White House transcript from Junior's mumble-fest this morning

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050531.html

Q Thank you, Mr. President. On your nomination of Mr. Bolton to the United Nations, it is now, by most accounts, under a filibuster, the Democrats refusing to invoke cloture last week. I wonder if you could address their demands for ongoing documents, in the case of Mr. Bolton's nomination, as well as what many Republicans have now criticized as a pervasive attitude of filibustering on behalf of the opposition on Capitol Hill.

THE PRESIDENT: You know, I thought -- I thought John Bolton was going to get an up or down vote on the Senate floor, just like he deserves an up or down vote on the Senate floor, and clearly he's got the votes to get confirmed. And so I was disappointed that once again, the leadership there in the Senate didn't give him an up or down vote. And the reason it's important to have an up or down vote is because we need to get our ambassador to the United Nations to help start reforming that important organization.

As I mentioned to you I think at the press conference in the East Room, that the reason I picked Bolton is he's a no-nonsense kind of fellow who can get things done. And we need to get something done in the United Nations. This is an organization which is important. It can help a lot in terms of the democracy movement; it can help deal with conflict and civil war. But it's an organization that is beginning to lose the trust of the American people, if it hasn't already, and therefore, we need to restore that trust. We pay over $2 billion a year into the United Nations, and it makes sense to have somebody there who's willing to say to the United Nations, let's -- why don't you reform? Let's make sure that the body works well and there's accountability and taxpayers' money is spent wisely. And it's important that people in America trust the United Nations, and Bolton will be able to carry that -- that message.

Now, in terms of the request for documents, I view that as just another stall tactic, another way to delay, another way to not allow Bolton to get an up or down vote. We have -- we've answered questions after questions after questions; documents were sent to the -- to the intelligence committee; the intelligence committee reviewed the NSA intercept process and confirmed that Bolton did what was right. And so it's just a stalling tactic. And I would hope that when they get back that they stop stalling and give the man a vote. Just give him a simple up or down vote.

Q What about the filibuster as a tactic, in general, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, it's certainly been a tactic that's been used on judges and Bolton, if this is a filibuster. I don't know what you call it. I'm not sure they actually labeled it, filibuster. I'd call it -- thus far, it's a stall -- stall headed toward filibuster, I guess. All I know is the man is not getting a vote, and it's taking a long time to get his vote. And we've -- he's been through hearings and questions and questionnaires. And it's pretty obvious to the American people, and to me, that you can tie up anything in the United States Senate if you want to. But it also ought to be clear that we need to get an ambassador to the United Nations as quickly as possible. And so I hope he gets a vote soon.

Dick.

[rodeodance]

1. "it takes a President willing to push people to do hard things."--his ego

is so far out that it is difficult to listen to him.



Q Sir, you mentioned a moment ago a push-back. And there's a perception that Congress has been pushing back recently. My question is, do you worry that you might be losing a bit of momentum?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm -- my attitude toward Congress is -- is -- will be reflected on whether or not they're capable of getting anything done. We got a good budget out of Congress, and we got some legal reform out of Congress. We got Priscilla Owen confirmed in the Senate, which is a positive thing. Looks like we'll get a couple of more judges on the appellate bench confirmed. But I think the standard by which Congress should be judged is whether or not they can get an energy bill. And I think they will. And I look forward to working with them on an energy bill.

Obviously -- I mentioned CAFTA -- we've got to get CAFTA, which is a very important trade agreement. It will be good for workers. And I'm looking forward to working with them on Social Security. Those are big issues that require action. Again, things don't happen instantly in Washington, D.C. I know that part of your job is to follow the process and follow the politics and who's up and who's down, but I've been around here long enough now to tell you it's just -- and tell the people listening, things just don't happen overnight. It takes a while.

And one thing is for certain; it takes a President willing to push people to do hard things. Because, keep in mind, we haven't had an energy strategy in this country for over a decade. And the Social Security issue hasn't been on the table since 1983 -- I mean, seriously on the table. And so I'm asking Congress to do some difficult things. And I'm going to keep asking them to do some difficult things. And I'm optimistic, when it's all said and done, that we will have come together and have helped solve some of these significant problems. ........

[peacetalksforall]

2. How precious...

"Let's make sure that the body works well and there's accountability and taxpayers' money is spent wisely."

This is from above.

Maybe we can get the UN that Bolton is supposed to clean up to clean up our administration.

3.1 TRILLION missing from the DOD and HUD (or just the DOD by itself).

U>-UK partnership to KILL.

[tmooses]

3. Who do you Americans distrust more, the UN or an administration

cloaked in secrecy, propoganda and misinformation?

[comsymp]

4. Don't normally say this, but God DAMN

I miss having an articulate President.

[cliss]

5. There's so much crap here.....

that I feel like I'm looking into a porta-potty. You know, the plastic kind they haul around to outdoor events, that you have to stand in line for, you lock the flimsy door on it.

as you wipe your butt, you look down. (I admit, I've looked down). You see this pile (depending how long the potty has been there) of about 3 feet high, piled with toilet paper, pee and excrement.

That's what I thought of when I read Bush's rambling "mumble-fest" asa you called it.

[flpoljunkie]

6. The man is an ugly combination of arrogance, defensiveness and ignorance.

That the press is afraid to ask the man the hard questions is truly sad for our democracy.

[MadisonProgressive]

7. Bush is a dumb puppet

"But it's an organization that is beginning to lose the trust of the American people, if it hasn't already, and therefore, we need to restore that trust."

So you think Bolton is going to make that better????? DUMBASS

[Roland99]

8. Documents are a stall tactic?

ARRRGGGHHH!!!


Well, we call take respite in knowing that karma's a bitch and the Propagandist will get his in DROVES!

[DemGa]

9. A nasty little tactic

telling Americans what they think, what is obvious to them, etc.

"And it's pretty obvious to the American people, and to me,"