Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 11:30AM | Lovisa Frost
Briefer: Dana Perino
President’s Schedule
President Bush has his normal briefings this morning at 8 am. At 9.45 am, the President makes remarks to the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. At 11.10 am, the President will participate in an interview with April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks. This afternoon at 1:45 pm, he will meet with former Cabinet Secretaries and Senior Government Officials on Free Trade Agreements. At 2 pm, the President will make remarks on “Picturing America” Initiative in the East Room of the White House. White House Press Secretary Dana Perino will brief the press at 12.45 pm today.
Iran
When asked about updates and new incentives to get Iran to negotiate, Perino said that the meeting yesterday was to talk about the next round of sanctions. Perino referred to the State Department for more information.
FISA
Helen Thomas asked why the tele-companies need retro-immunity if they haven’t done anything wrong, and Perino replied that, “if they have not done anything wrong, why are trial lawyers bringing 40 different class-action lawsuits against them? “ Thomas wanted to know why they can’t go to court if they know that they did so many right things. Perino said that any time anyone is sued it is extremely expensive. “They did not break the law,” she added. Perino was also asked why the President did not talk about lost intelligence as mentioned by the Director of National Intelligence McConnell. “What is different now is that back in August, when we signed the six-month extension of the Protect America Act, it did not include retro-active liability protection which is something they said that we needed to have in this bill. The Senate agrees and the majority of the House members agree, and if the House Democratic leaders would allow for a vote this bill would pass, Perino said.
Governors’ idea of another stimulus package
Perino was asked why the President closed the door on the idea of an additional stimulus package, a proposal raised by the Governors yesterday. This was a package to support infrastructure as a way to help revive the economy. Perino replied that the President does not believe that those projects will have the short-term stimulus effects that the country needs. He will listen to all their ideas, though he will not support anything that will raise taxes.
NY Philharmonic North Korea concert
When asked if the President watched or listened to the New York Philharmonic’s concert from N. Korea yesterday, Perino said that she doubts it. When asked if she thinks it was a good idea that they went to North Korea, Perino replied that the President thinks that at the end of the day this is a concern and that it is not going to change the behavior of their regime. They are still not as forthcoming as we need them to be. “They need to move faster of denuclearization, we need a full and accurate report from them, and we need a report on all their proliferation activities. From there it is possible that additional culture exchanges, like Philharmonics, will be available. But you can’t help to think about all the people in North Korea who are not going to be able to hear it. For those who were lucky enough to hear it, I am sure that it was a memorable, and I am sure the philharmonics played a lovely concert. “
White House Gaggle
President’s Schedule
President Bush has his normal briefings this morning at 8 am.
At 9.45 am, the President makes remarks to the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. At 11.10 am, the President will participate in an interview with April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks. This afternoon at 1:45 pm, he will meet with former Cabinet Secretaries and Senior Government Officials on Free Trade Agreements. At 2 pm, the President will make remarks on “Picturing America” Initiative in the East Room of the White House.
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino will brief the press at 12.45 pm today.
Iran
When asked about updates and new incentives to get Iran to negotiate, Perino said that the meeting yesterday was to talk about the next round of sanctions. Perino referred to the State Department for more information.
FISA
Helen Thomas asked why the tele-companies need retro-immunity if they haven’t done anything wrong, and Perino replied that, “if they have not done anything wrong, why are trial lawyers bringing 40 different class-action lawsuits against them? “ Thomas wanted to know why they can’t go to court if they know that they did so many right things. Perino said that any time anyone is sued it is extremely expensive. “They did not break the law,” she added. Perino was also asked why the President did not talk about lost intelligence as mentioned by the Director of National Intelligence McConnell. “What is different now is that back in August, when we signed the six-month extension of the Protect America Act, it did not include retro-active liability protection which is something they said that we needed to have in this bill. The Senate agrees and the majority of the House members agree, and if the House Democratic leaders would allow for a vote this bill would pass, Perino said.
Governors’ idea of another stimulus package
Perino was asked why the President closed the door on the idea of an additional stimulus package, a proposal raised by the Governors yesterday. This was a package to support infrastructure as a way to help revive the economy. Perino replied that the President does not believe that those projects will have the short-term stimulus effects that the country needs. He will listen to all their ideas, though he will not support anything that will raise taxes.
NY Philharmonic North Korea concert
When asked if the President watched or listened to the New York Philharmonic’s concert from N. Korea yesterday, Perino said that she doubts it. When asked if she thinks it was a good idea that they went to North Korea, Perino replied that the President thinks that at the end of the day this is a concern and that it is not going to change the behavior of their regime. They are still not as forthcoming as we need them to be. “They need to move faster of denuclearization, we need a full and accurate report from them, and we need a report on all their proliferation activities. From there it is possible that additional culture exchanges, like Philharmonics, will be available. But you can’t help to think about all the people in North Korea who are not going to be able to hear it. For those who were lucky enough to hear it, I am sure that it was a memorable, and I am sure the philharmonics played a lovely concert. “