White House Press Briefing - Thursday, February 8, 2007 [Now}

The White House Press Office ^ | 2/8/2007 | Tony Snow

[Bahbah]

It doesn't show up on my player. The yellow one relates to cancer, and I know he wears that, but I can't see if there are any others.

The press is all excited about the RNC going after Pelosi.

[dinasour]

We are not invading Iran...

Bummer.

[LibertyLee]

President is visiting Dept of Homeland Security. GWOT is not limited to Iraq. Requires every department and Agency...(buffering)...why we have Patriot Act...WE need tools to track down people who are trying to harm us before they do...

[Txsleuth]

Glad for the notes...I can't get the WH stream...

[Bahbah]

WH staying out of the Iraq debate b/c it's a non-binding res.

Jennifer asks if there's a sense of resignation. Oh puke.

Tony says this is congresscritters expressing their views and there's really no real way to interfere.

[Bahbah]

"Would you concede..."

Tony humorously takes him to task for that.

Oh, my, reporter worried over slowing down the legislative process.

[LibertyLee]

[I know, I wish we WOULD consider invading Iran]

[stream is breaking up]

Qs on resolution...This is something where they are expressing view (on resolution of non-binding resolutions)...This is a non-binding resolution. We don't think it's appropriate to say "don't express your views"...

Members are stepping back and saying what message do we want to send...

[dinasour]

"Would you concede..."

Was that Lester? I couldn't quite tell.

[Bahbah]

I think his name was Jim.

[FOXFANVOX]

Ref: Pelosi aircraft

This is bogus. This is why the Repbulicans lost. Now they are still going to support excesses by the Dems. [If Karl Rove thinks he is building a case against Pelosi, he will find that the people will think the Administration is being complicit in this.]

BTW: Most Americans would argue Pelosi does not need an aircraft. Or if she does, how about # 3 or 4 to succeed the President?

[LibertyLee]

This is process quesetion concerning members of the Senate. It is not going to happen this month...Talk to the members.. It deals more with procedureal matters in the US Senate...

Message coordination between WH and RNC. Sometimes, yes, but at this time we have a clear view. Why Don't you call the RNC...My view is that it's important to clarify the President's position...Speaker Pelosi has access to US DoD under guidelines...That's as it should be...

[Bahbah]

Q re apalling morale at DHS, budget problems, etc.

Tony asks source. Benny Thompson who does not work at DHS.

[FOXFANVOX]

I heard Hillary vote against Casey. She is in her John Kerry "flip-flop" mode.

[LibertyLee]

People who work at Dept of Homeland Security have a difficult task. We are talking about grants that awarded when it comes to First Responders...talking about formula trying to apportion funds based on needs and resources.

[Bahbah]

Reporter pointing out poor OMB ratings for DHS. Can they protect the homeland?

Tony says everyone is working to make things better.

[LibertyLee]

Every Dept and Agency worries about effectiveness...we are trying to raise effectiveness...

Is country hipersenstive to race and gender? I beleive women are a majority in this country...We've grown up a lot over the years...it's time to acknowlege equality...

We are supporting the flights...I am not going to characterize them. You're asking me for a chin pulling...Hipersensitive in and of itself. We have a Nation determined to make things better...

[Bahbah]

Will the US support the supposed Hamas/Fatah unity government?

Tony recites the usual litany on what we can support.

[LibertyLee]

Fatah-Hamas have unity gov't. We need a gov't that is a firm negotiating partner for Israel..we take quartet's position but too early to see about resumption of aid...

[Bahbah]

Tony says they are staying informed on the resolutions but not interferring.

[Txsleuth]

I am shocked there has been no questions re: the border agents.