HIGHLIGHTS OF BUSH PRESS CONFERENCE

From AP, Reuters, NY Times...

Washington (WPI) - President Bush gave his first full-scale news conference of the new year, and the 10th since he was re-elected in 2004. He previewed his upcoming State of the Union address and fielded questions on former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the shocking victory of the radical Hamas Party in Palestinian elections and the administration's cooperation with Congress on its investigation of Hurricane Katrina and Judge Alito.

No president, except for President William Henry Harrison who died 32 days after taking office in 1841, has given fewer press conferences then Mr. Bush. Harrison had given nine.

Highlights of the President's press conference-

* The President defended his program of warrantless surveillance, or the Domestic Spying Program, saying "there's no doubt in my mind it is legal!" Without elaborating Bush said, "The program's legal, it's designed to protect civil liberties, and it's necessary," Bush said.

Democrats have accused the president of breaking the law in eavesdropping on U.S. residents, numerous Republicans have questioned the activity as well. Bush shrugged off the idea that congress might write legislation to change or limit it. "It won't stop the program," Bush affirmed.

* On the Middle East, Bush shrugged off concern that Palestinian elections had given a vast and overwhelming majority to the radical party Hamas, which both hates the US and calls for the elimination of Israel. Bush called the election results a "wake-up call" to the old guard Arafat-PLO leadership, which, according to voters, no longer exists. The President said that elections, “Sometimes produce results that you don’t like,” which provoked a roar of laughter from the press corp, though Mr. Bush did not seem to see the irony.

* Questioned about the burgeoning controversy about disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Bush said he would cooperate with federal prosecutors investigating Abramoff and his alleged influence peddling activities. If necessary.

Bush shrugged off the media’s demand to release pictures of him and Abramoff. together that he acknowledged were, “very numerous.”

"There is a serious investigation going on by federal prosecutors — that's their job," the president said. "If they believe something was done inappropriately in the White House, they'll come and look and they're welcome to do so."

Otherwise, Bush shrugged, "I've had my picture taken with a lot of people. Having my picture taken with someone doesn't mean that I'm a friend with him or know him very well.

Even if the guy personally donated over $125,000 to my campaign and raised at least another quater million for us, that doesn’t mean I actually know him or do business with him or anything. "

"I've had my picture taken with you," Bush shrugged to the reporter who asked the question.

* The president shrugged off criticism of the White House’s lack of cooperation with congressional investigations into the failed Federal response to Hurricane Katrina. He cited the thousands of documents the White House has provided.

The President supported White House refusal to provide records of meetings claiming it would have a "chilling effect" on the ability of presidential advisers to speak freely. He shrugged off congressional complaints that full disclosure was needed to identify the problems with the federal reaction and begin a process of improvement.

* Bush also said that his pick for Supreme Court, Samuel Alito, deserves to be confirmed in the Senate and shrugged off the minority-party Democrats who are vigorously speaking out against him the nominee.

"The Senate needs to give him an up or down vote as soon as possible," Bush said, “We have given the Democrats all the ‘Full Disclosure’ they’re going to get. I know what Judge Alito stands for and that should be enough for anybody,” the grinning President shrugged.

* Bush shrugged off a recent Pentagon report which concluded the Army was overextended and the US cannot sustain the pace of troop deployments to Iraq long enough to defeat the insurgency.

Without offering any specifics the President said the military was transforming itself to ensure the armed forces could meet its goals in the 21st century. He predicted victory in Iraq and said, "Our commanders will have the troops necessary to do that."

"After five years of war, there is a need to make sure that our troops are balanced properly, that threats are met with capability."

* Before leaving the podium Bush shrugged off questions comparing the successes of five year’s warfare in the Middle East to the Allied conquest of Nazi Germany in World War II which took the US four years.