions " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-14#entryid_321828" rowid="136534505" side="usa" srcid="321828" text=" MR. HADLEY:  At Anbar, that's true.  In Anbar -- but that's kind of a different place.  This is Baghdad.  &lt;p /&gt; And it is a different place.  I mean, Doug and I were just talking earlier -- there was -- either yesterday or the day before there was not a single incident in Baghdad.  I think I'm right about that.  And a pretty modest number in the country as a whole.  So the security situation is dramatically improved, and that's partly by what we are doing, it's increasingly a function of what the Iraqis are doing, but also the fact that people are moving out of this insurgency into the process of building a future Iraq.	That's a good thing.  That's what this has been all about, that's what we've been trying to do.  And that's what you're now seeing.  " title=" Q    He arrived in daylight last time, didn't he?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-29#entryid_302698" rowid="136531977" side="usa" srcid="302698" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q    He called her?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-18#entryid_322969" rowid="136534577" side="usa" srcid="322969" text=" MS. PERINO:  It's one option that they're looking at to see if that would be possible.  The other one would be one of these bankruptcy -- I mean, there's a range of options.  I don't want to rule anything in or out, but there's a whole list of them.  &lt;p /&gt; Richard, did you have one?  " title=" Q    He can do that by executive order?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-09#entryid_320808" rowid="136534422" side="usa" srcid="320808" text=" MS. PERINO:  He did it last year, and the trends have continued.  So he'll do it again on Thursday.  &lt;p /&gt; I'll just go to questions.  " title=" Q    He did it last year --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272613" rowid="136530725" side="usa" srcid="272613" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think -- in those exact words, I'm not exactly sure how he put it.  But there was lots of different -- you could have done this lots of different ways.  You could have lifted it first; you could have said, Congress lift it first; you could have said, let's do it at the exact same time together.  And I think that because we've seen this Congress under the Democratic leaders constantly shove and push away any ideas on domestic exploration and production, that the President believes that first and foremost the onus should be on the Democratic leaders to allow for a vote to come up so that we could lift that moratorium and we can explore in environmentally safe ways oil on our -- off our own shores.  He's prepared to lift his moratorium as well, but he thinks that if he does it alone and Congress doesn't act then nothing is going to happen, there's not going to be any change.  &lt;p /&gt; Ann.  " title=" Q    He did not say that he would have perhaps considered moving first?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-18#entryid_322953" rowid="136534561" side="usa" srcid="322953" text=" MS. PERINO:  What happened to me was just an accident in the melee.  It's not -- I'm not bothered by it.	It's not all that pretty, but I'm not worried about it.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    He didn't -- but you were --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311466" rowid="136533273" side="usa" srcid="311466" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to comment on it.  " title=" Q    He doesn't oppose this?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-30#entryid_324134" rowid="136534711" side="usa" srcid="324134" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  He certainly enjoys reading, as you know, mainly histories and biographies; histories, not current affairs, which I saw someone, columnist write on today and is concerned about the President's reading list.  But the President is well read, and I'll see if I can find out what he's reading right now.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    He enjoys reading, obviously.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304233" rowid="136532278" side="usa" srcid="304233" text=" MS. PERINO:  As soon as I said that, I thought you would pick it up.  (Laughter.)  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Wendell.  And then I'll come back to you, April.  Go ahead, Wendell.  " title=" Q    He feels energized about energy?  Is that what you're saying?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-25#entryid_280660" rowid="136531296" side="usa" srcid="280660" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes, they will leave Monday the 4th for the Asia trip, first going to South Korea, then Thailand, and then China for the Olympics.  Two week aheads for the price of one.  And then probably to the ranch later that week; date to be determined.  " title=" Q    He leaves Monday, right?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-31#entryid_314003" rowid="136533557" side="usa" srcid="314003" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Look, there are always going to be -- there will always be polls out there on that kind of thing.	And what the President is focused on is not what the polls say.  He's focused on doing as much as he can in this period to put the government in a good place going forward, especially with respect to the transition to the next administration.  He wants that to go as smoothly as possible.	And we have very critical issues that we're dealing with, not least are two wars that we're still executing, and protection of the homeland, and dealing with the financial crisis.  That's what the President is focused on.  He's not focused on --  " title=" Q    He made that comment at that podium during a press conference.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311191" rowid="136533225" side="usa" srcid="311191" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, she said -- (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    He might not be voting for McCain?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-22#entryid_323787" rowid="136534638" side="usa" srcid="323787" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Because of the size of the deficit?  " title=" Q    He said that's why we need a second stimulus package.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304076" rowid="136532231" side="usa" srcid="304076" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, you know, when Senator Reid becomes Commander-in-Chief he'll have a little bit more credibility on that score.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Keith.  " title=" Q    He says the &quot;more&quot; more is not enough.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306615" rowid="136532693" side="usa" srcid="306615" text=" MS. PERINO:  Senator Reid said the same thing; so did Senator Gregg.  And I'm going to let the negotiators continue.  As I said, we've been -- we feel like we've been close, but we're not quite there yet.  There are many members of Congress, especially on the House Republican side, who have a lot of concerns, and I understand those concerns.  We get it.  This President did not want to have to take this route, either.  But it was after being briefed repeatedly by his Secretary of the Treasury and his Fed Chairman that if we did not do something drastic, that we would have -- we would be facing financial calamity, that the President of the United States said we can't sit by and let that happen.  If we have a way that could fix it and to stabilize and strengthen the financial markets, we have an obligation to do that.  " title=" Q    He says there's been progress since yesterday's meeting.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304218" rowid="136532263" side="usa" srcid="304218" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not -- Les, I'm going to -- I'm not going to comment on it.  I gave you a question because we talked about this --  " title=" Q    He thinks they were wrong, then?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321120" rowid="136534430" side="usa" srcid="321120" text=" Q    He touched on this briefly -- going back to the TARP program.  As you probably know, it's getting quite a going over before a House committee today.	They're questioning bad oversight, mismanagement -- this is coming from Republicans and Democrats.  Is the President satisfied with the way this thing is running?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Look, I think that -- we welcome the oversight.  We put that into the bill because we thought that that was important.  We think it's important that the Congress be -- remain engaged and interested, and I'm sure that the members of the Treasury that are up there talking about that -- the legislation today and the implementation of it -- are happy to answer those questions.  They moved with incredible speed and with all due care to make sure that the taxpayers would be protected and that we were doing what we needed to do, that the legislation intended to do, which is to prevent the total collapse of our financial industry.  &lt;p /&gt; So I'll let them testify to that, and the President believes that Secretary Paulson is leading the Department in a way that will help us fulfill the obligations that we made in the legislation, sure.  " title=" Q    He touched on this briefly -- going back to the TARP program.  As you probably know, it's gett" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-02#entryid_268517" rowid="136530190" side="usa" srcid="268517" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to comment on it.  He resigned.  " title=" Q    He was asked to resign, though, Dana?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318535" rowid="136534148" side="usa" srcid="318535" text=" MR. FRATTO:  As I understand it, he was, but I'm not going to try to characterize what his role was.  He plays a very important part in all of these discussions involving the financial markets and financial institutions in his role as President of the New York Fed, and that frequently calls on actions by the New York Fed and information from President Geithner and from his staff at the New York Fed.  But I wouldn't want to put too much --  " title=" Q    He was involved?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308090" rowid="136532941" side="usa" srcid="308090" text=" MR. STANZEL:  We can check.  I don't know off the top of my head.  &lt;p /&gt; And then also, another update:	On Wednesday, at 2:50 p.m. in the East Room, the President will sign the India civil nuclear bill.  " title=" Q    He was out there once before, wasn't he, at the Guernsey place?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308088" rowid="136532939" side="usa" srcid="308088" text=" MR. STANZEL:  That is correct.  &lt;p /&gt; And with that I'll take your questions.  Jennifer.  " title=" Q    He will sign the India civil nuclear?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267065" rowid="136529933" side="usa" srcid="267065" text=" MS. PERINO:  Did he?  Okay.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    He wrote the right numbers, he just said it wrong.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326700" rowid="136535059" side="usa" srcid="326700" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, nothing public.  I'll try to let you know that day -- but I do expect we'll have some foreign leader calls that we can update you on, on Monday.  " title=" Q    He's coming back on Sunday, that's right.	And in his proclamation on Martin Luther King Day, h" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268786" rowid="136530224" side="usa" srcid="268786" text=" MS. PERINO:  Since I haven't seen it, can I check into that and get back to you?  Because obviously President Bush thinks the Merida Initiative is very important.  We did not want Congress to attach any strings to the money that we were asking for.  So let me just take it back and find out.  " title=" Q    He's going -- the government of Mexico, the President, through his interior secretary, announc" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-02#entryid_324402" rowid="136534775" side="usa" srcid="324402" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  The great thing is they won't have to wave to each other because President-Elect Obama will be here with all the other -- with the former Presidents on Wednesday.  So they will not only have a chance to wave to each other, but have a chance to have a nice conversation and a good meal.  I think that will be a very interesting and historic lunch.  " title=" Q    He's going to be right across the square there.  They could wave to each other probably from t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307866" rowid="136532886" side="usa" srcid="307866" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Some calls are calls back.  " title=" Q    He's not calling them, he's hearing --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308085" rowid="136532936" side="usa" srcid="308085" text=" MR. STANZEL:  No, I don't expect that, no.  " title=" Q    He's not going to say John McCain specifically --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-11#entryid_316194" rowid="136533764" side="usa" srcid="316194" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm saying that we are willing to listen to them if they can figure out a way to give us more authority to accelerate loans to viable companies, as laid out in the legislation.  " title=" Q    He's not ruling it out.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_272019" rowid="136530643" side="usa" srcid="272019" text=" Q    Hello.  I wanted to see if you feel that there's any fair and comprehensive way of measuring the financial impact of the initiative.	I know the President had promised billions of dollars in incentives in the beginning.  Is there any -- has that materialized?  Is there some fair way of measuring that?  &lt;p&gt; MR. HEIN:  Right.  There's a couple of different ways to measure it and, if I understand the question correctly, are you talking about funds to faith-based and community groups, broadly speaking?  " title=" Q    Hello.  I wanted to see if you feel that there's any fair and comprehensive way of measuring t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-09#entryid_308788" rowid="136533056" side="usa" srcid="308788" text=" MS. PERINO:  That will be at the -- I was going to say State Department -- the Treasury Department just across the street.  &lt;p /&gt; And also, on Saturday morning -- this is a schedule update for you -- President Bush will welcome the G7 finance ministers to the White House. The President will have the opportunity to hear directly from the finance ministers about how the financial crisis is affecting their respective economies and the steps they are taking to deal with these challenges, both individually and collectively.  &lt;p /&gt; The President will emphasize the importance of nations working in a coordinated way to address the crisis, while respecting the different conditions in each economy.  The meeting will also include the managing director of the IMF and the president of the World Bank.  And we'll have more details for you as we get closer.	But that has just been decided.  " title=" Q    Here in Washington?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315642" rowid="136533703" side="usa" srcid="315642" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Yes.  We don't make determinations or predictions on what the National Bureau of Economic Research will call the bottom of the business cycle, but if you go to the national -- the Business Cycle Dating Committee, they have a webpage; they'll tell you exactly what they take into account to determine what the bottom of the business cycle is.  And I'll just refer you to that.  &lt;p /&gt; But make no mistake, we know this is a very challenging, difficult time for the economy.  It's a challenging time for the global economy; it's a challenging time here in the United States.  We know it's very difficult for families.  The only thing that we can be focused on is not what you call it, but what do you do about it.  And we're focused on what we can do about it and how quickly we can implement those things to have an impact as quickly as possible so that businesses can go back to generating growth and hiring employees and keeping employees hired and having good work for them to do.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, John.  " title=" Q    Here we go again.	(Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-03#entryid_268803" rowid="136530241" side="usa" srcid="268803" text=" MS. PERINO:  Here in the Oval, yes.  " title=" Q    Here, at White House?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308563" rowid="136533018" side="usa" srcid="308563" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, no, at Treasury.  He will also discuss the actions being taken by the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve, and the FDIC to implement the new authorities that were granted in the rescue package passed last week.  He will focus on Treasury's coordinated actions with other federal regulators to use the tools to address the four key challenges in our financial markets today:  confidence, capital, systemic risk, and liquidity.  So that will be at 3:00 p.m. today.  &lt;p /&gt; Also this afternoon, President Bush will sign H.R. 7081.  This is the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Non-Proliferation Enhancement Act.  The President looks forward to signing this bill into law and continuing to strengthen the U.S.-India strategic partnership that he's worked very hard on since becoming President.  This legislation will strengthen our global nuclear non-proliferation efforts and create jobs, assist India in meeting its growing energy needs in a responsible manner, and also help us deal with environmental challenges from electricity needs.  &lt;p /&gt; Also, finally, I'd like to announce that the White House Summit -- the White House will be hosting the White House Summit on International Development on October 21st.  The official title of it is White House Summit on International Development:  Sustaining the New Era.  It will be held in the Ronald Reagan Building.  President Bush will deliver the keynote address, and Secretary Rice will also make remarks.  Given the slowdown in the economy and the impact of the financial crisis on developing nations, it's more important now than ever that developing nations continue to fulfill their commitments to support the aspirations of their people, and that the developed nations help them do that.  &lt;p /&gt; And Carlton Carroll will have more information for you on this later today.  &lt;p /&gt; With that, I'll take your questions.  " title=" Q    Here?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324665" rowid="136534817" side="usa" srcid="324665" text=" Q    Hey, there.  So I wanted a very quick clarification of an earlier comment.  So are you saying that recreational fishing through permitting will be allowed in all of these areas?	Or are there any areas in which that activity would be absolutely prohibited?  &lt;p&gt; CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  We've created a presumptive exclusion for -- with the initiation of the monument.  And upon request they'll take a look at it on a location-specific basis.  So as I indicated with the Central Islands, I think only one group, the Nature Conservancy, has asked for that, and they went through a process and have a well-managed process for doing it.  That hasn't occurred at any of the other Central Islands that are currently being managed.	So we just don't know what the potential for that is, but we've -- to allow some flexibility, we've put in a process.  But it will be undertaken to ensure that the activity will occur as a sustainably managed activity.  " title=" Q    Hey, there.  So I wanted a very quick clarification of an earlier comment.  So are you saying " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-23#entryid_305992" rowid="136532593" side="usa" srcid="305992" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Hey, Olivier.  " title=" Q    Hey, Tony, how are you?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298597" rowid="136531471" side="usa" srcid="298597" text=" MS. BERGMAN:  These two senior administration officials have gratefully agreed to speak to you on matters of intelligence, on the new executive order.	If you would like to follow up with Gordon Johndroe after this call to discuss it further, he's more than willing to talk to you about that.  But for the purposes of this call, we'd like to at least continue it for the rest of the reporters on this on this call, so please proceed with your question.  " title=" Q    Hi, can you first start off by telling us why this isn't on the record?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315289" rowid="136533659" side="usa" srcid="315289" text=" Q    Hi, Dana.	Two questions, please.	On the Middle East, with Secretary Rice in the region, President Bush has long expressed confidence about a Middle East peace deal by the end of the year.	Does he still have that confidence, or is he backing away from that statement at all?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  We realize that with the political changes that have happened in Israel over the past couple of months, and really since early summer that that started, that the prospects of being able to get one done became more unlikely.	And it's important that we maintain momentum for the negotiations.  It's our experience that over the past year we have laid some very good groundwork for the Palestinians and the Israelis to be able to continue to have their discussions.	And remember, President Bush is the first one to ever call for a Palestinian state.  And that has meant a lot to the people in the region who are working to bridge the divide between the two and establish the definition of a state.  But, no, we do not think that it's likely that it would happen before the end of the year.  " title=" Q    Hi, Dana.	Two questions, please.	On the Middle East, with Secretary Rice in the region, Presid" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325264" rowid="136534923" side="usa" srcid="325264" text=" Q    Hi, Dana.	Two questions.	Israel has apparently ordered a pause in its offensive in Gaza, but has not yet fully embraced a cease-fire negotiated by the Egyptians and the French.  What, if anything, is the U.S. doing to encourage Israel to accept that full cease-fire?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, there are two different things here.  As you know, Secretary Rice went to New York yesterday.  She spent all day long meeting with foreign ministers and talking with the Israelis.  She was working through the night on the phone, into the early hours of the morning.  The pause in the activity was for humanitarian assistance to be able to make its way to the people of Gaza.	This is something Secretary Rice worked with the Israelis on overnight.  The Israelis made a formal announcement today.	And so I think that that will happen from time to time, that there will be a pause to allow some humanitarian aid, but I'll let the Israelis describe that more.  &lt;p /&gt; When it comes to what the French and the Egyptians talked about yesterday, as I understand it, the Israelis are open to the concept, but they want to learn more of the details -- so do we, and that's what Secretary Rice is working on right now in New York.  " title=" Q    Hi, Dana.	Two questions.	Israel has apparently ordered a pause in its offensive in Gaza, but h" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322377" rowid="136534555" side="usa" srcid="322377" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, as we made clear, if we're going to use taxpayer financing to assist the automakers, all stakeholders are going to have to come to the table and be willing to show that they are capable and willing to make really tough decisions about the way forward, that they want -- we need them to become viable, competitive firms in the future.  And in order to do that, concessions are going to have to be made by stakeholders.  &lt;p /&gt; So that's one of the things that we're in communication with them about, and that we're considering as we weigh all of our options in the wake of not passing legislation last week.  " title=" Q    Hi, Dana.	Two topics, please.  On auto legislation, from the White House perspective, how impo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299236" rowid="136531552" side="usa" srcid="299236" text=" MR. WILDER:  Hey, how are you?	Okay.  The President's day in Korea will begin with an embassy greeting to the American staff.  He'll then proceed to the Blue House at approximately 9:30 a.m., where he'll have an official arrival ceremony and review an Honor Guard.  &lt;p /&gt; He will then participate in a meeting with the President of South Korea and his senior staff.  As we've said, that meeting will cover a variety of issues, certainly the U.S.-Korean relationship.  They want to continue to work on the 21st century strategic alliance between Korea and the United States.  They'll talk about global issues, particularly those areas of the world where we are cooperating closely -- like Iraq and Afghanistan.  They'll talk about bilateral issues; certainly review the military realignment policy and review how we're doing on base transformation in Korea.  &lt;p /&gt; They will certainly discuss the free trade agreement and their strategies for getting it through their respective legislatures.  And of course they'll discuss the visa waiver program that the South Koreans are very interested in having with the United States.  &lt;p /&gt; Obviously another subject of great interest will be North Korea:  the progress in the six-party talks, the human rights situation in North Korea, the tragic shooting and death of a South Korean tourist in North Korea on July the 11th.  &lt;p /&gt; They will move from the meeting to a joint press availability.	And then they will move on at approximately 11:35 a.m. to a social lunch, which is preceded by a tea between the President and Mrs. Bush and President Lee Myung-bak and his wife.  The lunch will be in an interesting setting.  The Koreans have offered lunch in the rustic Spring House, which will be their way of doing something akin to the Camp David visit.  &lt;p /&gt; After lunch the President and Mrs. Bush will proceed to Yongsan Garrison, the headquarters of American Forces Korea.  There he'll have a troop event not only with American forces, but with also Korean forces, some of whom have served in Iraq and he will talk about our alliance, talk about the important mission of American and Korean forces.  &lt;p /&gt; At approximately 2:30 p.m. we will fly on to Thailand for our meetings there.  &lt;p /&gt; I'll stop and take questions.  " title=" Q    Hi, Dennis.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324667" rowid="136534821" side="usa" srcid="324667" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  We had extensive conversations with the scientists who deal with corals, scientists who deal with fish, and the scientists who deal with foraging seabirds.  And as we looked at those three interactions, we had a lot of strong support for looking well beyond the three-mile zones that a few of these areas were currently protected with, but much less foundation for going beyond 50.  So 50 seemed to be a good point to draw the line for the purposes of the scientific benefits, if you will, of conservation, and also for the purposes of just effective monitoring and management.  &lt;p /&gt; These areas are quite remote, so it's helpful to have a fairly large area delineated, but we didn't want to go larger than the current weight that the science supported in terms of finding conservation benefit.  So as you began to go out to 100 miles or 150 miles, it just wasn't clear we would be accomplishing much more in the way of fully protecting these coral reef ecosystems and the birds that surround them that we were interested in.  &lt;p /&gt; We may yet learn more, but there appeared to be pretty solid ground focusing on 50.  " title=" Q    Hi, good to talk to you.  A quick question.  You said 50 nautical miles was the limit of this." />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-23#entryid_305972" rowid="136532576" side="usa" srcid="305972" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I have not seen that.  I'm sure Secretary Paulson's team has, and they're out there talking about all the concerns that members on both sides of the aisle will have, and we'll let Secretary Paulson and his team deal with those.  And again, I know they're about to -- they probably just started the hearing, and so I'm probably going to end this call here in a minute or two, maybe take two questions -- two more questions -- and then we can all watch Secretary Paulson and Chairman Bernanke, and they may be able to give more on some of these questions.  " title=" Q    Hi, I was just wondering, the Republicans are proposing an alternative to this bill.  Have you" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-23#entryid_305978" rowid="136532580" side="usa" srcid="305978" text=" Q    Hi, Tony.	Tony, I wonder -- two things.  First, if you could elaborate a little bit on what Vice President Cheney and Josh Bolten and Keith Hennessey are doing today.  Maybe if you can tell us, are they attending the Republican lunches, are they seeing Republican and Democratic leaders?  Or what's their --  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  We have a number of staff up there from Treasury, but also from the White House, who are meeting with lots of Republicans up there.	What the Vice President is doing with the Chief of Staff, Josh Bolten, and Keith, are meeting with the Republican Study Committee.  So they're up there right now.  I understand that the Vice President will also attend the Senate policy lunch today.  " title=" Q    Hi, Tony.	Tony, I wonder -- two things.  First, if you could elaborate a little bit on what Vi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323428" rowid="136534606" side="usa" srcid="323428" text=" Q    Hi, yes, you said if -- you said there's room in the current first tranche of the $700 billion to reallocate things.  Why don't you just do that instead of having to go and ask for the second half?  And secondly, what could President-Elect Obama do to change the terms of this in any way if he wanted to when he becomes President?  &lt;p&gt; MR. KAPLAN:  Yes, on the first part of your question, I don't believe the Treasury Department is interested in reallocating.  They've announced some very important programs that are critical to our health of our financial sector and they expect to be able to continue those programs.  They have also, though, made clear that in order to access the last $4 billion in the facility, they will need to go into the final $350 billion.  There's not a need to reallocate right now because they are -- that money is not needed by the auto manufacturer until February.  &lt;p /&gt; Secretary Paulson will have a statement at some point this morning, I suspect, and he will address more specifically the implications for the TARP and why it is that in the very short term the committed but unexpended TARP balances give him confidence that we have the necessary resources needed to address a significant market event.  &lt;p /&gt; So, some things to balance here, but the Secretary of the Treasury has reviewed it and has concluded that we can do these things within the amount that's been allotted so far.  " title=" Q    Hi, yes, you said if -- you said there's room in the current first tranche of the $700 billion" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_324998" rowid="136534867" side="usa" srcid="324998" text=" MS. PERINO:  No time like the present.	(Laughter.)  I think that it just took a while for them to figure out the design that they wanted. Then it was produced and it has arrived at the White House.  And so Mrs. Bush will be happy to share that with everybody soon.  " title=" Q    Hi.  According to a release from Laura Bush's office this morning, there's going to be a set o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-23#entryid_305989" rowid="136532590" side="usa" srcid="305989" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Hey, Barb.  " title=" Q    Hi.  Good morning.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-23#entryid_305994" rowid="136532595" side="usa" srcid="305994" text=" Q    Hi.  How does the President specifically address the concerns of Senator Shelby and others, both about the size of the program and exactly whether it will work?	And does the President reach out directly to any of those with deep concerns?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  Well, I think the President is obviously aware of the concerns that are being raised by a number of members.	He gets regular updates on them.  Secretary Paulson is our point person on dealing with these issues and explaining them to members and staffs so that they fully understand the full scope of not only the policy response, but also the problem that we're dealing with.  &lt;p /&gt; We feel very strongly that this is a very comprehensive plan.  It is not just this plan to deal with buybacks of these assets.  The Treasury Secretary and Chairman Bernanke outlined a number of issues. We're talking to Senator Shelby and his staff.	I would also note that the Vice President and Josh Bolten, Keith Hennessey, the Director of the National Economic Council, are up on the Hill today talking to lots of Republicans.  They're addressing the Republican Study Committee this morning over on the House side.  So we're trying to address all of the issues that are being raised, and I think once we have this conversation over the next day or two as we started over the weekend, I think people will see that this is the best way to proceed.  " title=" Q    Hi.  How does the President specifically address the concerns of Senator Shelby and others, bo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298583" rowid="136531445" side="usa" srcid="298583" text=" Q    Hi.  One housekeeping issue, I just wanted to join Pam Hess's protest that it's being done in background.  It seems contrary to the whole purpose of it, to put it in the background.  And I would like to request, even though it is on background, the names and jobs titles of the briefers for our own, just so we know who we're being talked to by.  &lt;p /&gt; I also wanted to follow up on the question just posed, just so that it's perfectly clear, because that last bit I wasn't quite clear on.  The suggestion was that the CIA's representative, i.e., the station chief in a country, is the DNI's representative.  And I know that's what Director Negroponte had said.  But is that true across the board?  Is it -- isn't it the case that in some countries the DNI's rep is, for example, an NSA officer, a National Security Agency officer, as opposed to a CIA officer?  &lt;p&gt; SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  To my understanding that's not the case.  You should check this with the Director of National Intelligence.  These are people that he appoints to various positions.  But as I understand it, there are in fact some non-CIA personnel assigned as the DNI's representatives to military commands.  &lt;p /&gt; But there are no instances where the past or the current DNI has appointed as his senior representative in the field somebody other than the CIA chief of station.  " title=" Q    Hi.  One housekeeping issue, I just wanted to join Pam Hess's protest that it's being done in " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_272014" rowid="136530633" side="usa" srcid="272014" text=" MR. HEIN:  Well, this initiative was indeed an invention of the President.  He created the White House Office and the centers at federal agencies, the executive order.  And there has been a strong embrace and wide replication since he's launched this initiative.  I did mention in my introductory comments that are 35 governors who have implemented their own initiatives -- that's 19 Democrat, 16 Republican governors.  Matter of fact, 12 states have experienced gubernatorial transition since the Faith-Based and Community Initiative has been started in the states.  And in every case, even when the parties changed hands in those states, the initiative has been maintained, which is, I think, a strong statement that this is not a political initiative; this is a programmatic governing initiative.  And considering that the question about how governments can form stronger and more effective partnerships with their nonprofit sector, you're seeing that type of consensus forming that we need intentional strategies such as we'll be discussing over the next couple of days.  &lt;p /&gt; And I think that's led to both presidential candidates now speaking to the initiative at least at a high level -- Barack Obama at a CNN forum.  Senator Obama made a specific statement about his interest in keeping the Faith-Based and Community Initiative, and as I understand it, Senator McCain has also made reference to the initiative.  I think he's on record saying something in the order of this initiative being one of the more successful initiatives of the Bush administration, suggesting that he, too, might be interested in keeping it.  &lt;p /&gt; But I think the more fundamental point is that the Faith-Based and Community Initiative now is policy and practice.  It's deeply embedded all across federal government, as we changed policy to create equal treatment for faith-based organizations.	And as we've launched innovation, as will be profiled at the conference, that has created new strategies on addiction recovery and prisoner reentry, and addressing other human needs.  You'll hear about the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and how indigenous nonprofit partnerships are central to that strategy; that the Faith-Based and Community Initiative is now manifest and a new way of doing business across the federal government.  And that will be a lasting achievement.  It will also be an achievement that pays dividends regardless of the political calculus in 2009.  " title=" Q    Hi.  What would you rate the prospects of the Faith-Based Initiative surviving President Bush'" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-17#entryid_270697" rowid="136530440" side="usa" srcid="270697" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Yes, Les.  " title=" Q    His conclusion clearly is that that's not the advice that the military was getting.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-16#entryid_304987" rowid="136532383" side="usa" srcid="304987" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  Galveston is going to have a tough time.  That's heavy devastation there.  You've seen it just like I have.  And it's going to be a longer-term fix than getting Houston back up.  &lt;p /&gt; A lot of the main transmission lines are down there, a lot of damage to the -- a lot more damage to the power system than we see in other parts of the state.	So that area, Orange City, those areas are going to be a lot longer to get back up.  " title=" Q    How about Galveston?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-29#entryid_306853" rowid="136532715" side="usa" srcid="306853" text=" MR. FRATTO:  It is.  Yes, high energy prices have been a drag on our economy, you're right.  &lt;p /&gt; Sheryl.  " title=" Q    How about oil, you never mentioned oil as a cause of part of this crisis.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321149" rowid="136534459" side="usa" srcid="321149" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  I expect you'll see the President talk to various members as he thinks it's necessary or the staff advises him.  This is an important measure, and we're going to try to get it passed.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, sir.  " title=" Q    How about President Bush?	Is he going to be personally involved?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268288" rowid="136530158" side="usa" srcid="268288" text=" Q    How about the idea of somebody from the inner circle writing a book, whether it's a Republican President, a Democratic President -- is this bad for the overall Office of the President if the President has to worry about somebody in his inner circle perhaps using something that is said in a meeting for a book?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think there's something to be said for that.  I think that one of the things that you have in any organization -- be it your news organizations when you have editorial meetings or here at the White House, but especially here at the White House -- that you want to have some level of trust that when you speak up, that it's going to be held in confidence; when you push back on something, that that is held as -- in confidence.  And if it's not, I do think that that's difficult for people necessarily.  But I don't know of anybody at the White House who is sitting around a room thinking, oh my gosh, is he taking notes and going to report on this later?  I think that is one of the reasons, when I say we were so surprised -- and not just puzzled, in terms of surprise -- at the tone of this book, of the language that he chooses to use; that's what is so disappointing and surprising to us.  " title=" Q    How about the idea of somebody from the inner circle writing a book, whether it's a Republican" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325252" rowid="136534911" side="usa" srcid="325252" text=" MS. PERINO:  What we are seeking is a cease-fire that would actually last.  I think the worst thing that we could have is to have this vicious cycle continue.  " title=" Q    How about the U.S. vetoing any attempt for a cease-fire?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-23#entryid_267460" rowid="136530043" side="usa" srcid="267460" text=" MS. PERINO:  But on the war supplemental, we have a long way to go when it comes to the war supplemental.	It takes two Houses of Congress, and what I saw the other -- yesterday in the votes was that, if you look at the Senate vote in particular, they stripped out any conditions on tying the hands of our commanders, which was one of our principle -- one of the President's principles that he requires for these war supplementals.  And so I think that we have won that debate so many times in the past that they decided not to even go down that path.  &lt;p /&gt; We'll have a discussion about the money and adding the bridge funding to the supplemental, and we know that -- it must be that many members of Congress think that this might be the only bill that moves, which is quite a sad commentary on what Congress should be able to do for the American people.  And that is probably why they want to ladle on lots of different special projects.  The President thinks that some of those projects may be meritorious, but they should have that debate outside of funding for the troops.  " title=" Q    How about the war supplemental?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326710" rowid="136535069" side="usa" srcid="326710" text=" MS. PERINO:  One of the problems is that --  " title=" Q    How can these bombs discriminate between people in such a highly --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278871" rowid="136531039" side="usa" srcid="278871" text=" MS. PERINO:  That I don't know.  I do know that he's been a Republican fundraiser for many years, so I believe the President has probably met him on a number of occasions.  But he was never an employee of the White House, and so I don't know particularly about any contacts that they would have had or -- at the White House.  " title=" Q    How close is he to the President and has he ever brought any of his clients to the White House" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273430" rowid="136530861" side="usa" srcid="273430" text=" MR. PRICE:  How come they have to meet again?  I think there was a --   MS. PERINO:  The President and Chancellor Merkel have established a very good relationship.  They've got deep ties, and they look forward to working together because there's a lot of important issues that are facing us, such as the ones that we've talked about today, but others as well, including Iran.  And I'm sure that they'll talk about that.  " title=" Q    How come they have to meet again?	They just met.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317635" rowid="136534015" side="usa" srcid="317635" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'll disagree and say that there is.  The firms that we have invested in are ones that we think will hopefully make the taxpayers whole, or even make the taxpayers money in the long run.  And there are executive compensation limits on the firms, and a whole list of things that they have to agree to.  And part of it is that they have to pay back the taxpayers, and they have to pay them back first.  And so that is one of the limits we've put on them.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm going to go to April and I'll come back to you.  " title=" Q    How come you didn't put as many caveats on Wall Street in viability in terms of $700 billion? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-15#entryid_304850" rowid="136532356" side="usa" srcid="304850" text=" SECRETARY PAULSON:  Well, I've got to say our banking system is a safe and a sound one.  And since the days when we've had federal deposit insurance in place, we haven't had a depositor who's got less than $100,000 in an account lose a penny.  So the American people can be very, very confident about their accounts in our banking system.  " title=" Q    How concerned are you about commercial banks?  And what reassurance can you offer the American" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298502" rowid="136531410" side="usa" srcid="298502" text=" MR. WILDER:  You know, I very much doubt that it will overshadow.  First of all, I think on the beef issue, South Koreans are becoming more and more comfortable as American beef reenters the market.  We understand the beef that has gone on the market is popular.  And I think as more and more beef enters the South Korean market, you'll find that people -- that this issue will recede more and more.  &lt;p /&gt; In terms of the island issue, I think that it certainly didn't enhance the atmosphere for the visit, but on the other hand, the President has demonstrated leadership.  And we have a very, very good relationship with the South Korean people.  One of the things I think people forget in the midst of some of this is how firmly and strongly the South Korean people believe in the American relationship.  &lt;p /&gt; A million South Koreans a year come to the United States.  There are many Korean Americans here.	The links between our societies are strong.  The relationship between President Lee and President Bush is a very warm one, even though they haven't known each other for very long.  The South Korean support for the American troop presence in Korea is extremely strong.  So I think that there is a very solid foundation to U.S.-South Korean relations.  " title=" Q    How concerned are you, given this little flare-up and the beef -- the lingering concerns about" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279341" rowid="136531095" side="usa" srcid="279341" text=" Q    How concerned is the U.S. -- obviously the President has only got a limited time left in office, there's going to be a period of transition -- that, in the interim, there will be time for Iran to essentially move forward on its nuclear program --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  We've been concerned about that for a long time, but it doesn't -- Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon -- the question of their pursuit of a nuclear weapon goes back a long ways.  And we're not certainly watching the clock in that regard.  This President has been working with his international partners on a multilateral basis to come together, in unison, to call on the Iranians to suspend their enrichment of uranium, and if they were to do so and it could be verified, then we will start to have discussions with them.	But up and until then, we will not.  &lt;p /&gt; So this meeting on Saturday is a chance for us to receive their response and for us to underscore the contrast between what the Iranians could expect from accepting the incentives package and what could be the consequences if they don't, which would be additional sanctions and no negotiations.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Jeremy.  " title=" Q    How concerned is the U.S. -- obviously the President has only got a limited time left in offic" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306423" rowid="136532654" side="usa" srcid="306423" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that having everybody on the same page and here, airing out the final issues that we have to deal with could help us finalize it and get it to a vote.  " title=" Q    How could it?  How could it help bring it to a conclusion?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-30#entryid_307146" rowid="136532779" side="usa" srcid="307146" text=" MR. FRATTO:  -- a lot of us did.  Not so good, and not for the good of the country.  But it wasn't for lack of trying.  There was a lot of work that went into it.  We didn't get the votes that -- that we needed.	And you saw the reaction.  But we're going to go back to it and keep trying to get this done, because as Secretary Paulson said yesterday, we simply cannot allow this to fail because the damage to our economy would be too great.  " title=" Q    How did that work out?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307881" rowid="136532901" side="usa" srcid="307881" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, the ranking member, ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee just put out a very long statement addressing some of those things.  And as he pointed out, this was the same package that was promoted by Republicans not too long ago.  I think Representative Camp had sent it up as -- or put it forth on their motion to recommit, same exact package.  There are -- the rum provision, it's not a tax break for rum producers.  These are excise taxes that actually go back to the government of Puerto Rico.  Some of these things have sort of interesting headline-making characteristics to them, but when you look deeper at them, they make a lot of sense.  I mean, I didn't know anything about children's arrows, but I've learned a lot over the last 24 hours, and it turns out that the --  " title=" Q    How do you answer that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280859" rowid="136531325" side="usa" srcid="280859" text=" DIRECTOR NUSSLE:  Well, I mean, I acknowledge --  " title=" Q    How do you get back to balance and a surplus in 2012, as quickly as you did when you were esti" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-30#entryid_324154" rowid="136534731" side="usa" srcid="324154" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Well, you know, Egypt brokered the last ceasefire, the one that was in place for six months that expired last week, that Hamas failed to renew -- and not only did they fail to renew the ceasefire, then they substantially increased their rocket and mortar attacks into Israel within the last few days.  &lt;p /&gt; These other governments in the region, such as Egypt, the officials in the Palestinian Authority, Jordanians, others who are in touch with the various Hamas factions, will make it clear that this is in no one's interests -- certainly not the Palestinian people, certainly not the people of Gaza, and definitely not the people of the entire Middle East region.  This sort of violence is in no one's interest.  So all those governments, as they have been in the past, are committed to assisting with the current situation.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    How do you propose to get Hamas onboard with the ceasefire if you guys aren't actually talking" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298611" rowid="136531444" side="usa" srcid="298611" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think consumers are well aware that they're paying higher prices at the pump.  But I believe that they also understand that the root causes of supply and demand is what's leading to these higher prices.  So a couple of things need to happen.	Here in our own country we have to start looking for more of our own sources, and in ways that don't get bogged down in litigation.  &lt;p /&gt; As you heard the President say today, when it comes to trying to do new energy projects your capital can get tied down for years and you won't be able to produce anything -- energy, whether it's for electricity or for your vehicles.  &lt;p /&gt; At the same time, we need to be looking for new technology that will give us more efficiency for using less of what we need.  And the third track is finding renewables or alternatives to the traditional oil and gas and coal that we've been using.  Coal we want to continue to use. We've figured out ways to do that in a clean-burning way.  What we would ask the private sector to do is to reinvest to help build these new technologies and to look for these alternatives and these renewables, and to help us find the technologies that will help us be able to use less.  &lt;p /&gt; And I think if you look to what the private sector is doing, they are responding to the market.  And one of the things that consumers have proven is that they will adjust their habits and they will drive less if prices continue to be as high as they are.  So the market is working in that respect.  " title=" Q    How do you react to Exxon put out the report of the earnings today -- $11.7 billion?  What kin" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-17#entryid_279596" rowid="136531119" side="usa" srcid="279596" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  We haven't tallied the amount of funds yet for the floods.  That's still ongoing because we haven't been able to get into all the public assistance because the water hasn't gone down yet.  As far as the fire, that's been almost immediate expenditures for firefighting activity, bringing equipment in, paying for overtime -- all that type of stuff.  " title=" Q    How does that compare to the other disasters, say, the floods?  Those are much higher in terms" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313239" rowid="136533437" side="usa" srcid="313239" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to comment on it.  &lt;p /&gt; Andre.  " title=" Q    How does the President contrast this with the two U.S. senators from Illinois who have never a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-30#entryid_324156" rowid="136534733" side="usa" srcid="324156" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No, I think a ceasefire that is sustainable and durable, what we've been calling for, is one that is exactly that -- it's lasting.  We don't just want a ceasefire for the sake of a ceasefire, only for violence to start up immediately, or within the next few weeks. That serves no one's interest, as President Bush discussed with Prime Minister Fayyad, and --  " title=" Q    How exactly is the United States trying to recreate the ceasefire to make it sustainable and d" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-23#entryid_280368" rowid="136531260" side="usa" srcid="280368" text=" MS. PERINO:  In terms of a compromise?  " title=" Q    How exceptional is this?  How rare is this?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-01#entryid_307406" rowid="136532831" side="usa" srcid="307406" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I haven't seen -- I haven't seen the full length of the list.  I think I saw a list -- I don't know, I can't recall how many names are on it.  I'll try to give you more this afternoon, see if we can give you a little bit more on how those calls go.	I can tell you the calls so far have all been very positive.  And we feel that there's a sense of momentum, and certainly the senators that the President has spoken to understand the urgency of getting this done, and have all expressed their commitment to getting it done.  " title=" Q    How extensive is the President's call list today?	How many people is he trying to reach out to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298797" rowid="136531492" side="usa" srcid="298797" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that the -- all of us will -- the P5-plus-1 will stay in contact with one another as we do on a regular basis.  We can decide where do we go from here.  But negative consequences await if they don't have a positive response to our very generous incentives package, and that would possibly come in the form of sanctions.  &lt;p /&gt; Kathleen.  " title=" Q    How firm is the deadline of two weeks?  Is that for Mr. Solana to decide?  The Iranians say --" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306625" rowid="136532703" side="usa" srcid="306625" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm just going to say it's important that we get it done as quickly as possible.  Secretary Paulson has talked about the concerns across the board with the economy, but certainly with the credit markets that have shown troubling signs of tightening up even more in the past several days.  And what that means is that it hurts everybody down the food chain.	It hurts people who are trying to get loans for their homes or their businesses; you can't grow your business -- everything that freezes up.  And if no one in the financial community trusts each other to lend money, then we're going to have a complete and total financial collapse.  And that's what we're trying to -- that's what we're trying to prevent.  &lt;p /&gt; So I would say it's critical we get it done quickly.  I appreciate that Senator Reid said that they think they can get it done before opening bell on Monday.  " title=" Q    How important is it to get it done by opening bell Monday?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-15#entryid_326587" rowid="136535042" side="usa" srcid="326587" text=" MR. GILLESPIE:	Well, the truth is, the President is very involved in all of his speeches from -- he is a very careful editor, he has a very clear sense of what it is he wants to convey in a speech.  And in this case he wasn't sure he was going to do a farewell address.  As I think Jen noted, it's not -- you know, some do, some don't.  And President Reagan, President Clinton both did.  President Carter I think gave a last State of the Union address, and former President Bush did not do either a form of State of the Union address or a farewell address.  &lt;p /&gt; So the President was weighing that, determined that he did want to have -- you know, seek some time and have a brief set of remarks to share with the American people.  And he was very involved from the outset, laying out what he wanted to convey and then in the -- you know, in the back and forth in the editing process, as is often the case.  " title=" Q    How involved have you been in writing this speech or conceptualizing it?  Is it more than what" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311192" rowid="136533226" side="usa" srcid="311192" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'll hopefully get more for you later in the week on that -- working on it.  " title=" Q    How is he going to cast his vote?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311193" rowid="136533227" side="usa" srcid="311193" text=" MS. PERINO:  How is he going to vote?  " title=" Q    How is the President going to vote?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302654" rowid="136531931" side="usa" srcid="302654" text=" SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I'm not -- I mean, U.S. objectives and purposes here in terms of our long-term relationship with Georgia and this region are consistent.	So it seems to me that there's a commonality in agendas that is right and proper, and it should be in any great power's diplomacy.  You know, this is a very dynamic and moving situation.  Secretary Rice went there at a particular time:  there were still active hostilities; the Russians had assumed a particular military posture in Georgia; the French were actively trying to work that cease-fire agreement.  Secretary Rice was very actively engaged in trying to refine and get that pinned down.  So there was a very immediate need that needed to be met that she did very, very well.  &lt;p /&gt; We've clearly moved to a different point in time now with U.S. humanitarian -- a large-scale humanitarian relief effort underway.  Georgia then is assessing its medium- and longer-term needs on how it's going to rebuild its economy, reestablish some measure of security, how it will relate to the international community and the kind of support it needs.  So given that kind of dynamism, I don't think you can have -- and given the need of the Georgian people and the people in that region to know and to hear again and again about the United States' commitment to stay involved, that we are not going anywhere and that we're going to continue to build our relationships with these countries, that's something that they very much need to hear.  And I don't think you can do it often enough.  " title=" Q    How is the Vice President's trip to Tbilisi going to differ from Secretary Rice's trip, which " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322362" rowid="136534540" side="usa" srcid="322362" text=" MS. PERINO:  Fine.  " title=" Q    How is your eye?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323421" rowid="136534599" side="usa" srcid="323421" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  I don't know. That's going to be something that they're going to have to -- by &quot;they,&quot; I mean all of their stakeholders -- are going to have to wrestle with and see what they can do in the next three months.  This basically tells them, as the President said in his remarks, now is the time.  This gives them an opportunity to achieve the type of restructuring that is often only achieved under the supervision of a bankruptcy court.  This gives them an opportunity to do it.  Whether they will take that opportunity or not, I certainly hope they will.  We're trying to provide them the assistance that will incentivize them to do so.  And if they don't, they will have to face the consequences of having the loan recalled by March 31st.  &lt;p /&gt; So I agree with you the conditions of the loan are tough, but I think that they have to be tough if we're to be successful in achieving the restructuring that I think most objective observers would say is necessary for these companies to be viable, and also necessary for them to warrant the taxpayers' assistance.  " title=" Q    How likely do you think that is?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-05#entryid_269169" rowid="136530260" side="usa" srcid="269169" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think that really matters.  " title=" Q    How long has he been aware of this?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325260" rowid="136534919" side="usa" srcid="325260" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think it's an hour.  " title=" Q    How long is the lunch slated to go?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321335" rowid="136534477" side="usa" srcid="321335" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look, I think that -- the numbers that they've come up with, they believe are enough to help for the short-term financing through I think it was March 31st, or, as Joel said, they could have an option -- the auto czar would have an option to say, we're making real progress here, we just need a little bit more time.  And there's a one-time 30-day extension that would end on April 30th.  &lt;p /&gt; So I can only imagine that the people who are working on this day and night believe that the money that we have put on the table would be enough for that short-term financing.  &lt;p /&gt; Toby.  " title=" Q    How long will $14 billion last?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271978" rowid="136530651" side="usa" srcid="271978" text=" MS. PERINO:  He's coming in tomorrow.  I think you guys have that on the schedule.  That will be something that -- the press covers the arrival and then he's staying the night.  And so there will be meetings the next day and then I think they take off Friday.  " title=" Q    How long will he be there?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-10#entryid_269734" rowid="136530330" side="usa" srcid="269734" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Depends on the reaction that we get next week when Solana goes.  " title=" Q    How long will you be willing to wait on that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273726" rowid="136530923" side="usa" srcid="273726" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  First of all, nobody expected that any country would state their targets now.  That was never the expectation.  We knew that those would be negotiated by the end of next year.  But we thought we could get a stronger statement in principle from some of the major emerging economies -- not thought -- we were hoping.  As I said, we got a good step forward on that.  That language is consequential that says that they intend to have their national plans reflected in a new agreement.  That is a very consequential statement.  It is not as strong a statement as the G8 called for yesterday.  " title=" Q    How many do you have now?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-26#entryid_272205" rowid="136530698" side="usa" srcid="272205" text=" Q    How many kilograms did they declare in their thing?  And do you believe that that's a complete accounting?  And is it fair to say that you've been willing to accept a less than thorough or complete declaration in order to keep this process moving forward?  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  One, I have not seen the declaration.  It is going to be released by the Chinese today.	It is, so far as I know, not yet back in Washington.  I know what they have talked about, and it is a number that is in -- within the range of our intelligence community, but our intelligence community does have a range.  And one of the things we will be trying to do is to be able, with this process, to narrow that range to get to the point where we think, yes, they've -- where we want to be is, yes, we think with pretty good confidence they've disclosed all the plutonium they produced.  &lt;p /&gt; I think one of the things we did in this process, to be honest, is I think we learned a bit.  I think what we learned was the notion that they could, in December, provide a document which on its face would be so compelling that we could say it's complete and correct, no further work required, was probably unrealistic.  And that is why we have emphasized, and have worked with our six parties and with the North Koreans -- I want to emphasize that -- this has been a cooperative process.  This is not something we're imposing on the North Koreans, it is something that they have agreed to and will be part of in the six-party process.  &lt;p /&gt; What we really needed to have is a declaration that is verifiable, that will allow us in a process of verification and monitoring to gain confidence over time that what they've told us is true.  And I think we signed on for a two-dimensional process, and I think we learned over time we need a three-dimensional process that's going to take place over time.  &lt;p /&gt; The second thing I would say on that is we also want to -- while that process goes forward, and assuming the North Koreans participated in good faith -- we also want to be able to move forward in the process of moving from disablement to dismantlement, and ultimately getting the plutonium, whether in weapons form or otherwise, corralled and given up in some form, because, again, that's what the North Koreans agreed to in September of '05.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, ma'am.  " title=" Q    How many kilograms did they declare in their thing?  And do you believe that that's a complete" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-01#entryid_307405" rowid="136532830" side="usa" srcid="307405" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I think it will be a mix, some who are opposed who are trying to get any others who might be skeptical or wavering to support it, and he'll call some senators who we think haven't made up their minds yet either.  " title=" Q    How many people are you talking about?  Were these people wavering or opposed?  Or is he calli" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273768" rowid="136530965" side="usa" srcid="273768" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Let's see -- so you have the G8 countries, and -- several, I think it would be fair to say.  You'll have to check in with each country.  I can't speak for them.  " title=" Q    How many were ready to sign onto it?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-08#entryid_320591" rowid="136534408" side="usa" srcid="320591" text=" MS. PERINO:  It would depend.  I think that we're looking at $15 billion that reflects what congressional and administration budget analysts currently think could be made available with the program that we have, this 136 loan program.  But, again, until we see the details I don't think I could go any further than that.  " title=" Q    How much for the first term finance?  How much for the first --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313566" rowid="136533513" side="usa" srcid="313566" text=" CHAIRMAN LAZEAR:  Well, when you say the actions that we have taken, I would interpret that in a broader way and say the actions that the administration has taken, coupled with the actions that the Fed has taken, and include FDIC's actions on guaranteeing liabilities in that.  And I would say that, what we believe is that the effects have started to play out, and in some markets quite significantly.  So, for example, the interbank lending, the lending from one bank to another that occurs primary through this Libor market has moved very much in the right direction.  That market was a big problem a few weeks ago, and that's loosened up considerably.  So that's very good news.  &lt;p /&gt; The other thing we know is that one of the ways firms borrow to finance themselves is through the commercial paper market.  And we've seen that commercial paper issuance has gone up dramatically since the Fed rolled out its facility a couple of days ago.  &lt;p /&gt; So we're confident that we're actually doing things that are moving us in the right direction.  There's always a question of how fast this will work and how long will it take and so forth.  And obviously the faster the better.  But we do think that things are moving in the right direction.  &lt;p /&gt; I think if you listen to the discussion on the street, others believe that, as well, so I don't think this is just the administration's view.  &lt;p /&gt; Ma'am.  " title=" Q    How much impact has there been so far on the credit markets from the actions that you've taken" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-01#entryid_307404" rowid="136532829" side="usa" srcid="307404" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I think a great deal of influence.  The President has the opportunity to share with senators, and to make sure that they're getting the information that -- the same information that he is seeing, in terms of the crisis that's confronting our country and global markets.  So the President can share that information and -- so the calls have been constructive.  A lot of the calls at this point are more focused on strategy and process for trying to be able to get the legislation passed, because I think right now most senators fully accept the sense that we need to do something to address this problem.  And we're hearing good things in terms of support for this particular package, as well.  " title=" Q    How much influence does the White House think the President has at this point in making these " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308562" rowid="136533017" side="usa" srcid="308562" text=" Q    How much is left in the tool kit to address the economic problem?  We've had to coordinate a rate cut today, the commercial paper buy-out by the Fed yesterday, and you had the rescue package last week.  How many more things are left they can draw on?  And what happens if these things don't work?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think all that activity shows that we take this issue very seriously and that we are committed to trying to help solve the problem.  And unfreezing the credit markets is the root cause of the problem and that's what these efforts are trying to address.  The Fed's announcement yesterday on commercial paper went a long way towards that.  And then this coordinated effort today amongst the Fed central bankers to reduce rates across the board should help, as well.	I think it shows innovation and industriousness that people are working 24/7 to find the ways to be able to deal with it.  &lt;p /&gt; But what I would say to you is that in the rescue package that Secretary Paulson -- and you'll probably hear more about this from him today -- is working to, as quickly as possible and efficiently as possible, implement the new regulation and the new tools that they were given.  They have a whole range of new tools from, as I said, systemic risk of liquidity, stabilizing the markets, the auctions, the swaps, all sorts of technical terms that I don't know.  But they're working very hard.  And Neel Kashkari will be in charge of that and he's setting up shop and trying to hire as many people as possible.  " title=" Q    How much is left in the tool kit to address the economic problem?  We've had to coordinate a r" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-19#entryid_271273" rowid="136530533" side="usa" srcid="271273" text=" DIRECTOR NUSSLE:  That's something we're still analyzing.   ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  -- at $4 billion currently, and that's obviously plenty of money for this.  What we want to make sure is -- we're just in the middle -- at the beginning of hurricane season, so they're going to put another $1.3 billion in there just to make sure we have a good cushion to get us through hurricane season.  " title=" Q    How much is the current crisis going to end up costing --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-24#entryid_271777" rowid="136530605" side="usa" srcid="271777" text=" MS. PERINO:  In terms of what Congress is going to do?  " title=" Q    How much of a blow to any effort you might have made to get the trade agreement passed with So" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317657" rowid="136533983" side="usa" srcid="317657" text=" Q    How much of this is a farewell for President Bush on the world stage?  Do we expect any kind of reflective remarks from him at some point about his interaction either with this group or other overseas summits over his years?	And do we expect any kind of farewell from the other world leaders to him?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  Let me take that in pieces.  This is a serious meeting; it is not a farewell.  I'm often asked the question -- I was asked this before the G8, I was asked this question before this most recent summit:  Is this going to be a real meeting -- lame duck, low approval ratings.	I think that completely misses the point.  &lt;p /&gt; This President has long advocated a core number of principles and policies that have now attracted broad support in the global community.	And these principles and policies have their own gravitational pull.  They include the power of free trade and free markets to better the lives of people and create economic opportunity.  They include the obligation of those countries who are blessed with the means to do so to help the poor and the vulnerable and the sick, and stressing as well the importance of countries honoring their commitments.  And finally, they include helping promote transparent, accountable, stable democracies based on the rule of law and responsive to the needs of their people.  &lt;p /&gt; And the President's fidelity to these principles and their power to command international support doesn't depend on poll numbers and doesn't vary with the election cycle.  This President has advocated these concerns -- open markets, accountability, addressing poverty and disease -- at G8 meetings, at APEC meetings, and at the recent Washington summit.	And in each setting, the President has garnered the support of other leaders.  &lt;p /&gt; So I don't think this is a farewell in the sense as I understood the question, but rather an opportunity for the President to continue to carry forward an affirmative agenda.  &lt;p /&gt; Do I expect other leaders to take note of the fact that this is his last APEC?  Yes.  Indeed, a number of leaders at the meeting over the weekend who aren't going to APEC noted that and, indeed, thanked the President for his leadership.  And at one point there was, in fact, sustained applause for the President's leadership, following remarks by Prime Minister Brown.  " title=" Q    How much of this is a farewell for President Bush on the world stage?  Do we expect any kind o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315250" rowid="136533620" side="usa" srcid="315250" text=" MS. PERINO:  That will be up to them.  " title=" Q    How often should the next President have news conferences?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315251" rowid="136533621" side="usa" srcid="315251" text=" MS. PERINO:  That's going to be up to the next press secretary.  They're going to have to decide.  " title=" Q    How often?  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304063" rowid="136532218" side="usa" srcid="304063" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, remember the February package was direct payments to consumers.  " title=" Q    How quickly could anything on energy or trade have any kind of impact?  Certainly it seems not" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324591" rowid="136534845" side="usa" srcid="324591" text=" MS. PERINO:  We would like it as soon as possible, but it has to be something that is durable.  We don't want to go back to the status quo ante where it's okay for Hamas to be lobbying rockets into Israel that terrorize innocent people.  " title=" Q    How quickly do you think there can be a cease-fire?  How quickly is it realistic to expect tha" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304087" rowid="136532242" side="usa" srcid="304087" text=" Q    How tricky is it -- it's already challenging and tricky to sort of keep an eye on what's going on inside North Korea.  In a situation like this, when you're at a critical point in terms of certain policy initiatives, how tricky is it to actually even understand what's going on inside the country?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, we've always said that North Korea is a very opaque society, one that is very hard to get information from, to get information about.	And this situation is no different.  But in regards to those specific reports I just don't have anything I can give you today.  " title=" Q    How tricky is it -- it's already challenging and tricky to sort of keep an eye on what's going" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-13#entryid_270276" rowid="136530394" side="usa" srcid="270276" text=" MRS. BUSH:  Well, I'll let the President tell you about that because I didn't go into their private meeting.  I was -- stayed outside with their Foreign Minister, the Cardinal who is their Foreign Minister, and our Ambassador.  " title=" Q    How was the President's meeting with the Pope?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-20#entryid_301279" rowid="136531800" side="usa" srcid="301279" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I think the repercussions of Russia's action in Georgia have already been felt.  And you see it in things like that we now have a missile defense agreement that Secretary Rice can sign in Warsaw today.  Countries in Central and Eastern Europe do not want to go back to the way things used to be.  They cherish their freedom and are not interested in a neighbor invading them.  " title=" Q    How will it affect today's missile defense signing with Poland?  It is a thorn in the side of " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-16#entryid_322373" rowid="136534551" side="usa" srcid="322373" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think there are similar themes, because it's a similar topic, on national security.  But again, remember when he was at West Point, one of the things -- he's mindful of his audience.  He always keeps in mind -- he talks to the people at large, the United States, he speaks to the enemy, he speaks to the military and the military families.  And so he'll have another chance to do that tomorrow at the Army War College in Carlisle.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think it will be similar in theme, but I think he'll focus a little bit more on the tools that have been used in order to help keep America safe here at home, and how those tools will help future Presidents, including President-Elect Barack Obama.  " title=" Q    How would you say that it's going to be sufficiently different from what the President spoke a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298500" rowid="136531406" side="usa" srcid="298500" text=" MR. WILDER:  Well, certainly the message of the people who came to see the President is continuing concerns about the situation in China.	For example, Reviya Kadeer, who is a Uighur from Western China, talked about the fact that some of her children are still being harassed; at least one of her children is in prison; that she is worried that the Chinese authorities will use the excuse of security, from her point of view, to harass even further the Uighur people.  &lt;p /&gt; And I think that is a legitimate concern.  I think that the Chinese, while they have legitimate security concerns for the Olympics, have got to be careful that they respect the rights of all of their citizens, including their minorities.  &lt;p /&gt; Bob Fu, the pastor from Midland, Texas, who is very close to the house church movement in China, expressed his concerns about the fact that, as I was saying earlier, house churches in China are not registered at this point.	And one of the things that he would argue that should happen is the beginning of registration of those house churches who want to be registered.  I think that's an important message to the Chinese government, as well.  &lt;p /&gt; I don't want to go through all of the different activists and their views.  But basically, it was a message that, keep up what you are doing with the Chinese government.  Keep talking to the Chinese government about these issues.  Open the door to religious freedom, and other freedoms more.  &lt;p /&gt; Some of them, quite candidly, obviously had a different view from the President on whether he should be going to the Olympics.  " title=" Q    I actually want to know about the five individuals who came to visit the President yesterday. " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_272013" rowid="136530631" side="usa" srcid="272013" text=" MR. HEIN:  Sure.  It's actually an open invitation; it was broadly publicized.  And this conference is actually part of a series.	We hold approximately a half-dozen of these type conferences each year.  We've held them all across the country over the past five years.  A few of the conferences have been billed as national conferences, where we take a little higher profile.	But other conferences held in states oftentimes are held in partnership with governors, and consider regional strategies and approaches.  &lt;p /&gt; But we advertise on our website and through our listserv and other contacts.  And so it was an open invitation.  And I think an interesting data point -- we have space in the ballroom for a little over a thousand people, we have a wait-list.  I think we've had somewhere in the order of 1,600 or so that have registered, which I think is a remarkable statement about the continued and, indeed, growing interest in the initiative.  Here we are, seven years later, we'll talk about a lot of the accomplishments of the initiative, the results, but there's a great appetite for, you know, for thinking new strategies through and forming new partnerships.  And the attendance figures I think speak to that.  " title=" Q    I am curious what criteria did the White House use in inviting the groups that are participati" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-24#entryid_271788" rowid="136530616" side="usa" srcid="271788" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q    I am.  I have a couple for you.  First, you mentioned this morning the President talked to Pre" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304217" rowid="136532262" side="usa" srcid="304217" text=" MS. PERINO:  -- I'm going to move on.  &lt;p /&gt; Laurent.  " title=" Q    I appreciate it.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267067" rowid="136529937" side="usa" srcid="267067" text=" MS. PERINO:  That's seems like a really large Congress. (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    I appreciate it.  Reuters reports the House of Representatives voted 324-84 to have the Justic" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-23#entryid_305982" rowid="136532584" side="usa" srcid="305982" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, I mean, I think you should think of that as unthinkable.  I mean, every business, every employer, and so every employee in America depends every day on the flow of money coming through our financial system to sustain their normal business operations.  That includes financing payrolls, maintaining their inventories.  These are Main Street businesses that rely on a functioning banking system -- not just to expand their businesses and create jobs, but just to maintain their very normal business operations to preserve the jobs they have.  &lt;p /&gt; So this is very much about Main Street America and preserving the operations of those businesses.  So I don't think anyone wants to contemplate the possibility that this doesn't get done.  I think we are all arm-in-arm focused on the need to get it done.  " title=" Q    I appreciate your confidence that this will get done this week.  What if it doesn't?  What are" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-06#entryid_269321" rowid="136530300" side="usa" srcid="269321" text=" MS. PERINO:  That's not necessarily true.  We have a robust economic team in Secretary Paulson, Keith Hennessey, Eddie Lazear.  And the President has a great interest in what's going on in the economy -- very concerned about the high energy prices.  We believe that the policies we've put in place to help deal with housing are starting to have an impact, and we're helping lots of people.  I think the HOPE NOW organization has helped over 1.6 million people to be able to stay in their homes.  &lt;p /&gt; So there are things that we've done that are good.  There are other things that we need to think about, such as figuring out a way that we could increase the amount of domestic oil production and exploration that could be done in environmentally sensitive ways because of new technologies that we've developed over the years.  So there are a range of things that we continue to look at, but at the moment we would ask Congress to act on the things we think would have an impact -- not necessarily an immediate impact, but an impact, nonetheless, so that the future of our economy can continue to grow.  " title=" Q    I conclude from that that the administration is not thinking about any other new steps or anyt" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302484" rowid="136531930" side="usa" srcid="302484" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes, I'm sure you could.  I think it's a little premature for me to preview the speech, but I'll see if I can do that for you tomorrow at the briefing.  What I will tell you is President Bush is going to spend the majority of his time in his speech making the case for John McCain, for John McCain to be President of the United States.  It will not be a reprise of the past seven and a half years.  This will focus on John McCain and why he's the right person to be President of the United States, and looking forward rather than looking back.  " title=" Q    I could give you more.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311180" rowid="136533214" side="usa" srcid="311180" text=" MS. PERINO:  You got it.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Victoria.  " title=" Q    I did, but I got it.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-17#entryid_310352" rowid="136533168" side="usa" srcid="310352" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay, so he said that you can't have a 21st century system with 20th century laws.  And so one of the things that we'll be doing as we move forward is thinking about what changes need to be made so that we can prevent a crisis like this from happening again, but also preserve our free market system.  " title=" Q    I did, I was there.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298424" rowid="136531383" side="usa" srcid="298424" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would refer you to DOD.	I really haven't talked about that before.  " title=" Q    I did.  Can you as Press Secretary for the Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces, deny that t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-26#entryid_319116" rowid="136534194" side="usa" srcid="319116" text=" Q    I did.  It's actually about the inauguration.  Americans tightening their belts; it seems like the bipartisan Presidential Inauguration Committee kind of doing the same -- taking donations to a limit of $50,000, where it's been as much as a quarter million in the past.  I'm just wondering sort of what you think about the idea of paring down at a time when something could be very lavish, but the economy is obviously not doing well.  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  I think I'm going to have to let the Inaugural Committee speak for themselves.  But everyone is making those kinds of decisions and that's what you expect to see in an economic downturn, people readjusting their thinking on these kinds of things.  " title=" Q    I did.  It's actually about the inauguration.  Americans tightening their belts; it seems like" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-01#entryid_319628" rowid="136534231" side="usa" srcid="319628" text=" Q    I didn't know it was there.  But anyway, again it alleges that the administration basically over the last few years backed off on regulations, on potential crackdowns on some of these risky mortgages -- no money down, interest-only mortgages -- that got us, in many ways, in the financial mess we're in now.  What is your reaction?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I just saw the report right before I came down, so I don't have a lot for you.  We'll try to get you more.  But I'd remind you that a lot of these products that you're talking about were just developing over the past year or two, and there are independent agencies that are in charge of regulating those products and those industries.  There's no administration policy that fostered the development of products that would put people in the position right now where they're at risk of losing their home, and so let us go back and we can try to provide you a little bit more.  &lt;p /&gt; But I think one of the problems that you're seeing from those products is that it developed quickly over time, but the -- over the past year or two; maybe longer than that, I'm not giving enough credit -- but what we have tried to do is try to reform the mortgage industry.  Remember, going back to 2001 we suggested changes to Fannie and Freddie.  What you're talking about now is something that would have been overseen by independent regulators.  They are not -- we don't dictate any of what they do or don't do at those independent agencies, and if we did, we all would probably be having a very different conversation right now.  " title=" Q    I didn't know it was there.  But anyway, again it alleges that the administration basically ov" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317662" rowid="136533993" side="usa" srcid="317662" text=" MR. PRICE:  It's actually a pretty big deal to have --  " title=" Q    I didn't mean to.	(Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298787" rowid="136531482" side="usa" srcid="298787" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, look, we -- you are not going to see immediate change overnight in any country when they  are moving to be more modern.  " title=" Q    I don't know what those -- well, that's what I'm asking you.  I don't know what those steps mi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326712" rowid="136535071" side="usa" srcid="326712" text=" MS. PERINO:  That's okay.  You've got a real question?  " title=" Q    I don't like to interrupt this swan song --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-29#entryid_302696" rowid="136531975" side="usa" srcid="302696" text=" Q    I don't say that in a pejorative -- the President has always talked about the responsibilities that -- perhaps I used the wrong word -- &quot;responsibilities&quot; might have been a better word than &quot;powers.&quot;  I don't mean extraconstitutional powers in any way.  I mean making Mr. Cheney more of a partner in the executive than previous administrations have.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Yes, I see what you mean.  " title=" Q    I don't say that in a pejorative -- the President has always talked about the responsibilities" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267077" rowid="136529957" side="usa" srcid="267077" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm sorry?  " title=" Q    I don't think he was clear --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298619" rowid="136531460" side="usa" srcid="298619" text=" MS. PERINO:  I believe that what the court says is they ruled against us and that you have to appear.  It doesn't mean that you lose your executive privilege capabilities, but you have to appear.  And the question is whether you have to appear or not.	I think that's what it comes down to.  " title=" Q    I don't think that's been implicit --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298593" rowid="136531465" side="usa" srcid="298593" text=" Q    I don't think the report says -- the report says that &quot;covert action will be carried out by the CIA,&quot; and I just want to clarify I don't think the report is suggesting that the NSC staff will be conducting operations.  But in the past, including in the Reagan administration, of course, as you know the NSC did have a role in approving covert activities, or bringing them to the President.	Does the EO change that at all?  &lt;p&gt; SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  No.  The National Security Council continues to play an important role in overseeing covert action activities, in reviewing new proposals for covert action activities, making necessary modifications to existing covert action activities -- all in the manner of providing advice to the President, who retains this authority ultimately.  " title=" Q    I don't think the report says -- the report says that &quot;covert action will be carried out by th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273425" rowid="136530851" side="usa" srcid="273425" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think there was a discussion about having one, but then we didn't need to have one since they just met, so -- but then which would lead you to ask me again, then why does he have to meet with Merkel?  But I don't know.  " title=" Q    I don't think there was.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309518" rowid="136533090" side="usa" srcid="309518" text=" MS. PERINO:  Why did he exclude Greece?  I don't know, we'll check -- I'd have you check with the State Department.  " title=" Q    I don't understand why President Bush excluded Greece from visa waiver program.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280166" rowid="136531228" side="usa" srcid="280166" text=" MS. PERINO:  I disagree, I disagree.  And I think that people are missing his saying that things will have to be based on conditions.  And it's not -- it won't be arbitrary.  And I would point you to the statement that the President and Prime Minister Maliki put out on Friday.	It is no small thing for two leaders to issue a statement; it is one that was taken with care and with seriousness.  " title=" Q    I get that.  I just don't understand, though, why Maliki doesn't seem to believe that.  He's n" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-09#entryid_325897" rowid="136534947" side="usa" srcid="325897" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Sure.  &lt;/p&gt;" title=" Q    I get to go again?  &lt;/p&gt;" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298582" rowid="136531443" side="usa" srcid="298582" text=" Q    I got you.  And so when you say &quot;the military commands,&quot; that is not -- we are not referring, for example, to an NSA rep or something like that?  There would not be a country where the NSA rep is the DNI's personal representative; it's always the station chief?  &lt;p&gt; SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Not that I'm aware of.  " title=" Q    I got you.  And so when you say &quot;the military commands,&quot; that is not -- we are not referring, " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-01#entryid_298793" rowid="136531488" side="usa" srcid="298793" text=" Q    I guess -- maybe I should ask a different way.  Given the event -- the Internet censorship, a lot of reports of dissidents being jailed, kind of shipped out of Beijing, all kinds of crack-down reports, what are the actions on the ground that you would point to that are signs of improvement by the Chinese leadership?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, admittedly, any signs of progress are very slow. And when you're trying to change perceptions of what freedom and democracy can mean for a country, it's slow and hard work.  It takes a lot of deliberative effort and a lot of conversations.	You could say that half a step forward would have been the agreement to allow for some areas where people would be allowed to express themselves or have a protest, hopefully peaceful protest.  So I will just assure you that President Bush, when he meets with him, with President Hu, once again, at the Olympics, for their bilateral meeting on the Saturday, that he always talks about this with him in meetings, both privately and publicly; he shares the same message.  " title=" Q    I guess -- maybe I should ask a different way.  Given the event -- the Internet censorship, a " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273739" rowid="136530936" side="usa" srcid="273739" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I don't think --  " title=" Q    I guess I just thought -- you know, they just met a few days ago, like you said, and then the " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315639" rowid="136533700" side="usa" srcid="315639" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I believe it -- my understanding is it's all heads of state -- heads of state or heads of government.  " title=" Q    I guess I mean are all the G20 heads of government or heads of state coming?  I mean, is it --" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-30#entryid_272615" rowid="136530727" side="usa" srcid="272615" text=" Q    I guess I might ask if you'd please take it -- last night, CBS &quot;60 Minutes&quot; had a horrific feature on the persecution of Christians and I guess other minorities in Iraq and it appears to be getting much worse. Is there anything that our administration -- your administration can do to try to prevent this?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, this is something that the President has raised with Prime Minister Maliki and our Ambassador is certainly aware of it.  The President also spoke about it with the Pope in both of his meetings this year.  So it is something that the President gets regularly updated on. He's concerned about it and he thinks that everybody should be allowed to worship freely.  And he believes that Prime Minister Maliki agrees with him in that regard -- whether you're Sunni, Shia, Christian, Jew or otherwise -- that everybody should be allowed to worship freely and be free from persecution.  &lt;p /&gt; Toby.  " title=" Q    I guess I might ask if you'd please take it -- last night, CBS &quot;60 Minutes&quot; had a horrific fea" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306407" rowid="136532638" side="usa" srcid="306407" text=" MS. PERINO:  The President believes that it's important to try to get these two candidates together --  " title=" Q    I guess I'm asking, is that one reason why it's important to get the two candidates together -" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306426" rowid="136532657" side="usa" srcid="306426" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we have said from the beginning that we wanted to work in a bipartisan fashion, and we have been.  Remember the President last Friday announced this plan in a Rose Garden ceremony here at the White House.	And then over the weekend, we worked with members of both parties on the legislation over the weekend and continued to have -- through the early part of this week as members of Congress held their hearings.  &lt;p /&gt; Yesterday, as you know, Senator McCain called the President shortly before he made the announcement that he would be suspending his campaign and that he was going to call on the President to bring a group together so that we could try to reach a solution.	After conferring with the team here I was able to tell you that, one, we welcome Senator McCain's announcement, and then later on the President was able to organize everyone's schedules so that we could invite everybody down.  &lt;p /&gt; And we think that we have been making significant bipartisan progress on this legislation, but it -- that if the participation of the two Senators can help us finalize this situation, then that's all for the better.  " title=" Q    I guess I'm most interested in the participation of the Senators.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315618" rowid="136533679" side="usa" srcid="315618" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I think we have and I expect we will continue to have a very respectful relationship going two ways with the Obama team.  And so we'll have those discussions and we'll see how it goes, but I think we are in a position to have a very successful summit with these countries coming in and I expect us to see some very strong agreement on the principles that we all hope to address going forward.  &lt;p /&gt; Yunji.  " title=" Q    I guess my point -- if there are different approaches or differences in approaches, I mean, ar" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307692" rowid="136532863" side="usa" srcid="307692" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Maybe it was something that their constituents needed to see more than members.	I can't explain the decisions that members made on this legislation.  They can explain that to you, but --  " title=" Q    I guess my question is that, that really shouldn't have been that big a surprise to people on " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280164" rowid="136531226" side="usa" srcid="280164" text=" Q    I guess that's the question -- is there any feeling inside the administration -- if not in the Oval Office with the President, with other people involved in the policy -- that you have stuck by Prime Minister Maliki, and now, all of this media and attention and press about bringing the troops home, is Prime Minister walking down a hallway with Barack Obama -- do you feel that the President has gotten sort of short shrift from the Iraqis, from Maliki?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm not -- look, Senator Obama is a United States senator, as well, he's not just a Democratic candidate.  I realize the role that he's in right now is Democratic candidate going to Iraq.  But Prime Minister Maliki has met with many United States senators, including Senator McCain --  " title=" Q    I guess that's the question -- is there any feeling inside the administration -- if not in the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-31#entryid_314011" rowid="136533565" side="usa" srcid="314011" text=" Q    I guess the conversation -- and I assume what you're always sort of sensitive to is the idea that whatever you're proposing in terms of regulation has to do with the concept of stripping away protections.  Is that what concerns you with sort of the rush of stories you're seeing?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  Well, that's just one part of the stories.  One part of it is content, the other part is process.  Clearly on process, we've been very up front about this, about how we're going to deal with regulations and that we're going to do it in an open and transparent way and make sure that the public is involved and that everyone can review the regulations that we put forward.  &lt;p /&gt; On content, we take the job very seriously.  And you're right, there is a sense out there that we are always looking to simply remove regulations and let the business community or others go unfettered.  But it's like, for example, one thing we're working on right now that's gone through regulatory review are putting in place CAFE standards and the regulations for how automakers will have to build more fuel-efficient vehicles going forward.  It's certainly not something that's welcomed by some automakers maybe.	It's going to impose challenges for them in being able to put those vehicles out into the market, but we need to do it in a way that, again, respects the integrity of the legislation that was passed by Congress -- and, by the way, just as a reminder on that subject, we, the administration, posed more aggressive CAFE standards than was actually passed by -- than were actually passed by Congress.  " title=" Q    I guess the conversation -- and I assume what you're always sort of sensitive to is the idea t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302660" rowid="136531943" side="usa" srcid="302660" text=" SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Listen, the importance of Russia's role in the overall international energy market, particularly Europe's, I think, is an indisputable fact.  It's a reality that I think obviously enters the calculations of Europe and everyone else when they figure out how we best respond to this crisis.  &lt;p /&gt; On the other hand, I would say that I think people have been quite impressed with the unity and the universality within the alliance in places like the G7 -- both how deplorable Russia's military action was, and the illegitimate nature of the subsequent step it took to unilaterally try and alter Georgia's borders by recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.	I think, clearly, the NATO statement on these events, and the statements by individual countries, the G7 statement by foreign ministers yesterday, will happen at the upcoming meeting of EU leaders and the diplomacy going forward.  I think you're only going to see that kind of unity enhanced.  And it's obviously an important purpose in these kinds of visits that the Vice President is undertaking.  " title=" Q    I guess the question is, I mean, do you feel like that that is part of the reason why there ca" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-13#entryid_316620" rowid="136533838" side="usa" srcid="316620" text=" Q    I guess what I'm -- the administration has been very clear about that anti-protectionist view.  What I'm wondering is, heading into the summit, what is it in response to?  In the primary season when there was debate about NAFTA, there were some people saying we ought to reexamine that view and the President was responding to that.  In this case, I'm not sure who he's responding to by saying we need to focus on trade, we need to make sure that we don't close markets.  Is there a particular country, a particular view out there?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  I think it's just a general principle that I think is shared by most of the members of the G20, that free trade is the right way to go.  It is -- it helps promote prosperity, create jobs, and foster openness.  " title=" Q    I guess what I'm -- the administration has been very clear about that anti-protectionist view." />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-03#entryid_319907" rowid="136534265" side="usa" srcid="319907" text=" MS. PERINO:  Helen, did you have a question?  " title=" Q    I had a poker face.  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-14#entryid_326363" rowid="136534998" side="usa" srcid="326363" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'm sure there is a legal definition of it, but as I understand it, the Commander-in-Chief should not be commenting on cases where the government is bringing a case against a detainee.  It would be inappropriate to do so from the White House.  DOD is running the interrogations and the detainee trials -- tribunals, as we call them, military tribunals -- and so it's appropriate that we keep that over there.	And Geoff Morrell put out a statement last night and I'd refer you to that.  " title=" Q    I had a question about Gaza -- but on the issue of Qahtani, can you just define the term &quot;comm" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313248" rowid="136533446" side="usa" srcid="313248" text=" Q    I had a question about the French.  President Sarkozy has had some critical words about that, and he's also been leading the charge from Europe, calling for a global regulatory structure that some see as sort of a threat to U.S. global dominance.  Is that strained --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  What are you talking about?  You're talking about the economy, or --  " title=" Q    I had a question about the French.  President Sarkozy has had some critical words about that, " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315630" rowid="136533691" side="usa" srcid="315630" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Whether there is --  " title=" Q    I had a question on the stimulus, but it did sound in your response to Olivier like you were s" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320398" rowid="136534351" side="usa" srcid="320398" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Yes, sure.  " title=" Q    I had one on the economy, please.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-27#entryid_267605" rowid="136530079" side="usa" srcid="267605" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  No, you didn't hear me say the President was going to say that.  I said that the --  " title=" Q    I had one question on the economy.  Can you give us a little bit of flavor for what the point " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272791" rowid="136530755" side="usa" srcid="272791" text=" Q    I had questions on two other quick topics.  What's the reaction from the White House so far about what's happening at the meeting of African leaders?  There does not seem to be any kind of public -- doesn't seem to be any kind of public rebuke of Mugabe.  Is that the kind of reception -- now that you've had some time to see what's happening, is that the kind of reception that the White House was looking for?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  Actually, I really wanted to -- look forward to what happened today out at the AU-EU meeting.  I don't have a new report on what was said out there.  But I think what you saw yesterday was a number of African leaders who spoke out actually quite forcefully about what was happening in Zimbabwe.  And I think, in particular, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf from Liberia was very strong in her remarks, and a number of other African leaders.  That alone is a major change for how the African community has traditionally responded to concerns on the African continent.  I think Prime Minister Odinga in Kenya also addressed this issue, and he, having recently had to deal with a controversial election, I think has a lot of credibility on that issue, as well.  &lt;p /&gt; We'd like to see all leaders in Africa and outside of Africa characterize what is going on in Zimbabwe for what it is, and as the President described in his statement the other day, that it is a sham; it's unfair to the people of Zimbabwe that they don't have the opportunity, through a normal democratic process that is free and fair, to select their leader absent of corruption and intimidation.  &lt;p /&gt; We're going to continue to press on it.  Secretary of State Rice made it clear that we're going to keep it on the agenda at the U.N. Security Council.  And so we'll continue to press on it.  " title=" Q    I had questions on two other quick topics.  What's the reaction from the White House so far ab" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273429" rowid="136530859" side="usa" srcid="273429" text=" MS. PERINO:  We'll just make it the last question.  " title=" Q    I hate to keep pressing about Zimbabwe, but would it be fair to say that the President tried t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-10#entryid_308988" rowid="136533063" side="usa" srcid="308988" text=" MS. PERINO:  At the deputies' level and the principals' level, we meet regularly about that issue, so I don't know.  " title=" Q    I have a couple of other little ones.  Do you have anything else?	Are you guys having -- is th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-15#entryid_316987" rowid="136533900" side="usa" srcid="316987" text=" Q    I have a couple.  Was there anything that you'd hoped to get done at this particular meeting that you weren't able to agree on and has to be taken up at the next one?  Secondly, is there anything that we can tell the American people about what was achieved today that's actually going to affect their lives on a daily basis, something that I hoped we could have asked the President today, but -- we're kind of trying to get the message to the people here, and most of them are not financial whizzes.  &lt;p&gt; SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Right.  Let me take -- what was the first part of your question?  " title=" Q    I have a couple.  Was there anything that you'd hoped to get done at this particular meeting t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317900" rowid="136534050" side="usa" srcid="317900" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay, we'll stay on this.  " title=" Q    I have a different subject.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317902" rowid="136534052" side="usa" srcid="317902" text=" MS. PERINO:  Anybody else on this one?  " title=" Q    I have a different subject.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-26#entryid_319128" rowid="136534206" side="usa" srcid="319128" text=" Q    I have a foreign policy question.	Of course I understand you're not replying on a hypothetical question, but maybe the two following you can without talking about concrete names like the Jim Jones or Gates.  We would like to understand what mixture of change and continuity the President Bush would like to see and the signals he would like to send?  Is there as much exchange of views on foreign policy between the President-elect and the President in the field of security policy as you mentioned that there is on financial crisis, first off?  &lt;p /&gt; And the second question, what signals would President Bush like to see to be sent to the foreign partners in this term -- change, adjustment, continuity?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  I don't think we're going to try to give advice, certainly not publicly, to President-Elect Obama and his team.  But we do communicate very closely, and especially during this time -- I think we've spoken about this at great length from here.  It's very important that we're giving them as much information as they [sic] can to do their planning and their thinking about how -- what their priorities will be for President-Elect Obama's administration.  And that's what we're doing.  As I said before, I think we're doing it in extraordinarily effective ways, at many levels across this government.  We are committed, the President is committed to having the smoothest transition in history.  &lt;p /&gt; So that's what we're doing every day.  There are lots of communications in foreign policy and security, and also with respect to the economy, as you would expect.  &lt;p /&gt; Roger.	Another bite?  " title=" Q    I have a foreign policy question.	Of course I understand you're not replying on a hypothetical" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-26#entryid_302153" rowid="136531881" side="usa" srcid="302153" text=" MR. FRATTO:  A non-Russia?  We're going to stick with Russia and Georgia, and then we can come back to it.  One more?  Okay.  " title=" Q    I have a non-Russia question.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298592" rowid="136531463" side="usa" srcid="298592" text=" Q    I have a question about the provision saying all the undertakings have to be governed by statute, where there is a statute.  Is that a step back from previous assertions that -- that the authorization of use of military force gave a more broad authority to the President?  &lt;p&gt; SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  No, I don't think so.	The point that -- I don't believe so at all.  I think the point that we're trying to make there is when there is a specific statute that governs a particular activity -- for example, the collection of certain business records or financial records or the conduct of electronic surveillance -- the Congress, as many of you know, has put in place various statutes, some of them quite elaborate, to govern the conduct of those activities.  And the intelligence community, when engaged in such activities, has to fully comply with those statutes.  I don't believe there's any change at all on that front.  " title=" Q    I have a question about the provision saying all the undertakings have to be governed by statu" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-23#entryid_318379" rowid="136534105" side="usa" srcid="318379" text=" Q    I have a question on Doha.  There was another extra push on Doha in the statement.	But you have countries like India and Brazil, who are not present -- they've been some of the biggest obstacles to completing a Doha Round.  What would be a reason for any kind of optimism.  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  India and Brazil, while not at APEC, were at the G20 meeting.  And like the other leaders at the G20 meeting, they threw their strong support, one, to reject protectionism, and, two, to get a Doha modalities agreement done this year.  That was  determination expressed at the leaders' level that included India and Brazil.  And although they were not here, they made their views clear at the G20 summit in Washington.  " title=" Q    I have a question on Doha.  There was another extra push on Doha in the statement.	But you hav" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303428" rowid="136532103" side="usa" srcid="303428" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    I have a question on federal regulations.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-15#entryid_270351" rowid="136530412" side="usa" srcid="270351" text=" Q    I have a question on Iraq.  Can you talk a little bit more about it, how -- what they'll have to say to each other about troop levels, particularly the British troop levels in Iraq?	There's been some talk that the President himself said in an interview with The Observer that he would -- again, is no -- does not agree that a time table should be set by the British, which --  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  I think you -- you ought to look at the transcript of what the President said.  What the President said is what the President has been saying and Prime Minister Brown has been saying from the very beginning, which is that we obviously all want begin to bring -- begin the troops home, but we all recognize we can only do that as they succeed.  &lt;p /&gt; Return on success is the formula for the U.S. government; it is the formula for the British government.  We have started obviously to bring some of our troops home, but again it has to be a result of progress on the ground, on the advice of our military, and not according to any arbitrary schedule.  Those three pillars have been the U.S. position for a couple years.  They have been the U.K. for the couple of years.  They have been our joint position for a couple of years.  They continue to be our joint position.  There is no disagreement between us, between the President and Prime Minister Brown, on this issue, period.  &lt;p /&gt; Next question.  " title=" Q    I have a question on Iraq.  Can you talk a little bit more about it, how -- what they'll have " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-14#entryid_326366" rowid="136535001" side="usa" srcid="326366" text=" Q    I have a quick -- a follow-up on the Gaza situation.  You talked about a durable cease-fire.  You said you appreciate the Egyptian efforts to mediate.  Hamas now has indicated that it plans to sign on to the Egyptian proposal.	Are you going to urge Israel to sign on, as well?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm sorry, who said that they would?  " title=" Q    I have a quick -- a follow-up on the Gaza situation.  You talked about a durable cease-fire.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-03#entryid_319922" rowid="136534280" side="usa" srcid="319922" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think what I just said is that we have said that we want to try to help these companies and we laid -- put forward a path for us to be able to do so.  And -- but we're going to have to -- we would only do so if the companies can prove viability.  And that's the question right now -- whether or not these plans would provide for long-term viability -- and that's just something I can't answer for you right now today.  " title=" Q    I have a quick one.  Are you on the same page as the Speaker, who said that bankruptcy for the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-24#entryid_312350" rowid="136533361" side="usa" srcid="312350" text=" MS. PERINO:  Anyone on this subject?  " title=" Q    I have another subject.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-10#entryid_308996" rowid="136533071" side="usa" srcid="308996" text=" Q    I have one more, sorry.  What's the communications strategy for the President on this crisis?  I mean, we've heard from him almost every single day since the bailout was announced, yet the Dow -- every time he talks the Dow goes down.	I mean, is it --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  That's not true, Deb, and I think you should go back and look at every time the President talks.  But, granted, the Dow has gone down every day for several days in a row.  He's the President of the United States and the purpose of his remarks this morning and what he will continue to do is to tell Americans that the full backing of the federal government is behind solving this problem, and that Americans should be assured that we have the broad authorities and the tools that we need in order to be robust in solving it.  &lt;p /&gt; We know that people are very anxious about what has been happening, as they see the stock market fall day after day.  It has to be very anxiety-producing.  The President shares it.  But what he does know is that just one week ago today -- even though for some of us it might feel about a month or a year ago -- the Congress finally passed the rescue package.	The Treasury Department is moving with all deliberate speed to implement those regulations.  And they have moved forward to find the right people to be able to handle it.  &lt;p /&gt; They have been given the authority to work with 700 billion taxpayer dollars, so they need to move prudently and as quickly as possible, and I can assure you that's what they're doing.  It's going to take a little bit of time for them to do it so that they do it right.  And Secretary Paulson has been looking at the array of tools that were given to him in that legislation to find out what is the right tool to use at this time on this particular problem.  &lt;p /&gt; The problems that we're seeing are changing by -- sometimes by the day.  Just last quarter, many of these companies that are now facing a lot of trouble reported good profits, and they -- so they -- our companies are of good value.  And the federal government is going to do what it takes, and we're going to work with our allies around the world, and our partners, to make sure that because we are so interconnected that the actions that we're taking are ones that can have the full effect that we intend it to.  And you heard from the President today, is we have a big enough package and a package that is intended to work, and that it will work.  " title=" Q    I have one more, sorry.  What's the communications strategy for the President on this crisis? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268265" rowid="136530135" side="usa" srcid="268265" text=" Q    I have one question that has nothing to do with your -- (laughter.)  This morning The Washington Times published a statement by Marine Corps Sergeant Steven Pryor of Bowie, Maryland:  &quot;The photographs of unprofessional behavior by newly commissioned Air Force officers and President Bush on the front page of Thursday's edition are incredibly disappointing, clownish, and set a horrible example for everyone in the military.&quot;  Will this Marine sergeant be punished for this statement, or not?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Certainly not.  I think it's referring to the U.S. Air Force Academy commencement ceremony, and the President had a wonderful time with 1,012 cadets, personally acknowledging each of them.  " title=" Q    I have one question that has nothing to do with your -- (laughter.)  This morning The Washingt" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317321" rowid="136533974" side="usa" srcid="317321" text=" Q    I have something on a different topic.  In a Washington Post interview, Paulson said that he's going to be urging the Obama administration to endow the federal government with broad new powers to take over not only banks, but other private enterprises, as well.  Is this being -- is this something that the White House is --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I read that article quickly.  I'm not exactly sure what he's referring to.  Unless this is the same issue that he talked about last week in his press conference that he gave at the Treasury Department, when he talked about possibly expanding -- to help with consumer credit and the like.  So I'll refer you to Treasury for more specifics, but I think that's what they're talking about.  &lt;p /&gt; Kathleen.  " title=" Q    I have something on a different topic.  In a Washington Post interview, Paulson said that he's" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-29#entryid_306857" rowid="136532719" side="usa" srcid="306857" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    I have two questions on all this.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-11#entryid_269914" rowid="136530353" side="usa" srcid="269914" text=" Q    I have two questions on Italy.  Any request to increase the troops in Afghanistan -- will it come up?  And number two, the question of enlarging the 5-plus-1 and offering Italy the possibility of being part of that -- was it discussed with Chancellor Merkel by the President?  Germany is resistant to that.  What can you say about these two issues?  &lt;p&gt; MS. ANSLEY:  On the first one, about Afghanistan, Afghanistan will clearly be discussed.  There have been requests out from both U.S. officials and NATO officials for all countries, as part of the coalition in Afghanistan, to increase their efforts there.  So I imagine that the issue will be discussed and it will be, I'm sure, interesting to hear what Prime Minister Berlusconi's views are on the Italian contribution to Afghanistan.  Obviously, we're hopeful that there would be increased contributions, as was requested in Bucharest, of all NATO nations that are contributing.  &lt;p /&gt; In terms of P5-plus-one, again, I expect that that will be discussed; it has been in the past with previous Italian governments.  I was not in all of the meetings, there was a lot of discussion that was one-on-one, so I don't know if the issue came up in the meetings in Germany.  But I expect that the issue will come up in Italy.  " title=" Q    I have two questions on Italy.  Any request to increase the troops in Afghanistan -- will it c" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-01#entryid_307381" rowid="136532806" side="usa" srcid="307381" text=" Q    I have two quick questions.  The first one is, it sounds like you were thinking that the coverage this morning, at least, was a little more favorable.  But if you look at newspapers around the country, a lot of the headlines still have the word &quot;bailout&quot;, not &quot;buyout.&quot;	Are you sure that that message is really getting through to the American people?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  &quot;Buyout&quot; isn't our word, either.  No, I do think the message is getting through to more people.  I think we're hearing that anecdotally.  Somebody e-mailed me to say they saw in -- there was a front page of one newspaper that didn't have the word &quot;bailout&quot; in it.  So maybe that was a tiny victory for me.  I don't know.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    I have two quick questions.  The first one is, it sounds like you were thinking that the cover" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-20#entryid_317883" rowid="136534033" side="usa" srcid="317883" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    I have two topics.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304065" rowid="136532220" side="usa" srcid="304065" text=" MS. PERINO:  But we talked -- and we talked about that and were very open about that last January when we did that stimulus package.  And that is reflected in the CBO numbers that we -- that are announced today and in the OMB projections that were announced in middle of July, and those are in line with one another.	And we said that one of the costs of doing a stimulus package was an increase in the deficit, but it was the right move at the right time.  And it has been reflected in the GDP numbers from then.  &lt;p /&gt; Right now, whether or not Congress comes forward with an additional package that they would like to see move forward -- we'll have to see.	But what we have said is that there are three pieces of legislation in front of them right now that they could take -- maybe possibly more -- but legislation that has been through the legislative process that just needs a vote.  And that's what we're asking for.  &lt;p /&gt; Les.  " title=" Q    I just -- there's no short-term stimulus made by the government that doesn't increase the defi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-26#entryid_319123" rowid="136534201" side="usa" srcid="319123" text=" MR. FRATTO:  They spoke -- to my knowledge, they spoke most recently on Monday morning, where President Bush called President-Elect Obama to discuss the Citibank actions that were taken the night before.  " title=" Q    I just had a clarification.  I know you said that the administration has been working through " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_325015" rowid="136534884" side="usa" srcid="325015" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, actually, he has not.	But we're getting close to that.  Look, every President has given a farewell address.  I think it's more than likely that he will.	But I don't have an announcement for you yet because we just haven't quite decided yet.  &lt;p /&gt; Yunji.  " title=" Q    I just had a second question.  The President today in his remarks at Fort Myer seemed to be ve" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315659" rowid="136533720" side="usa" srcid="315659" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Oh, I'm sorry, go ahead.  " title=" Q    I just had a separate --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317641" rowid="136534021" side="usa" srcid="317641" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, our focus is on Plan A, and trying to get Plan A to work, which is to get this agreement done.  I think that all we need to do is to have them -- have the reading, let the parliament debate, as you would in a democratic society, and then have a vote.  We think they'll be able to do it later this week, or early next week.  " title=" Q    I just have a quick one on Iraq.  The Hill is being briefed on the final agreement.  What happ" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302494" rowid="136531950" side="usa" srcid="302494" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think I'll just decline to say because I don't know what the final outcome will be.	And so they'll have to take a look at the range of issues that could result.  &lt;p /&gt; I saw the other day that someone suggested -- maybe it was even President Medvedev himself who said that they don't fear a new Cold War.	I don't think anyone should be looking for a new Cold War.  What we would like to see is the return to the status quo before August 7th and the hostilities began; before Russia invaded Georgia; before the disproportional response to the regular flare-ups that happen in the summertime out in that area.  And from there, what we would like to see is a return to a place where we can have integration of Russia into the international community.  &lt;p /&gt; Unfortunately, it's Russia that made the choice to take several steps backward in that regard, and I think that even if you look at the Russian economy and the questions that businesses have about whether or not to continue to do business there and what's happening in their stock market and what's happening across the board in their country, that this is very troubling for Russia and a time for the countries who believe in sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity to band together to fight against it.  " title=" Q    I just have one more.  Do you think that sanctions are an appropriate type of punishment for t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267076" rowid="136529955" side="usa" srcid="267076" text=" MS. PERINO:  Right, and I don't have any other information, so let me go back, and then I'll get back to you.  &lt;p /&gt; Kate.  " title=" Q    I just said, I don't think he was clear on that point.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308532" rowid="136532987" side="usa" srcid="308532" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know if he was.  I saw that report yesterday, though.  " title=" Q    I just want to ask a quick question.  Is the President aware that a former top lawyer of the T" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-28#entryid_312984" rowid="136533404" side="usa" srcid="312984" text=" Q    I just want to ask one more automaker question.  The government allowed Lehman Brothers to fail -- some question that decision -- but didn't do the same with Bear Stearns.  Would the Bush administration allow any of the automakers to go bankrupt?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think what we're trying to do right now is use the tools that Congress gave us to try to help companies where we can.  So when it comes to the automakers -- which are big, important companies to regions in this country that are suffering right now, and we also have a lot of families that are dependent on those automakers, and we want to have a big, thriving auto industry here in our country -- we are trying to use the tools that Congress provided us.  &lt;p /&gt; So we have the possibility of loans, regarding the retooling of their plants that will help them be more competitive in the future.  And we also have the possibility that under the Troubled Asset Relief Program, that they would be able to take a part in that.  So I think we'll have to see if we can help them in those regards.  " title=" Q    I just want to ask one more automaker question.  The government allowed Lehman Brothers to fai" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-02#entryid_324405" rowid="136534778" side="usa" srcid="324405" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No, it was -- I can't remember the specifics there, but --  " title=" Q    I just want to be clear.  That sounded to me like a yes to Mark's question about proportionali" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315625" rowid="136533686" side="usa" srcid="315625" text=" Q    I just wanted to ask one question, because I think we heard a new one this morning -- &quot;the bottom of the business cycle.&quot;  I may be wrong, but I've never heard anybody say the word &quot;recession&quot; from the podium.  Can I just ask you, is that word radioactive?  Why isn't it said?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  The way that we're always asked the question is, are we in a recession or are we not in a recession?  And there you have me saying the word twice.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    I just wanted to ask one question, because I think we heard a new one this morning -- &quot;the bot" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-10#entryid_300064" rowid="136531598" side="usa" srcid="300064" text=" AMBASSADOR JEFFREY:  No, there was general commentary that we need to get together as we have done since we received the answer from the Iranian government to take a look at next steps.  Our position is quite clear.	We think that, as we have discussed before we put the latest offer on the table, that the next step is U.N. action.  And we're going to be working with the Chinese and with others to try to get that.  President Hu indicated that he was open to further discussions on the way ahead.  Again, he referred to the importance to both U.S. and to Chinese interests and to global interests of an Iran without nuclear weapons.  So, again, he elaborated a bit on our strategic commonality of views.  And we'll see what comes forth in the next few days.  &lt;p /&gt; Thank you.   MS. PERINO:  Last one over here.  " title=" Q    I just wanted to ask you, you suggested that there was a shared agreement on what the strategi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324658" rowid="136534803" side="usa" srcid="324658" text=" Q    I just wanted to clarify a couple of the other questions that have been asked.  I haven't seen a map or detailed description of this area, so do I understand right that in some of the protected areas there would be commercial fishing allowed, and in some areas there wouldn't be?  Or can you explain that one more time, please?  &lt;p&gt; CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Yes.  Again, with respect to the coral reef ecosystems in the 50 nautical mile areas around these islands, commercial fishing will be precluded.  With respect to the bottom geologic resource, so the trench, the Marianas Trench, and the undersea active volcanoes and hydrothermal vents, we just don't deal with fishing because it's not relevant to the protection of the resource.  &lt;p /&gt; So fishing is handled under the Magnuson Act.  I want to be careful about your question about restrictions, because in these areas under Magnuson-WestPac, they've actually done a fair amount of delineation and set certain restrictions with respect to certain fishing activities.  So those are being undertaken in the context of the broader fishery resource being done by WestPac and by NOAA.  &lt;p /&gt; So, for example, around Rose Atoll, WestPac and NOAA have established a 50-mile zone that precludes large vessels from entering, so smaller vessels can go in.  They just set up, down in the Southern Marianas Islands, they've just set up a new management area out to 50 miles, under Magnuson for bottom fish.  And then in the Central Pacific, the WestPac has a whole series of different management plans with respect to corals, with respect to bottom fishing, and a series of other types of fishing.  &lt;p /&gt; So don't take away from this conversation that the other areas are unregulated.  Actually, they are very effectively regulated under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and by WestPac.  So this is -- these are complementary strategies.  " title=" Q    I just wanted to clarify a couple of the other questions that have been asked.  I haven't seen" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315629" rowid="136533690" side="usa" srcid="315629" text=" MR. FRATTO:  We'll have communication and coordination with them.  I don't know whether someone will actually be in the building -- I don't expect in the room.  But certainly, look, we're going to have very good communication with them.  We want their thoughts and views.  This is a incredibly complicated issue on a lot of different fronts.  I mean, these are things that a lot of people haven't paid a whole lot of attention to over the years -- dealing with cross-border capital flows and accounting standards and how markets interact and how -- you know, what you do with banking capital requirements and risk management.  &lt;p /&gt; I mean, when was the last time we talked about these kinds of things in this room?  And I suspect that's the same thing in lots of other capitals, and there's a reason for that -- they're complicated and you need experts to go out there and do a lot of work on it.  I think we want to give that -- those efforts momentum and speed them up and get them done, and we certainly want to hear from the incoming President-Elect what he thinks about them, because it is going to take a long time to put in place reforms in these areas.  " title=" Q    I just wanted to clarify that.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298575" rowid="136531429" side="usa" srcid="298575" text=" Q    I just wanted to double-check, is there anything in this executive order that specifically addresses the FBI in terms of its domestic intelligence activities, in terms of any changes?  It is mentioned in there what its role is, but are there any changes in this executive order for the FBI?  &lt;p&gt; SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  No, there are none that I would direct you to.  I mean, of course, it's critically important in the current arrangements under the IRTPA to have the FBI playing a significant role in the collection, dissemination and analysis of intelligence, and that's outlined in the executive order as a responsibility for the Director of the FBI.  And then similarly, as I mentioned earlier, a role in coordinating intelligence activities in the United States that involves human sources or human-enabled means, is also set forth in section 1.3(b).  &lt;p /&gt; But, no, I don't think you'll find in the executive order any specific new authority or responsibility with respect to intelligence assigned to the FBI.  " title=" Q    I just wanted to double-check, is there anything in this executive order that specifically add" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-11#entryid_321328" rowid="136534470" side="usa" srcid="321328" text=" Q    I just wanted to quickly follow on Toby's question.  When you talked about potentially rethinking some of the action for action on the North Korea standoff, does that mean that the White House, given what's happened today, is contemplating pulling back the removal of North Korea from the terrorism list?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  No, I don't think so.  I think that we -- I think we need to hear from Chris Hill in terms of what we would do.  Obviously one of the things people think about is energy assistance.  And I'm not going to propose anything here, because I simply don't know.	And that is just me talking without having talked to any principal before coming down here, because I just saw the report and heard the news that Chris Hill was on his way back.  So as soon as he's back, we'll try to see what the next steps are.  &lt;p /&gt; I'm going to go over here.  Goyal.  " title=" Q    I just wanted to quickly follow on Toby's question.  When you talked about potentially rethink" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298579" rowid="136531437" side="usa" srcid="298579" text=" Q    I just wanted to sort of follow up on James's question, because in speaking with some people yesterday, I mean, there did seem to be some sentiment on the Hill that the White House didn't consult with them, that they did just present the executive order as a fait accompli.  And I was just wondering if you could respond to that broader concern.  &lt;p&gt; SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Well, only to repeat what I said earlier.  We have spent specifically on the provisions in the draft executive order the better part of the last two or two and a half weeks dealing with multiple committees on the Hill -- at the staff level, at the member level, making experts available to provide briefings.  &lt;p /&gt; So we've dealt with, for example, the intelligence oversight committees, the armed service committees, the international relations and foreign affairs committees, the homeland security and government affairs committees.  We've addressed these issues to the leadership.  There have been countless, countless hours by dozens and dozens of people who've been involved with this process -- discussing, reviewing, and walking through the provisions of the order -- various staffers, rooms full of staffers.  " title=" Q    I just wanted to sort of follow up on James's question, because in speaking with some people y" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267039" rowid="136529994" side="usa" srcid="267039" text=" Q    I just wondered if you could give us maybe a little more background on how this policy came about.  How long have you been thinking about it?	Has it been in the works since Raul Castro took over?  Just any details that you might share with us on how it came about, and the President's involvement in it.  &lt;p&gt; MR. FISK:  I think it's fair to say that actually since the announcement that Fidel Castro went in the hospital, we've had a ongoing policy process to determine, first of all, what is going on on the island, what it means, and then how we can -- how we should, and if we should, modify our policy.  &lt;p /&gt; There's no doubt that this was given some momentum by the events of February, when we had Raul -- I'm sorry, Fidel Castro kind of pass many of his titles on to Raul -- I think there's still a question about who the power in Cuba is at this time.	And since then, we have, at the President's direction, continued to put a number of initiatives -- discussed a number of initiatives and go through the whole interagency process and kind of consider what our options are and how we should proceed, being, again, consistent with the President's policy that what we are seeking to do is empower the Cuban people, get directly to them, not further enrich the regime, and again, kind of what realistically and effectively the U.S. can do with the Cuban people.  " title=" Q    I just wondered if you could give us maybe a little more background on how this policy came ab" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303270" rowid="136532069" side="usa" srcid="303270" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that the plan is that he would go to Camp David tomorrow morning and be there through the weekend.  " title=" Q    I know -- that changed.  So is this going to change, too?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-03#entryid_319931" rowid="136534289" side="usa" srcid="319931" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, let us take a look at what these companies are going to put forward.  And I don't remember any of the companies suggesting that they needed more than $25 billion over the past three weeks.  " title=" Q    I know Gutierrez said that, and you've certainly suggested that.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273732" rowid="136530929" side="usa" srcid="273732" text=" Q    I know that the White House thinks that just getting all these people at the table on the climate is a victory in itself.  Is there anything that the President was disappointed that he didn't get, that they didn't achieve at that -- in the meeting today?  Were there any little elements that he had wished they would have signed onto and --  &lt;p&gt; CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  The President had several very aggressive proposals.  Last May he was seeking to eliminate tariffs by the end of last year.  That's how aggressive he was, and thought the world community should be, because he questioned why any country would be putting up -- making it more expensive to buy the clean technologies that you need.	So there's an example.  &lt;p /&gt; As you know, the President made clear last year, and in the State of the Union this year, that we were very interested in a strong statement of political commitment by each country that they were -- in principle would have their commitments bound into an international agreement.  Many countries have made that commitment, including many non-G8 countries.  I guess that's another &quot;several,&quot; by the way.  &lt;p /&gt; There were -- President Calder&amp;#243;n was already publicly on record at the time of the North American leaders' statement as making clear -- even though they are not what's called an Annex I country; they are not a country under the Kyoto Protocol that has obligations -- that he fully intends to have a national plan, and that he fully intends to have that plan reflected in internationally binding commitments.  So he's publicly on record with respect to that.  &lt;p /&gt; Several other countries indicated that they were willing to consider that, too.  Other countries have been more cautious.	So would we have liked to see an even stronger statement on that point for the major emerging economies?  The answer to that is, yes.  " title=" Q    I know that the White House thinks that just getting all these people at the table on the clim" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-28#entryid_267834" rowid="136530115" side="usa" srcid="267834" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  Well, you will recall that it was last November, right before Thanksgiving when we first heard about the book, when the excerpt came out.  I was with the President at the time and told him about it -- we were at Camp David, right after an interview he had just finished.  &lt;p /&gt; And at that time, was led to believe that the excerpt was a little bit over-written and not necessarily representative of what the book would be like.  And so I believe the original publishing date was sometime earlier this spring, so I've been anticipating the book to come out for a while.  I think the June 2nd publishing date has been a little bit more firm recently, and so we knew that it would come out maybe next Monday, with some pre-publicity right before then.  &lt;p /&gt; So the President has been aware that it was going to come out.	I talked to him a little bit yesterday -- I can't exactly remember where, but on the plane here -- I guess it was on the plane; I don't remember where we were on our way to, since we had three stops yesterday.  And his reaction was similar to what I said this morning, which is he is puzzled, and he doesn't recognize this as the Scott McClellan that he hired and confided in and worked with for so many years; and disappointed that if he had these concerns and these thoughts he never came to him or anyone else on the staff that we know of.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think it's just a sad situation.  " title=" Q    I know that you said you weren't going to be speaking anything more about McClellan, but could" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306376" rowid="136532607" side="usa" srcid="306376" text=" Q    I know there was a question on the estimate of this cost being maybe $700 billion.  If you factor in Fannie Mae, Bear Stearns, you come up to close to a trillion.  The cost of the war so far is $700 billion.  In the future, do you think the only determining factor for the cost of this war and the decision to leave or withdraw should be just the commanders on the ground, or should future costs of this war, given everything else going on, also be a factor?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Look, I'm not going to mix apples and oranges like you are.  You're free to do that, but, look, the $700 billion that the Secretary of the Treasury has asked for first particular plan, for this particular legislation that's moving forward, it's not a spending program, it's an asset buying program.  And we are not promising what the return on investment could be, but the American taxpayer will get money back once we are able to hold on to these assets and then sell them back into the system.  &lt;p /&gt; So I'm not going to get into the characterization as you did, but what I can tell you is that they're apples and oranges. Iraq is moving forward -- has made tremendous security gains, tremendous progress on political reconciliation, and that will be a benefit for generations to come, both here in the United States and in the Middle East.  " title=" Q    I know there was a question on the estimate of this cost being maybe $700 billion.  If you fac" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279342" rowid="136531096" side="usa" srcid="279342" text=" Q    I know this morning you said that the ballistic missile tests that were done by Iran last week did not play a part in this decision to send Under Secretary Burns to Switzerland, but surely there must be some effect on what's happening on the diplomatic side, when Iran decides to flex its military muscle in that way.  Are you saying that there's no link at all?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'll have to refer you to the State Department in terms of all the decision-making that went into it.	The President does support Secretary Rice's decision here to continue to show the unity.  But in regards to specific tests that they did, obviously we said that those weren't helpful.  They were against the U.N. Security Council resolutions and their international obligations.  But that underscores again why it's important for the international community to show unity and say that there is a path of incentives in which we recognize your right for peaceful nuclear power; we've provided a path for you to get that.  We've also provided paths throughout the incentives package for further discussions in international community integration.  &lt;p /&gt; But there's also a different path, which is, if they don't accept this offer, one, there will not be negotiations; and two, there will be additional sanctions.  " title=" Q    I know this morning you said that the ballistic missile tests that were done by Iran last week" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280825" rowid="136531320" side="usa" srcid="280825" text=" MS. PERINO:  Brianna, we have talked about this before; I would point you back to all the things we have said, especially since this budget came out this year.  We have worked very hard to try to keep spending in check.	I don't have those specific numbers in front of me -- something like discretionary spending that's been held below inflation.  President Bush has tried to hold the line across the board when it comes to this Congress trying to raise taxes on the American people, or raise spending unnecessarily.	He hasn't been afraid to veto bills.  &lt;p /&gt; But we also headed into an economic downturn.  And we recognize that it would be very important to try to help save this economy, and to do so by passing a bipartisan stimulus package.	That was the right and prudent thing to do.  If we hadn't done that I don't know where the economy would be right now.  I couldn't say, I'm not a prognosticator, but these gentlemen will be able to tell you in about 40 minutes.  " title=" Q    I know we're getting specific numbers coming up in the 1:45 p.m. briefing, but I'm just wonder" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-18#entryid_305351" rowid="136532484" side="usa" srcid="305351" text=" MS. PERINO:  But you don't.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    I know you probably want to put politics aside in the middle of all of this, but I need to giv" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313559" rowid="136533506" side="usa" srcid="313559" text=" CHAIRMAN LAZEAR:  Please.  " title=" Q    I know you've addressed this a couple of times and I'm going to ask it a different way.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308528" rowid="136532983" side="usa" srcid="308528" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, my point is, Paula, that one of the things that we want is we want people to be able to return to work.  We understand that there are people that are hurting, but we've already extended the unemployment benefits.  But if legislation isn't moving between now and November 17th, if then, there's not a lot that we can do in terms of getting a law passed.  " title=" Q    I know, but in the meantime, there are people that won't have unemployment checks between Octo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-24#entryid_280517" rowid="136531276" side="usa" srcid="280517" text=" MS. PERINO:  And the President -- he puts himself in the same category, as not somebody who predicts the markets or can explain all the different pieces.  But we have seen that Americans are starting to drive less, slightly less, which can help reduce demand.  But in addition to that, possibly the markets are looking at the fact that there are more people being more serious about looking for resources in our own country, which would send a signal that we would finally start to bring on more supply.  " title=" Q    I know, but what does the President --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-22#entryid_311464" rowid="136533271" side="usa" srcid="311464" text=" MS. PERINO:  Oh, you did.  Mark.  " title=" Q    I lived in California.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-11#entryid_269911" rowid="136530350" side="usa" srcid="269911" text=" MS. ANSLEY:  I'm sorry --  " title=" Q    I mean on Italy, to follow up on his question --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-23#entryid_267478" rowid="136530061" side="usa" srcid="267478" text=" MS. PERINO:  They'll be together in Arizona, but then we break off and we go on to Utah and --  " title=" Q    I mean, appearing publicly together?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-21#entryid_301422" rowid="136531837" side="usa" srcid="301422" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I have learned in this job not to put too fine a date on anything, and I will stick with that.  And as I said, more important to get it right than to rush the process.  But we'll keep on working at it.  &lt;p /&gt; Roger.  " title=" Q    I mean, are we talking days, are we talking weeks, or are we talking months?  I mean, can you " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306398" rowid="136532629" side="usa" srcid="306398" text=" Q    I mean, can you -- can you give us more of the tick-tock?	Can you tell us when, how, what?  I mean, because something -- there's something, it seems like, that's missing from all of the things that happened, the sequencing of things yesterday.  And what I'm trying to find out is how did this -- I mean, you're saying it's an effort to bring it all together, to get both sides of the aisle.  But there's still a piece missing.  It's kind of going back what Keith is saying, political -- making this a political stand.	And you guys never even came out before with statements saying, we agree with Senator Obama.  Now you're saying, we agree with Obama and McCain.  I'm just trying to understand more of the dynamics, the nuts and bolts, versus -- I'm trying to see what you're saying, but I'm not getting it.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  All right, well, as I said yesterday, and I'll say it again today, Senator McCain called the President shortly before he made his announcement that he was going to be suspending his campaign and that he was going to ask the President to call people together.  The President took a little bit of time to think about that and he reached out -- well, the senior staff reached out to the staffs at the campaign to find out what their availability would be, if they would be coming back to Washington and would they be willing and available to meet.  And Senator Obama's team said yes, and then the President called Senator Obama and the meeting was arranged.  &lt;p /&gt; I don't think there's much more to see than that.  " title=" Q    I mean, can you -- can you give us more of the tick-tock?	Can you tell us when, how, what?  I " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-22#entryid_305811" rowid="136532567" side="usa" srcid="305811" text=" MS. PERINO:   -- anybody here up in New York?  " title=" Q    I mean, financial leaders --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-02#entryid_268530" rowid="136530203" side="usa" srcid="268530" text=" MS. PERINO:  I didn't talk to him about it.  This is the Democrats' party and this is their -- they're going to have to hash it out for themselves.  &lt;p /&gt; Roger.  " title=" Q    I mean, he believes in fairness, doesn't he, Dana?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313262" rowid="136533460" side="usa" srcid="313262" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, no, no, I think it's attendees of the meeting.  " title=" Q    I mean, I don't -- I can't imagine you guys wouldn't include Gordon Brown, for instance --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-29#entryid_280997" rowid="136531363" side="usa" srcid="280997" text=" MS. PERINO:  His remarks that he's going to give today are on energy.  &lt;p /&gt; Paula.  " title=" Q    I mean, I know you said energy, but that's sort of part of the big picture of the economy, as " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-28#entryid_267828" rowid="136530109" side="usa" srcid="267828" text=" MS. PERINO:  I know on a social basis that I had a lot of contact with he and his wife, sure.  " title=" Q    I mean, is it a lot?  A little?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306390" rowid="136532621" side="usa" srcid="306390" text=" MS. PERINO:  At this point, it's water under the bridge and it doesn't matter because we're going to have the meeting and hopefully we'll have a deal, as well.  " title=" Q    I mean, is this an essential linchpin?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300589" rowid="136531660" side="usa" srcid="300589" text=" MS. PERINO:  That's okay, no, I'll take it back and check.  " title=" Q    I mean, it's in --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304072" rowid="136532227" side="usa" srcid="304072" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not necessarily.  Well, I think that -- I would ask what are the other proposals that are forthcoming that would actually stimulate the economy beyond those.  " title=" Q    I mean, that's not really going to do much to boost the economy in the short-term, I don't thi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-22#entryid_323794" rowid="136534645" side="usa" srcid="323794" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, I think the President -- as you know, you've seen the transcripts -- the President has spoken to many reporters on various subjects, and wide-ranging subjects.  And I think a lot of the things that are on your mind at this time -- I don't say that --  " title=" Q    I mean, the -- first the deadline was, well, not while there's a campaign going on, so maybe a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317289" rowid="136533942" side="usa" srcid="317289" text=" Q    I mean, the proposals that are out there are to expand that, to prevent more foreclosures.  And if the administration wants to basically put a cap on that, won't those people go into bankruptcy if they are not able to avoid foreclosures?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Paula, I don't think I'm following you.  But we'll follow up with you later.  We're trying to help as many people as we possibly can.  I went through all the programs that we have.  &lt;p /&gt; April.  " title=" Q    I mean, the proposals that are out there are to expand that, to prevent more foreclosures.  An" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298427" rowid="136531389" side="usa" srcid="298427" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  I'd refer you over to the Senate -- as Kathleen just said, they apparently just made some very serious progress, if it's true that they are going to be allowed to vote on these measures.  So I think that that answers the question.  " title=" Q    I mean, there's no doubt they're apple and oranges substantively, but in the political environ" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-09#entryid_269557" rowid="136530320" side="usa" srcid="269557" text=" MR. PRICE:  Nothing new that we're proposing?  What we are doing is -- I think, if you're familiar with the climate discussions between the United States and Europe, then you are also familiar with those arguments.  " title=" Q    I mean, there's nothing new that you're proposing?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307690" rowid="136532861" side="usa" srcid="307690" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I was white-knuckled at the time, yes.  (Laughter.) Holding on like the rest of us were, just watching that.  It was pretty dramatic.  But, from my perspective, I go back two weeks ago and we had a white-knuckle week, with huge up and down swings in the market and a very real crisis in the credit markets where -- with what happened in the money markets.  The economy came very close to a grinding halt about two weeks ago.	And so we have been watching this very closely for some time.  I know most Americans aren't hearing these kinds of things from small businesses and even large businesses and banks.  But we're hearing about it all the time.	And so maybe that was the kind of crystallizing moment that helped them to understand this better, that we really are in a crisis.  &lt;p /&gt; Yunji.  " title=" Q    I mean, weren't you thinking to yourself, &quot;no kidding.&quot;  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-17#entryid_270716" rowid="136530459" side="usa" srcid="270716" text=" MR. FRATTO:  We don't base what we try to do here by polls.  We know people have lots of different views of what's going on out in the political world and what they're hearing.  But we try to focus on the policies that we're trying to accomplish for the rest of the way here and not comment on what we hear in one poll or another.  &lt;p /&gt; Love to take a look at the composition of those polls, though; I think that's always fun.  " title=" Q    I mean, what would you say to Americans who --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-22#entryid_267278" rowid="136530027" side="usa" srcid="267278" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  I'll have to refer you to DOD or to Fort Bragg to -- we'll see if we can confirm it for you on the ground.  I wouldn't be able to tell you either way.  &lt;p /&gt; Anything else?	Okay, I know it's a short flight.  " title=" Q    I read someplace that the Third Division of the 82nd Airborne is being redeployed; that they g" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316858" rowid="136533848" side="usa" srcid="316858" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sam, please go ahead.  " title=" Q    I said two questions.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-25#entryid_271975" rowid="136530648" side="usa" srcid="271975" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  I think there's a lot of people sharpening their knives for a vacation day.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead in the back.  " title=" Q    I second that.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-31#entryid_298577" rowid="136531433" side="usa" srcid="298577" text=" SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I think this is -- thank you for asking the question.  I think this is an area where there has been some misunderstanding, and I would refer you to a careful review of the text of this executive order, as well as the law itself.  In the law and in the executive order -- and I don't have that page in front of me right now -- the Director of National Intelligence is assigned responsibility to provide strategic management, oversight, direction -- you'll have to check the words -- in the conduct of U.S. government relationships with foreign intelligence and security services.  &lt;p /&gt; And consistent with those -- that strategic guidance and those -- that strategic framework, the Central Intelligence Agency in the law and this order is assigned the specific responsibility for the conduct of those foreign liaison relationships, and also the coordination of engagement between other intelligence community elements and those foreign security services.  &lt;p /&gt; So look very closely at the structure.	It's the same in this executive order as it is in the law -- a role defined at the strategic level in managing such relationships for the Director of National Intelligence -- but the actual conduct of these relationships and the coordination of dealings with foreign security services is charged with the CIA.  " title=" Q    I see that the Director of National Intelligence is given responsibility for foreign intellige" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303268" rowid="136532067" side="usa" srcid="303268" text=" MS. PERINO:  Carlton just says, back on Saturday, so something to look forward to, Deb.  " title=" Q    I think he comes back on Saturday, yes.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-13#entryid_326194" rowid="136534959" side="usa" srcid="326194" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Yes.  " title=" Q    I think I was warped by movies, as well.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298490" rowid="136531386" side="usa" srcid="298490" text=" MR. WILDER:  Right.  " title=" Q    I think it's the 11th is the end of the 45-day notification period.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-27#entryid_267597" rowid="136530071" side="usa" srcid="267597" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know how specific we get in breaking that down, but I'll see what I can get you.  Okay?  " title=" Q    I think our question -- one question I have is the breakdown of this trip, because there's a l" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317055" rowid="136533922" side="usa" srcid="317055" text=" MS. PERINO:  That could be something that they could consider as we -- what we would like to do is allow for those funds to be able to be used not just for retooling the factories, but for actually helping them get through this rough patch that they're in.  And then in the future, if Congress wants to appropriate more money to the auto industry to replace those funds, then that would be their prerogative.  What we're trying to do is staunch the bleeding, and we need Congress's help to be able to do that.  &lt;p /&gt; Holly.  " title=" Q    I think that there's a -- I could be wrong about this, but I think there's, like, a 10-year ho" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-01#entryid_302882" rowid="136531999" side="usa" srcid="302882" text=" MS. PERINO:  I will check.  " title=" Q    I think that's right.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273432" rowid="136530865" side="usa" srcid="273432" text=" MS. PERINO:  So, obviously -- and they have a range of issues that they always discuss, including economic issues, including energy and climate change, issues of Africa.  In the runup to this meeting and in their meeting just three weeks ago, they talked a lot about the G8 and about Africa accountability, neglected tropical diseases.  They'll talk about Iran, I'm sure.  And she also is very interested in North Korea, as well, just in terms of -- as something of interest.  " title=" Q    I think they were last month.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315277" rowid="136533647" side="usa" srcid="315277" text=" MS. PERINO:  We feel a strong obligation to make sure that they have all of the information that they need going forward, and that is why, for the past year, the President has been tasking his team to make sure that we are ready for this period.	And I think you'll see that not just here at the White House, but you'll definitely see it across all of the agencies, as well, from the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, Energy Department.  All of those agencies have plans, and they're ready to receive their teams when they swoop in and try to help them so that they can hit the ground running.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    I think what I was really asking is keeping him in the loop, not really telling him how to mak" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-29#entryid_268055" rowid="136530125" side="usa" srcid="268055" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, nothing more to announce.  But I think you've heard the President talk before about his plans to have a library and he's a little bit thinking about that -- sort of on the margins.  He doesn't have a lot of time to think about it.  There are people who are thinking about that for him.  But he's interested and I think that -- one thing that I think I was asked last week:  And what is the President -- is he upset or is he concerned because he's not going to be President next January?  &lt;p /&gt; And the truth is that he doesn't wish for something that's not possible.  He thinks the two term system is a really good one and that new fresh eyes and fresh energy is important for our country; and that the peaceful transfer of power that we've been able to establish in our country is a good model for the rest of the world; and that he is excited about continuing to spread the message of freedom and liberty long after he's President.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think he's thinking forward just a little bit and looking towards the time when they do go back to Texas.  " title=" Q    I think you said they talked a little bit about what the President plans to do next.  Anything" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273443" rowid="136530883" side="usa" srcid="273443" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think so, I don't think so.  I think some people still think that that is possible.  " title=" Q    I thought that had sort of faded.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273412" rowid="136530858" side="usa" srcid="273412" text=" MR. CONNAUGHTON:  No, in terms of leadership, that in the past have focused exclusively on the relatively small number of large developed countries.  We have already seen from a number of the major emerging economies -- Mexico being the most notable -- that their leader has already made clear that he intends for Mexico to be part of the leadership agenda.  And so that concept has been a topic of discussion among us, and so let's see how that comes out on Wednesday.  &lt;p /&gt; But that -- one of the issues is that -- I want to be clear: There's leadership and then there's relative levels of effort, and both are important concepts.  The growth trajectory of countries like China and India is clearly different from Europe or Canada.  And so as we talk about the setting of realistic goals into the future, we have to understand the different starting points of different countries.  &lt;p /&gt; But we do that in international treaties all the time.	This is not a new idea; this is -- we did it in the Montreal Protocol.  I can give you any of a number of other examples.	However, in each of these examples, the main contributors to the issue in question have all played meaningful roles in addressing their own -- their relative contributions.	So we hope to make political progress on that point.  " title=" Q    I thought that the administration was looking for all of the major economies to join in that k" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-27#entryid_267604" rowid="136530078" side="usa" srcid="267604" text=" MS. PERINO:  I said we believe that that stimulus is going to have the desired effect to bounce us out of the slowdown that we were in, and that as the stimulus checks went out, starting the first of May -- late April, first of May -- there was also another component of the economic stimulus package, and that was for businesses to be able to take advantage of some tax breaks so that they could buy equipment and to accelerate the depreciation, as it makes a big difference for a company like the one we're going to visit today, because that means that they can invest, expand, and usually when they're investing and expanding, they're creating more jobs.  &lt;p /&gt; So the President will highlight that portion of it today for a couple of reasons:  one, to make sure that businesses across the country know that this opportunity is available to them; and two, to highlight how many businesses have taken advantage of it already.	That's in addition to the individuals who have gotten stimulus rebate checks.  I'll have you check with the Treasury Department -- or the President might have them later -- in terms of how many individuals have now received their checks.  As you know, that was going to be a multi-month rollout.  But I believe it's pretty high, the number of people who have already gotten it.  " title=" Q    I thought you said something about the stimulus taking effect.  I swore --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315266" rowid="136533636" side="usa" srcid="315266" text=" MS. PERINO:  Jon, it is every issue.  Every issue is going to need -- as I said to Tom, every agency is responsible for making sure that they are able to brief the Obama teams that come in, so take the issue -- I mean, they could be anything from the biggest issue at the Department to the smallest issue.	So, it's everything.  &lt;p /&gt; Paula.  " title=" Q    I thought you were talking about just a small list, but I realize you're talking about somethi" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300576" rowid="136531647" side="usa" srcid="300576" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know what that question means.  Yes, I absolutely think that the people are capable and responsible enough to self-govern.  &lt;p /&gt; Ann.  " title=" Q    I understand that there's democracy and that they're prosperous, although their democracy is r" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278854" rowid="136531022" side="usa" srcid="278854" text=" Q    I understand that, but the issue is the fact that they've done -- this is a very extraordinary step that they have taken and, even so, this White House has talked about the fact that Sudan needs to follow through with the resolutions at the U.N. and they have not.  So is this action -- does this action actually fit the case, fit the cause?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  In terms of what the President is doing, I think as I told you, we are focused on how do we get the peacekeepers into the area; how do we get the peace agreement, the CPA, to take hold.  And one of the ways that we can do that is to try the help broker a revenue-sharing agreement.  That's one of the ways that we'll be able to see the goals of the CPA realized.  &lt;p /&gt; And we do believe that the government of Sudan needs to live up to its obligations.  That's one of the reasons we have United Nations Security Council resolutions.  We take them very seriously and we would expect others to, as well.  &lt;p /&gt; But we want the entire international community who cares about Sudan and who cares about the civilians, especially the ones who have been displaced in Darfur, to be protected.  And that's why the other thing that the President focused on in this meeting today with Ambassador Williamson was the peacekeepers and how do we get them there.	And I heard a very interesting statistic that in -- not in Darfur, I don't know the statistic in Darfur -- but in the south of the country, there's only three kilometers of roads.  And so getting people around and getting this country moving again, after the longest civil war -- I think in history -- is something that the President is very concerned about.  And that's why he met with Ambassador Williamson today and is sending him back to the region to try to work on it some more.  " title=" Q    I understand that, but the issue is the fact that they've done -- this is a very extraordinary" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273444" rowid="136530884" side="usa" srcid="273444" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, there are some people that really -- that think that is possible, but then you think, well, what is the makeup of it; you have the MDC party, the Tsvangirai Party and the Mugabe party in some way figure out a way to share power without Mugabe -- is that a possible situation, because the legitimate -- the government not being legitimate right now?  A lot of those things are still being worked out.  I think some people still think it might be possible to do a power sharing arrangement, and I just think that it's a little premature to say.  " title=" Q    I understood that that was --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-04#entryid_303455" rowid="136532130" side="usa" srcid="303455" text=" Q    I want to ask about Pakistan.  Obviously, the Pakistani government is complaining about the U.S. military effort there, and it's a pretty big departure from our past practice.  Can you talk about what the communications have been like between the two governments?  And also, can you talk about whether you all have concluded whether this was worth it?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, one, in regards to the reports about that incident, we have not commented and I won't today.  But what I will reiterate is that we've been working closely with the new civilian government of Pakistan that is feeling its way and working to establish itself.  It obviously had a very big scare yesterday with an attack on the Prime Minister's motorcade.  And thankfully, that attack was not successful.  &lt;p /&gt; We have a lot of cooperation that's ongoing with them, and a lot of need to increase communication.  And one of the things you saw just about three weeks ago was a meeting off the coast with Admiral Mullen and other generals, with their generals, so that we can work on jointly tackling the problems that we have in Pakistan.  " title=" Q    I want to ask about Pakistan.  Obviously, the Pakistani government is complaining about the U." />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-20#entryid_266867" rowid="136529926" side="usa" srcid="266867" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q    I want to ask you about the denial of the Jerusalem Post story --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280160" rowid="136531222" side="usa" srcid="280160" text=" MS. PERINO:  You have to look back to what Maliki has said in terms of conditions on the ground.  There is a big difference between a date that's chosen arbitrarily and not based on conditions and that is not flexible, and something that is not.  And I would encourage you to go back and look at those.  And President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki have very good relations, as does General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker with the Iraqi government and the Iraqi generals.  We've been working on this agreement; we're going to get there.  It will be something that we finalize, and we're not going to let this trip be a distraction.  " title=" Q    I want to ask you how it is that he's not doing so, given that he's basically suggesting to th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-18#entryid_305338" rowid="136532471" side="usa" srcid="305338" text=" Q    I want to back up just a little bit.  Can you say, is the administration or, specifically, I guess, Treasury, most likely -- are they working on a plan for Congress, or any kind of plan for Congress, to provoke them to deal with the long-term financial crisis?  I mean, create legislation --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think I'd have to refer you to them in terms of the specifics that they're looking at.  Obviously they're dealing with the day-to-day issues at the moment.  But I would point you back to what I was talking about earlier, which is that we've had several pieces of regulatory reform that we've presented to Congress that we would like to have them work on, because most of what -- most of the regulations that we have today were set up in the 1930s.  We need a more modern regulatory scheme for the 21st century and that's what Secretary Paulson had laid out in his blueprint, and what we eventually got, once we got into a crisis situation on the housing front -- reforms that we've been asking for for years.  " title=" Q    I want to back up just a little bit.  Can you say, is the administration or, specifically, I g" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304047" rowid="136532202" side="usa" srcid="304047" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    I want to go back to Iraq for a second.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-31#entryid_314017" rowid="136533571" side="usa" srcid="314017" text=" Q    I want to talk about election night, if you guys have any more sense of the President's plans for what he'll do that night.	And also, Dana talked the other day about how the fact that he's not been out there raising money or doing rallies was really sort of a conscious decision to stay focused on the economic crisis.  So I'm just wondering if you can quantify that somehow by saying if he had this flood of requests, how many requests that he's turned down --  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  We have always been in a situation where we've had more requests than we can fill for -- especially for fundraising.  " title=" Q    I want to talk about election night, if you guys have any more sense of the President's plans " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-23#entryid_267482" rowid="136530065" side="usa" srcid="267482" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think we'll see -- I think we'll see, in terms of a pace.  President Bush is fully committed, 100 percent committed, to making sure that John McCain is elected to be the next President of the United States of America.  So he'll do what he can, when he can, in addition to being -- fulfilling all of his duties as Commander-in-Chief and President of the country.  &lt;p /&gt; The reason that they're closed is that the McCain campaign has a practice of having their fundraisers as closed press; and these are in private residences, which is where we have had closed press fundraisers, as well.  But I expect that you'll see campaign activity pick up over the course of the next several months.  But remember this election is -- the President is not on the ticket.  John McCain is on the ticket and we'll see who is going to be on the ticket for the Democrats.	And McCain is going to have to tell his story and get out and tell the world why he should be President of the United States.	He'll have to contrast his positions with that of whoever the candidate is going to be on the other side of things, and the President will be there helping to do that.  " title=" Q    I wanted to ask about McCain -- three fundraisers next week.  First of all, why are they close" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-24#entryid_280527" rowid="136531286" side="usa" srcid="280527" text=" Q    I wanted to ask about the housing bill.  You all obviously decided to support it.  I'm curious, though, what the White House estimates are of how much this will help, especially given the magnitude of the problem.  We're talking about possibly getting new mortgages -- new, more attractive mortgages for about 400,000 people when some estimates put the number of foreclosures coming at about 6 million.  How has the White House calculated that this will help?  Is it because it would have a broader domino effect, or is 400,000 enough people to get help to?  What's the calculation there?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  There's several different aspects of the bill.  You've mentioned a couple of them, but one of the things that we thought was most important, and the reason that the President decided that it was too important to have a prolonged veto fight -- that we were sure we would win and we proved that we would win yesterday -- is because Secretary Paulson has said that we need to have the GSE reform for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in order for us to be able to help stabilize the markets and provide confidence to the markets, which would not only help homeowners, but would help the overall economy.  So that was the largest part of the bill.  &lt;p /&gt; Certainly, there are going to be some people that we are not going to be able to help that are going to have foreclosures.  But we have been able, through HOPE NOW and through FHA Secure, two programs where we worked with the private sector and with HUD, to try to make sure that people could rework their loans.  That will help, and this bill will provide some more help.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the things that we did not like about that $4 billion that the Democrats wanted to include in the bill is that it's an incentive for lenders to foreclose.  Without that money -- if they think -- if the lenders think that they're going to get bailed out by the federal government, they're more incentivized then to foreclose on a property.  What we would prefer is to not have that type of a bailout and to have the lenders be incentivized to try to work with the current homeowner to rework the loan in a way that the lender -- or that the homeowner can pay.  So that -- those are the broad parameters of the bill.  &lt;p /&gt; Kathleen.  " title=" Q    I wanted to ask about the housing bill.  You all obviously decided to support it.  I'm curious" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318558" rowid="136534168" side="usa" srcid="318558" text=" MR. FRATTO:  We would never foreshadow any specific actions involving private firms.	But I think it's safe to say that it's a very strong message from the President and from -- the joint statement from Treasury, the Fed, and the FDIC last night, that we take threats to our financial system seriously and we stand ready to take any steps necessary to prevent systemic events in our economy.  And that was one that they announced last night; I think it's been told in the letter you're reporting overnight and this morning that a lot of work went into this over the weekend, people working into the late hours.  I think they did a background briefing at midnight.  I don't know if that's unprecedented, but I know they're trying to be as clear as possible with what they're doing to try to deal with potential systemic events in the economy.  " title=" Q    I wanted to ask you about one thing he said, that there could be other actions like the Citigr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-22#entryid_301579" rowid="136531842" side="usa" srcid="301579" text=" Q    I wanted to ask you about the draft regulation issued on abortion, reproductive policy yesterday.	The language seems somewhat vague.  The advocates are saying that this not includes only doctors and nurses but all healthcare workers, including pharmacists, and that in some cases it would mean that women who had been raped after a sexual assault would be denied emergency contraceptives.  Is this true?  And why so broad?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  This proposed regulation is about the legal rights of a healthcare professional or a medical institution to practice according to their conscience.  Doctors and other healthcare providers, including institutions, should not be forced to choose between being in good professional standing and violating their own personal beliefs.  &lt;p /&gt; Right now this is in a public comment period, and -- that the Department of Health and Human Services is running.  Secretary Leavitt addressed this issue at great length yesterday, and I would refer you to HHS for any additional comments on that.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay, Jeremy.  " title=" Q    I wanted to ask you about the draft regulation issued on abortion, reproductive policy yesterd" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307868" rowid="136532888" side="usa" srcid="307868" text=" MR. FRATTO:  No, I think what I said is that over -- from the day before yesterday until this morning he will have called about three dozen members.  " title=" Q    I wanted to follow up on a question about what the President is doing.	You said yesterday that" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-09#entryid_325896" rowid="136534946" side="usa" srcid="325896" text=" Q    I wanted to go back to TARP again, if you don't mind.  Later today the Congressional Oversight Panel is releasing its report in which it gives a pretty damning assessment of the oversight involved in the TARP funds, saying, &quot;The panel still doesn't know what the banks are doing with the taxpayer money.&quot;  And they go on to say that there's no indication that there's been a direct effort by Treasury to address the foreclosure crisis.  Wondering if the administration has any thoughts on this report, and if those are some concerns that the President has, as well, and whether or not the President is recommending that there be stricter metrics and oversight on that second disbursement of TARP funds.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; MR. STANZEL:  Second $350 billion, yes.  The Treasury Department has been balancing the urgent need to act quickly while also adhering to the most rigorous oversight ever imposed.  They take that very seriously. They're cooperating with the GAO, the special IG, Congressional Oversight Panel, congressional committees, congressional members.  They make all of the reporting requirements and they're available at treasury.gov.  And they've met all of those reporting requirements.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p /&gt; Now, the Treasury has been using the TARP funds in the best way possible to stabilize the financial situation.  The program is working. Obviously we would like to see results faster.	Banks are beginning to strengthen their balance sheets and they are beginning lending again, even in a very difficult economy.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p /&gt; Once confidence returns, however, is when more lending can go forward. So we're not there yet, but I think that the Treasury Department has acted swiftly to try to get this money out the door to try to stabilize the financial system, and at the same time deal with the reporting requirements and the oversight requirements.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p /&gt; So what Congress does in the future is up to them, but I think that the Treasury Department has worked very diligently to adhere to those reporting requirements.  &lt;/p&gt;" title=" Q    I wanted to go back to TARP again, if you don't mind.  Later today the Congressional Oversight" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_325024" rowid="136534893" side="usa" srcid="325024" text=" MS. PERINO:  Okay.  " title=" Q    I wanted to look ahead to tomorrow -- the lunch with all the --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321122" rowid="136534432" side="usa" srcid="321122" text=" Q    I was going to ask Joel, but is there anything to bar the car makers from getting more money if they do show the execution of a long-term viability plan at the end of this period and they're going forward -- I mean, can they get more money?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think that the -- yes, long-term financing would depend on proof of long-term viability.  I don't know all the details of it, but I know that part of it.  " title=" Q    I was going to ask Joel, but is there anything to bar the car makers from getting more money i" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321134" rowid="136534444" side="usa" srcid="321134" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  Really?  Well, that's funny because I was going to dodge it when she asked it.  (Laughter.)  &lt;p /&gt; Look, we're -- as I said to Ann, we're focused on getting the legislation passed.  Obviously Paul Volcker is a person of tremendous stature and gravitas.  But I have no reason to believe that there's been any decisions about who the person would be, if it would be a person from the outside.  We're going to -- we're just going to reserve all flexibility on that until we actually get the legislation, until we have a chance to consult with the members of Congress and with the President-elect's team.  " title=" Q    I was going to ask the same thing.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278865" rowid="136531033" side="usa" srcid="278865" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  I know it's going to be a tough fight and it will be very close, but I don't know where we are in terms of the final yet.  " title=" Q    I was going to ask you, have you taken a count, do you know if you have the votes to sustain? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273453" rowid="136530893" side="usa" srcid="273453" text=" MR. PRICE:  I think all of the leaders recognized that we're facing a very tragic situation in Zimbabwe.  And I think there was also broad recognition that any way forward must reflect the will of the people of Zimbabwe who voted for change in the March election and a solution that brings peace to that troubled country.  " title=" Q    I was going to change the subject to Zimbabwe.  Can you help us understand what exactly the di" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-01#entryid_319630" rowid="136534233" side="usa" srcid="319630" text=" MS. PERINO:  I just think that they've pulled back from that type of rhetoric, and I think the most important thing we can do right now is to try to foster dialogue.  Now, it's not to say that we're not in a very serious situation, and in some ways that whole region is like a forest that hasn't had rain in many months and one spark could cause a big, roaring fire.  That's what we're trying to avoid.  " title=" Q    I was going to say, their minister said that on --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-06#entryid_315263" rowid="136533633" side="usa" srcid="315263" text=" MS. PERINO:  Sure.  We have gotten back to the Iraqis with a final text.  Through this step we've concluded the process on our side, and now it is in their court to move forward with their process.  " title=" Q    I was just going to ask the very latest on the SOFA negotiations -- the U.S. has, in fact, res" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280855" rowid="136531317" side="usa" srcid="280855" text=" DIRECTOR NUSSLE:  Well we patch the AMT, as you probably know, for the budget that we're currently trying to enact for 2009.  The President believes that we should not patch the deficit -- or patch the AMT -- that rather we should enact AMT reform as part of a comprehensive tax reform.  So while he has patched it in years past, made the determination that it should not be patched going forward, and that it should be part of a tax reform debate and, in fact, may be the, I guess you could say the energy that spurs the tax reform debate, and should, because it's a tax that needs to be reformed.  And the President has a longstanding policy to do that.  So that's how the President addresses it within this budget.  " title=" Q    I was wondering if you could address how you are accounting for the AMT in the out-years, 2010" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-22#entryid_271462" rowid="136530561" side="usa" srcid="271462" text=" MR. CONNAUGHTON:  The details of our work are actually being submitted to leaders for their consideration individually.  And then they will come together to discuss those details, and then jointly communicate on that.  So at this time, we -- I'm not in a position to discuss that, as I need to discuss it with the President first.  " title=" Q    I was wondering if you reached a basic agreement on a long-term reduction goal of 50 percent b" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-15#entryid_300864" rowid="136531748" side="usa" srcid="300864" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  We've had high-level contact with the leaders of Russia.  Secretary Rice has spoken to her counterparts.	Obviously Secretary Rice is overseas now, just having been in France to meet President Sarkozy, and now in Tbilisi, Georgia.  So the effort involves working with the rest of the international community to have an agreement between the Russians and the Georgians.  And so there will be an appropriate time to have additional high-level contacts with the Russians.  &lt;p /&gt; But the Russians know our position.  I mean, the President spoke to both Prime Minister Putin and President Medvedev a few days ago and has repeatedly made our -- the United States' position clear.  So there's no doubt about where we stand, and no doubt whether they know where we stand or not.  " title=" Q    I wonder if the President made any more recent calls to the leaders of Russia.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-23#entryid_323889" rowid="136534654" side="usa" srcid="323889" text=" Q    I would like to ask about possible support of Europeans for closing down Guantanamo.  There was a story in today's Washington Post, and there's an awful lot of debate in my country.  Has your administration asked Germany to take detainees from Guantanamo and be -- in the case of relatively innocent or harmless people -- like the Bosnia Algerians, which have now been released -- if they can be released to European countries, couldn't they also be released to the United States?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  You know, I'm not going to speak to our specific conversations with certain countries.  I think I'll just make a general statement on this.  We've been -- we have had communications with countries all across the world -- allies and countries from regions where a lot of the detainees come from -- to try to resettle them and to ensure that they are treated humanely and safely.  &lt;p /&gt; The President has said a number of times that it's our intention to close Guantanamo.  I think what many people are realizing -- as they take a closer look at it and look at the efforts to try to resettle detainees, to try to deal with and bring to justice the high-value detainees, the very dangerous, most dangerous terrorist suspects that we're holding at Guantanamo -- that it's complicated.  There are legal concerns, there are cross-border concerns in any of the countries that may consider taking detainees.  They have their own legal systems that need to be considered.  And we have to consider the expected safety and treatment of any of the detainees that we release from our custody.  &lt;p /&gt; So it has taken a lot longer than any of us would have wanted to try to deal with them.  We continue to move forward with the military commissions for a number of high-value detainees, and that's the way that we're going to continue to deal with it.  If there are countries out there that are willing to take them and they meet those standards, in terms of the treatment of detainees, we certainly want to talk to them and we have been talking to a lot of them.  " title=" Q    I would like to ask about possible support of Europeans for closing down Guantanamo.  There wa" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-22#entryid_323777" rowid="136534628" side="usa" srcid="323777" text=" Q    I would like to ask about the mood of the President and his wife, and also among the staff.  This is the period of so many &quot;last times&quot; -- last Christmas break of the administration, last visit to Camp David.  It's a transition not only to the next presidency, but to history of this administration.  So how is the mood?  And especially, when do they actually prepare the moving out?  I remember when I moved to the States it was weeks of preparation.  When do they -- (laughter) -- designate a time to think, this goes to the ranch, this goes to the new house?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  I honestly don't -- I would direct you to the First Lady's -- the First Lady's Press Secretary might be able to give you a little bit more on the tick-tock of moving out of the White House and back to civilian life.  &lt;p /&gt; Look, I've seen the President through his mood in the interviews he's done.  I think what you've seen in those interviews reflects his mood right now.  And he's thinking about the past.  He's still very much in the present also, in terms of still dealing with some very real and urgent concerns.  I don't think anyone expected us -- that any administration, and this administration, would be this busy as we've been this late into the administration.  But we are, and the President is still very much occupied with those issues.  &lt;p /&gt; But it is an opportunity to look back and think about what we've accomplished.  And of course, everyone asks the questions of how you look back on the past eight years, and so that gives them an opportunity to respond to those questions.  " title=" Q    I would like to ask about the mood of the President and his wife, and also among the staff.  T" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-21#entryid_279936" rowid="136531164" side="usa" srcid="279936" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that -- yes, the mandate in regards to the renewable fuels portfolio standard, we do think it's important because we need to get our country on a path to transition away from traditional oil and gas use.  One of the ways to do that is through ethanol.  But we know that corn-based ethanol comes with some issues, so to speak, and one of those is environmental, the other one is in regards to food.  So all of these things are being taken into consideration.  &lt;p /&gt; But I do think that if you look at the percentage of how much that ethanol is affecting corn prices or food prices, it's relatively small. And so all these factors have to be taken into account if you're going to make another change.  But I think that the law that was passed in December of 2007 is a good one, and gets us on a path to replace, I think it's 35 billion of traditional oil and gas with ethanol -- or other alternatives or renewables.  " title=" Q    I would think that the President, since he really pushed this mandate -- he signed it into law" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-23#entryid_305979" rowid="136532581" side="usa" srcid="305979" text=" Q    I'd just like to ask you to follow up on one of the earlier answers that you gave.	You indicated broad support for the idea of oversight and transparency.  Do you have firm opposition to the idea of any curbs of executive pay, on executive pay of companies that are helped under this plan?  And why is it important that it's this week that the legislation get passed?  After all, Congress is likely to go on sitting next week, as well.  Why is it so important that it should be this week?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  Well, I mean, in terms of this week, it shouldn't take much of analysis to remember what happened last week, which was a very serious freeze-up in our credit markets.  So this is a present concern and it's something that needs to be dealt with urgently and quickly.  As I said earlier, what our -- our financial markets right now do not need uncertainty; they need increased certainty as to how this rescue plan is going to go forward and that they can be sure that there is a plan to go forward and that will begin the correction in our financial markets.  So we do need to get it done quickly and urgently and would oppose efforts to delay it.  &lt;p /&gt; With respect to executive pay, again, I'm not going to get into specific, point-by-point details on what our views are on that, other than the Secretary of Treasury said it would make more difficult to make this plan work and effective if you provide disincentives for companies and firms out there who are holding mortgage-backed securities and other securities from participating in the program.  You have to remember, these are not all weak or troubled firms that own mortgage-backed securities.  A lot of them are very successful banks and investment houses that have done very well, have been responsible, are holding performing assets that have value.  They were not necessarily irresponsible players, and so you have to be careful about how you deal with them.  " title=" Q    I'd just like to ask you to follow up on one of the earlier answers that you gave.	You indicat" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323439" rowid="136534617" side="usa" srcid="323439" text=" Q    I'd like to ask two questions, one kind of a follow-up on that question.  In net present value terms, do you have any idea how deep the hole is for these companies?  And the other question is, there's the talk about also finding some aid to their financing arms.  &lt;p&gt; MR. KAPLAN:  You know, Treasury has spent a lot of time in the books over the last week or so making sure they understood the financial condition of the companies.	So in terms of the precise -- their precise status, what their current net present value is, I'm not in a position to say.  I suspect the folks at Treasury would be in a position to say.  But it's clear that they do not have a positive net present value now.  That's why they're headed, they were headed -- some of them -- for failure if the government didn't step in.  And that's the case they've been making on Capitol Hill and to the administration for some weeks now.  We do not have any reason to believe that that was not accurate.  &lt;p /&gt; So precise numbers, I'll have to refer you to Treasury.  But bottom line is, they're not viable now.  In their current business model with their current set of contracts, they need to become viable, and as with the previous answer, that's going to require some very difficult choices we think they're going to have to make.  " title=" Q    I'd like to ask two questions, one kind of a follow-up on that question.  In net present value" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-07#entryid_315662" rowid="136533723" side="usa" srcid="315662" text=" MR. FRATTO:  -- and unusual for this august crowd.  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    I'll do it later.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270976" rowid="136530480" side="usa" srcid="270976" text=" MR. FRATTO:  The Energy Information Agency over at the Department of Energy, and Department of Energy can give you every data point they have available.  They'll be more than happy to do it.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Victoria.  " title=" Q    I'll press for documentation from Pelosi's office as far as her claim on the 80 percent, but d" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-10#entryid_274089" rowid="136530999" side="usa" srcid="274089" text=" MR. FRATTO:  No, I understand, Terry, and all I'm saying is that I can't -- it's nothing that I can confirm right now, and maybe that's something that can happen later.  But on the subject of testing missiles, you know, the -- nothing changes with respect to the way the Iraqi government is putting the Iraqi people in a very isolated position -- I'm sorry, the Iranian people in an isolated position because of these tests in defiance of the international community.  &lt;p /&gt; This -- these are -- these tests are in violation of -- or the expanded use of ballistic missiles are in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.  We are dealing with the threats in Iran in a very direct way through the P5-plus-1 process.	We have -- Mr. Solana will be in Iran next week to continue these discussions.  We want to see them stop enriching uranium, and we'd like to see them stop these provocative tests that only further isolate the Iranian people.  " title=" Q    I'm asking -- the United States watches what happens around the world, particularly in a place" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-20#entryid_301294" rowid="136531815" side="usa" srcid="301294" text=" MR. CONWAY:  Ma'am, to be quite honest with you, it's hard for me to estimate that as a federal official, because so much of this depends on how local government and state government and the feds work.  " title=" Q    I'm asking overall.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279336" rowid="136531090" side="usa" srcid="279336" text=" MS. PERINO:  Any more on Iran?	Okay.  " title=" Q    I'm going to change the subject whenever we're ready.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-19#entryid_305517" rowid="136532519" side="usa" srcid="305517" text=" MR. HENNESSEY:	Well, I think you need to do -- I think what you need to do is you need to restore confidence and strengthen stability in the financial system.  So I think -- I wouldn't be talking about institutions, I would be saying the importance here is the financial system, because the financial system is what allows you to withdraw funds from your money market mutual fund, what allows you to have the confidence that your 401(k) is going to be there or that your kid is going to be able to get a student loan while he's in college.  So the system is what allows individuals to do the things that they need to do.  &lt;p /&gt; As for discussions about individual homeowners, I expect --we've had ongoing discussions with Capitol Hill all year.  The focus right now here is on restoring confidence to the financial system so that the individuals who benefit from it, which is everyone in this room and everyone watching, can get those benefits and so that they can keep moving forward.  " title=" Q    I'm hearing protection for institutions -- to protect the system overall.  Democrats are talki" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303875" rowid="136532168" side="usa" srcid="303875" text=" MS. PERINO:  April wins.  April.  " title=" Q    I'm impatient, too.  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-28#entryid_313006" rowid="136533426" side="usa" srcid="313006" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that's one of the things that the regulators have to look at.  And so they have people within the Troubled Asset Relief Program within the past three and a half weeks who are trying to move as quickly as possible and efficiently as possible, but also methodically, so that we protect the taxpayers when we're moving forward to try to implement what is a really big program.  But it's a big program to address a really big problem.  &lt;p /&gt; No doubt that the automakers are big, important companies -- important to a lot of families, and important to a lot of regions in this country.  But they also are dealing with some decisions that they've made in the past.  And we are in a global environment and they're competing globally.  &lt;p /&gt; But as the President has said, we have -- some of the best engineering minds in the world live right here in the United States.  And we are capable of competing at a level where these companies can succeed; they might just need a little bit of help.  And that's what Congress asked us to help provide them through the Energy Department program, and now possibly also through the TARP.  " title=" Q    I'm just asking where the line -- where does it stop?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-28#entryid_267827" rowid="136530108" side="usa" srcid="267827" text=" Q    I'm just kind of curious, in terms of the general -- you've kind of portrayed this as a sad situation that you're -- you don't quite understand this.  But do you think this is causing any scrutiny on the White House as part of its own handling of the pre-war intelligence?  I mean, is it causing any --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think that horse has been beaten enough.  And --  " title=" Q    I'm just kind of curious, in terms of the general -- you've kind of portrayed this as a sad si" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-31 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-31#entryid_314012" rowid="136533566" side="usa" srcid="314012" text=" Q    I'm just quoting the headline from the Post.  When you talk about the goals and philosophy, what are the goals and the philosophy of what's being done right now, whether you're modifying existing regulations, proposing news ones, or trying to overturn?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  I don't think you can do -- I don't think there's sort of a broad philosophy that I could say on lots of these.  I think we do believe that -- if you want to know what our general philosophy is on regulation it's that you should have the lightest touch to be effective, and effective in meeting the statutory goals that require the regulation.  &lt;p /&gt; So the legislation gets passed by Congress, the statute -- after it's signed by the President it becomes statute, and regulation has to be written to meet the spirit of the legislation passed by Congress.  You don't want to do more than what Congress required because Congress had a specific intent that would have been debated and certainly considered by the administration and both sides of the aisle, and then the administration's job is to execute that statute and put it into place.	You don't want to do more; you want to do the lightest touch that meets the law and the spirit of the regulation.  &lt;p /&gt; So that's a broad philosophy for all of the regulations that we're looking at right now.  I couldn't tell you -- pick out one or two that way.  " title=" Q    I'm just quoting the headline from the Post.  When you talk about the goals and philosophy, wh" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317296" rowid="136533949" side="usa" srcid="317296" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  I didn't read The New York Times editorial this weekend, so I don't know.  " title=" Q    I'm just saying that --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-23#entryid_305970" rowid="136532574" side="usa" srcid="305970" text=" Q    I'm just trying to reconcile two points here.  On the one hand, you said that there are a lot of members who rightly have questions and acknowledge that this is obviously a huge package, but on the other hand, you've emphasized several times that it's critical that it be done quickly this week and that it be done clean.  You know, for lawmakers who are -- I guess I'm asking, isn't there something to be said for being careful beyond the urgency and the haste?  Is there a concern here that maybe the administration is being heavy-handed?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  No, well, look, I think I would reconcile it this way: This is -- this was not a program that was conceived of or put together hastily.  There was an enormous amount of analysis and debate and discussion before we came forward with this program.  I think we have anticipated a lot of the questions that members of Congress would naturally have about taking this step, but we have had -- some of the policy staff have had months to think about what a program like this would be like and how it would work.  Others have had at least weeks to think about it.  Members of Congress have had days to think about it. And it's very, very complex and takes time to think through all of the implications of it and why some alternative ideas might not work as well as this one.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think that's really the issue here.  We have thought through a lot of the concerns that some members have in advance, and I think we can address them on a member-to-member basis, on a committee-to-committee basis.  I think Secretary Paulson and Chairman Bernanke will be able to help in that effort today.  I think when people see their extensive discussion of the details and the implications and the consequences, I think more people will understand why this is the appropriate way to address this problem.  " title=" Q    I'm just trying to reconcile two points here.  On the one hand, you said that there are a lot " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304067" rowid="136532222" side="usa" srcid="304067" text=" MS. PERINO:  Keith, we don't have to send signals to the Hill, we've told them directly what we think.  We think that there are -- in fact, the President just said it not in last week -- this week's radio address, but the previous week's -- welcoming them back to town and saying there are some important areas that you could work on in the next three weeks that would be very good for the economy; if you're serious about dealing with the economy, work on the energy bills that are in front of you, work on the trade bills that are in front of you, and move forward to make sure that we do something on taxes.  &lt;p /&gt; All of those issues are in front of the Congress.  Legislation is written, it has gone through committees, and all it needs is some votes up on the Hill.  So they have three weeks to do that and that would be a great way to move forward and show that you really care about the economy.  " title=" Q    I'm just trying to understand what signal you're sending to the Hill.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-19#entryid_301164" rowid="136531778" side="usa" srcid="301164" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  No, I think -- Deb, on Pakistan?  " title=" Q    I'm moving on to the economy for just a second.  The wholesale inflation numbers are out today" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-15#entryid_300842" rowid="136531726" side="usa" srcid="300842" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  And I don't have anything for you on that.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay?  " title=" Q    I'm not asking you to weigh in on them.  I'm just trying to figure out where it is right now.	" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-15#entryid_316984" rowid="136533897" side="usa" srcid="316984" text=" SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Our priorities were certainly addressed.  So I would say, from our perspective, we certainly achieved our objectives for the summit.  And in fact, I think -- and I think this was a general feeling in the room, that we were able to go farther, both in terms of principles and in terms of actions, than anyone would have thought possible.  &lt;p /&gt; And this leads me to the second part of your question:	Why should one take comfort from what happened today?  Two reasons.  One, the appreciation by these leaders of the depth of economic problems, the seriousness of the crisis, and the urgent need to pull together to coordinate policies -- macro policies, micro policies, regulatory policies -- in an unprecedented way, was truly extraordinary.  So, one, take comfort because it's not a bunch of disconnected countries acting alone, only worried about what's going on in their country.  It was a recognition that we've got to look at things system-wide, we've got to look at these global financial systems horizontally.  So that was very, very important.  &lt;p /&gt; Two, the commitment to ensure that the developing countries are able to weather this crisis so that neither the financial market crisis, nor the general global economic slowdown spill over and are unaddressed in the most vulnerable, which in turn would feed back into other countries.  So that's the second aspect.  &lt;p /&gt; The third aspect is the -- again, not so much the content of the actions, because people don't follow valuation of securities and FASB and accounting standards so closely -- but how detailed and concrete and immersed in the detail these leaders were.  They weren't talking at this level and saying, oh, experts will deal with this.  This was a very detailed discussion by the leaders themselves about what needed to be done, both at the most specific level and also, stepping back, the affirmation of these core principles.  " title=" Q    I'm not minimizing what you've done.  I'm just saying, was there anything that --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270983" rowid="136530487" side="usa" srcid="270983" text=" MR. FRATTO:  And I think they are.  " title=" Q    I'm not quarreling with you on that, I'm just saying  --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-14#entryid_278879" rowid="136531047" side="usa" srcid="278879" text=" MS. PERINO:  I actually -- I totally agree with you.  Because we're saying that we should do more in terms of domestic production and exploration, and the answer we get back is we should release more oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.  We're already not filling it at the rate that the President wanted to, because of a law Congress passed earlier this year that we agreed to go along with.  It hasn't affected price.  So I think we're in agreement.  &lt;p /&gt; Ann.  " title=" Q    I'm not really arguing with you on that, I'm just saying that the two things don't match up.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-05#entryid_303596" rowid="136532150" side="usa" srcid="303596" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't recall in the last few times when President Bush has worked with, or has gotten recommendations from General Petraeus, that we have gone too far outside.  Of course we -- the President gets an update, as he did on Wednesday evening from Admiral Mullen and Secretary Gates.  &lt;p /&gt; They took Secretary -- I'm sorry -- General Petraeus' recommendation and ran that through the chain of command.	And then they presented it to the President.	He's obviously talking to his national security team, and we'll be consulting with members of Congress before we move forward.  " title=" Q    I'm not saying it's apples to apples, I'm just trying to understand the --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-17#entryid_310366" rowid="136533181" side="usa" srcid="310366" text=" MS. PERINO:  It could be.  I think that people will come forward with their ideas and their recommendations.  And look, we will have that meeting and it will be one with a full agenda.  They will address a lot of issues going forward.  &lt;p /&gt; But what we have been immediately concerned about is the situation at hand right now, and that's why the President met last week with the G7.  We have the G7 action plan that went into implementation over the weekend, with Europe being able to announce the capitalization of their banks.  We did the same after we were able to talk to our nine institutions.  So all of that work is being done right now, while at the same time we're trying to think long term.  But I think the most important thing we can do is make sure that we stop the bleeding here before we move onto the next project.  &lt;p /&gt; We will move onto it.  We will have a meeting.	It will be one that has a robust and full agenda.  But finding a date for that meeting and a location for that meeting really is not the top priority at the moment.  &lt;p /&gt; Mark.  " title=" Q    I'm not suggesting it tomorrow.  I'm saying that that should be a topic for whatever G8 summit" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-02#entryid_324414" rowid="136534787" side="usa" srcid="324414" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Okay, well, let's stick with this.  &lt;p /&gt; Jeremy.  " title=" Q    I'm off this subject, if you want to stick --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309521" rowid="136533093" side="usa" srcid="309521" text=" Q    I'm so sorry, I'm quite sure it was.  Two things.	You said -- answering Ann's question, you said there would be a quarterly dividend.  One thing that we've found in the last few months, nothing is guaranteed.  What is the guarantee and what are the contingency plans in case this does not happen as planned?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'll refer you to the Treasury Department.  As I understand it, there's a guaranteed 5 percent dividend for the first three years.  " title=" Q    I'm so sorry, I'm quite sure it was.  Two things.	You said -- answering Ann's question, you sa" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-28#entryid_267831" rowid="136530112" side="usa" srcid="267831" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think you can fairly characterize it is as surprised, as well as he thinks it's a sad situation and was disappointed, as I said just a moment ago.  " title=" Q    I'm sorry if you said this, but was the President surprised?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273733" rowid="136530930" side="usa" srcid="273733" text=" MS. PERINO:  We've talk -- we're working towards that, but as we don't have timetables for troop withdrawals, we don't have timetables for negotiations.  But we want to be able to try to work this out quickly.  &lt;p /&gt; And the main reason that we want this is because our troops are going to be there past the end of this year; that's a fact.  It's also a fact that the U.N. mandate that governs our troops there will also expire -- I'm sorry, will expire, and so we need a legal mechanism to make sure that our troops have -- understand the rules of engagement and -- but we also lay out with the Iraqis the way forward.  And we can talk about some time frames with them in terms of turning over the security control to a province such as Anbar, which a year ago I don't think anybody in this room would have thought possible, but because of their incredible gains they've been able to do that.  And so they want to move forward.	We want to help them, but we want to do so in a way that we make sure it's sustainable.  &lt;p /&gt; You had one more for Jim.  " title=" Q    I'm sorry, can I -- if I can remember what it was -- (laughter) -- oh, is the end of July stil" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-10#entryid_309005" rowid="136533080" side="usa" srcid="309005" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think so.	We'll do the statement, though.  Tony or I will be around on Monday -- well, maybe half a day on Monday we'll be available, as always.  &lt;p /&gt; On Tuesday, at 10:30 a.m. the President is going to sign S.3001, which was the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act -- it was the DOD authorization bill.  He will sign that on Tuesday morning.  And then he will participate in a briefing at the Department of Defense in the Tank; that will be closed press.  And then the President will participate in a photo op that afternoon with the Detroit Red Wings, and that will be in the East Room and open press.  &lt;p /&gt; So that's all that I have for you in terms of the week ahead.  " title=" Q    I'm sorry, do you plan to do a briefing on Monday?  It's Columbus Day.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308091" rowid="136532942" side="usa" srcid="308091" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Oh, it's about the Emergency Economic Stabilization Plan* of 2008.	That's what his remarks will focus on.  " title=" Q    I'm sorry, I just missed the very beginning where you said what the event was about.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-09#entryid_273748" rowid="136530945" side="usa" srcid="273748" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Okay.  " title=" Q    I'm sorry, I was just -- I'm good, I guess.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-16#entryid_310107" rowid="136533150" side="usa" srcid="310107" text=" MS. PERINO:  Right.  " title=" Q    I'm sorry, is that --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-01#entryid_302901" rowid="136532018" side="usa" srcid="302901" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  For the first hour they can handle an inch, and a half-inch an hour after that -- for the city pumps.  " title=" Q    I'm sorry, it was an inch an hour, the first hour?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-19#entryid_271272" rowid="136530532" side="usa" srcid="271272" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  As far as the cost of this disaster, we don't have a handle yet.  We're still working on that.  I mean, we're doing -- the water hasn't even gone down yet.  So as we finish up the individual assistance piece of it, which is for homeowners, and then we'll get into the public assistance piece, which is generally the largest chunk.  So I don't want to give you a ballpark figure now, but we have $4 billion in there now; that should be more than enough.  And the only concern was, would that be enough for now and hurricane season.  We decided we really need to put a cushion, so the President is going to put another $1.3 billion in there just to make sure we got enough to get through hurricane season.  " title=" Q    I'm sorry, just to be clear, is there a current estimate about how much this crisis is costing" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-05#entryid_303578" rowid="136532132" side="usa" srcid="303578" text=" Q    I'm sorry, one more question on those economic growth numbers or the job loss numbers -- you did point to productivity being higher, but isn't that a two-edged sword in that sometimes you accomplish higher productivity by needing less workers to do more work?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  You know what, Paula, as I said, when it comes to economics, what I can do is point you to the numbers, which is that productivity was at 3.4 percent, which was considered a good number by the economists that look at this from our perspective.	And we're going to continue to work with Congress.  What we'd like to see is everybody who wants to have a job in America should be able to have a job.  " title=" Q    I'm sorry, one more question on those economic growth numbers or the job loss numbers -- you d" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-27#entryid_312726" rowid="136533379" side="usa" srcid="312726" text=" MS. PERINO:  I would disagree with the -- with saying that they're stuck.  This is complicated.  If you go back and you look at the regulations and all that it spells out as to how it has to be written up, it takes a little bit of time for the experts at the Energy Department, along with their interagency brethren, to try to work it out and figure out what all the ramifications are going to be of it, how it was going to be set up, which ones would qualify.  &lt;p /&gt; If you look at it, it talks a lot about helping these companies move forward, so that they could adapt, so that they could deal with the new energy realities and consumer preferences that have been changing over the years.	Those things take a little bit of time.  And they were supposed to be -- those loans are specifically geared towards revamping those factories.  That's not necessarily going to help immediately with a capital problem.  So that was -- and that was never going to be the case.  So I would not say that they are stuck over there.  I can tell you from watching them that they are working very closely and are keeping us updated over here.  " title=" Q    I'm sorry.  On those loans, they seem to be stuck at DOE, and you alluded to that.  Is there a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-26#entryid_319113" rowid="136534191" side="usa" srcid="319113" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I was going to --  " title=" Q    I'm stepping away from asking you to give me a few more details about the turkey pardon.  (Lau" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-16#entryid_326714" rowid="136535073" side="usa" srcid="326714" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, that would have to be a really -- it is a tough sell.  You'll have to talk to Peter.  &lt;p /&gt; April.  " title=" Q    I'm sure some future Republican may call you, you know.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-09#entryid_325905" rowid="136534955" side="usa" srcid="325905" text=" Q    I'm sure we'll get to this, but I do have another question -- I do have another question on Gaza.	Today the head of the World Food Program said that 80 percent of the people in Gaza need urgent food assistance. Hundreds of people have died, many of them children.  The Red Cross and the U.N. have both come out and said, we can't get in there; we don't have enough time in these limited cease-fires to administer the kind of humanitarian aid that is critical.  At what point does this become, from the administration's perspective, a humanitarian crisis?  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; MR. STANZEL:  Well, it is a humanitarian crisis.  It's a war zone.  And war zones are very difficult.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p /&gt; The Israeli officials have indicated their concerns.  We have expressed our deep concerns about the situation with innocent lives being lost. But again, this is a problem, unfortunately, that was brought on by Hamas.	Hamas, on December 19th, refused to extend the cease-fire.  And they began lobbing more and more rockets into Israel.  And that is a situation that the Israeli government nor any government would stand for.  If you can imagine terrorists on boats in the Potomac lobbing rockets into Washington, D.C., I highly doubt that this government or any other government faced with that situation would stand for that.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p /&gt; So it is a difficult situation.  They are concerned about the humanitarian situation and they are working with aid agencies, as are we, in terms of providing our aid.  So it's a difficult situation, but one that we're constantly working on.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p /&gt; Mark.  &lt;/p&gt;" title=" Q    I'm sure we'll get to this, but I do have another question -- I do have another question on Ga" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-24#entryid_312347" rowid="136533358" side="usa" srcid="312347" text=" MS. PERINO:  John Snow, okay.  Was he testifying?  " title=" Q    I'm talking about John Snow.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-29#entryid_313247" rowid="136533445" side="usa" srcid="313247" text=" Q    I'm talking about President -- I'm talking about Franco-American relations.  Are they strained at all, with Sarkozy's criticism of the matter in Syria and of his kind of willingness to confront the U.S. on plans for the summit on the 15th?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  The President has a great relationship with President Sarkozy, and they have open, frank discussions about a range of issues.	The President is glad that he's been -- he was able to come to Camp David just two weeks ago.	So I wouldn't think that there's anything to see there.  " title=" Q    I'm talking about President -- I'm talking about Franco-American relations.  Are they strained" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321143" rowid="136534453" side="usa" srcid="321143" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  Well, I can't speak to exactly what the public perception is.  I can speak to the facts of what's happening, and that's been a critically important program to ensure that we didn't have the collapse of our financial sector.  A lot of hard work to do, and Secretary Paulson and Chairman Bernanke are at it every single day.  But I just didn't want to let that -- I know that wasn't the question, but I didn't want to let that premise go unchallenged.  &lt;p /&gt; Ed.  " title=" Q    I'm talking about public perception of the TARP, not whether it's working.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304071" rowid="136532226" side="usa" srcid="304071" text=" Q    I'm trying to interpret your words, which were that you didn't want something that would increase the deficit.  But a stimulus bill is not going to be very effective unless it actually does increase the deficit, because otherwise it doesn't pump money --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I don't think my words need interpretation because I said we're not necessarily considering a second stimulus package, but that we would listen to Congress on their ideas.  We put forward our ideas, which is a great way to stimulate the economy would be to move forward on the energy packages and on the three free trade agreements.  &lt;p /&gt; If you think about the growth of our economy right now, the majority of it is coming from exports, where our companies here in America are able to sell overseas.	All we're asking for is a level playing field with the countries of South Korea, Colombia and Panama.  " title=" Q    I'm trying to interpret your words, which were that you didn't want something that would incre" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268305" rowid="136530175" side="usa" srcid="268305" text=" MS. PERINO:  We've been out on the road; I've missed the podium greatly.  But as I said all along, that the President expressed disappointment and sadness at the situation, surprise by the charges that he has read about that are in the book.  &lt;p /&gt; And we've known for a while that this is what the tone of the book would be.  Of course last November we knew because of the excerpt that came out, and then more recently, as with all manuscripts, the White House Counsel's Office has an opportunity to look at manuscripts for any possible classified information or any means for executive privilege to be asserted.  None of them were in this case.  So we've known for a little bit of time that this was coming.  " title=" Q    I'm trying to make a living myself.  (Laughter.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307704" rowid="136532875" side="usa" srcid="307704" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Sure.  " title=" Q    I'm trying to understand this deposit insurance increase.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-23#entryid_305991" rowid="136532592" side="usa" srcid="305991" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Well, you want to have a light hand in dealing with some of these issues.  I mean, nobody -- not the President and no one believes that the first instinct should be to do a massive rescue plan involving hundreds of billions of dollars.  We do that as a last resort. If you're going to commit upwards of $700 billion of taxpayer money to a problem, you better be pretty sure that you absolutely need to do it. So that was nobody's initial instinct to go forward with this kind of plan.  &lt;p /&gt; We wanted to see if there were ways to contain this problem in the financial markets, and to deal with it very directly with the root causes with a lot of the housing programs that we initiated, shoring up Fannie May and Freddie Mac, which took far longer than we certainly hoped.	You've heard us talk about the fact that we've tried to shore up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for years now.  And I'll remind you, going back to August of 2007, the President personally came out where he announced a number of housing related reforms that we were proposing, called on Congress to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  It took nearly a year to get the housing bill that he called for and the reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac passed through Congress.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, we would have preferred that that happened a lot earlier, but that's what we were dealt with, and that's the way we were trying to deal with this issue.  But it was nobody's instinct that you would go in with a very large plan involving hundreds of billions of dollars as a first resort.  " title=" Q    I've a question about the comments yesterday that this was not the President's first instinct." />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-10#entryid_304204" rowid="136532249" side="usa" srcid="304204" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that maybe -- I think the President takes a lot of -- takes responsibility for it, but I don't know if he -- all the blame belongs at his feet.  I've been a spokesperson for the President for many years.	I have never once had to apologize on his behalf for any personal attacks or demeaning thing he has said about any one individual.  But yet, I get -- I see on a daily basis members of Congress from the Democrats who say very demeaning things about him, and it's not constructive at all.	And I think that is one of the -- that one of the biggest disappointments this President has in Washington and during his presidency is that he had a very constructive and good bipartisan relations in Texas and that was not translated up here in Washington.  And I think that Washington is among -- is about the most partisan I've ever seen it.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think the President is as gracious as ever and accepts a lot of that responsibility, but I don't know if the blame should rest with him.  " title=" Q    I've got a couple of questions on the Woodward book.  He says that the President acknowledged " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305177" rowid="136532432" side="usa" srcid="305177" text=" MS. PERINO:  What I said is that we have the strength to be able to deal with this crisis in our economy.  And I know that you're not asking the question in the forum of a 2008 campaign, but I know as soon as I say something you're going to turn it around and it will be a part of the 2008 campaign, and I'm not going to play the game.  " title=" Q    I've never heard someone not answer that question directly, from the podium here, that the fun" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-18#entryid_270995" rowid="136530499" side="usa" srcid="270995" text=" MR. FRATTO:  It might, but I'll tell you what -- what you have are knowns and unknowns, okay.  (Laughter.)  Do I want to go that way?  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    If $4-a-gallon gasoline is enough to make people rethink drilling on the Outer Continental She" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-15#entryid_270349" rowid="136530410" side="usa" srcid="270349" text=" Q    If I can ask about two reports out this morning.  One, The New York Times reporting that the A.Q. Khan network had on their computers a design for an advanced nuclear weapon.	Wondering what you can say about those reports and how much of a concern that is, if true.  And secondly, a report in The London Times saying that there's an all-out push to get bin Laden before the end of this administration.  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  Yes, there's been an all-out push to get bin Laden since about September 11, 2001.  And I will tell you that Mike Hayden comes into the Oval Office on Thursday every morning as part of the intel brief to update the President on operational things that the CIA is doing.	And every time, the President says, so how are we doing on number one and number two -- bin Laden and Zawahiri.  This has been a focus for the President and focus for the administration for years and will continue to be so.  &lt;p /&gt; I saw -- this is the David Sanger article?  " title=" Q    If I can ask about two reports out this morning.  One, The New York Times reporting that the A" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-19#entryid_317639" rowid="136534019" side="usa" srcid="317639" text=" MS. PERINO:  Members of Congress on the committees and those that have expressed an interest have been given briefings all along the way.  We've had a concerted effort to make sure that they knew the pace of the negotiations, the status of the negotiations; and the content of the document.  And we do have people up on the Hill today working to brief Congress more, and they'll also hear from the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense as well.  So I don't know exactly who else is getting the briefings and at what levels of classification they're getting them, but they have been briefed, and I'll just have to get back to you on specifics if I can.  " title=" Q    If I can follow up on that, Dana.	In the past, lawmakers have not been given a copy of that cl" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-20#entryid_305664" rowid="136532542" side="usa" srcid="305664" text=" Q    If I could ask also about two things that are in the news, both North Korea and Iran's nuclear programs have come up again this week, with North Korea making threats to either back or resume its things -- and the latest IAEA report on Iran -- how much is that going to come up next week?  How do you respond to these steps, which don't seem very encouraging?  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  Well, the -- those issues certainly will come out -- come up.  Taking the Iran one first, that is not reassuring that Iran is not cooperating with the IAEA; that is just -- unfortunately it only increases the suspicions that the international community has as to what are the purposes of Iran's nuclear activities.	If -- you know, if they were as benign as the Iranians say, then why is there such trouble getting a full accounting of what their activities are, as the IAEA has tried to do?  &lt;p /&gt; And I think it will underscore the need for increased action to put pressure on Iran to understand that they have a strategic choice to make:  They can continue with this program that is -- continues to be suspicious, if not increasingly suspicious, and they will be -- face increasing isolation; or they can make a shift, suspend their -- verifiably suspend their enrichment program, and come to negotiation and put this on the table and try and find a better way forward.  &lt;p /&gt; But it is troubling that Iran has not done so, and since they have not made that strategic choice and seem to be even less cooperative, I think you'll find a call over the weeks ahead for greater pressure on Iran.	You heard this last week, we've made some announcements of additional sanctions.	We talked I think yesterday about looking at a fourth U.N. Security Council resolution.  There will be some opportunities in the next weeks to consult about that and I think you will be seeing an effort by the entire international community to put more pressure on Iran.  &lt;p /&gt; On North Korea, it's hard to know whether their statements are -- reflect a change in policy or are simply the kind of negotiating that we've seen before.  They have a pattern, as you know, of negotiating and then trying to provoke, if you will, test, create divisions, see if the six parties are serious in sticking together and sticking by their deals.  &lt;p /&gt; And we've had a cycle from time to time, but when you go through that cycle and negotiate, they step out, they're obstructionists, they try to divide, and if we stand firm they come back into a negotiating cycle.  We don't know whether we're in one of those and this is sort of posturing and pressuring, or whether it's something more than that.  I don't think we know now; I don't think we will for a while.  &lt;p /&gt; The next step, though, is very clear.  They've given us a declaration, given us a declaration of which we have a lot of questions.  It was not the complete and correct declaration that we had hoped.  We have a lot of questions about them.  We've made clear that with the six we're prepared -- with the other five, with the five, we're prepared to go forward so long as there is a verification protocol that will allow us to answer the questions that are left open in their declaration -- a very reasonable thing to try to keep the process going forward.  &lt;p /&gt; We've made it very clear to North Korea that if they accept a verification protocol, we are prepared to go forward and take them off the terrorist list.  That's been the President's position for a couple months.  What they need to do is say yes -- to accept a verification protocol -- that is something we have worked with the other four or the five of the six-party talks -- accept that verification protocol and we can get back on track and start a process which over time will allow us to verify the declaration they've been made, and move on to the next phase in this process.  &lt;p /&gt; We very much want to do that, but it takes six; it doesn't take just five.  We, the five, are agreed on the next steps and what is required is for North Korea to accept that agenda going forward.  It's a reasonable agenda.  It keeps the process moving forward.  We hope they will accept it.  We'll see.  " title=" Q    If I could ask also about two things that are in the news, both North Korea and Iran's nuclear" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298493" rowid="136531392" side="usa" srcid="298493" text=" Q    If I could ask sort of two parts of the question.	First, you mentioned the Internet restrictions.  Have you complained -- &quot;you,&quot; the government, complained to the Chinese about this?  I gather they announced this officially today that they were going to limit access to sites.  And the second thing, could you talk a little bit more about the bilateral agenda, what meetings you will have, and talk about, aside from sports, particularly on the issue of North Korea, I'd like to know where things stand with that.  And I heard that the President may also meet with Prime Minister Putin from Russia.  Do you know about a meeting?  &lt;p&gt; MR. WILDER:  The President will not have bilateral meetings in Beijing with other foreign leaders.	I think it's fair to say that Prime Minister Putin and the President will probably spend a few minutes together socially.	But the President is going for the Games and not to do a series of bilateral meetings.  &lt;p /&gt; On your question of whether or not we've gone into the Chinese -- frankly I've been in meetings all afternoon.  I have not been in contact with either State Department or the embassy in Beijing today on this issue, so I can't answer that yet.	I am sure that we will be talking to the Chinese about these kinds of issues, and we have been talking to them.	So -- but I don't know what exactly has been done today on this issue.  " title=" Q    If I could ask sort of two parts of the question.	First, you mentioned the Internet restrictio" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321146" rowid="136534456" side="usa" srcid="321146" text=" Q    If I could ask you about the standards by which you're going to judge these restructuring plans.  I guess a large amount is up to the discretion of the car czar here, but to some degree, are you putting in standards about either fuel efficiency, investment in alternative fuels or alternative types of cars, R&amp;D investment?  Because most of what you've discussed so far would get you through the short term, but wouldn't really take you to the long term of the new technologies.  &lt;p&gt; MR. KAPLAN:  Yes, let me be clear.  I mentioned one of the tests for financial viability -- for the plan.  I mentioned the one that is a hard economic test:	whether or not the firm can demonstrate a positive net present value, taking into account all existing and future costs.  That's how an economist is going to look at this; that's how an investor is going to look at this.  And those are the kind of things that are important if what you're trying to do is to be a successful, viable company going forward.  There are other sort of qualitative judgments that --  " title=" Q    If I could ask you about the standards by which you're going to judge these restructuring plan" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-14#entryid_326353" rowid="136534988" side="usa" srcid="326353" text=" MS. PERINO:  No.  " title=" Q    If I could extend that one more day, are there any public events on Monday?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-17#entryid_270688" rowid="136530431" side="usa" srcid="270688" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Sure.  " title=" Q    If I could follow -- just follow up on one other topic.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-07#entryid_325242" rowid="136534901" side="usa" srcid="325242" text=" Q    If I could follow up on that.  Apparently, there's a concern about the proposal negotiated by Egyptians and the French that it could confer some legitimacy to Hamas.  Is that something that would prevent the U.S. from supporting the negotiated peace plan?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think I just have to repeat that we're interested in learning more about the discussions that the French had with the Egyptians, and until we know more, I think I'll decline to comment any further publicly.  I think I'll let Secretary Rice do that -- or if I have more for you, I'll send around an update.  &lt;p /&gt; Sir.  " title=" Q    If I could follow up on that.  Apparently, there's a concern about the proposal negotiated by " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-05#entryid_324668" rowid="136534823" side="usa" srcid="324668" text=" CHAIRMAN CONNAUGHTON:  Well, that's another great question, which is, because these are areas are pristine, it gives us the best opportunity to understand the effects of changes in the ocean system, including temperature changes, current changes, and ocean acidification, because you're not having to factor in other, if you will, much more significant influences that affect our ability to do science closer to home.  That's why, as I said, this is like -- this is our best area for controlled science and we can learn about that.  &lt;p /&gt; But I would note that some of these coral systems are -- they're in very warm waters and they show a remarkable degree of resiliency and others -- you know, they're subject -- you know, whereas we see other areas that are subject to disease -- not here but in other coral areas in the Pacific -- and we're able to then begin to figure out why.  We are at the frontiers of scientific research with respect to this.  We've only been at it for a few decades, and in these areas we've only been at it for really just a few years at scale.  &lt;p /&gt; So there's a lot more to be developed, which is, again, one of the reasons to do this.  It's really to draw the attention of the nation and the world to this part of the marine environment that is largely overlooked in our geography classes.  " title=" Q    If I could follow up, are the corals here threatened by ocean acidification and will there hav" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-18#entryid_305344" rowid="136532477" side="usa" srcid="305344" text=" Q    If I could just follow up, it's obvious that a lot of Republicans on the Hill feel like they've been caught off guard by this, Roy Blunt saying -- basically complaining that they didn't get the heads up on AIG.  I'm just wondering what your response is because it seems like a growing chorus of Republicans who either disagree with the move or seem -- feel completely caught off guard by it.  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think that for all of you who were covering Monday's activities, there were fast-moving developments and I believe that Treasury Department tried as hard as they could to get information up to members of Congress as quickly as possible.  But, granted, more and better and earlier communication between us is always a better thing.  &lt;p /&gt; Sheryl.  " title=" Q    If I could just follow up, it's obvious that a lot of Republicans on the Hill feel like they'v" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-03#entryid_273182" rowid="136530807" side="usa" srcid="273182" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q    If I may follow up on that.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-28#entryid_302661" rowid="136531945" side="usa" srcid="302661" text=" Q    If I may follow up, that seems to be part of the reason why the reaction from Europe, while unified, they still seem to be feeling their way around how to respond; what kind of sanctions, what punishment there might be against Russia -- to seek a reversal of this decision -- because of the energy dependence they have.  &lt;p&gt; SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  What's the question?  " title=" Q    If I may follow up, that seems to be part of the reason why the reaction from Europe, while un" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273407" rowid="136530848" side="usa" srcid="273407" text=" Q    If I may, just back on the question of the intermediate term targets, the 2020 to 2030 period -- just following up on a couple of earlier questions.  What is it exactly that you require from the major emerging economies in order to commit to binding economy-wide targets in the interim period on behalf of the U.S.?  Is it -- the word out there is that they'll sign up for the 50 by 2050, providing you sign up and they don't have to sign up to anything specific at the interim stage.  &lt;p&gt; MR. CONNAUGHTON:  First, speaking for the United States, we believe it is important that in order to achieve deep cuts in emissions requires actions by all of the major economies.	It is unassailable math, and the IPCC has given us a number of scenarios that demonstrate that fact.  So any international agreement in order to be effective will require quite significant action by each of the major emerging economies.  So that's step one.  &lt;p /&gt; Step two is the form of those commitments.  The G8 countries have made clear they intend to set economy-wide goals, but these will be backed up by a substantial suite of national programs, and these programs include national mandates, national incentives, and then national technology advancement programs.  &lt;p /&gt; We are very encouraged that the leadership of each of the major emerging economies now have in place processes at their cabinet ministry level to develop those kinds of strategies for those -- their own countries.  And that had not occurred before.  In fact, I think it is fair to say that this major economies process has been an important catalyst in those countries developing their own national strategies that we believe need to nationally accountable at least.  And by that, the major emerging economies have made clear they intend for their programs to be measurable, reportable, and verifiable.	So that's an important component.  And again, I'm hopeful that you'll see important progress on Wednesday with respect to that.  &lt;p /&gt; Then finally, it's the -- how do those -- how are those reflected in the agreed outcome by the end of next year.	And that's the third component of the discussion.  And clearly for the United States to take on internationally binding commitments -- I think one of the areas in which our political process is in -- close to unanimity is the need for meaningful commitments in a new agreement by the major emerging economies, too.  That should be no surprise to you.  It's been something the Democrats and Republicans are unified.  &lt;p /&gt; It's also an essential feature of making the agreement effective, and this is the issue that's called carbon leakage.  It does you no good to put increasing constraints on your own economy if that merely shifts the producing activity to other countries that do not have -- have not set reasonable and realistic goals, which means you get a net increase in emissions over there.  And so it does you no good to ship your emissions from your country to another country.  And that's why we need a cooperative and constructive pathway forward.  &lt;p /&gt; I want to underline something here, though.  The United States believes the path forward is through cooperation and constructive action based on realistically achievable goal.  President Bush has also made very clear he does not believe a process based on punishment and a process based on trade sanctions is the appropriate international way forward.  And so there have been who have suggested those approaches. We do not think that is the foundation of lasting progress.  " title=" Q    If I may, just back on the question of the intermediate term targets, the 2020 to 2030 period " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-10#entryid_274087" rowid="136530997" side="usa" srcid="274087" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Yes, I checked, Bill, and I wasn't able to get confirmation on that.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Goyal.  " title=" Q    If I'm not mistaken, the intelligence people are talking about it to some other reporters.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-18#entryid_301023" rowid="136531752" side="usa" srcid="301023" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  I'm not aware of any discussions regarding that, so I don't think it's an issue that we have to take up.  " title=" Q    If it becomes necessary, can President Musharraf seek exile in the U.S.?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-16#entryid_279323" rowid="136531077" side="usa" srcid="279323" text=" MS. PERINO:  I can't imagine that Congress is going to go forward and finish a housing bill that doesn't include the urgent requests of Secretary Paulson, because I believe that we're all equally concerned about the economy and so I think they understand the urgency of it.  I just can't imagine that they would pass it without it.  " title=" Q    If it doesn't include Paulson's requests for --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318523" rowid="136534136" side="usa" srcid="318523" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'm just not in the habit of commenting on things that I'm not aware of.  " title=" Q    If it indeed pans out the way I'm telling you, isn't that a contradiction?	They're asking for " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268274" rowid="136530144" side="usa" srcid="268274" text=" MS. PERINO:  Wow, now that's a hypothetical I'm not going to answer.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  " title=" Q    If it were ever to be shown that a power failure like the one that hit the Northeast in 2003 w" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-24#entryid_271790" rowid="136530618" side="usa" srcid="271790" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that we already think that it's an illegitimate government.  We think that the MDC group won on March 29th, won that election; however, agreed to a runoff election, as consistent with the Zimbabwe constitution.	I think anybody looking at this, given what the Mugabe regime has said, that they were not going to allow for a free and fair election.  &lt;p /&gt; And so what happened yesterday was the international community, through the U.N. Security Council, spoke with one unified voice to say that the problems that this regime has created can be solely laid at their feet.  And it was important that that be a presidential statement, the President's statement out of the U.N. Security Council, because it has to be unanimous.  Remember, South Africa is a part of that 15.  &lt;p /&gt; I know that later this week, I think this weekend, the African Union, which is currently chaired by President Kikwete in Tanzania, will be hosting a meeting to talk about various issues, but Zimbabwe is going to be at the top of that list.  And the President praises the fact that many African leaders have come out stronger in speaking out against the Mugabe regime, and trying to push that -- put that pressure on the Mugabe regime so that they would change their tactics.  But we are obviously very concerned about the violence that has taken place, and we remain concerned for the safety of anybody of Mr. Tsvangirai's party.  " title=" Q    If Mugabe goes ahead with the runoff election in Zimbabwe, as seems likely, would the United S" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-28#entryid_267820" rowid="136530101" side="usa" srcid="267820" text=" MS. PERINO:  The what?  " title=" Q    If only to change the subject.  Do you have anything on the vote on the cluster munitions?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-17#entryid_317052" rowid="136533919" side="usa" srcid="317052" text=" MS. PERINO:  We're not going to say what -- that will be a company's decision.  If they decide to move forward in that -- on that path, that will be their decision.  We're not going to dictate it.  " title=" Q    If that doesn't happen, is bankruptcy an acceptable alternative?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307669" rowid="136532840" side="usa" srcid="307669" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Our economy is dealing with very severe challenges right now.  We've had the long-term -- or I'm sorry -- the long correction in the housing market that is going to continue to take time to deal with. And I've heard outside experts say that it may be well into next year before the housing market turns around.  Some have felt that we could be near bottom in housing.  But that's going to take a lot of time and no one should underestimate what this particular shock of this credit crisis has done for our economy for this year and for the remainder of this year and probably into the next quarter, the first quarter of 2009. This was a significant shock, as were the shocks from the two hurricanes that affected the Southeast and Texas.  &lt;p /&gt; So, look, our economy is resilient and we'll certainly bounce back from this, but it will be a drag on our economy for sure.  " title=" Q    If the bill passes and is signed into law, what would you say to people in terms of when do yo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-02#entryid_307687" rowid="136532858" side="usa" srcid="307687" text=" MR. FRATTO:  That's completely out of our hands.  The bill  -- it's a House bill.  When they complete enrolling the bill -- they need to enroll it -- that usually takes a few days.  So when the President gets it he'll be able to sign it, and you can make sure --  " title=" Q    If the House passes this bill, how soon afterwards will the President sign it?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-26#entryid_272203" rowid="136530696" side="usa" srcid="272203" text=" MR. HADLEY:  We largely are.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, ma'am.  " title=" Q    If the tough diplomacy worked this time in relation to North Korea, and that included talking " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-20#entryid_305671" rowid="136532549" side="usa" srcid="305671" text=" MR. HADLEY:  I think we have --  " title=" Q    If there was an understanding that we could do that --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305172" rowid="136532427" side="usa" srcid="305172" text=" Q    If these crises continue, failures of the major players on the economic front continue, what other options does the administration have, what other arrows does it have in its quiver to attack the crisis? And is there realistically in the long run a limit to what any President can do --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I think the way that I'm going to answer that is that right now we're looking at this on a case-by-case basis.  As these issues come -- they come to the Secretary of the Treasury, to the Fed Chairman, and they're working closely with the President and his economic advisors to deal with it on a case by case basis.  So I couldn't tell you -- I couldn't answer your question directly.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead.  " title=" Q    If these crises continue, failures of the major players on the economic front continue, what o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-19#entryid_323419" rowid="136534597" side="usa" srcid="323419" text=" MR. KAPLAN:  They have to explain why they've deviated from it and why their complete plan -- including whatever deviations -- leads to viability.  So I would expect that when they do that they're going to have to say, okay, so we didn't do a two-thirds debt for equity swap, we did a 60 percent debt for equity swap, and here's why, and here's why we think that's okay, and we think that -- I'm just using an example here, illustrative example -- why we think that nonetheless this is a plan that leads to viability.  And then the burden will fall still on the President's designee at that point to take a look at the plan and say, okay, I see why those deviations were made, I see your overall plan and I agree with you that you've accomplished the type of restructuring needed to warrant the continuation of this loan.  " title=" Q    If they miss the target, do they have to -- do they have to meet it at some point?  When they " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-05#entryid_303581" rowid="136532135" side="usa" srcid="303581" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that would remain to be seen.  The President has asked his intelligence community every week -- every day that he sees them, but I know that he has threat assessment every week at his intel briefing and he wants to know where we are in the process of tracking him down and bringing him to justice.  &lt;p /&gt; Violence will go down once people renounce terrorism and that's why we're working with countries like Pakistan.  We respect Pakistan's sovereignty.  We are working to cooperate with this new civilian government.  You said that Zardari will be the next President -- we'll see what happens in tomorrow's elections, although I think that you're probably on the right track there.  &lt;p /&gt; And we'll continue to work with them.  We need to have their cooperation.  One of the reasons that they're -- that Zardari will become the President is because, unfortunately, his wife was killed by terrorists, so they have a mutual interest in trying to go after terrorists, and that's what we're going to continue to do with them.  &lt;p /&gt; Paula.  " title=" Q    If we catch, let's say, Osama bin Laden, that now like I think we are after Osama bin Laden de" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-14#entryid_326368" rowid="136535003" side="usa" srcid="326368" text=" Q    If you could just go back to The Washington Post report and Susan Crawford.  You said that the policy of the United States is that military does not torture.  Are you essentially saying that this story, and Susan Crawford says, that there was a detainee who was tortured, al-Qahtani, is not true?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  What I have to -- given the litigation and given command influence matters, President Bush has not had us comment from the White House -- this is the guidance that we have from legal counsel -- on any individual case, and that is why I can't give you any more than what I gave to Jennifer earlier.  &lt;p /&gt; Olivier.  What is with that?  (Laughter.)  " title=" Q    If you could just go back to The Washington Post report and Susan Crawford.  You said that the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-24#entryid_318516" rowid="136534129" side="usa" srcid="318516" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I only use the U.S. dollar.  " title=" Q    If you have a choice of keeping the currency or keep your -- (laughter) -- what would that be?" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308072" rowid="136532923" side="usa" srcid="308072" text=" MR. STANZEL:  But we can get that for you.  We'll just add an addendum to the gaggle.**  " title=" Q    If you have it for appeals --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-26#entryid_272195" rowid="136530688" side="usa" srcid="272195" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Well, what the President said clearly is that we obviously have -- we'll be watching what North Korea does in the next 45 days.  We'll be monitoring their activity.  One of the -- our real priority is to get the verification principles and the verification protocol in place in this 45 days, and actually get some steps underway.	We are hopeful that that can happen in that 45-day period.  &lt;p /&gt; And as the President said to you, we'll sort of look and see where we are in 45 days.  Our expectation is that we will move forward, we will make the progress, and that he will be able to, in 45 days, go ahead and -- the process for finally lifting the status as a state sponsor of terror will go forward.  &lt;p /&gt; But again, he has this 45-day period and he's made very clear that we will be watching and we will be working very hard with our others in six-party talks to get this verification protocol and framework in place.  &lt;p /&gt; Sir.  " title=" Q    If you're dissatisfied, though, over the next 45 days, then what happens?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-21#entryid_311221" rowid="136533255" side="usa" srcid="311221" text=" MS. PERINO:  Why would -- what would lead you to -- why would you think -- why would lead you to say -- to that question?  " title=" Q    If you're open to good ideas, why aren't you open to good ideas from within the administration" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280830" rowid="136531330" side="usa" srcid="280830" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, there's been -- you know, there's a briefing in 45 minutes by your economic experts that will be on camera and on the record.  I'm just going to refer you to them and let them answer all those questions.  " title=" Q    In 2004, President Bush pledged to cut the deficit in half by 2009.  Why has he not been able " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-14#entryid_300764" rowid="136531709" side="usa" srcid="300764" text=" MS. PERINO:  I completely reject the suggestion.  Maybe you want to rephrase your question -- but lead them on to do what?  " title=" Q    In 2005, speaking in Tbilisi, the President said to a large crowd of Georgians that &quot;the path " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-22#entryid_280143" rowid="136531205" side="usa" srcid="280143" text=" Q    In a post-9/11 world, and we have these two candidates running for office, is it something that is needed for these candidates to talk to Maliki, to go to talk to General Petraeus, to go around the world -- is it actually something that they need to do as they transition possibly into the presidency?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, that's going to be up to them to decide.  But obviously Senator McCain had been there multiple times in the past several years and knows all of those leaders very well.  Is it necessary for them to do?  They'll have to decide that.  But clearly whoever wins the presidency is going to be dealing with these issues come January 20th.  " title=" Q    In a post-9/11 world, and we have these two candidates running for office, is it something tha" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303280" rowid="136532079" side="usa" srcid="303280" text=" ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  Well, we -- I'm tickled to death it wasn't as bad as predicted.  It was still a tough storm.  But the levees held, we had -- didn't have a lot of flooding like we had obviously in Katrina.  You know, the smaller these storms are, the happier I am.   MS. PERINO:  Okay.   ADMINISTRATOR PAULISON:  Thanks, guys.  " title=" Q    In addition to the preparedness you've mentioned, were you guys helped by the fact that Gustav" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-18#entryid_322966" rowid="136534574" side="usa" srcid="322966" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not necessarily.  I mean, I think that there's a lot of conversations that are ongoing between us and Capitol Hill.  We don't -- we never close off communication.	But we were left with a situation that the President had to do something when Congress failed to act last week.  " title=" Q    In due course?  After you announce the --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-23#entryid_267483" rowid="136530066" side="usa" srcid="267483" text=" MS. PERINO:  Golf and all the other issues.  I'm not a big -- I'm not -- putt-putt golf?  Putt-putt golf is a growth industry, possibly.  (Laughter.)  Carnivals.  &lt;p /&gt; But it's just another example of the many -- there's many different products, from the largest tractors to the smallest things, from fruit and vegetables to things like golf balls.  And I think that American consumers -- I'm sorry, American consumers at the back end -- workers here in America deserve a level playing field.	And when Congress gets back, President Bush expects them to get to work and follow through on the deal that they agreed to over 18 months ago.  " title=" Q    In golf?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304058" rowid="136532213" side="usa" srcid="304058" text=" Q    In her nationally syndicated column, one-time Republican U.S. Senate candidate Linda Chavez of Maryland wrote the following one-sentence quote:  &quot;Biggest story to emerge from the Republican National Convention was the media's effort to destroy Governor Sarah Palin.&quot;  And my question:  Does the President disagree with Linda and with McCain's campaign manager, who maintained what he -- mentioned what he termed a &quot;circle of piranhas&quot;?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  I'm not going to comment on it.  I'll leave the campaign to deal with those comments.  " title=" Q    In her nationally syndicated column, one-time Republican U.S. Senate candidate Linda Chavez of" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-17#entryid_310353" rowid="136533169" side="usa" srcid="310353" text=" MS. PERINO:  Did you happen to see the President's speech this morning?  " title=" Q    In his op-ed today, Gordon Brown says the old postwar international financial institutions are" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-27#entryid_312725" rowid="136533378" side="usa" srcid="312725" text=" MS. PERINO:  Right.  " title=" Q    In light of that, the fact that these laws really were aimed at alternative energy vehicles.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316864" rowid="136533854" side="usa" srcid="316864" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that if you just -- I'm not an economic expert, but as I understand the reading of the statistics regarding the Libor rate and the loosening up of credit as the best thing that can help people, consumers, can buy more cars or shop.  We saw retail sales numbers today that were obviously not good.  And we're trying to get -- those numbers lagged for a while, right, those were numbers from last month.	I'm not saying that this month's are going to be any better, and leading into the holiday season, people are concerned.  So there's things that we need to do right now, which is continue to implement our program, but at the same time look ahead and see if we can alleviate it in the future.  &lt;p /&gt; Paula.  " title=" Q    In light of the automakers request, I mean, how much can we say we have actually done to deal " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307883" rowid="136532903" side="usa" srcid="307883" text=" Q    In light of the latest economic data, there is some concern that even if the rescue bill does pass, that that won't be enough to give the economy the kind of boost that it needs.  Is there any greater willingness on the part of the administration to consider -- to begin considering a second stimulus package, or at least going along with efforts on the Hill to further extend unemployment benefits?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FRATTO:  Well, I just want to -- I want to be clear on what our expectations have been, and no one should be over-promising what this legislation will do.  This legislation is to fix a problem in our financial markets.  It's not sold as giving a boost to the economy, but rather preventing a crisis in our economy.  And like I said earlier, we're -- the economy has been hit by a number of very real shocks.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, we have had a number of programs in recent months, some which are just now getting underway.  We talked about the housing legislation, which is just being implemented and should have an impact.  This bill will have an impact in supporting the economy and stabilizing markets. And once -- if it works as we hope it will, credit will be able to begin flowing again.	And so the private sector will -- if we're stabilized, the private sector will be able to help to support growth in the economy again, also.  &lt;p /&gt; I understand the House is going to take up legislation to extend unemployment insurance again today.  The Senate is not here to take up that legislation and we'll see what the Senate's intentions are for that legislation when they return in November.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, Mark.  " title=" Q    In light of the latest economic data, there is some concern that even if the rescue bill does " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280857" rowid="136531321" side="usa" srcid="280857" text=" Q    In May, the Treasury survey of the primary dealers in  public debt who keep very close track of the deficit, as well,	estimated that it's going to be about $414 billion, and you guys are at $389 billion now.  Historically, OMB has seemed to sort of over-project deficits in the MSR traditionally.	I'm just curious as to where you think the likelihood and the probability is of seeing a record deficit for '08, as opposed to --  &lt;p&gt; DIRECTOR NUSSLE:  Well, we're giving you the projection as we know it today.	I acknowledge, as I did in my statement, that there have been some changes, albeit not too significant, since the MSR has been put to bed.  I think the biggest challenge will be as we see how Congress decides to end the year, so to speak, and begin the next fiscal year.	There is enormous pressure for additional spending.  There's talk of all sorts of legislation in addition to the regular appropriation process that has not even begun yet.  All of those -- again, dollar for dollar -- add to the pressure, to the bottom line, whether it's projecting the deficit for the end of this year, or to the '09 deficit and beyond.  " title=" Q    In May, the Treasury survey of the primary dealers in  public debt who keep very close track o" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300591" rowid="136531662" side="usa" srcid="300591" text=" MS. PERINO:  What I'm saying is that you are -- you posed a hypothetical, and I just flipped it back on you, because I think that you can look at it either way.  " title=" Q    In other words, had they been given MAP status, the Russians would not have dared the attack t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-27#entryid_267616" rowid="136530090" side="usa" srcid="267616" text=" MS. PERINO:  Again, President Bush isn't on the ticket.  So this is a new role for him.  The past several cycles, either his dad had been on the ticket or -- and there were the in-between years during the '90s. And then he's been on the ticket the past two times.  And so it is just fundamentally different for the President this election cycle.	And in many ways it's good to be an observer and a supporter wherever he can. You'll remember that the President and John McCain had a great meeting and event in the Rose Garden back in early March.  And as the President said, he will do as much or as little as anyone needs him to do to help elect Republicans.  &lt;p /&gt; But at the end of the day, any candidate who's running for office has to stand on their own two feet and they have to chart a course for themselves.  Every election is about change -- go back through history and every single one is about how things are going to look in the future.  And that's what Senator McCain has set out to do, which is to chart his own course, talk about how he will lead this nation in a time of war and threats from enemies and the challenges we have of keeping competitive in the world as the economy is in a current slowdown -- but looks like hopefully it's come back because of the economic stimulus package, which is another thing the President will talk about today at the Silverado Cable Company.  &lt;p /&gt; So when you ask me how he feels, remember, I don't do a lot of psychoanalysis of President Bush.  He's glad to be out on the road doing some politicking today.  He will do as much as he can across the board for candidates through this cycle, but he also is Commander-in-Chief and has responsibilities -- for example, as you know, we're going to be out of the country for eight days as he goes to Europe to meet with our allies and further strengthen and deepen the relationships we have with his European partners.  &lt;p /&gt; I think how he feels about it is a little less important; he's just glad to be out on the road.	It's a little bit reminiscent, but it's a very different feeling because you're not on the ticket.  " title=" Q    In other words, his role now -- this is the first real role in this.  I mean, is he going to b" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-08#entryid_273599" rowid="136530913" side="usa" srcid="273599" text=" MR. PRICE:  In the world economy declaration?  " title=" Q    In other words, is the U.S. bound by any --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-27#entryid_267612" rowid="136530086" side="usa" srcid="267612" text=" MS. PERINO:  In Phoenix.  " title=" Q    In Phoenix?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-01#entryid_307370" rowid="136532795" side="usa" srcid="307370" text=" MR. FRATTO:  That wasn't a temporary suspension of mark-to-market.  It was a clarification of the guidance on mark-to-market accounting that the SEC made.  " title=" Q    In regards to the temporary suspension of mark-to-market, how do you build confidence if --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-15#entryid_300844" rowid="136531728" side="usa" srcid="300844" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  She had a long-scheduled meeting with President Medvedev in Sochi, and they had a press conference this morning, but I have not had a chance to see all of it.  " title=" Q    In Sochi.	So is she sort of picking up where Sarkozy left off, in terms of mediating?  Is she " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298503" rowid="136531412" side="usa" srcid="298503" text=" Q    In South Korea, the leadership there is very concerned and upset about the U.S. Agency for Geographic Names changing the designation of a small group of islands to undesignated.  Has there been any thought to revisiting that?  Have you all addressed that, given that the President is going to be there in a few days?  &lt;p&gt; MR. WILDER:  We were contacted by the South Korean government at very high levels and asked to re-look at this question.  The President directed Secretary Rice to check into this and see exactly what did happen with this change of designation.	It was decided after that review that the change in designation was not warranted at this time.  And so that database is now being restored to where it was prior to this change in designation, I think which occurred about seven days ago on the database.  &lt;p /&gt; We regret that this change in designation was perceived by South Koreans as some sort of change in our policy.  Let me be very clear that our policy on this territorial dispute has been firm and consistent since 1952, and that is, we do not take a position on this territorial dispute; that we believe that South Korea and Japan need to work diplomatically to resolve this issue.	But it is their issue to resolve.  " title=" Q    In South Korea, the leadership there is very concerned and upset about the U.S. Agency for Geo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-02#entryid_324403" rowid="136534776" side="usa" srcid="324403" text=" Q    In spite of the fact that the President-elect has said there's only one President at a time, he's about to take up residence across the street and immediately go to Capitol Hill and start working on a stimulus package, as of Monday.  How does the President feel about having a parallel administration across the street?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  A parallel administration.  Well, as this last week has shown, we're still pretty busy around here.  I think the President understands.  He's had very good conversations with President-Elect Obama, several over the last few weeks.  President Bush uniquely understands the role and the job that President-Elect Obama is about to take in I think 18 days, and understands that he needs to put a team together and work on -- for the future of the United States.  And President Bush's instructions to us have been to assist the transition team, and make sure that we provide them with the information and access they need so they can start right away on January the 20th.  " title=" Q    In spite of the fact that the President-elect has said there's only one President at a time, h" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308558" rowid="136533013" side="usa" srcid="308558" text=" MS. PERINO:  I wish I could tell you, but I don't know.  But what I can say is that we're working hard to try to solve the problem, stop the downturn in the stock market, return stability and confidence so that we can return to job growth.	But it's going to just take us a while to get through it.  I think that Neel Kashkari and his team, as they work through to implement the rules of the new rescue package that we just signed last Friday -- you know, in Washington this is actually moving at lightning speed -- but it's just going to take us a while.	I wish that we could do it faster.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Bret.  " title=" Q    In terms of an expectation from the administration, how long should people sort of expect befo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-30#entryid_313547" rowid="136533494" side="usa" srcid="313547" text=" MS. PERINO:  How long have you covered the White House, this White House?  Do we ever forecast when we're going to have press conferences?  No.  And I really don't think that's going to change after November 4th.  So you'll just have to keep dressing up everyday, and then we'll see if it -- (laughter.)   MS. PERINO:  Olivier.  " title=" Q    In terms of, you know, a press conference, obviously many of these questions were questions we" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-30#entryid_268294" rowid="136530164" side="usa" srcid="268294" text=" Q    In the book it reports that there came a time when the administration ignored contrary evidence and went ahead with the evidence that it did have on weapons of mass destruction.  Isn't that demonstrably true now that the -- once the administration said that our intelligence is wrong?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  No, I don't necessarily think so.	Again, I wasn't here, but I would point you to -- at least three that I can think of -- independent reviews of pre-war intelligence and the decision to go to war that all came to the conclusion that nobody purposefully misled anybody in this endeavor.  " title=" Q    In the book it reports that there came a time when the administration ignored contrary evidenc" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-21#entryid_301411" rowid="136531826" side="usa" srcid="301411" text=" Q    In the last several days we've often heard from that podium and others that Russia's actions were a disproportionate response.  And I was wondering if you would please -- that a little bit.  What does the administration think -- why does the administration think that some response was necessary to what the Georgians were doing?  And what level of military force, if any, would have been justified as proportionate, in the administration's view?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  Let me see if I understand your question correctly.  The Russian -- the question is, did the Russians use disproportionate force --  " title=" Q    In the last several days we've often heard from that podium and others that Russia's actions w" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-18#entryid_317292" rowid="136533945" side="usa" srcid="317292" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  We never announce press conferences before we actually are going to have one.  I wouldn't be surprised if there's one before we leave.  But it's just as possible that there might not be any.  " title=" Q    In the last weeks of his presidency, does he think it's just not something that he needs to --" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-28#entryid_280860" rowid="136531327" side="usa" srcid="280860" text=" CHAIRMAN LAZEAR:  Than in 2007?  Yes, I'd have to check on that.  I can't give you an answer to that off the top of my head.   DIRECTOR NUSSLE:  But a big part of it is as a result of the softening of the economy.  I mean, that part of it is obvious.  But exactly how that figures, we can check on it and get you more detailed answer.   CHAIRMAN LAZEAR:  I'd want to make sure before I give you any specifics that you're going to quote.  We can certainly get back to you on that.  " title=" Q    In the Mid-Session Review, as in the February budget, corporate income tax corrections are low" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-14#entryid_309524" rowid="136533096" side="usa" srcid="309524" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, he trusts his team, and his team came in and told him that this is what we think that we need to do in order to get the economy moving.  The markets responded favorably yesterday to that news and today, and the President thinks it was the right thing to do.	So what pushed him over the edge was having the right formulation.  " title=" Q    In the President's conversations about directing injections into banks, was there anything in " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303885" rowid="136532178" side="usa" srcid="303885" text=" Q    In the Woodward book the President is quoted as saying that a surge would also help here at home, since for many a measure of success is a reduction in violence.	What role, if any, did domestic politics play in the formulation of the surge?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think -- you know, I haven't read the book.  I think what that would refer to would be that the President has said multiple times that it's very important that your country understand what the Commander-in-Chief is asking its military to do.  And clearly Americans want to win wherever we send our troops, and we don't want our troops to be put in harm's way, where they don't have a clear strategy to win.  I think that's probably what it's referring to.  " title=" Q    In the Woodward book the President is quoted as saying that a surge would also help here at ho" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320157" rowid="136534334" side="usa" srcid="320157" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I am.	(Laughter.)  I have a team of people who is helping talk about the President's decisions that he's made over the past eight years.  I think there's no doubt that it has been a consequential eight years where huge things have happened, from the biggest terrorist attack, the biggest natural disasters, and the biggest financial crisis in a century.  &lt;p /&gt; So while Karl and others who have worked for the President -- Karen Hughes, Dan Bartlett, Ari Fleischer, and others -- are all participating in responding to requests, a lot of them are requests from the media to understand this presidency, and to talk about it as we are in our last 46 days.  &lt;p /&gt; And your first question was about Iraq.  I think that you might be talking about the Charlie Gibson interview.  I think it's important that people go back and look at that interview in context.  Some people have pulled out one half of a sound bite and made a judgment on what the President was saying.  What the President talked about was that one of his -- one of the disappointments of the administration is that the intelligence community had it wrong when it came to weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.  And it wasn't just the President of the United States who thought that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. Saddam Hussein's own generals thought that he had weapons of mass destructions, and so did other leaders from all around the world.  And so that's what he was talking about, was the specific on the intelligence failure.  &lt;p /&gt; What we did from there is the President revamped the intelligence community.  And we have a Director of National Intelligence now, and we have other measures in place to make sure that that doesn't happen again.  " title=" Q    In these recent interviews, has the President ever expressed regret over attacking Iraq?  And " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-08#entryid_308534" rowid="136532989" side="usa" srcid="308534" text=" Q    In this bad economic time, many Americans are tightening their belts.  What's happening around here in the White House leading into the last few months of this President?  Are you guys scaling back, by any chance, on trips, anything in keeping with --  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that you've seen that the President has canceled several trips over the past three or four weeks, because he wanted to be here to be able to deal with the crisis.  All of us are mindful of the tough economic times that we're going through and the possible ones ahead, both individually and collectively, both outside of these walls and inside these walls.  But I don't know -- I don't have anything specific for you in terms of things that we've scaled back.  What I can point you to is the trips that we've already cut back on.  " title=" Q    In this bad economic time, many Americans are tightening their belts.  What's happening around" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306377" rowid="136532608" side="usa" srcid="306377" text=" Q    In this financial crisis, does the Bush government expect any help from foreign countries, especially Germany?  And what does the President say to the reaction of German Chancellor Merkel, who said she doesn't want to get involved into this rescue plan at all?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  Well, what I would point you to is the G7 finance ministers, who have been working very closely with the Treasury and the Fed to pump money back into the system, and that actually happened last night.  I don't know if Germany was a part of that or not.  I'd have to refer you back to those authorities or to the Fed to see.  I think that everyone recognizes the problem, and America, first and foremost, is trying to fix it here on our own.  &lt;p /&gt; Go ahead, Paula.  " title=" Q    In this financial crisis, does the Bush government expect any help from foreign countries, esp" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-13#entryid_326209" rowid="136534974" side="usa" srcid="326209" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Yes.  " title=" Q    In what Olmert said?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307888" rowid="136532908" side="usa" srcid="307888" text=" MR. FRATTO:  We're hearing that they could get it here fairly quickly, and we hope they will.	Obviously, we've had -- talked about the great urgency of getting this legislation passed.  I know the House Clerk's Office is working to try to get -- should the bill pass -- to get it here as quickly as possible.  We're hopeful that they'll be able to do that.  " title=" Q    In your conversations with people on the Hill, how quickly do they tell you that they'll get t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-04#entryid_320150" rowid="136534327" side="usa" srcid="320150" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not a lot.  I think that we've been -- I'm fortunate to be able to see the President quite often, sometimes several times a day; sometimes I don't see him for a day.  But we still have a lot of work to do.  " title=" Q    In your day-to-day interactions with him, what's different?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-13#entryid_300571" rowid="136531642" side="usa" srcid="300571" text=" MS. PERINO:  There's a range of -- there's a range of organizations, including WTO and others, that they have aspired to.  &lt;p /&gt; One of the things that we have tried to do is encourage the aspirations of Russia, that they had hinted at, or even bluntly said that they wanted to join these institutions.  We started the NATO-Russia Council, which was a way to let Russia know that NATO is not a threat to Russia, that NATO is a peaceful organization that can be called upon to defend one another if it's needed.  &lt;p /&gt; And when it comes, for example, to missile defense -- this is an issue that I've seen brought up where some might say that the United States provoked Russia with its missile defense.  The missile defense system is just as important to Russia, from our perspective, as it is to the United States and our allies in Europe because we are concerned about rogue nations that would possibly have a missile that they could send across.  &lt;p /&gt; Now, Russia is much closer to that than the United States.  But we wanted to help our allies.  This was an international organization and we wanted to include Russia in a lot of these discussions.  That's why we established the NATO-Russia Council.  They had a meeting just in April, and I think there will be more coming up.  So it is sad that they have taken so many steps backwards in the past few days.  " title=" Q    Including the G8?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-10#entryid_274090" rowid="136531000" side="usa" srcid="274090" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I don't have any -- I don't have our own -- U.S. government verification that there were any additional tests.  I think, you know, that -- but they did test the day before.  That --  " title=" Q    Iran's state television says that there was more missile tests today.  Does the United States " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-26#entryid_319125" rowid="136534203" side="usa" srcid="319125" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Is there anything else on the economy for right now?  Let's go to John, and then Kevin.  " title=" Q    Iraq -- the parliament once again --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-14 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-14#entryid_316862" rowid="136533852" side="usa" srcid="316862" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that they've been working towards it.  They've been working hard in trying to establish a way for Iraq to be able to take care of themselves.	They've done -- the British troops have done a great job of helping secure the population, but also in training the Iraqi troops, which are gaining in number, in confidence, and in competence.  So we hope that they -- I didn't see that report.  But I'm assuming that if the British are able to reach their goals, they will be able to bring more of their own troops home, just like we are.  " title=" Q    Iraq's national security advisor said today that all British troops will be out of Iraq by the" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-22#entryid_301584" rowid="136531847" side="usa" srcid="301584" text=" Q    Iraq.  Where do we stand now?  Is there a draft agreement?  I mean, Secretary Rice said there was a document, said that it was acceptable to the United States.  Iraqi officials are on the record saying that the time horizon for withdrawal would be end of 2011.  Do you have any reason to dispute what the Iraqis are saying on that?  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  Towards the end of July, after a secure video conference between President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki, we announced that, as part of any agreement with the Iraqis establishing our future bilateral relationship, would include aspirational time horizons -- goals for when Iraqi troops begin to take over more of the combat missions in various parts of Iraq, which allow for more U.S. troops to come home.  &lt;p /&gt; So any discussions that are ongoing, that we are having with the Iraqis right now, include these aspirational timelines, these goals for more troops to come home.  &lt;p /&gt; We are only able to have these conversations now because of the security progress, the progress that has been made on the ground in Baghdad, in Basra, and all over Iraq.  This progress allows us to have the conversations with the Iraqis to bring more troops home.  &lt;p /&gt; Five combat brigades have already returned to the United States.  We expect to hear -- the President expects to hear from General Petraeus next month on recommendations for potential additional withdrawal of troops.  &lt;p /&gt; So these conversations are ongoing with the Iraqis right now.  " title=" Q    Iraq.  Where do we stand now?  Is there a draft agreement?  I mean, Secretary Rice said there " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-15#entryid_309822" rowid="136533121" side="usa" srcid="309822" text=" MR. FRATTO:  We've never at any point in time gotten into the details of any of our discussions with the Iraqis on our agreements.  Obviously we continue to talk.  We're working on forging ahead to finalize an agreement with the Iraqis so that the Iraqis can take over more control -- can take over control of their country, and allow U.S. forces to return home having completed their mission successfully.  &lt;p /&gt; So that's where our focus is on.  Obviously we saw the -- the President met with PRT leaders this morning.	They're working on improving economic, political, and security conditions in Iraq, helping with governance, and I think everyone would like to see that continue.  But for now, we're communicating with the Iraqis.	The talks continue.  We're updating Congress and consult -- having our discussions --  " title=" Q    Iraqis are saying that they've got a deal on the status of forces agreement that would require" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-12#entryid_316442" rowid="136533792" side="usa" srcid="316442" text=" MR. PRICE:  As I said in response to the question that was earlier posed to me, what we've heard from a number of the leaders and their representatives is the importance of underscoring at this particular time a commitment to further trade and investment liberalization.  I think several hours a ago you had a briefing -- Tony, was it -- from Dana Perino on this.  I'm not here to brief on the auto industry.  Thank you.  " title=" Q    Is bailing out the auto industry protectionism?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-06#entryid_299635" rowid="136531565" side="usa" srcid="299635" text=" MS. McBRIDE:  Barbara is on the trip, and she will join mrs. Bush tomorrow for this visit.  " title=" Q    Is Barbara on the trip, as well?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-04#entryid_299231" rowid="136531547" side="usa" srcid="299231" text=" MR. WILDER:  I think that for this meeting I wouldn't expect beef to be a large agenda item because we have an understanding with South Korea, and that understanding seems to be working quite well.  " title=" Q    Is beef totally off the agenda?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-03#entryid_303271" rowid="136532070" side="usa" srcid="303271" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, we were planning to be down for the entire week --  " title=" Q    Is Bush really going to be down for two days at Camp David now?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-11-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-11-23#entryid_318373" rowid="136534099" side="usa" srcid="318373" text=" MS. PERINO:  You're going to have to call the Treasury Department.  I don't have anything for you.  I've been here in Lima, Peru, and any talks like that would take place between the Treasury Department, not at the White House.  " title=" Q    Is Citigroup one of those items that's too big to fail?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-20#entryid_271390" rowid="136530554" side="usa" srcid="271390" text=" MR. FRATTO:  Not that I'm aware of.  " title=" Q    Is Defense commenting?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-20#entryid_271375" rowid="136530539" side="usa" srcid="271375" text=" MR. FRATTO:  I'll let you know if we have more.  " title=" Q    Is Friday a down day or is he doing business up there?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-22#entryid_305809" rowid="136532565" side="usa" srcid="305809" text=" MS. PERINO:  Not that I'm aware of, no.  " title=" Q    Is Governor Palin, by the way, going to be there tonight?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-03#entryid_307867" rowid="136532887" side="usa" srcid="307867" text=" MR. FRATTO:  He has heard from members today, yes.  " title=" Q    Is he calling them today also?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-06#entryid_308078" rowid="136532929" side="usa" srcid="308078" text=" MR. STANZEL:  I'd think -- I would refer you to the answer that I just gave to Toby.  Obviously, we watch very closely the economic situation not only in this country, but around the world.  And the officials from Treasury, Federal Reserve, FDIC, and other agencies throughout our government are in regular contact with their counterparts overseas to work cooperatively to promote stability and confidence in our markets.  " title=" Q    Is he concerned about the meltdown going on?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-17 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-17#entryid_305166" rowid="136532421" side="usa" srcid="305166" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, based on the analysis and the assessments that he's getting from those senior economic advisors, I think the President would not have any reason to disagree with that.  " title=" Q    Is he confident -- I know Secretary Paulson said the other day he thought the worst would be b" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-02#entryid_303113" rowid="136532039" side="usa" srcid="303113" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, the President is grateful that he's going to be able to address the convention tonight.  " title=" Q    Is he disappointed?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-15#entryid_270345" rowid="136530406" side="usa" srcid="270345" text=" MR. HADLEY:  We'll see.   MS. PERINO:  Okay, that's got to be the last one.  We've got to get him back up front.	So thanks, guys.  " title=" Q    Is he going to allude to that tomorrow in some way?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-22#entryid_305812" rowid="136532568" side="usa" srcid="305812" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't have an update for you yet, but I'll keep you updated.  He has talked to Secretary Paulson several times.  In fact, I can't keep up with all the times they talk on the phone to let you guys know about that.  So I will try to let you know key phone calls.  He did speak to Secretary Paulson last night.  " title=" Q    Is he going to be -- is Bush going to be meeting with any financial people up in New York and " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-01#entryid_302893" rowid="136532010" side="usa" srcid="302893" text=" MS. PERINO:  At the convention -- as Rick Davis said yesterday from the McCain campaign when he gave the update from the convention, they were taking things day by day, and I haven't heard anything today.  They said that they were going to give noon updates every day, so let's wait and see for that.  But there will be nothing today.  " title=" Q    Is he going to give a speech to the convention this week?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-29#entryid_268048" rowid="136530118" side="usa" srcid="268048" text=" MS. PERINO:  I believe so.  I don't have a specific schedule, but I believe so.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay.  " title=" Q    Is he going to meet with Olmert next week when Olmert is in Washington?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-24#entryid_312330" rowid="136533341" side="usa" srcid="312330" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't know.  " title=" Q    Is he going to talk about that today?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-21#entryid_267058" rowid="136530021" side="usa" srcid="267058" text=" Q    Is he going to wade into the whole discussion about engaging U.S. enemies and -- I know that you know that McCain yesterday had a big speech on Cuba and this has been a big issue with the Obama campaign.	Is he going to be wading into that discussion at all?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FISK:  The President will be talking about his view on Cuba and our policy towards Cuba.  This is not about the campaign.  This is about this period in Cuban history, not only in terms of historical context, as I mentioned earlier, but in terms of what we are trying to do to support the Cuban people.  Our view remains that the issue is not one of Washington versus Havana.	It's a matter of the Cuban regime needing to talk to the Cuban people so the Cuban people actually have a say in how their country is governed and who governs them.  So in that sense --  " title=" Q    Is he going to wade into the whole discussion about engaging U.S. enemies and -- I know that y" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-22#entryid_305807" rowid="136532563" side="usa" srcid="305807" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, I certainly think that the economy and the way that we are so intricately -- I'm sorry, let me -- the way that we are so intertwined with other economies around the world in our increasingly global economy, that of course the United States economy is going to be a topic; and that the President, as I -- as we mentioned this morning, spoke last night to President Hu of China to talk about what the President's plan was, what the administration was proposing, and how quickly we want to work with Congress to get this done to restabilize the market for the good of America and for the protection of American people on Main Street, but also for other economies who are obviously very concerned.  " title=" Q    Is he going up there to reassure foreign leaders about the U.S. economy and the global markets" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-30#entryid_324135" rowid="136534712" side="usa" srcid="324135" text=" MR. JOHNDROE:  Yes.  He is.  He just finished the McPherson book on Lincoln.  But I don't know what he's reading right now.  " title=" Q    Is he reading any books?  I know Karl Rove recently wrote about the book-reading contest.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-10#entryid_321119" rowid="136534429" side="usa" srcid="321119" text=" MS. PERINO:  Look, what we would -- we would like to see the economy turn around faster.	But are we satisfied that everybody at the Treasury Department is doing all that they can every single day and every night that they work to try to make this economy better and save it from total collapse?  Yes, he's satisfied.  " title=" Q    Is he satisfied with the way this thing has played out, though, so far?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-10-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-10-28#entryid_312994" rowid="136533414" side="usa" srcid="312994" text=" MS. PERINO:  I'll check.  I don't -- I know Paulson decided to stay here in D.C.  I don't know if they're going to see each other or not, though.  But he sees his senior team all of the time.  I mean, there's a lot of -- as I said yesterday, the Energy Department, the Treasury Department and the Commerce Department have all been in discussions with the automakers.   MR. FRATTO:  He's arrived.   MS. PERINO:  I just -- the President has arrived at his destination, so I will just give you an update that he decided to go over to RNC headquarters this morning.  He wanted to thank all of the staff there for their hard work over this past cycle.  He wanted to thank them for their support over the past eight years.  He was planning to talk to them about how he sees the GOP -- which is a party that is forward-thinking, that is positive in its thinking, has a positive agenda for America -- and he's going to remind them that usually the last weeks in the campaign is the most important week in a campaign.	So he'll be there for just a little bit over an hour.  " title=" Q    Is he seeing Mr. Paulson today?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-07#entryid_273447" rowid="136530887" side="usa" srcid="273447" text=" MR. PRICE:  You'll have to ask him.  " title=" Q    Is he speaking as AU leader, or was he speaking as President of Tanzania?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-13#entryid_270272" rowid="136530390" side="usa" srcid="270272" text=" MRS. BUSH:  I think so, you know, as far as I know.  He was certainly a wonderful host for Afghanistan and a strong supporter of the international effort in Afghanistan by hosting the conference in Paris.  And with his government -- President Sarkozy and the French government were our hosts, along with the U.N. and Afghanistan.  So --  " title=" Q    Is he still as -- you're the first one to see him because he was at the conference, but is he " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-26#entryid_306586" rowid="136532664" side="usa" srcid="306586" text=" MS. PERINO:  No, I think -- I couldn't describe it either way.	I mean, this is a huge issue with -- to use Paula's word, it's uncharted territory.  It's not something that we have dealt with before in our country's history, so I don't think that there's -- you don't have anything to compare it to.	I think that's what I'd say.  &lt;p /&gt; Okay?  " title=" Q    Is he surprised at the level of opposition, though?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-27#entryid_302312" rowid="136531896" side="usa" srcid="302312" text=" MR. FRATTO:  He is willing to -- he is supporting President McCain and he's aware of how --  " title=" Q    Is he surprised to learn that he has been head of the Bush-McCain administration?  (Laughter.)" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-08#entryid_303878" rowid="136532171" side="usa" srcid="303878" text=" MS. PERINO:  Iraq and Afghanistan, yes.  " title=" Q    Is Iraq the subject of the speech?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-30 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-30#entryid_298484" rowid="136531374" side="usa" srcid="298484" text=" MR. WILDER:  No, no, no, no.  It's a registered church in Beijing.   MR. JOHNDROE:  Last one in the back.  " title=" Q    Is it a -- it's not considered a house church itself, though?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-25#entryid_306424" rowid="136532655" side="usa" srcid="306424" text=" MS. PERINO:  Senator McCain is the one who called for the meeting and we thought that it was a good idea.  And I think that everybody who is coming today thinks that it was -- it's a good idea.  But certainly I would say that members from both sides of the aisle and both Houses of Congress and both of the candidates have recognized the urgency with which we need to move, and they've been trying to work together.  So if this meeting can help bring it to conclusion, that will help us, too.  " title=" Q    Is it a fair statement to say that actually this idea where everybody is sitting down -- bicam" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2009-01-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2009-01-06#entryid_324996" rowid="136534865" side="usa" srcid="324996" text=" MS. PERINO:  I think that it was probably done within the White House budget, but we'll check for you.  " title=" Q    Is it a good expenditure for an administration when the economy is in the kind of state it is?" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-09-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-09-09#entryid_304049" rowid="136532204" side="usa" srcid="304049" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't think so.  " title=" Q    Is it a possibility that you'd --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-12-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-12-05#entryid_320422" rowid="136534375" side="usa" srcid="320422" text=" MR. STANZEL:  Well, I'm not the chef -- (laughter) -- so I would refer you to the folks who have put together those ideas.  But we are always evaluating those plans and, as I think Dana indicated yesterday, you know, there are lot of ideas out there and we're going to weigh them all, weigh the pros and cons.  But at this point, what we're focused on is the FHASecure program; we have the HOPE NOW program -- 3.2 million families have been helped through those programs.  But we're always looking to new ideas, but nothing to announce at this point.  &lt;p /&gt; Jim.  " title=" Q    Is it any closer to being cooked today?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-24#entryid_271791" rowid="136530619" side="usa" srcid="271791" text=" MS PERINO:  I think that -- I don't know a lot about U.S. interest offices, but I know that there's -- as I read, there's one in Cuba.  So I think that we've -- it's not unprecedented, and so I don't think it's inconsistent, no.  And again, this is directly for the people.  Just like we don't have any -- that we care very deeply for the Cuban p