Friday
Oct062006
White House Gaggle
Friday, October 6, 2006 at 3:00AM
By Victoria Jones
October 6, 2006
President's Schedule
The President taped his radio address this morning. The topic was 'No Child Left Behind' and the upcoming conference on school violence. He had his regular briefings. He will have a roundtable on job growth and the economy and make a statement on that. This afternoon he will make remarks at Hispanic Heritage Month.
Tomorrow the President will attend the christening ceremony of the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush. The ship's name is CCN77. Secretary Rumsfeld will provide brief remarks and introduce the President. The President's remarks will be personal in nature about his father, the World War II generation and those who defend freedom today. He will introduce his father, who will provide remarks, and who will introduce Dora Bush, who is the sponsor of the ship and will perform the christening.
The School Safety Conference will be on Tuesday 10 October from 9.15 am to 2.10 pm at the National 4H Youth Conference Centre in Chevy Chase, MD. There will be three panels. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez will host a panel called "Preventing Violence in Schools". Secretary Spellings will host two panels called "Prepared Schools and Communities are Safer" and "Helping Communities Heal and Recover". Attorney General Gonzalez and Secretary Spellings will host a closing discussion called "Working Together to Make our Schools Safe". Both the President and Mrs. Bush will have some participation in the conference. Mrs. Bush will provide brief remarks around 12.20 pm. After the President participates in the closing discussion regarding the lessons learned from the conference, he will speak.
Foleygate/Hastert
Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino was asked why, yesterday, there had been a sudden change in the President's schedule so that he had telephoned Speaker Hastert, whereas earlier Press Secretary Tony Snow had informed the Press that the President had not spoken to Hastert and had no plans to do so. Perino said that the President phoned Hastert around 6.15 pm last night and thanked him for making a clear public statement and taking responsibility. The President appreciated how, when the House leadership learned of the lurid emails, they swiftly moved to tell Rep. Foley that he was going to have to resign. He expressed his support for the speaker.
Iraq/Senator John Warner
Perino was asked if the President is disturbed by Senator Warner's assertion that the situation in Iraq is drifting sideways. Perino replied that Secretary Rice had just been in Baghdad. She quoted President Bush as saying this is a crucial moment for the new Iraqi government. She said the US is committed to victory in Iraq, and to being as nimble and flexible as possible to adapt to the enemy that is determined to continue to foment violence and kill innocent people, as well as our soldiers and Iraqi soldiers. The US knew there would be an increase in violence during Ramadan.
Asked what Senator Warner meant by saying that Congress might have to take some bold steps in three months unless there is a marked improvement, Perino said she did not know.
Asked what blinders Secretary Rice was wearing if she could say the US is making progress with a large number of US deaths this week, Perino replied that it is tragic when our soldiers die on the battlefield. Progress is made as we continue to work to turn over secure areas of Iraq to the Iraqi security forces.
North Korea
Perino was asked if there are any new indications that a nuclear test is planned. Perino said the US does not believe North Korea should test a nuclear weapon. This has been made clear to them publicly and privately. We continue to work with the five members of the six party talks, she said. She said she does not discuss intelligence, but she has nothing new.
Perino was asked why, if it is assumed that North Korea has at least six nuclear weapons already, testing one is intolerable. Perino said they have never tested one before and this would be a new action, and unacceptable. It is destabilizing to the region, she continued. (A White House staffer later added that it would be a further step towards weaponizing.)
School Violence
Perino was asked about a statement by a Green Bay lawmaker that teachers should be armed. She said she had not heard that. She was asked if advocates of gun safety laws would be included in the school safety conference. Perino said she did not know yet. She was then asked whether recommendations or conclusions were expected to come out of the school safety conference. She said that it was collective thinking of a nation at a moment when everyone can focus their ideas in terms of best practices, not only for prevention, but also for helping communities heal. She thought it was more about a chance for a gathering and a discussion and a chance to share, rather than on that day specific recommendations and specific policies.
The Week Ahead
Monday
No public events
Tuesday
Meets with the President of Peru
Attends Conference on School Safety
Travels to Macon, Georgia, reception
Wednesday
Meets with Commander in Chief Veterans of Foreign Wars
Meets President of Southern Baptist Convention
Remarks on the Economy and Budget
Thursday
Remarks on Energy, St Louis Convention Center
Fundraiser and reception, Chicago
Friday
Signs HR5954, SAFE Court Act
Republican National Committee luncheon Evermay
Photo-op United States Air Force Thunderbirds
Saturday
Remarks United States Air Force Memorial Dedication
October 6, 2006
President's Schedule
The President taped his radio address this morning. The topic was 'No Child Left Behind' and the upcoming conference on school violence. He had his regular briefings. He will have a roundtable on job growth and the economy and make a statement on that. This afternoon he will make remarks at Hispanic Heritage Month.
Tomorrow the President will attend the christening ceremony of the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush. The ship's name is CCN77. Secretary Rumsfeld will provide brief remarks and introduce the President. The President's remarks will be personal in nature about his father, the World War II generation and those who defend freedom today. He will introduce his father, who will provide remarks, and who will introduce Dora Bush, who is the sponsor of the ship and will perform the christening.
The School Safety Conference will be on Tuesday 10 October from 9.15 am to 2.10 pm at the National 4H Youth Conference Centre in Chevy Chase, MD. There will be three panels. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez will host a panel called "Preventing Violence in Schools". Secretary Spellings will host two panels called "Prepared Schools and Communities are Safer" and "Helping Communities Heal and Recover". Attorney General Gonzalez and Secretary Spellings will host a closing discussion called "Working Together to Make our Schools Safe". Both the President and Mrs. Bush will have some participation in the conference. Mrs. Bush will provide brief remarks around 12.20 pm. After the President participates in the closing discussion regarding the lessons learned from the conference, he will speak.
Foleygate/Hastert
Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino was asked why, yesterday, there had been a sudden change in the President's schedule so that he had telephoned Speaker Hastert, whereas earlier Press Secretary Tony Snow had informed the Press that the President had not spoken to Hastert and had no plans to do so. Perino said that the President phoned Hastert around 6.15 pm last night and thanked him for making a clear public statement and taking responsibility. The President appreciated how, when the House leadership learned of the lurid emails, they swiftly moved to tell Rep. Foley that he was going to have to resign. He expressed his support for the speaker.
Iraq/Senator John Warner
Perino was asked if the President is disturbed by Senator Warner's assertion that the situation in Iraq is drifting sideways. Perino replied that Secretary Rice had just been in Baghdad. She quoted President Bush as saying this is a crucial moment for the new Iraqi government. She said the US is committed to victory in Iraq, and to being as nimble and flexible as possible to adapt to the enemy that is determined to continue to foment violence and kill innocent people, as well as our soldiers and Iraqi soldiers. The US knew there would be an increase in violence during Ramadan.
Asked what Senator Warner meant by saying that Congress might have to take some bold steps in three months unless there is a marked improvement, Perino said she did not know.
Asked what blinders Secretary Rice was wearing if she could say the US is making progress with a large number of US deaths this week, Perino replied that it is tragic when our soldiers die on the battlefield. Progress is made as we continue to work to turn over secure areas of Iraq to the Iraqi security forces.
North Korea
Perino was asked if there are any new indications that a nuclear test is planned. Perino said the US does not believe North Korea should test a nuclear weapon. This has been made clear to them publicly and privately. We continue to work with the five members of the six party talks, she said. She said she does not discuss intelligence, but she has nothing new.
Perino was asked why, if it is assumed that North Korea has at least six nuclear weapons already, testing one is intolerable. Perino said they have never tested one before and this would be a new action, and unacceptable. It is destabilizing to the region, she continued. (A White House staffer later added that it would be a further step towards weaponizing.)
School Violence
Perino was asked about a statement by a Green Bay lawmaker that teachers should be armed. She said she had not heard that. She was asked if advocates of gun safety laws would be included in the school safety conference. Perino said she did not know yet. She was then asked whether recommendations or conclusions were expected to come out of the school safety conference. She said that it was collective thinking of a nation at a moment when everyone can focus their ideas in terms of best practices, not only for prevention, but also for helping communities heal. She thought it was more about a chance for a gathering and a discussion and a chance to share, rather than on that day specific recommendations and specific policies.
The Week Ahead
Monday
No public events
Tuesday
Meets with the President of Peru
Attends Conference on School Safety
Travels to Macon, Georgia, reception
Wednesday
Meets with Commander in Chief Veterans of Foreign Wars
Meets President of Southern Baptist Convention
Remarks on the Economy and Budget
Thursday
Remarks on Energy, St Louis Convention Center
Fundraiser and reception, Chicago
Friday
Signs HR5954, SAFE Court Act
Republican National Committee luncheon Evermay
Photo-op United States Air Force Thunderbirds
Saturday
Remarks United States Air Force Memorial Dedication
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