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TRENT DUFFY: …The fact is that al Qaeda’s playbook is not printed on page one, and when America’s is, it has serious ramifications. You don’t need to be Sun Tzu to understand that. (Laughter.)

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113651077497111791

TRENT DUFFY: …The fact is that al Qaeda’s playbook is not printed on page one, and when America’s is, it has serious ramifications. You don’t need to be Sun Tzu to understand that. (Laughter.)

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ATTORNEY GENERAL GONZALEZ: I guess I disagree with that characterization. I think that this electronic surveillance is within the law, has been authorized. I mean, that is our position. We’re only required to achieve a court order through FISA if we don’t have authorization otherwise by the Congress, and we think that that has occurred in this particular case.

Q Can you just give us one assurance before you go, General?

GONZALEZ: It depends on what it is. (Laughter.)

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113504000028186219

ATTORNEY GENERAL GONZALEZ: I guess I disagree with that characterization. I think that this electronic surveillance is within the law, has been authorized. I mean, that is our position. We’re only required to achieve a court order through FISA if we don’t have authorization otherwise by the Congress, and we think that that has occurred in this particular case.

Q Can you just give us one assurance before you go, General?

GONZALEZ: It depends on what it is. (Laughter.)

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113486866969340294

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Well, we’re making it easier for seniors to be able to understand what is available to them. And I think the point the President was making is that he understands that these are new options and choices that are available to America’s seniors, and what we want to do is talk to them about what is available to help them make an informed decision. And I think seniors are trying to go about making an informed decision. And what they’re going to realize is better benefits and significant savings.

Q. And what’s the best plan for my mother in particular? Can you save me some time here? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: I’m not the expert on that. Go ahead. I didn’t know that’s where you were going.

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113486866969340294

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Well, we’re making it easier for seniors to be able to understand what is available to them. And I think the point the President was making is that he understands that these are new options and choices that are available to America’s seniors, and what we want to do is talk to them about what is available to help them make an informed decision. And I think seniors are trying to go about making an informed decision. And what they’re going to realize is better benefits and significant savings.

Q. And what’s the best plan for my mother in particular? Can you save me some time here? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: I’m not the expert on that. Go ahead. I didn’t know that’s where you were going.

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Q. Is Senator Lieberman getting a holiday invitation to the ranch by any chance? (Laughter.)

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Q. Is Senator Lieberman getting a holiday invitation to the ranch by any chance? (Laughter.)

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113363083110210844

Q And with respect to the administration a few months ago saying that Katrina victims are your first priority, I was wondering, first of all, does the White House support the Katrina tax relief package that is one of the budget reconciliation versions? And, secondly, when you said the economy is humming and standard of living is improving, what does the administration plan to do to improve the standard of living and make the economy hum for the at least 200,000 homeless Katrina victims?

National Economic Adviser AL HUBBARD: That was a long question. (Laughter.) I must admit, I’m — hit me one more time with — (laughter.)

Q The Katrina relief package, do you support it?

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113363083110210844

Q And with respect to the administration a few months ago saying that Katrina victims are your first priority, I was wondering, first of all, does the White House support the Katrina tax relief package that is one of the budget reconciliation versions? And, secondly, when you said the economy is humming and standard of living is improving, what does the administration plan to do to improve the standard of living and make the economy hum for the at least 200,000 homeless Katrina victims?

National Economic Adviser AL HUBBARD: That was a long question. (Laughter.) I must admit, I’m — hit me one more time with — (laughter.)

Q The Katrina relief package, do you support it?

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SCOTT McCLELLAN: Speaking of can’t remember, I can’t remember the last time Mark Knoller came to a briefing. (Laughter.)

Q Well, I’m leaving now. (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: It’s a good point. Can I?

Q He monitors everything very carefully.

MR. McCLELLAN: He does. And he probably knows the last time he came, too. (Laughter.)

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SCOTT McCLELLAN: Speaking of can’t remember, I can’t remember the last time Mark Knoller came to a briefing. (Laughter.)

Q Well, I’m leaving now. (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: It’s a good point. Can I?

Q He monitors everything very carefully.

MR. McCLELLAN: He does. And he probably knows the last time he came, too. (Laughter.)

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Q Scott? Follow up — another subject. Has the President been summoned for jury duty in Crawford? And if so, will he serve?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: No. Good question, and I can update you on that. At this point, we’ve never received a jury summons from the court. We checked, but when we learned about it, I think through media reports, we did reach out to the court to find out about this jury summons. And apparently, this summons was for Monday, December 5th. We have since called the court to inform them that the President has other commitments on Monday — (laughter) — and that he would like to reschedule his jury duty. And so we’ll be working with the court to reschedule his jury duty. The judge, in fact, was the one who we reached out to and contacted, and he indicated that that would be fine and that he would work with us to reschedule. (Laughter.)

Q When are you rescheduling it for?

Q He can get his federal appointments –

Q Where will the –

MR. McCLELLAN: But, let me — one serious note, one serious note, jury duty is an important civic responsibility, and it’s important that people do serve.

Q Would he like to serve in the Cindy Sheehan case down there? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, April. That was Ken Herman, Cox News Service, for the record. (Laughter.)

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113363060703837620

Q Scott? Follow up — another subject. Has the President been summoned for jury duty in Crawford? And if so, will he serve?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: No. Good question, and I can update you on that. At this point, we’ve never received a jury summons from the court. We checked, but when we learned about it, I think through media reports, we did reach out to the court to find out about this jury summons. And apparently, this summons was for Monday, December 5th. We have since called the court to inform them that the President has other commitments on Monday — (laughter) — and that he would like to reschedule his jury duty. And so we’ll be working with the court to reschedule his jury duty. The judge, in fact, was the one who we reached out to and contacted, and he indicated that that would be fine and that he would work with us to reschedule. (Laughter.)

Q When are you rescheduling it for?

Q He can get his federal appointments –

Q Where will the –

MR. McCLELLAN: But, let me — one serious note, one serious note, jury duty is an important civic responsibility, and it’s important that people do serve.

Q Would he like to serve in the Cindy Sheehan case down there? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, April. That was Ken Herman, Cox News Service, for the record. (Laughter.)

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Q Scott? Yesterday, the President, for the first time, went into a greater level of detail about a key aspect of the plan, the training of Iraqi –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I thought you said he wasn’t very specific. Now you’re saying — (laughter.)

Q Can I just stick with my question? (Laughter.)

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