September 27, 2005

Scott, why doesn't he just ride his mountain bike down?
WH spokes-tool Scott McClellan tries to justify Bush's 7th trip to the Gulf states, coming one day after Preznit Photo-op asked Americans to travel less to conserve energy:

Q: Earlier today, the President said, and encouraged Americans, to not use gasoline unnecessarily, to not take trips that were not absolutely necessary. Would the President curtail his own travel to the region, since he can be in touch by --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think it's important for the President of the United States to travel to the region and get firsthand accounts of the operations and to provide comfort and support {Ick - Ed.} to those who are -- have been affected by this -- by these hurricanes, as well as waste the time of those who are providing the critical support, the critical relief to get these people back up on their feet and to save lives and sustain lives.

Q: If I can just follow up on what Kelly was asking. What the President did for the vast majority of the weekend was get briefings, many of them via videoconference, that he could have easily done here at the White House. Why is that not just the kind of travel that could be curtailed?

MR. McCLELLAN: For the very reasons that I talked about this weekend, and that the President talked about. It's important for the President to look like he's doing somethi get a firsthand look at the operations that were underway.

Q: And what's he doing tomorrow that makes it necessary travel?

Q: Scott, beyond the President's travel tomorrow, what is the President going to do to conserve his own gas use and energy use here by White House staff?

MR. McCLELLAN: Fuck...

... later...

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think the American people recognize the importance of what we are working to accomplish in the broader Middle East. Iraq is a key part of establishing a foundation for lasting peace and security. What we're working to do is lay a foundation of peace for our children and grandchildren. And the President has made it very clear that his number one priority is the safety and security of the American people. And we are engaged in a global war. It is a war that is -- that continues. The President said after September 11th, that some would tend to forget. He will not. We are going to stay on the offensive until we win this war, and we're going to work to spread freedom and democracy to address the --

Q: How many are you going to kill, in the meantime?

It's hard work spreadin' freedom and democracy. But we're makin' progress.


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