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Q. Happy holidays.

ARI FLEISCHER: Thank you. Yes, on that note, let me just take a personal note, just to say this is the final briefing of the year. And for all of us in the White House, this has just been a very remarkable first year. You know, we still feel like we’re all new here. And many of you people in the White House press corps are parts of institutions that have been –

Q. You are new –

MR. FLEISCHER: We are new here. (Laughter.) Well, you guys aren’t. I want to just wish every one of you and your families a great, great New Year, a Merry Christmas. It’s really been fun working with you. This is a fun relationship. I know I don’t answer all your questions –

Q. You can say that again. (Laughter.)

MR. FLEISCHER: But that’s why I love working here. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Q. Same to you.

Q. New Year’s resolutions?

MR. FLEISCHER: More briefings.

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ARI FLEISCHER: Good afternoon. Happy Friday, to a half-empty Press Briefing Room.

Q. Half full.

MR. FLEISCHER: Half full. Thank you very much.

Q. And that’s the senior Bush lesson — the glass is never half empty.

MR. FLEISCHER: I oublie’d. All right, good morning…

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Q. Thank you.

ARI FLEISCHER: Thank you.

Q. No, no, no — (laughter.)

(Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling of the Arizona Diamondbacks come up to the podium.)

MR. FLEISCHER: Congratulations. (Laughter.)

Q. Ari, call their names. Call their names. What are they? (Laughter.)

Q. Who do you guys play for? (Laughter.)

MR. FLEISCHER: Can somebody call in Mayor Giuliani, quick? Fast! (Laughter.)

Q. Put the hat on him.

RANDY JOHNSON: We were told we couldn’t leave until you’ve actually had this on — (puts hat on Ari’s head.) (Laughter and applause.)

MR. FLEISCHER: Oh, boy.

Q. Any comments, Ari? How do you feel?

MR. FLEISCHER: I still don’t know why the infield was in in the bottom of the 9th. (Laughter.) Congratulations. It was a great World Series and you guys really deserved it.

RANDY JOHNSON: Thank you.

CURT SCHILLING: Thank you very much.

MR. FLEISCHER: These are the world champion Arizona Diamondbacks, I’m chagrined to report. (Applause.)

RANDY JOHNSON: It may be just a rumor, but I heard if we rub your head, we’ll be back here next year. (Laughter and applause.)

MR. FLEISCHER: I suspect I’ll have even less hair next year, and the Yankees will be back. (Laughter.) Congratulations.

RANDY JOHNSON:  Thank you very much.

CURT SCHILLING: We were questioning your first name, A-R-I, which is basically almost the New York Stock Exchange symbol for the Arizona Diamondbacks. (Laughter.) The correlation there is that you were probably born a Diamondbacks fan and just don’t know it yet. (Laughter.)

MR. FLEISCHER: I’m really honored that you guys are here. Baseball is a great sport –

CURT SCHILLING: So is your staff, from what I understand. (Laughter.)

MR. FLEISCHER: My former staff. (Applause.)

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