Lawrence Ari Fleischer

“ The President, as I indicated, sent the bill up to the Hill this week. People are going to take a look at it. There are going to be various provisions in there where people wholeheartedly support, others that they may oppose, others that they're going to ask to amend. And we're very encouraged by everything we have seen so far, and we have good reason to keep being encouraged. Q Do you think what you've seen so far is just the cordiality that comes with a honeymoon, or is there something more substantive and business-like in what you're hearing from members of Congress, especially Democrats? ”

“ Q Ari, after a week of courting Democrats, both prior elder statesman and present members of Congress and governors, does he think that the so-called "charm offensive" is going to ameliorate concerns over vouchers and the size of his tax cut? MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I think the President's approach to how to get things done in Washington is to begin with the power of ideas. He thinks that the reason you get legislation enacted and passed through the Congress is because you offered a good idea. ”

“ No, honeymoons don't spring out of no where. Honeymoons also spring out of good ideas and good policies. And there would be no good reception if it wasn't for the fact that the President hasn't proposed good ideas. ”

“ The exact timing of fast track and when the President will ask the Congress to give him fast track negotiating authority has not yet been determined, but it is a priority. Opening up free trade is vital to America's agricultural interests, it's in our national interests, and the President is dedicated to it. Q Ari, are there -- just a follow-up, please, on the vandalism. Could you at some point get us a figure, because people are using wild figures -- $90,000 -- just give us some general ballpark idea? MR. FLEISCHER: We're not. We're just going to focus on doing our jobs here. ”

“ Q Ari, the President is not taking questions on foreign policy. Can we expect more from him soon? Perhaps a major interview on foreign policy? MR. FLEISCHER: Well, as you know, his focus this week was on education. I'll get into this at the end of the briefing, what his focus next week is going to be on. But in many of these sessions, people have asked whatever question was on their mind. And so you've had several opportunities to ask him a number of questions. The events he is focused on are, as I indicated, education this week. ”

“ He's going to meet with a wide series of congressional leaders next week of both parties, so you can anticipate many meetings here at the White House. He will submit to the Hill his faith-based programs, his solutions to those social problems I mentioned. He will have the first Cabinet meeting of the administration next week. On Thursday, he will attend the National Prayer Breakfast. And he will also, finally, announce the new freedom initiative next week, which is an initiative aimed at helping people who are disabled have strong and secure lives. ”

“ I think that whatever took place is passed, and our focus is going to be to just do the job that the American people elected President Bush to do. And I can understand -- sometimes in Washington people want others to fight, and this is part of changing the tone. We're just going to do our jobs. Q Ari, some Clinton folks that we've talked to said, wait a minute, there's sort of a double standard here. No one says from the Bush White House exactly what happened. ”

“ Q Ari, who is the administration's point person for the disability initiative? Is there a disability coordinator in the White House? MR. FLEISCHER: In terms of policy, it's a variety of people who are working on the policy front of it. Q The previous White House had a disability task force, as well as a disability coordinator in charge of outreach. ”

“ Earthquakes know no political boundaries. I send condolences to the people affected in neighboring Pakistan as well. We stand ready to assist as needed and as desired by the governments." I also have a statement from the Press Secretary on an upcoming visit to Washington. ”

“ And it's spreading. It's not just education. We see it now on tax cuts, where we now have -- are starting to build bipartisan support for the areas the President believes in. I think you see President Bush setting the agenda in Washington on the ideas on which he ran, delivering on the promises he made. And you're seeing a lot of that this week. Q Ari, what's he learning about how the political landscape in Washington is a little bit different than that in Texas, where he was very successful in charming even his adversaries? ”