White House Press Briefing Live Blog [Feb. 4, 2009]

Photo of Ken Shepherd.
  • Bookmark and Share

Live-blogging the press briefing. Was scheduled to start at 2:30, it's now 2:38.

Watching on Fox News Channel. May also through up some Tweets @KenShepherd

The archive of official White House press briefings can be found here.

14:45: Still waiting for Gibbs to come out. Fox News has gone to split-screen.

14:52, Gibbs finally underway.

14:54, female reporter notes Judd Gregg connection to Abramoff scandal. 2nd question, is president getting tougher in rhetoric on stimulus?

14:56, same reporter he feels the need to ramp up the rhetoric a bit, why is that?

14:58, male reporter asks if there's any concern the executive pay guideline will backfire, with firms not asking for bailout money b/c of the rules. Also asks if Gibbs can give a "flavor" for what to expect from stimulus negotiations.

15:01, same reporter: Are you worried about it backfiring?

15:02, Ed Henry, CNN with question about president's stance on "buy American" provisions in the stimulus bill.

15:03, Henry asks "what balance" does Obama want "to strike" in buying American and honoring trade commitments.

15:04, Henry: Does he want a "buy American" provision in this bill? The current one doesn't have that?

15:04, Jake Tapper, ABC: On stimulus, Dem congressman Jim Cooper  of TN recently said the WH wants to keep the speaker happy but let them know privately the Dems... has the White House conveyed privately you're not interested in all the pork?

15:06, Tapper asks about executive bonuses.

15:08, Chip Reid, CBS News: if the voter were held today, would you lose? In the meetings, is he trying to eke out 60 votes [in the Senate on the stimulus]

15:10, Reid: What inning are we in now?

Gibbs: Bottom of the 5th. 

unknown reporter: How many outs?

Gibbs continues analogy...

15:11 Ed Henry, CNN: What is the accountability, what is the teeth[on the bailout package]?

15:14 Henry asks followup

15:14 Henry with another followup

15:14, Peter Maer, CBS Radio question on difference between President's public statements with private negotiations with legislators.

15:16 reporter with questions on governors approaching White House on stimulus

15:18 male reporter asking if compensation cap will be pegged to inflation and how many will face salary cap.

15:19, Major Garrett, Fox News cites CBO study on job creation and the costs of the bill. Asks how valid a "metric" that is and if he considers it a good value for Americans to consider the cost of the stimulus bill vs. cost of inaction.

15:21, Garrett with question on SCHIP: funding mechanism is 68 cent cigarette tax boost. That hits the poor disproportionately. Notes that stimulus has a plan to cut cigarette addix, but wouldn't that hurt SCHIP expansion, pegged to tobacco tax?

15:23, Garrett: So no concern about ability to fund this.

15:23, female reporter notes double standard of Geithner to continue in his job but not Daschle.

15:24, male reporter named Jeff: What exactly does the president believe he did to screw up [the Daschle pick]?

15:25, same reporters ask if any of the fundamentals will change in the job search for HHS?

15:28, Mark Smith, AP reporter: asks if president will lay out agenda for upcoming Williamsburg trip

15:29, Smith: Is he planning to take this on the road, talk to average Americans?

15:29, Ann Compton, ABC Radio with questions about Obama transition and vetting process, is it through the WH counsel's office?

15:29, Compton: so many individuals had problems erupt after nomination and seen by Cap Hill, is he satisfied that new nominees have been adequately vetted?

15:31, male reporter: Does the president need to retool or rework his legislative team?

15:33, another male reporter: President said last night he is going to fix the mistake made. What does that mean, what is he going to fix?

15:34, same reporter: Was it a bad political judgment or was he overeager?

15:34, male reporter: the James A. Baker institute says defer a lunar shot and focus on climate change? Any white house reaction?

15:35, female reporter: Is it a you know itwhen you see it in terms of problems with a nominee, or are there specific instructions from the president [for vetting]

15:37 Gibbs thanks reporters, closes briefing

# # #

—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters


Comments Policy

All comments are owned by whoever posted them and are subject to our terms of use. They should not be assumed to represent the views of NewsBusters.

Viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Who....

....is going for the popcorn?

I'll take mine buttered.

Thats a pretty tie...

Thats a pretty tie...

Interesting....

...a reporterette mentions Abramoff in the same breath as a BHO appointee? 

Hmmmm, is that because Gregg is a Republican or because the bloom has come off the flower?

Gibbs is missing a

Gibbs is missing a hankerchief to wipe his brow periodically while he's answering questions.

Perhaps....

....a couple of steel balls in his hand would be more appropriate?

Maybe Hilldog can lend him

Maybe Hilldog can lend him hers...

I knew....

....someone would mention Hillary.

He spent nearly 3 minutes

He spent nearly 3 minutes on some long-winded answer about protectionism and afterward the reporter asked the exact same question. Does Gibbs remind you of Chevy Chase as the press secretary in "Spies Like Us"?

I gotta find a clip of that... 

has anyone asked if Hilda

has anyone asked if Hilda Solis is going to step down for violation of House ethics rules by serving as treasurer of a private org. that lobbyed congress (Weekly Standard)?

 

§ Gibbs Points Alot??

Who is he pointing at??

Ster.

My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.

§ Gibbs has Beady Eyes!!!

He likes his glasses...

Ster.

My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.

The Grande Dame of Unbiased Journalism...

was nodding off while the reporter next to her was aggressively grilling ;-) Gibbs.

I guess she no longer has a dog in the fight. Since GWB's gone I guess she's no longer needed for her unbiased journalistic insights!

Time to put her out to pasture!

Oh, always the past R scandals, never the past D scandals

Oh certainly -  always the past Republican scandals, never the past Democratic scandals:

14:54, female reporter notes Judd Gregg connection to Abramoff scandal

Looking back at the past 8 years, anyone remember any reporter ever bringing up a reference to Clinton's buddy and Democratic scandal kingpin James Riady (and friends) when the opportunity was on the table? For example: "So, Sen. Hillary Clinton, as a nominee for Sec. of State, does the relationship between that foreign national swindler and now-convicted violator of federal campaign finance laws, James Riady, and you and your husband taint this process for you?"

Yep - a rhetorical question. gary

 

Gibbs shouldn't be allowed

Gibbs shouldn't be allowed to keep saying "most ethical WH in history"...words mean something!

It worked for Clinton....

.......sort of.

§ MOM!!! I Miss U!!!

I'm still alive!!

He is squireliey...If that is a word...

Ster.

My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.

Ster

I miss you right back!

Robert Gibbs is soooo 'squireliey'.  THE most Ethical Squireliey Press Sec evah. hahahaha

If Gibbs has to remind the

If Gibbs has to remind the press every single day that the Obama administration is ethical, so very ethical, incredibly ethical, so ethical it's remarkable, ethical with a capital E, then one must assume the Adminstration is not ethical.

For liberal Democrats and the Old Media, everything is crisis, chaos, calamity and catastrophe. That justifies stealing your property and liberties.

§ Vetting Process..

Talking Points!!!

OMG!!

Ster.

My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.

Major Garrett asked about...

the SCHIP program and it's funding. He mentioned that increasing cigarette taxes will hurt those who make less than 60K. He asked how the funding will continue when people are cutting back.

Gibbs said the program needed "expanding". The program will expand no doubt, but so will the tax programs needed to fund it. Right now it's the smoker's who pay, tomorrow it'll be beer drinkers, then soda pop drinkers, then food eaters!

gibbs squealing

gibbs now knows how ned beatty felt in deliverance!!!!!!!!

§ Tom...OMG!!! LOL!

WOW!!!

Ster.

My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.

tomolson3

squeal pigggggggggggggggg!

 

ick!

§ I GOT A FEVA...FOR MORE GIBBS

Not even the Lib Media Likes this Guy!!!

Look at that!!!  OMG!!!

Wow!!

Ster.

My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.

gibbs

I hope he is wearing disposable underware..he will not be able to wash the stains out of them 

Anybody think Gibbs'll make

Anybody think Gibbs'll make 100 days?

Nope

 

 

Let's play Name Gibbs

Let's play Name Gibbs Replacement- winner gets a bottle of Jack Daniels from me!

Ok, I'll go first and I pick:

George Stephnolopus 

 

→ No fair TN Mom

It's not fair that you name the game, make the rules, and pick the obvious name immediately.

You knew you'd win that one, didn't you?

  • Stimulus Response - Salivate this, Pavlov!

cool

actually I handicapped myself....I thought the obvious choice is Chris Matthews!

PS The TN Sippin Whisky-Jack Daniels- is the big bottle..costs around $50!

→ No, it's Steffi

Chris wouldn't look good in a blue dress.

Steffi could pull it off (so to speak)

  • Stimulus Response - Salivate this, Pavlov!

No..it's going to be an MSNBC'er

Mika or Andrea.

Obama's going to try to copy George Bush by plucking someone from the media....only he's got to go female next.

The Fox Babes won't work...so he goes to MSNBC.

I'm thinking Mika the Twit. (Her dad worked for Obama, you know!).

Which would be hillarious!

 

 

Good evening Blonde

I believe you're right but I hope he stays a long time

There aren't any other good comedians on the air anymore.

Jesus Loves You

Back at you cocodrie

This man is worse than Scottie McClellan. He's in so far over his head a ten foot snorkel wouldn't help.

 

 

Blonde

At least McClellan could come up with a thought now and then.

Jesus Loves You

→ Did y'all catch it?

Where Gibbs admitted the President, in Daschle's case, had allowed his principles to be "trumped"?

This is contrary to Steffi's claim that Daschle dropped out on his own.

  • Stimulus Response - Salivate this, Pavlov!