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Q. Yes, I wanted to come back to the agenda of the meeting with Putin, if I may, for a second. The meeting will happen two days before the new vote in Ukraine. Do you expect that to be a major subject in the discussion? Also the President yesterday mentioned –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I’m sorry, the meeting with Putin? That will be –

Q. Yes.

MR. McCLELLAN: That won’t be until February. When the vote — the vote on Ukraine will be –

Q. All right, sorry, I don’t know what I’m talking about.

MR. McCLELLAN: — this week. That’s okay, I don’t either, so — (Laughter.)

Q. That is a moment of frankness in the briefing room. (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: — then we can begin the holidays.

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Q. Yes, I wanted to come back to the agenda of the meeting with Putin, if I may, for a second. The meeting will happen two days before the new vote in Ukraine. Do you expect that to be a major subject in the discussion? Also the President yesterday mentioned –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I’m sorry, the meeting with Putin? That will be –

Q. Yes.

MR. McCLELLAN: That won’t be until February. When the vote — the vote on Ukraine will be –

Q. All right, sorry, I don’t know what I’m talking about.

MR. McCLELLAN: — this week. That’s okay, I don’t either, so — (Laughter.)

Q. That is a moment of frankness in the briefing room. (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: — then we can begin the holidays.

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SCOTT McCLELLAN: Thank you. Happy holidays to everybody here.

Q. You can say, Christmas.

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SCOTT McCLELLAN: Thank you. Happy holidays to everybody here.

Q. You can say, Christmas.

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Q. Thank you. Scott, an aide to General Tommy Franks says the President discussed the DNI job with the General when he was here to receive the Medal of Freedom. The aide says the President didn’t twist Franks’s arms very much, that the General doesn’t consider the door slammed shut, but only slightly ajar. Will the President try a little bit more arm-twisting? And is the General the President’s choice for DNI?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I know you’re not asking me to play the Washington, D.C. personnel speculation game. (Laughter.)

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Q. Thank you. Scott, an aide to General Tommy Franks says the President discussed the DNI job with the General when he was here to receive the Medal of Freedom. The aide says the President didn’t twist Franks’s arms very much, that the General doesn’t consider the door slammed shut, but only slightly ajar. Will the President try a little bit more arm-twisting? And is the General the President’s choice for DNI?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I know you’re not asking me to play the Washington, D.C. personnel speculation game. (Laughter.)

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Q. Thank you. Otherwise, sorry, you have a cold. I hope it’s not the flu.

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Oh, no. I don’t think so. Thanks.

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Q. Thank you. Otherwise, sorry, you have a cold. I hope it’s not the flu.

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Oh, no. I don’t think so. Thanks.

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Q. Before my question, I must commend to the Secret Service agents at the Southwest gate yesterday. I had a problem with my key. I locked the key in my car, they were very helpful.

SCOTT McCLELLAN: They’ve been duly thanked. (Laughter.)

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Q. Before my question, I must commend to the Secret Service agents at the Southwest gate yesterday. I had a problem with my key. I locked the key in my car, they were very helpful.

SCOTT McCLELLAN: They’ve been duly thanked. (Laughter.)

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Q. Can you enlighten us as to whether your brother plans to stay on as head of Medicare? And, while we’re at it, whether you plan to stay on –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Well, we never speculate on personnel matters, and I wouldn’t do that on family members, either. I think that the President believes Dr. McClellan is an outstanding member of this team and he’s doing a great job overseeing the Medicare program. He’s been there for about eight months now; we’re going through some historic reforms. And that’s the way the President views it. In fact, he’ll be over here shortly to update the President on some of the Medicare reforms that we’re putting in place.

Q. Will you stay with us?

MR. McCLELLAN: I never speculate on personnel matters. And I work at the patience of my wife. (Laughter.)

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Q. Can you enlighten us as to whether your brother plans to stay on as head of Medicare? And, while we’re at it, whether you plan to stay on –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Well, we never speculate on personnel matters, and I wouldn’t do that on family members, either. I think that the President believes Dr. McClellan is an outstanding member of this team and he’s doing a great job overseeing the Medicare program. He’s been there for about eight months now; we’re going through some historic reforms. And that’s the way the President views it. In fact, he’ll be over here shortly to update the President on some of the Medicare reforms that we’re putting in place.

Q. Will you stay with us?

MR. McCLELLAN: I never speculate on personnel matters. And I work at the patience of my wife. (Laughter.)

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Q. There is a report that nearly 6,000 people in the U.S. wind up in emergency rooms over the holidays because of decorating injuries. What specifically are you and the President doing to hang the holly and the mistletoe safely? (Laughter.) And have orders been issued that there is to be no dipping into the punch bowl while decorating? (Laughter.)

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I would just say that we have great appreciation for all the staff and the volunteers who help put up the Christmas decorations and the holiday decorations that adorn the White House, and we appreciate all that they have done in that.

Q. Follow-up, Scott. (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Happy holidays. Go ahead, Les.

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Q. There is a report that nearly 6,000 people in the U.S. wind up in emergency rooms over the holidays because of decorating injuries. What specifically are you and the President doing to hang the holly and the mistletoe safely? (Laughter.) And have orders been issued that there is to be no dipping into the punch bowl while decorating? (Laughter.)

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I would just say that we have great appreciation for all the staff and the volunteers who help put up the Christmas decorations and the holiday decorations that adorn the White House, and we appreciate all that they have done in that.

Q. Follow-up, Scott. (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Happy holidays. Go ahead, Les.

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Q. Scott, back on Social Security, although you’re not answering specifically certain issues, early in the first part of the Bush administration there was talk about raising the age for those who were eligible for Social Security. Is that in or out as far as the President is concerned?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: See, here we go again trying to get me to negotiate solutions from this podium. (Laughter.)

Q. No, it’s not negotiating. You said there are options on the table. Is that an option on the table?

MR. McCLELLAN: The President has outlined his principles. We’re going to be talking with members of Congress about how we get this solved and how we proceed forward –

Q. You only had one out of three, can you answer mine? (Laughter.)

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