President Bush- Televised News Conference

Below are notes taken during President Bush's news conference. These are rough notes with little editting therefore when a journalist asked a question the first name was included then the question is the first line. The Presidents response begins typically on next line.

Social Security (SS)Want a plan which will not raise payroll taxes or hurt our economy

Give younger workers opportunity to put a portion of their SS taxes in voluntary retirement account… hire rate of return then current systemWould supplement check of SSA number of invest options, simple and easy to understand1 investment option could be treasury bonds (little risk)this would make investments safercan pass on to whomever he or she chooseswilling to listen to any good idea from any partyone political party advantage or another, SS is too important for politics keep SS out of party and expand ownership for every backgrounddems and repubs stand up and do what’s right for our children and grandchildrenWe asking people to do things no one has addressed in 20 years… not surprised some are balking.. I have a duty as president to find answers to problems… if SS don’t think they will get a check, they won’t support…Once Americans know there is a problem they will start asking their reps from states why aren’t you doing something about it”If a president tries to govern by poles, kind of like a dog chasing your tail… SS is a big issue, the longer we wait the more expensive it will be for future problems… each year we wait costs about 600 million dollars

Journalist; SteveRichard Myers says insurgency is just as strong now as it was a year ago

President; I believe we are making really good progress, Iraqi people are seeing benefits of a free society… military performing much better then in past… safer iraq gets the more isolated terrorists will become… some are hard nosed killers… free iraq is important in middle east, “democracy is taking hold… peace is more likely to be norm”Talked with prime minister of iraq, appreciate his courage to stand up… America makes a commitment will stand by… he recognizes this is very important to future… timely arrival of constitution… reach out to disinfected groups in Iraq, invited him to come to America… it’s not easy to go from tyranny to democracy… passed sovereignty about 10 months ago

Journalist greggory; head of family research council, “attack against people of faith”How is faith being used, role playing in politics…

President; Some would like to see judges legislate from bench… I don’t think this is the role of the judge… For the sake of fairness, people I have nominated should get a vote…Role; I view religion as a personal matter… faith plays an important part of my personal life… people oppose my nominees due to judicial philosophy…I am mindful people in political office, you are not american if you don’t agree with my position… I don’t condemn someone in pol process… you should be able to worship how you want and if you don’t, you still equally patriotic

Journalist JohnSeveral times we’ve asked you and aids… about high prices of oil.. how energy bill would have effect on current prices of gasThe best way to effect current prices, ask petro producing nations to increase amount of oil on market… main factor is price of crude oil… if nations have access capacity, can decrease demand and take

Can’t wait a magic wand, Ft. hood soldier said “go lower the price of gasoline” it’s not that easy
1) recognize need to be more energy independent
2) onwar is 19 million acres of land, need 2000 acres to produce oil and gas
3) liquefied natural gas, a lot of natural gas in shipped by liquid form.. only 5 terminals who can receive liquefied natural gas
4) active Nuclear energy
5) abundant coal reservesJournalistIf we had an energy strategy, now we we are in a fix

Journalist JerryTerrorist attacks are at all time high… how do you explain more people are dying on your watch…When you engage terrorists abroad vs at home, we are relentless… there are still those who want to do harm to American peopleIn a broader sense, Long talk in slovakia about democracy, strongly supports democracy… working closely with russians on vehicle mounted weaponry to Syria… Russia has agreed to do is send enriched uranium to nuclear power plant and then collect it once it is used… what US, great britian france and germany realize is we can not trust the Iranians to enrich uranium… iran says can’t we have a nuclear power industry like you… I find it a little strange since they have such vast oil reserves

Journalist;Have you asked john Bolton, about allegations he acted inappropriately
President; John Bolton is a seasoned diplomat, serving our country for 20 years… has been confirmed by senate 4 times… john Bolton is a blunt guy… can get job done.. makes sense to me Isn’t afraid to speak his mind… put some like this at united nations…Before I send you up there, do you think the un is working? Bolton said, no it’s important, but it needs to be reformed…;Today I met with mr Larsen, un diplomat to Syria… he said the world expects mr assad to withdrawal all military and security forces from Lebanon…We have played a role, us… the UN has done a very good job in Syria and Lebanon,… elections in may are free of influence…On other ahdn un has had problems… if un is to be effective they need to clean up their problemJournalist; SS.. if congress were to pass legislation without personal accounts…It’s got to be a part of the package… a lot of debt, unfunded liabilities..workers need to be able to get higher rate of return… why should ownership only be for rich people… why can’t everyone who is not “investor class” not invest… if it is good enough for congress then it is good enough for everyone… government return is not as good as personal accounts… there is no bank account for ss., the system is pay as you go. Through payroll taxes, spends money on current retirees, all that is left is file cabinets of iou’s … encourage ownership.. people to have real assets, here is my mix of stocks and bonds and I can leave it to anyone I want…We are giving people flexibility… vital part in making America a hopeful place for the future… the accounts will mean something to a lot of workers…

Journalist David;Iraq, when troops can come back…
President; based on what you have learned now, fight insurgents and training iraq troops, within next year

There is a temptation to lay out a time table… I don’t think it is wise to lay out time table… the enemy will adjust…. When iraq people are ready…North Korea; Kim Jong Il is a dangerous person, he starves his people, concentration camps, and fear about ability to deliver nuclear weapon… we should assume he can…Bring more leverage by other countries… it used to be just America… Everyone used to say America go fix it… Bilateral approach did not work… the man said he was going to do something and he didn’t. do it… decided to include other people in the “neighborhood”… when Kim Jong Il announced nuclear weapon capablilities… the Chinese took note… it is important to have more then one voice toward Kim Jong Il…Have instructed Sec Rumsfeld to set up missle defense system, in process of getting it up and running. It is important if Jong Il launches a missile, it would be important to shoot it down.