A force for democracy -- or information chaos? expert forum spotlights blogging

(editors note: Ironically this release was embargoed until 00:01hrs Wednesday 5th September 2007 the day of the event and no further information has been posted since. Also of note the home page of Towards a Social Science of Web 2.0 has not been updated and advises it has no back links and is untagged.)

Controversial Internet entrepreneur turned cultural critic Andrew Keen, who says the revolution of interactivity and user-generated content on the internet is leading to 'less culture, less reliable news and a chaos of useless information' is one contributor certain to ignite debate at a two-day conference at the University of York. The conference is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) through its e-Society programme.

Innovations such as Facebook, MySpace and YouTube - known as the 'Web 2.0' phenomenon - are the focus of a major gathering of Internet researchers, surfers and social commentators, aimed at encouraging social scientific interest in recent dramatic developments in cyberspace culture.

London born and educated, Andrew Keen, who has been based in California since the 1990s, is one of six keynote speakers at the event, at the National Science Learning Centre, University of York on September 5 and 6. The conference is organised and hosted by the University's Social Informatics Research Unit (SIRU).

The conference will examine the whole range of 'Web 2.0' activity - from wikis and 'mash-ups' to social networking sites, offering insights into digital technologies and the growth of online communities. Delegates will discuss the issues of privacy and trust, identity and democracy.

While recent Internet developments have received widespread media coverage, the organisers say there has so far been little in the way of sustained investigation by social scientists into 'Web 2.0'. Its practices include 'generating' and 'browsing', 'tagging' and 'feeds', 'commenting' and 'noting', 'reviewing' and 'rating', 'blogging' and making 'friends'.

The conference will include more than 40 presentations by academics from across the world - many already involved in social scientific or cultural research into websites such as MySpace, Bebo, YouTube, Flickr, Second Life and del.icio.us.

Andrew Keen, in his recent book 'The Cult of the Amateur: How Today's Internet is Killing Our Culture and Assaulting our Economy', argues that whilst blogs, podcasts, amateur videos and music may be harmless or sometimes even enriching forms of media, they are destroying mainstream newspapers, record companies and film-makers. Wikipedia, the popular free online encyclopedia, he describes as 'dumb'.

He will go head-to-head with leading authority on innovation and creativity, Charles Leadbeater, author of the forthcoming book 'We-think: the power of mass creativity'.

This aims to understand the new culture in which people do not just want services and goods delivered to them, but also 'tools so that they can take part, and places in which to play, share, debate with others'.

Charles Leadbetter disagrees that people are being duped. The more sources of information available, the more critical they can be, he has argued.

Other keynote speakers will include Professor Scott Lash, of the Centre for Cultural Studies, Goldsmiths, University of London, who leads the cultural research programme there; Professor George Ritzer, of the University of Maryland, Bernie Hogan, from Netlab, University of Toronto; and a representative from the BBC who will talk about the BBC and Web 2.0.

Audience numbers are restricted for the conference. Anyone interested in attending should contact Antonia Luther-Jones, Communications and Events Manager, Department of Sociology (email: alj504@york.ac.uk), or visit the conference website.

Contact: Danielle Moore danielle.moore@esrc.ac.uk 44-017-934-13122 Economic & Social Research Council

For further information contact:

• University of York Press Office:
  David Garner (Tel 01904 432153; e-mail dcg501@york.ac.uk)
• ESRC Press Office:
  Alexandra Saxon (Tel: 01793 413032 / 07971027335; e-mail: alexandra.saxon@esrc.ac.uk)
  Danielle Moore (Tel: 01793 413122; e-mail: danielle.moore@esrc.ac.uk)

Notes for editors
1. The conference 'Towards a Social Science of Web 2.0' is organised by the ESRC e-Society Programme, the Social Informatics Research Unit (SIRU) and the Department of Sociology, University of York, in collaboration with the Taylor and Francis Journal, Information, Communication & Society (iCS).

2. ESRC e-Society is the largest ever academic research programme to investigate the impact on society of digital technologies, particularly the Internet. Run from the Department of Sociology at the University of York, the £6.5 million programme draws on the expertise of leading academics from across the UK.

3. The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the UK's largest funding agency for research and postgraduate training relating to social and economic issues. It supports independent, high quality research relevant to business, the public sector and voluntary organisations. The ESRC's planned total expenditure in 2007-08 is £181 million. At any one time the ESRC supports over 4,000 researchers and postgraduate students in academic institutions and research policy institutes. More at esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/.

4. ESRC Society Today offers free access to a broad range of social science research and presents it in a way that makes it easy to navigate and saves users valuable time. As well as bringing together all ESRC-funded research and key online resources such as the Social Science Information Gateway and the UK Data Archive, non-ESRC resources are included, for example the Office for National Statistics. The portal provides access to early findings and research summaries, as well as full texts and original datasets through integrated search facilities. More at esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/.

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Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Link Fest - Week One, Perri Nelson's Website,

Blog at MoreWhat.com, Rosemary's Thoughts, DeMediacratic Nation, Big Dog's Weblog, Nuke's News & Views, DragonLady's World, Webloggin, Cao's Blog, Leaning Straight Up, The Bullwinkle Blog, Conservative Cat, Adeline and Hazel, Stageleft, Colloquium, third world county, Allie Is Wired, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, Walls of the City, The World According to Carl, Pirate's Cove, The Pink Flamingo, CommonSenseAmerica, High Desert Wanderer, Right Voices, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Trackback URL: http://haloscan.com/tb/sookietex/1512529201194870309

17 Trackbacks to this post.

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Iraq vis-à-vis Vietnam Excerpt: So, this Democratic Congress with their pusillanimous behavior can only make matters more difficult in Iraq Weblog: Potbelly Stove Tracked: 09.10.07 - 11:01 am

An Easier way to Rape Women Excerpt: the real purpose for the sex-segregated sidewalks: to make it easier for Muslim men to rape women. Weblog: planck's constant Tracked: 09.10.07 - 11:11 am

College Scholarship Offered to Bloggers Excerpt: The Daniel Kovach Scholarship Foundation is giving away $10,000 to a blogger this year. This 2nd Annual Blogging Scholarship offers a large prize of $10,000, which will be awarded at the Blog World and New Media Expo in Las Vegas, Weblog: Right Truth Tracked: 09.10.07 - 12:05 pm

Gen. Petreaus attacked by MoveOn.org. Do you agree with them? Excerpt: I shall be using this post about the NY Times ad and the Vets for Freedom response to it for this open trackback, because I believe very strongly that all of us must do all we can to help defend our men and women who are out there risking it all so t... Weblog: Rosemary's Thoughts Tracked: 09.10.07 - 1:28 pm

G.I. Joe to Become "Global Task Force" in Movie Excerpt: In short, G.I. Joe's a real AMERICAN hero, not some internationally palatable Pink Panther knockoff. Weblog: Diary of the Mad Pigeon Tracked: 09.10.07 - 4:23 pm

Never Forget Excerpt: On this anniversary of that awful day, I still remember Mr. Christopher Colastani. And I always will. Forever. Weblog: 123beta Tracked: 09.10.07 - 4:54 pm

Code Pink Disrupts General Petraeus’ Testimony Excerpt: These people are lunatics. Weblog: Blue Star Chronicles Tracked: 09.10.07 - 5:10 pm

More Thoughts on 9/11 Excerpt: About a week after the world changed on 9.11.2001, a woman in my office was carrying on about how the media was subjecting us to grotesque images on television and should stop it. She told everyone she had written a letter to the editor about it and ... Weblog: Blue Star Chronicles Tracked: 09.10.07 - 5:28 pm

Senator Schumer Gets a Pass on Slandering the Troo Excerpt: Newsbusters is reporting that Armchair General Media hog Senator Chuck Schumer is getting a pass from the old media for his comments slandering our Troops in a speech he gave on the floor last week. In fact, the old media has whitewashed it altogethe... Weblog: Blue Star Chronicles Tracked: 09.10.07 - 5:45 pm

The Coffee Shop: Den of Evil Excerpt: Add another one to the List. You can bet I'm going to Starbucks for breakfast tomorrow.Iran is pressing on with one of its toughest moral crackdowns in years, warning tens of thousands of women over slack dress, targeting 'immoral' cafes Weblog: The Amboy TimesTracked: 09.10.07 - 6:26 pm

I am done with MoveOn.Org - The Detroit Times says: I realize that this situation in Iraq, was brought on by an inept, incompetent, President and Administration and by the inability of the CIA to gather good, accurate intelligence as to Saddam Hussein’s ability to gather weapons of mass destruction and the possession of those weapons of mess destruction. 09.10.07 9:00 pm

Stop taxpayer funding of the ACLU Excerpt: I have filled out a petition to put an end to the theives over at the ACLU. Are you aware that our very own government PAYS them to do to us what we would not allow the government do? Nice, eh? NO! It isn't. That is why we must put a stop to it r ...... Weblog: Rosemary's Thoughts Tracked: 09.10.07 - 9:27 pm

MyHTPC Three Soldiers Killed in Explosion in Iraq… One of the teachers that my wife works with found out that her son was killed last night in Iraq. Our thoughts go out to her and her family. With my son graduating from Parris Island at the end of…… 09.10.07 11:18 pm

The Yankee Sailor - A U.S. Navy Sailor Blogs says: A few days ago a story came out in the Financial Times warning ominously that PLA-sponsored hackers had figured out a way to effectively shut down the U.S. Navy in the event of conflict.
09.10.07 11:35 pm

2,996 - Jill Marie Maurer-Campbell: A 9/11 TributExcerpt: Jill Maurer Campbell was afraid of heights, but that didn't stop her from fulfilling a lifelong dream of skydiving when she was in Weblog: DeMediacratic NationTracked: 09.11.07 - 5:28 am

Absolute Proof that Liberals HATE our troops… - The Detroit Times Says: I had heard it many times myself, and now, I know it’s absolutely true. May those ignorant, 9.12.07 4:42 pm

Freedom Calendar 09/08/07 - 09/15/07

September 8, 2003 ,Speaking five decades after Brown v. Board of Education, President George W. Bush challenges teachers’ unions to embrace standards in inner-city education: “This society of ours must challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations”.

September 9, 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower signs Republican Party’s 1957 Civil Rights Act.

September 10, 1877, Birth of Georgia Douglas Johnson, celebrated African-American poet of Harlem Renaissance movement; she served as Labor Department official during the Coolidge and Hoover administrations.

September 11, 1866, Birth of African-American Republican Charles Scrutchin; successfully defended 6 African-Americans arrested after a mob in Minnesota lynched 3 of their companions.

September 12, 1868, Civil rights activist Tunis Campbell and all other African-Americans in Georgia Senate, every one a Republican, expelled by Democrat majority; would later be reinstated by Republican Congress.

September 13, 1988, President Ronald Reagan proclaims first National Hispanic Heritage Week.

September 14, 1874, Democrat white supremacists seize Louisiana statehouse in attempt to overthrow racially-integrated administration of Republican Governor William Kellogg; 27 killed.

September 15, 1981, President Ronald Reagan establishes the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, to increase African-American participation in federal education programs.

"We should reach each and every one in the State, so they would all register and vote for the Republican candidates.”

Mary Terrell, African-American Republican and co-founder of the NAACP

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Presidential Podcast 09/08/07

Presidential Podcast 09/08/07 . Subscribe to Our Podcast feed or online podnova Podcast Channel and receive the weekly

Presidential Radio Address in English and Spanish with select State Department Briefings. Featuring full audio and text transcripts, More content Sources added often so stay tuned.

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Bush radio address 09/08/07 full audio, text transcript

bush radio address 09/08/07 full audio, text transcript. President's Radio Address . In Focus: Iraq

Subscribe to Our Podcast feed or online podnova Podcast Channel and receive the weekly Presidential Radio Address in English and Spanish with select State Department Briefings. Featuring real audio and full text transcripts, More content Sources added often so stay tuned.

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Earlier this week, I traveled to Iraq's Anbar Province to visit our troops and see with my own eyes the remarkable changes they are making possible.

If you want to see some photos from this trip, go to whitehouse.gov where you can view a slideshow of my visit.

Success in Anbar is critical to the democratic future of Iraq and to the war on terror. This largely Sunni province covers nearly a third of Iraq. It stretches from the outskirts of Baghdad to Iraq's borders with Jordan, and Syria, and Saudi Arabia. And until recently, Anbar was al Qaeda's chief base of operations in Iraq.
Last year at this time, Anbar was all over the news. Newspapers at the time cited a leaked intelligence report that was pessimistic about our prospects there. One columnist summed it up this way: "The war is over in Anbar province, and the United States lost." But local citizens soon saw what life under al Qaeda meant for them. The terrorists brutalized the people of Anbar and killed those who opposed their dark ideology. So the tribal sheiks of Anbar came together to fight al Qaeda. They asked for support from the Coalition and the Iraqi government, and we responded.

Together we have driven al Qaeda out of strongholds in Anbar. The level of violence is down. Local governments are meeting again. Young Sunnis are joining the police and army. And normal life is returning. The people of Anbar have seen that standing up to the terrorists and extremists leads to a better life. And Anbar has shown that improving security is the first step toward achieving economic progress and political reconciliation.

On my visit, I met with tribal sheiks who have fought with us against al Qaeda -- and who are now building a better future for their people and for all Iraqis. One Sunni sheik told me: "We have suffered a great deal from terrorism. We strongly support the democracy you have called for. The previous regime [of Saddam Hussein] should not be characterized as a Sunni regime -- it was a regime against the Sunnis, Shia, and the Kurds."

I also met with national leaders from Iraq's government: President Talabani and Prime Minister Maliki, Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih, Vice President Abd al-Mahdi, Vice President Hashimi, and President Barzani of the Kurdish region. These men come from different religious and ethnic backgrounds. But they all understand the importance of succeeding in Anbar. And so they're reaching out to help, with positive steps such as sharing oil revenues with provincial leaders. I thanked the representatives of Iraq's government for their efforts to support the bottom-up progress in Anbar. And I told them that the American people expect them to meet their commitments and pass the legislation they've agreed on.

While in Iraq, I also received a good briefing from General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. They gave me an update on our military, and political, and economic efforts to support our Iraqi partners. They told me about the progress they're seeing across Iraq and their ideas for the way forward. In the next few days, they will come to Washington to give Congress their assessment of conditions on the ground. I urge the Members of Congress to listen to these two well-respected professionals -- before jumping to any conclusions.

Most importantly, during my visit, I met with our troops serving in Anbar. Every day, these fine men and women show courage under incredibly difficult circumstances. The work they're doing on the sands of Anbar is making us safer in the streets of America. Because of their bravery and sacrifice, our troops in Iraq are denying al Qaeda safe havens from which to plot and plan and carry out attacks against Americans both here and abroad. I know how hard it is for our men and women in uniform to be away from their families. I told them our Nation appreciates their willingness to serve and that the American people stand with them.

Next week, after consulting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, my national security team, Members of Congress from both parties, and Iraqi leaders, I will speak directly to the Nation about the recommendations General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker have presented to me. I will discuss the changes our strategy has brought to Iraq. I will lay out a vision for future involvement in Iraq -- one that I believe the American people and their elected leaders of both parties can support. By coming together on the way forward, we will strengthen Iraq's democracy, deal a blow to our enemies, secure interests in the Middle East, and make our Nation safer.

Thank you for listening.

For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, September 8, 2007

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Discurso Radial del Presidente a la Nación 09/08/07

forre el audio de la dirección de radio 09/08/07 por completo, transcripción del texto. (nota de los redactores: ninguna lengua española mp3 lanzó esta semana, apesadumbrada) PODCAST

Suscribir a nuestro canal de Podcast de Odeo o del podnova y recibir la dirección de radio presidencial semanal en inglés y español con informes selectos del departamento del estado. Ofreciendo transcripciones audio y con texto completo verdaderas, más fuentes contentas agregaron a menudo así que la estancia templó.

Buenos días. A principios de esta semana, viajé a la provincia de Anbar en Iraq para visitar a nuestros soldados y ver con mis propios ojos los impresionantes cambios que se están logrando gracias a ellos.

Si quieren ver fotos de este viaje vayan a whitehouse.gov, donde hay una serie de diapositivas de mi visita.

El éxito en Anbar es crucial para el futuro democrático de Iraq y para la guerra contra el terrorismo. Esta provincia de mayoría suní comprende casi un tercio de Iraq. Se extiende desde las afueras de Bagdad hasta la frontera de Iraq con Jordania, y Siria y Arabia Saudita. Y hasta hace poco, en Anbar estaba el principal centro de operaciones de Al Qaida en Iraq.

Hace un año, por esta época, Anbar sonaba mucho en las noticias. Por esos días, un informe de inteligencia filtrado citado por los periódicos se mostraba pesimista acerca de lo que nos deparaba el futuro allí. Un columnista lo resumió de esta manera: "Terminó la guerra en la provincia de Anbar, y Estados Unidos perdió". Pero los habitantes de la zona pronto vieron lo que significaba vivir bajo el control de Al Qaida. Los terroristas trataban con brutalidad a la gente de Anbar y asesinaban a quienes se opusieran a su ideología macabra. Así que los jeques tribales de Anbar se unieron para luchar contra Al Qaida. Solicitaron apoyo de la coalición y del gobierno iraquí. Y respondimos.

Juntos hemos expulsado a Al Qaida de sus bastiones en Anbar. Se ha reducido el nivel de violencia. Los gobiernos locales están volviendo a reunirse. Jóvenes suníes se están enrolando en la policía y el ejército. Y la vida está volviendo a la normalidad. La gente de Anbar ha visto que la resistencia contra terroristas y extremistas conlleva una vida mejor. Y Anbar ha demostrado que reforzar la seguridad es el primer paso para lograr el progreso económico y la reconciliación política.

En mi visita, me reuní con jeques tribales que han luchado con nosotros contra Al Qaida y que ahora están forjando un futuro mejor para su pueblo y para todos los iraquíes. Un jeque suní me dijo: "Hemos sufrido mucho por el terrorismo. Apoyamos firmemente la democracia que usted promueve. El régimen previo de Sadam Husein no debe ser caracterizado como un régimen suní; era un régimen en contra de suníes, chiítas y curdos".

También me reuní con líderes nacionales del gobierno de Iraq: el Presidente Talabani y el Primer Ministro Maliki, el Vice-Primer Ministro Barham Saleh, el Vicepresidente Abdul Mahdi, el Vicepresidente Hashimi y el Presidente Barzani de la región del Kurdistán. Son de diferentes religiones y etnias. Pero todos comprenden la importancia de triunfar en Anbar. Así que hacen lo posible por ayudar, con pasos positivos como compartir los ingresos del petróleo con los líderes de provincia. Agradecí a los representantes del gobierno iraquí por sus esfuerzos para apoyar el progreso de abajo a arriba en Anbar. Y les dije que el pueblo estadounidense espera que cumplan sus promesas y aprueben las leyes que acordaron aprobar.

Mientras estuve en Iraq, también tuve una buena sesión informativa con el general David Petraeus y el embajador Ryan Crocker. Me pusieron al día sobre los esfuerzos militares, y políticos y económicos para apoyar a nuestros aliados iraquíes. Me hablaron sobre el progreso que ven en todo Iraq y sus ideas sobre el camino a seguir. En los próximos días, vendrán a Washington a fin de ofrecerle al Congreso su evaluación sobre las condiciones en el terreno. Insto a los miembros del Congreso a que escuchen a estos dos respetados profesionales, antes de apresurar cualquier conclusión.

Más importante aun, durante mi visita, me reuní con nuestras tropas en Anbar. Todos los días, estos sobresalientes hombres y mujeres demuestran su valor ante circunstancias sumamente difíciles. El trabajo que hacen en las arenas de Anbar hace que nuestras calles en Estados Unidos sean más seguras. Gracias a su valentía y sacrificio, nuestras tropas en Iraq se encargan de que Al Qaida no tenga escondites desde donde complotar, planear y llevar a cabo ataques en contra de estadounidenses, tanto aquí como en el extranjero. Sé lo difícil que es para nuestros hombres y mujeres de uniforme estar lejos de su familia. Les dije que nuestra nación aprecia su voluntad de servir, y que el pueblo estadounidense está a su lado.

La próxima semana, después de consultar con el Estado Mayor Conjunto, mi equipo de seguridad nacional, miembros del Congreso de ambos partidos y líderes iraquíes, me dirigiré a la nación para hablar acerca de las recomendaciones que me hicieron el general David Petraeus y el embajador Ryan Crocker. Mencionaré los cambios logrados por nuestra estrategia en Iraq. Plantearé una visión para futuras acciones en Iraq, una que creo que el pueblo estadounidense y los líderes electos de ambos partidos pueden apoyar. Al mantenernos unidos en el camino a seguir, fortaleceremos la democracia de Iraq, les asestaremos un duro golpe a nuestros enemigos, protegeremos nuestros intereses en el Medio Oriente y haremos que nuestro país sea más seguro.

Gracias por escuchar.

Para su publicación inmediata, Oficina del Secretario de Prensa, 8 de septiembre de 2007

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President Meets with South Korean President Roh PODCAST VIDEO

President Bush Meets with South Korean President Roh, InterContinental Sydney, Sydney, Australia APEC 2007, 3:29 P.M. (Local) PODCAST OF THIS ARTICLE PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. President, thank you for your time. As usual, we had a very friendly and frank discussion about important matters.

We discussed our bilateral relations, which are very strong. And we thank you for your contributions to helping young democracies, such as Iraq.

But we spent a lot of time talking about the six-party talks and the progress that is being made in the six-party talks. I understand you're having a summit with the leader of North Korea, and I appreciate the fact that you will urge the North Korean leader to continue to adhere to the agreement that he made with us.

And in our discussions I reaffirmed our government's position that when the North Korean leader fully discloses and gets rid of his nuclear weapons programs, that we can achieve a new security arrangement in the Korean Peninsula, that we can have the peace that we all long for. You and I discussed the Northeast Peace and Security agreement -- arrangement, which we support.

And so I'm optimistic. There's still more work to be done. But nevertheless, Mr. President, when we have worked together we have shown that it's possible to achieve the peace on the Korean Peninsula that the people long for.

So thank you, sir.

PRESIDENT ROH: (As translated.) As President Bush has stated, we had a very constructive discussion on six-party talks and the North Korean nuclear issue, as well as other bilateral issues between our two countries.

Before we discussed these issues I reaffirmed my support for President Bush and his policies and efforts in Iraq to bring peace. I also thanked the President for his efforts in the visa waiver program -- for his constructive position on this issue.

We both agreed on the positive outlook for the six-party talks. We believe that this progress is very meaningful. And I also thanked President Bush for his resolve to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asian region, for making a strategic decision to bring peace to the region through dialogue.

As is outlined in the 2005 September 19th joint statement, we have a plan for the peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, and President Bush also reaffirmed in November of last year in Vietnam of his willingness and his resolve to end the Korean War officially, once and for all. Today we revisited this issue. President Bush reaffirmed his determination to replace the current status in the Korean Peninsula with a permanent peace regime, and he stressed that he would be proceeding with this move after the North Korean nuclear issue is resolved.

We also share the view that should there be more progress in the six-party process, this will be followed by talks to initiate a Northeast Asian regional security mechanism. I also reassured President Bush that the inter-Korean summit will underpin the progress at the six-party talks, that relations -- the inter-Korean relations and the six-party talks should be a mutually reenforcing relationship.

I think I might be wrong -- I think I did not hear President Bush mention the -- a declaration to end the Korean War just now. Did you say so, President Bush?

PRESIDENT BUSH: I said it's up to Kim Jong-il as to whether or not we're able to sign a peace treaty to end the Korean War. He's got to get rid of his weapons in a verifiable fashion. And we're making progress toward that goal. It's up to him.

PRESIDENT ROH: I believe that they are the same thing, Mr. President. If you could be a little bit clearer in your message, I think --

PRESIDENT BUSH: I can't make it any more clear, Mr. President. We look forward to the day when we can end the Korean War. That will end -- will happen when Kim Jong-il verifiably gets rid of his weapons programs and his weapons.

Thank you, sir. END 3:40 P.M. (Local)

For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, September 7, 2007

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Republican Presidential Debate 09/05/07 VIDEO

REPUBLICAN DEBATE FOX NEWS SEPTEMBER 05, 2007

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Fred Thompson I'm In Campaign Ad

Fred Thompson (R), "I'm In," Campaign Ad - 9/5/2007: Running time :33 Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN), "Debate," Campaign Ad - 9/5/2007: Running Time :31

From Fred08.com Thompson to Run Ad During GOP Debate Associated Press By JIM KUHNHENN

WASHINGTON - Fred Thompson is not leaving much to chance. So before his presidential announcement, there is the pre-announcement ad.

The veteran actor and former senator and lobbyist is declaring his presidential ambitions in a 15-minute Web cast early Thursday.

Just to make sure no one misses it, he is airing a 30-second ad on Fox News Channel during Wednesday night's broadcast of a Republican presidential debate from New Hampshire - which Thompson is skipping.

That ad, and another one airing Thursday, will encourage viewers to go to his Web site and hear him out.

"Today, as before, the fate of millions across the world depends on the unity and resolve of the American people," Thompson says. "I talk about this tomorrow on Fred08.com. I invite you to take a look and join us."

Thompson, a regular on NBC's "Law & Order" series, knows something about entering a stage. It's all about the buildup.

Besides the ad, Thompson also will tape an appearance on NBC's "The Tonight Show," which will air about an hour after the debate ends in many U.S. households.

The face time with comedian Jay Leno and the debate ad are the coquettish moves of a candidate who already has proven his aptitude at using the media, from television to the Internet. While his main rivals - Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney and John McCain - parry debate questions, Thompson will pretty much control his own message.

"On the next president's watch, our country will make decisions that will affect our lives and our families far into the future," Thompson says in the ad. "We can't allow ourselves to become a weaker, less prosperous and more divided nation."

Thompson aides want as many eyes on the Web video as possible. The debate ad and follow-up commercial on Thursday will instruct viewers to go online and get their undiluted message straight from the candidate.

"We think one of the strongest weapons this campaign has is Fred Thompson's ability to connect directly with the public," said Todd Harris, Thompson's communications director. "We want to drive as much traffic as possible to the Web site."

Following that media drum roll, Thompson will make his first campaign appearance as a declared candidate Thursday afternoon in Iowa.

But the pre-announcement buildup places a burden on Thompson's Webcast performance.

"To some degree when you announce likes this, particularly the way he has waited, he's going to have to give a very clear sense of what he wants to do if he becomes president," Republican strategist David Winston said. "This speech has got to give that compelling reason as to why he wants to be president and that has to be driven by what policies he intends to pursue.

"The medium may have changed, but the ultimate content still has to be compelling enough to engage people," Winston added.

Thompson is hardly the first to use the Internet and media to build up public interest. In January, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her Democratic presidential bid with a Webcast. In contrast, Sen. Barack Obama chose a more traditional route, announcing to a crowd in his home state of Illinois.

What stands out for Thompson is his blend of paid advertising, talk-show appearance, Internet and stump speech - all in less than 24 hours.

"That's the modern way to do it," said Tobe Berkovitz, the interim dean at Boston University's college of communications. "Especially if people are looking for something new on the Republican side. People have had plenty of time to look at Rudy or Mitt or McCain. So it makes sense for Thompson to march to his own campaign drummer."

Thompson's debate ad and Leno appearance could pose a risk, highlighting for voters Thompson's decision to forgo an exchange of views in New Hampshire with the remainder of the Republican field. The move was not getting a warm reception in New Hampshire.

"There is a genuine interest in Senator Thompson here, a real curiosity about him," New Hampshire Republican Chairman Fergus Cullen said. "But that curiosity is giving way to skepticism and maybe even cynicism about him in part because of how he's handling his grand entrance. For him to then go on Jay Leno the same night and be trading jokes while other candidates are having a substantive discussion on issues is not going to be missed by New Hampshire voters."

Romney spokesman Kevin Madden pointedly noted Tuesday that Romney has traversed New Hampshire, addressing voters and giving interviews.

"Tomorrow night is an opportunity to spend an hour and half with New Hampshire voters and talk to them about issues that are important to them," Madden said. "Contrast that with 30 seconds in a paid ad."

But Harris said the point of the ad is to remind the public that Thompson is on the immediate horizon and that voters should keep an open mind.

"For every person watching that debate who thinks they've made up their mind, there are probably going to be 20 who haven't decided."

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John McCain: Courageous Service VIDEO

On July 29 1967, John narrowly survived the first of many near-death experiences during his lifetime while preparing to take off on a bombing mission over North Vietnam from his ship, the USS Forrestal. A missile accidentally fired from a nearby plane struck the fuel tanks on John's plane and created a deadly inferno aboard the ship. John barely escaped the fiery disaster that killed 134 men, injured hundreds more and destroyed 20 planes.

Instead of taking the option to return home after the Forrestal disaster, Senator McCain volunteered for more combat duty - a fateful decision that stopped the clock on his life and separated him from his family, and country, for five and a half years.

During his 23rd bombing mission on October 26, 1967, a missile struck John's plane and forced him to eject, knocking him unconscious and breaking both his arms and his leg. John was then taken as a prisoner of war into the now infamous "Hanoi Hilton," where he was denied necessary medical treatment and often beaten by the North Vietnamese.

John spent much of his time as a prisoner of war in solitary confinement, aided by his faith and the friendships of his fellow POWs. When he was finally released and able to return home years later, John continued his service by regaining his naval flight status.

Senator McCain's last Navy duty assignment was to serve as the naval liaison to the United States Senate. John retired from the Navy in 1981. His naval honors include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. A Lifetime of Service

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President Thanks Troops in Anbar Province

President Bush speaks to troops during a surprise Labor Day visit to Iraq and receives support from Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Sept. 3, 2007. President Bush thanked about 700 U.S. troops at Al Asad Air Base for their hard work.

Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen. High Resolution Image

President Bush Visits and Thanks Troops in Anbar Province, Al-Asad Airbase, Al-Anbar Province, Iraq. In Focus: Iraq 9:43 P.M. (Local)

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. General, thank you very much. It's an honor to be with you.

As you know, today is Labor Day back home -- (hooah) -- so I thought I'd come by to thank you for all your hard work. (Hooah.) Every day -- every day -- you show bravery under incredibly difficult circumstances. Every day you're doing work on the sands of Anbar that is making it safer in the streets of America. And every day the United States of America is grateful for what you're doing. I want you to tell your families the Commander-in-Chief stopped by to say hello, and he said, I'm incredibly proud to be the Commander-in-Chief of such a great group of men and women. (Applause.)

I'm keeping pretty good company, as you can see. I brought out the A Team so they could be with the folks who are making a significant difference in this war against these radicals and extremists. In Anbar you're seeing firsthand the dramatic differences that can come when the Iraqis are more secure. In other words, you're seeing success.

You see Sunnis who once fought side by side with al Qaeda against coalition troops now fighting side by side with coalition troops against al Qaeda. Anbar is a huge province. It was once written off as lost. It is now one of the safest places in Iraq. (Hooah.) Because of your hard work, because of your bravery and sacrifice, you are denying al Qaeda a safe haven from which to plot and plan and carry out attacks against the United States of America. What you're doing here is making this country safer, and I thank you for your hard work. (Hooah.)

The surge of operations that began in June is improving security throughout Iraq. The military successes are paving the way for the political reconciliation and economic progress the Iraqis need to transform their country. When Iraqis feel safe in their own homes and neighborhoods, they can focus their efforts on building a stable, civil society with functioning government structures at the local and provincial and national levels. And that's important, because a free Iraq, an Iraq that's an ally against these extremists and murderers will be a major defeat for the terrorists.

Earlier today I met with some of the tribal sheiks here in Anbar. It was a really interesting meeting. And at the table were the leaders of the central government, as well. They told me that the kind of bottom-up progress that your efforts are bringing to Anbar is vital to the success and stability of a free Iraq. See, Iraqis need this stability to build a more peaceful future. And America needs this stability to prevent the chaos that allows the terrorists to set up bases from which they can plot and plan attacks on our homeland.

The very people that you helped the Iraqis defeat in Anbar swore allegiance to the man that ordered the attack on the United States of America. What happens here in Anbar matters to the security of the United States.

And so I thank you for your sacrifice. I thank you for volunteering in the face of danger. I thank you for your courage and your bravery. Every day you are successful here in Iraq draws nearer to the day when America can begin calling you and your fellow servicemen and women home.

But I want to tell you this about the decision -- about my decision about troop levels. Those decisions will be based on a calm assessment by our military commanders on the conditions on the ground -- not a nervous reaction by Washington politicians to poll results in the media. (Hooah.) In other words, when we begin to draw down troops from Iraq, it will be from a position of strength and success, not from a position of fear and failure. To do otherwise would embolden our enemies and make it more likely that they would attack us at home. If we let our enemies back us out of Iraq, we will more likely face them in America. If we don't want to hear their footsteps back home, we have to keep them on their heels over here. And that's exactly what you're doing, and America is safer for it.

In Anbar you're doing this hard work every day. We've all come to say thank you. We've come to tell you the American people are standing with you. They're grateful for your sacrifice. As Commander-in-Chief, I'm proud to be in your presence on this Labor Day. I ask for God's blessings on you and your family, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you. (Applause.)

END 9:49 P.M. (Local)

For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, September 3, 2007

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Not all risk is created equal

ANN ARBOR, Mich.--- A camper who chases a grizzly but won't risk unprotected sex. A sky diver afraid to stand up to the boss.

New research shows that not all risk is created equal and people show a mixture of both risky and non-risky behaviors.

The survey also shows that men are significantly riskier than women overall.

The University of Michigan research refutes the standard theories of risk that group people as either risk-seeking or risk-avoiding, and suggests that we can have a mix of both risky and non-risky behavior depending on the type.

The study appears in the journal Evolutionary Psychology. Daniel Kruger, a research scientist at the U-M School of Public Health, and colleagues X.T. Wang, University of South Dakota, and Andreas Wilke, UCLA, identified areas of risk taking (risk domains) based on the types of challenges that our ancestors faced during many thousands of years of human evolution.

"People are complex," said Kruger. "Just because somebody seems to be a big risk taker in one area doesn’t mean they will take risks in all areas."

The types of risks identified include competition with other individuals; competition with other groups; mating and allocating resources for mate attraction; environmental risks (chasing a bear or skydiving); and fertility risks. The study showed that our tendencies for risk taking follow these different types of challenges.

"It is remarkable not just that we were able to identify different areas of risk taking, but also that many of the challenges faced by our ancestors are similar to challenges we face in our modern world today," Kruger said.

People surveyed for the study were least likely to take fertility risks, and most likely to take risks related to social status in one's group --- like standing up to one's boss. In all domains, men were significantly more risk taking than women. During human evolution, men competed for social status and resources in order to attract mates. Thus, this pattern is not surprising, Kruger said.

The risks that threaten fertility function differently than the others, Kruger said. Other types of risk have a possible benefit in terms of survival and reproduction. But with fertility risks, there is just a threat to reproduction. They can only cause harm in the evolutionary sense since they would only hurt our ability to procreate.

"Those were types of risks that weren't attractive to other people, those risks were the least likely to be taken, and people saw those risks as unattractive in a potential mate," Kruger said.

Although in most parts of the world, threats from predators may be limited to those making wilderness expeditions, we still live in a world with complex challenges involving other individuals and material investments. The basic elements of our social environment have not changed; we just live on a much larger scale. ###

The study appears in the latest issue of Evolutionary Psychology in PDF format

The University of Michigan School of Public Health has been working to promote health and prevent disease since 1941, and is consistently ranked among the top five schools in the country.

Faculty and students in the school’s five academic departments and dozens of collaborative centers and institutes are forging new solutions to the complex health challenges of today, including chronic disease, health care quality and finance, emerging genetic technologies, climate change, socioeconomic inequalities and their impact on health, infectious disease, and the globalization of health.

Whether making new discoveries in the lab or researching and educating in the field, our faculty, students, and alumni are deployed around the globe to promote and protect our health. For more on the School of Public Health, see: sph.umich.edu/

Contact: Laura Bailey baileylm@umich.edu 734-647-1848 University of Michigan

Image credit: NASA, Karen Gundy-Burlet. Her Great Uncle, Floyd Kelso and and his wing-walker, Augie Pedlar Historical aviation photos

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Freedom Calendar 09/01/07 - 09/08/07

September 1, 1975, Gen. Daniel James receives fourth star from Republican President Gerald Ford; first African-American to hold that rank in U.S. Air Force.

September 2, 1910, Administration of Republican George Alexander, Mayor of Los Angeles, makes Alice Wells first woman police officer in America.

September 3, 1868, 25 African-Americans in Georgia legislature, all Republicans, expelled by Democrat majority; later reinstated by Republican Congress.

September 4, 2001, Republican U.S. Senate selects Alfonso Lenhardt as first African-American Sergeant at Arms.

September 5, 1883, After reforms implemented by Republican President Chester Arthur, Mary Hoyt becomes first woman federal civil service appointee.

September 6, 1870, Women vote in Wyoming, in first election after women’s suffrage signed into law by Republican Gov. John Campbell.

September 7, 1969, Death of Senate Republican Leader Everett Dirksen (R-IL), who authored 1960 Civil Rights Act and led passage of 1964 Civil Rights Act.

September 8, 2003 ,Speaking five decades after Brown v. Board of Education, President George W. Bush challenges teachers’ unions to embrace standards in inner-city education: “This society of ours must challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations”.

The United States respects your aspirations as sovereign citizens. And we will stand with you to secure your rights -- to speak as you choose, to think as you please, to worship as you wish, and to choose your leaders, freely and fairly, in democratic elections.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Washington, DC August 4, 2006.

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Presidential Podcast 09/01/07

Presidential Podcast 09/01/07 . Subscribe to Our Podcast feed or online podnova Podcast Channel and receive the weekly Presidential Radio Address in English and Spanish with select State Department Briefings. Featuring full audio and text transcripts, More content Sources added often so stay tuned.

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Bush radio address 09/01/07 full audio, text transcript

bush radio address 09/01/07 full audio, text transcript. President's Radio Address . Fact Sheet: New Steps to Help Homeowners Avoid Foreclosure and In Focus: Economy

Subscribe to Our Podcast feed or online podnova Podcast Channel and receive the weekly Presidential Radio Address in English and Spanish with select State Department Briefings. Featuring real audio and full text transcripts, More content Sources added often so stay tuned.

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week, I met with Housing Secretary Jackson and Treasury Secretary Paulson to discuss the economy and the turbulence in our Nation's mortgage industry. The fundamentals of America's economy remain strong. But the mortgage industry is going through a period of adjustment. And some Americans are worried about the impact this is having on their ability to make their monthly mortgage payments.

I have made it a priority to help American homeowners navigate these financial challenges, so that as many families as possible can stay in their homes. The Federal government will not bail out lenders -- because that would only make a recurrence of the problem more likely. And it is not the government's job to bail out speculators, or those who made the decision to buy a home they knew they could never afford. But I support action at the Federal level that will help more American families keep their homes.

One important way to help homeowners during this time of housing market stress is for Congress to change a key part of the Federal tax code. Under current law, when a lender forgives part of a mortgage to help its customer stay afloat, that amount is treated as taxable income. When your home is losing value and your family is under financial stress, the last thing you need is to be hit with higher taxes. So I'm working with members of both parties to pass a bill that will protect homeowners from having to pay taxes on cancelled mortgage debt.
Another important step we're taking for American homeowners is to modernize the Federal Housing Administration. The FHA is a government agency that provides mortgage insurance to borrowers through a network of private sector lenders. I've sent Congress important legislation that would help more Americans qualify for this insurance by lowering down-payment requirements, increasing loan limits, and providing more flexibility in pricing. By passing this legislation, Congress will allow the FHA to reach more families in need of our assistance, and I ask Congress to act quickly.

At the same time we will launch a new FHA initiative called FHASecure. This initiative will help some people who have good credit but have recently been missing their payments. FHASecure will help these families refinance their mortgages so they can make their payments and keep their homes.

There are other ways we can help. My Administration will launch a new Foreclosure Avoidance Initiative to help homeowners learn more about their refinancing options. I've directed Secretary Paulson and Secretary Jackson to look into innovative ways to bring together homeowners and counseling groups, financial professionals, and the FHA and government-sponsored enterprises like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to help American families find the mortgage product that works best for them.

Finally, the Federal government is working to make the mortgage industry more transparent and more reliable and more fair, so we can reduce the likelihood that homeowners will face similar problems in the future. Federal banking regulators are strengthening lending standards and making mortgages easier to understand. My Administration is working on new rules to help our consumers compare and shop for loans that meet their budgets and needs. We are committed to pursuing fraud and wrongdoing in the mortgage industry.

Homeownership has always been part of the American Dream. During my Administration we've achieved record homeownership rates. We'll continue to work hard to keep our housing market strong, to ensure that American families can afford the homes they buy, and to help bring the dignity and security that comes with homeownership to more of our citizens.

Thank you for listening.

END For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, September 1, 2007

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Discurso Radial del Presidente a la Nación 09/01/07

forre el audio de la dirección de radio 09/01/07 por completo, transcripción del texto. (nota de los redactores: ninguna lengua española mp3 lanzó esta semana, apesadumbrada) PODCAST

Suscribir a nuestro canal de Podcast de Odeo o del podnova y recibir la dirección de radio presidencial semanal en inglés y español con informes selectos del departamento del estado. Ofreciendo transcripciones audio y con texto completo verdaderas, más fuentes contentas agregaron a menudo así que la estancia templó.

Buenos Días. Esta semana me reuní con el Secretario de Vivienda Jackson y el Secretario del Tesoro Paulson para discutir la economía y la turbulencia en la industria hipotecaria de nuestra Nación. Lo fundamental de la economía de Estados Unidos permanece fuerte. Pero la industria hipotecaria está pasando por un período de ajuste. Y algunos estadounidenses están preocupados por el impacto que esto está teniendo sobre su capacidad de cumplir con sus pagos hipotecarios mensuales.

He fijado como prioridad ayudar a dueños de casa estadounidenses a navegar estos desafíos financieros - a fin de que el mayor número posible de familias puedan quedarse en sus hogares. El gobierno federal no va sacar de apuros a prestamistas - ya que eso sólo haría más probable una reincidencia del problema. Y no es obligación del gobierno sacar de apuros a especuladores o aquellos que toman la decisión de comprar una casa que bien saben no podrán pagar. Pero yo apoyo medidas al nivel federal que ayuden a más familias estadounidenses a quedarse con sus hogares.

Una manera importante para ayudar a dueños de casa durante este tiempo de estrés en el mercado de la vivienda es que el Congreso cambie una parte clave del código tributario federal. Bajo la ley actual, cuando un prestamista cancela parte de una hipoteca para ayudar a su cliente a mantenerse a flote - esa cantidad es tratada como ingreso tributable. Cuando su hogar está perdiendo valor y su familia está bajo estrés financiero lo último que usted necesita es tener que pagar impuestos más elevados. Por lo tanto, estoy trabajando con miembros de ambos partidos para aprobar un proyecto de ley que protegería a los dueños de casa contra tener que pagar impuestos sobre deuda hipotecaria cancelada.

Otro paso importante que estamos tomando para dueños de casa estadounidenses es modernizar la Administración Federal de la Vivienda, FHA por sus siglas en inglés. La FHA es una agencia gubernamental que proporciona seguro hipotecario a prestatarios a través de una red de prestamistas en el sector privado. Yo he enviado al Congreso legislación importante que ayudaría a más estadounidenses calificar para este seguro al reducir los requisitos para la cuota inicial, aumentar los límites de los préstamos y ofrecer más flexibilidad en los precios. Al aprobar esta legislación, el Congreso permitirá a la FHA alcanzar a más familias que necesitan nuestra ayuda - y le pido al Congreso que actué de prisa.

Al mismo tiempo lanzaremos una nueva iniciativa FHA llamada en inglés FHA-Secure. Esta iniciativa ayudará a algunas personas que tienen buen crédito pero que recientemente no han cumplido con sus pagos. FHA-Secure ayudará estas familias a refinanciar sus hipotecas para que puedan cumplir con sus pagos y quedarse en sus hogares.

Hay otras maneras en que podemos ayudar. Mi administración lanzará una nueva Iniciativa para Evitar Ejecución Hipotecaria para ayudar a los dueños de casa a aprender más sobre sus opciones de refinanciamiento. He pedido al Secretario Paulson y al Secretario Jackson que investiguen maneras innovadoras para juntar a dueños de casa y grupos consejeros, profesionales financieros y la FHA, y empresas patrocinadas por el gobierno tales como Fannie Mae y Freddie Mac para ayudar a las familias estadounidenses a encontrar el producto hipotecario que mejor les sirva.

Por último, el gobierno federal está trabajando para que la industria hipotecaria sea más transparente y más confiable y más justa - para que podamos reducir la probabilidad de que dueños de casa enfrenten problemas similares en el futuro. Los reguladores bancarios federales están fortaleciendo las normas prestatarias - y haciendo que las hipotecas sean más fáciles de entender. Mi administración está trabajando para elaborar nuevas reglas que ayuden a nuestros consumidores a comparar precios y encontrar préstamos que estén de acuerdo con sus presupuestos y necesidades. Estamos dedicados a perseguir fraude y fechoría en la industria hipotecaria.

Ser dueño de casa siempre ha sido parte del Sueño Americano. Durante mi Administración, hemos logrado tasas record de propiedad de casa. Seguiremos trabajando duro para mantener fuerte nuestro mercado de vivienda, para asegurar que familias estadounidenses puedan pagar por las casas que compren y para ayudar a traer la dignidad y la seguridad que vienen con ser dueño de casa a un mayor número de nuestros ciudadanos.

Gracias por escuchar.

### Para su publicación inmediata, Oficina del Secretario de Prensa, 1 de septiembre de 2007

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President Announces Resignation of Tony Snow Names Dana Perino VIDEO PODCAST

President Bush Announces Resignation of Press Secretary Tony Snow, and Names Dana Perino as Press Secretary, James S. Brady Briefing Room 12:45 P.M. EDT. PODCAST OF THIS ARTICLE

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Good afternoon to you.

Tony Snow informed me he's leaving. And I sadly accept his desire to leave the White House, and he'll do so on September the 14th. He is -- it's been a joy to watch him spar with you. He's smart, he's capable, he's witty. He's capable of -- he's able to talk about issues in a way that the American people can understand.

And I don't know what he's going to do -- I'm not sure he does yet, either. But whatever it is, it's going to be -- two things: One, he'll battle cancer and win. And secondly, he'll be a solid contributor to society.

I do want to thank Jill and Kendall, Robbie and Kristi. They have watched a man they love take on a big job, and at the same time, fight disease -- with a lot of courage. And so I accept, I love you, and I wish you all the best.

And so I had to make a choice, who to replace Tony, and I've chosen Dana Perino. I did so because Dana is a smart, capable person who is able to spell out the issues of the day in a way that people listening on TV can understand. She can handle you all. She's capable of handling your questions.

Q She has done --

THE PRESIDENT: She has? Good. Okay. I'm glad to get a little -- I'm glad to get that choir singing. (Laughter.) So I'm not worried about her standing here at the podium. What I look for in somebody like Dana is somebody who will walk in that Oval Office and give me sound judgment and good advice. And I have found that over the course of the time I've known her she's capable of doing that. And she's also capable of running the shop that she'll be in charge of.

And so we say to the man we admire a lot: Good luck, Godspeed. And to Dana Perino: I'm looking forward to working with you and I'm looking forward to the American people to get to know you like I've gotten to know you.

Tony.

Q You've lost a lot of members in your administration --

THE PRESIDENT: Hold up. (Laughter.)

MR. SNOW: Just a couple of quick comments. First, Mr. President, thank you and thanks for the honor of serving. This job has really been a dream for me and a blast. I've had an enormous amount of fun and satisfaction, and I'm proud to be working for you, and will continue after I leave working for the White House, to speak out about issues I care about.

I'm also proud and happy that Dana will be taking over as Press Secretary. She's an enormously capable woman, as you know, and somebody who more than capably filled my shoes while I was away on surgery, and somebody who really is -- as I told her before, she's going to find out talents that she wasn't even aware of. But I think this is one of those wonderful times where somebody who works very hard in public life and has demonstrated extraordinary capability is going to have an opportunity to serve a President. And I think she'll have every bit as much fun and fulfillment in this job as I have.

Dana.

MS. PERINO: I knew I had to pull that out -- (laughter) -- so I could see over the top.

Thank you, Mr. President, and Tony. I am honored to have been asked and delighted to accept the position. It is bittersweet, of course, because we are all going to miss Tony Snow very much. And he mentions filling shoes, and I've said before, he leaves very big shoes to fill, and I only wear a size 6.

And I thank him for all he's done for us in the administration. He's given us a lot of laughter, even at 6:30 a.m. in the morning when we meet every day. And while I'm saddened to see you go, I'm very happy for your family. You are their biggest champion, and everyone that's watched you fight this cancer is inspired, and the way that you lead your life is one with optimism, and we all should follow your lead.

Over the years, since Scott McClellan hired me to be his deputy, I've gotten to know a lot of you in the room, and there's also a lot of new faces in this room. And we do have quite a bit of time left. The President has a very ambitious agenda. We are a nation at war, and the press office, the whole team, is going to be here to help support him sprint to the finish.

I have an open-door policy. I hope to see a lot of you upstairs -- would love to see more of your faces, rather than just the emails.

And, Mr. President, thank you for your guidance, and I appreciate all you've done for me and the confidence you've placed in me, and I aim to live up to your expectations.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q How do you feel about losing everybody?

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all.

END 12:51 P.M. EDT

For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, August 31, 2007

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