Press Conference Transcript >>>

[Stephanie]

If you can bear to go over it again, it's here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/19/AR2005121900375.html?nav=rss_politics/administration

<excerpt>

QUESTION: I wonder if you can tell us today, sir, what, if any, limits you believe there are or should be on the powers of a president during wartime.

And if the global war on terror is going to last for decades, as has been forecast, does that mean that we're going to see, therefore, a more or less permanent expansion of the unchecked power of the executive in American society?

BUSH: First of all, I disagree with your assertion of unchecked power.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

BUSH: Hold on for a second, please.

There is the check of people being sworn to uphold the law, for starters.

BUSH: There is oversight. We're talking to Congress all the time.

And on this program, to suggest there's unchecked power is not listening to what I'm telling you. I'm telling you, we have briefed the United States Congress on this program a dozen times.

This is an awesome responsibility, to make decisions on behalf of the American people. And I understand that. And we'll continue to work with the Congress, as well as people within our own administration, to constantly monitor a program such as the one I described to you, to make sure that we're protecting the civil liberties of the United States.

To say "unchecked power" basically is ascribing some kind of dictatorial position to the president, which I strongly reject.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

BUSH: I just described limits on this particular program, and that's what's important for the American people to understand. I am doing what you expect me to do and, at the same time, safeguarding the civil liberties of the country.

[Dora]

1. IMPEACH THE LIAR! n/t

[peekaloo]

2. doubleplusgood.

:-(

[w13rd0]

3. Hey...

...I'm raping your wife.

I know it's against the law and all, but I informted you of my intent, so it's all good.

Ok now, off to rape your wife and murder your children.

Oh, I didn't mention that? No, I informed the appropriate parties. It's presidential perogative.

If you don't like it, you are letting the terrorists win.

[BurtWorm]

4. Of all the noise spewing of out the Bush bastard's mouth...

it's his repeated use of the phrase "on behalf of the American people" that is most like the sound of nails being dragged slowly across a blackboard to my ears.

[bluedog]

5. NY CA NEVADA........uneasy feeling

I don't like the fact that he brought up these states....its gives one an uneasy feeling that something is going to happen in one of them....if not by bush..but by his nuttier followers...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/19/AR2005121900375.html?nav=rss_politics/administration

[im10ashus]

6. He's just as awful in print as he is live.

"And I want senators from New York or Los Angeles or Las Vegas to go home and explain why these cities are safer." :wtf:

[neweurope]

7. Oh. What kind of nitwits are the journalists there? Or do I not

understand something there (being German)?

They let him ramble on and on and on and even repeat his ramblings word for word; they let him evade each and every question, instead even let him parrot the Bushistas spin again and again; they dutifully laugh about his "jokes" which are often demeaning... Not one of them dares interrupt him, dares insist on getting an answer. And Bush, let me tell you, doesn't look all that stupid there. He's getting his message across to the public just as he wants.

I really don't understand it. Is it because the journalists would otherwise loose their accredi... don't know the word in English, in other words would they be told they could not attend anymore? And if so why in the world don't the publishing houses of the nation get together and boycott that show?

For the first time I read a whole "press conference" script. It's sickening.

.-----------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[Stephanie]

8. Yes, the WH Press Corps is notorioulsy sycophantic

Read this article - it's astounding:

http://www.vanityfair.com/commentary/content/articles/051024roco01

[neweurope]

9. Astounding indeed *sigh* Your press corps make me sick. But I

fear ours isn't far behind.

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

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[WeRQ4U]

10. Might piss O'Reilly off.

After all, he concluded with "Happy Holidays"

I guess the war on Christmas was a "Catastrophic Success". Mission Accomplished.