Partial transcript from Bush*'s NC "press opportunity":

[LittleApple81]

Let me answer some questions for you. Deb? Yes, I stiffed you the other day. I'm glad to call you this time.

Q Mr. President, Kerry, during the primaries, often said that John Edwards was not ready to be President. Do you believe that he is ready to be a heartbeat away from the Oval Office?

THE PRESIDENT: That will be up to the voters to decide. But I tell you what I think about North Carolina. I did well here in 2000 because the North Carolinian voter understood we shared values. I'm going to do well again in 2004. They know we share those values. People in North Carolina remember I came to this state and said we'll make sure our troops are well-paid and well-housed and taken care of, and we've done that. I told them we'd cut their taxes, and we've done that. The economy is strong here in North Carolina. I also know that when they go to the polls to vote for President that they'll understand that the Senator from Massachusetts doesn't share their values.

Steve.

Q Mr. President --

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, speak up. I'm getting a little --

Q If I could try another Edwards question. He's being described today as charming, engaging, a nimble campaigner, a populist, and even sexy. How does he stack up against Dick Cheney?

THE PRESIDENT: Dick Cheney can be President.

Next.

Q Mr. President, does this John Edwards selection force you to spend more time in the South, and change your strategy in the southern states now?

THE PRESIDENT: I'm going to carry the South because the people understand that they share -- we share values that they understand. They know me well. And I am -- I believe that I did well in the South last time, I'll do well in the South this time, because the Senator from Massachusetts doesn't share their values, and that's the difference in the campaign.

Yes.

Q Will you have to spend more time, strategy-wise?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, talk to -- talk to the schedulers. I'm not the scheduler, I'm just a simple candidate. (Laughter.)

Yes.

Q Mr. President, candidate --

THE PRESIDENT: Welcome. Well, "Mr. President," thank you.

Q The judiciary you hope to create with these nominees, could you --

THE PRESIDENT: Those aren't the nominees.

Q Well, they're --

THE PRESIDENT: That's Senator Burr -- to be.

Q Could you -- could you offer thoughts as to how that judiciary is different from the one that might exist under a Democratic Kerry-Edwards administration, and perhaps with particular reference to issues of civil damage suits and abortion?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, look, I've -- first of all, on issues like abortion, I don't have a litmus test. In other words, when the nominees come before people in my administration, we don't say, what is your specific position on that issue or another issue. What we say to the person is, what is your judicial temperament? Will you be willing to faithfully interpret the law? Or will you view your position on the bench to rewrite law? And that is the difference of judicial philosophies. I've been consistent in naming people to the bench that will faithfully interpret the law. I suspect that's one of the reasons why a minority of senators are blocking my nominees and creating a judicial emergency.

And after I leave here, I'm going to Michigan to bring up the same point. There are six judges that are being withheld because of their judicial temperament -- not because of a specific issue, but because of their temperament. And I don't believe in litmus tests. I do believe -- I do believe in making sure that we share a philosophy. As I said before, I want the legislators legislating. I don't want the judges legislating.

Look, you look awfully hot, and I think it's time for us to go to the next event. Thank you.

Q -- difference from a Kerry-Edwards administration -- could you see how they might --

THE PRESIDENT: Of course. They're the ones blocking the nominees in the first place. They're the types of senators who are blocking the advance of these nominees.

Take for example here in North Carolina. Senator Edwards will not allow two of the nominees to whom I referred to even get to the -- get to the committee for a hearing.

Thank you.


link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/07/20040707-3.html

[cthrumatrix]

1. his definition of values is based on what? he's a crook, a liar and over

his head...

[LittleApple81]

2. I cannot believe that ANYBODY except the top 1% would want to

vote for this piece of ignorant imitation of humanity.

[Paranoid_Portlander]

6. His values are based on the devine right of boy kings. n/t

And his supporters share those values.

[Cats Against Frist]

3. What the hell is this "sharing the values" baloney?

They did the same thing yesterday in the McCain commercial when they said that terrorists hate "every value we hold dear." This is a serious disconnect from reality. I mean, I don't go for the Biblical hoke, and I'm not for putting corporations on the "honor system," but at the end of the day, my values are pretty much that I love my son, I want to have done something good with my day, I've worked (minimally) hard at something, had a few laughs, kept warm/cool, had a decent meal, and I can go to sleep on a soft pillow. Most Goppers probably think this stuff, too -- don't they?

Maybe it's just that THEY don't share MY "values" -- like liberty, egalitarianism, humility and peace. And what's WRONG with these values?

Is there any way that we can stop them from doing this? It's made our country ugly. It eats away at the progress that we've made from universal (almost) sufferage, the civil rights movement -- hell, they're even trying to re-vise the story of the birth of our country -- less to make us look like a child of the Enlightenment, and more like a bunch of Bible beaters who think the ruling class (the King) should hold all the cards.

I hate it when I hear Goppers say that "values" shit. You have to be hiding withing a pretty thick veil of illusion to think that the GOP can make the very best case for values.

[soup]

4. These transcripts would be at least twice as long if

they allowed for his 'search for a word and fill in the blank' pauses. For instance, didn't it go something more along the lines of:


THE PRESIDENT: I'm going to --- carry the --- South --- because the --- people --- understand that --- they share -- we share --- values -- that they --- understand. --- They --- know me well. --- And --- I am -- - -- I believe --- that I did -- well in the --- South last time, --- I'll --- do well -- in the ---South --- this time, --- because the --- Senator from ----Massachusetts --- doesn't share --- their -- values, -- and that's - the --- difference -- in -- the campaign.

[jackstraw45]

5. "schedulers" or "handlers"?!?!?!

Which did he REALLY say?

Damn transcript cleaners....