will the White House support a continuing resolution for three or four weeks?
MR. FLEISCHER: Certainly, if the appropriation agreements cannot be entered into this week, the President will of course support a continuing resolution.
You know, if this is, indeed, the Senate's last week in Washington, the history of the Congress -- and this applies equally to Democrats or Republicans -- is that the last week has a wonderful way of focusing the mind and on getting the people's business done. And so the President -- I can just say it again
-- is hopeful that this final week will result in a lot of good work being done and completed. The appropriation bills need to be completed, the stimulus needs to be passed, the 157 nominations that are being held up in the Senate need to move forward, the judicial vacancies need to be filled.
You know, on the question of the judicial vacancies, I noted also that some of the Democrats were defending their nominations by saying that -- their nomination pace by saying that they have confirmed the same number for President Bush that they confirmed for President Clinton in 1993, which is a half-true statement. They have, indeed, confirmed 27 of President Bush's nominees to the Bench, while they confirmed 27 of President Clinton's.
The big difference is, President Bush has named far more people to the Bench. In other words, the Senate has failed to act on a much greater number for President Bush than it did for President Clinton.
President Bush has made a record-setting pace of appointments to the Bench to fill the vacancies. But the Senate has lagged behind in the number that they have confirmed. And that's not a matter for Democrats or Republicans, that's a matter for people who are waiting in the administration -- law in a court.
Q Ari, do you see any movement on terrorism insurance legislation --
MR. FLEISCHER: That's another issue where the House of Representatives has been able to take action and pass terrorism insurance, and we continue to wait for the Senate to take action. That's one bill in a long list of bills where the House was able to take action. And we're waiting and hopeful that the Senate will, too.
Q Reuters quotes Senator Helms as saying that the war on terrorism cannot and will not end until Saddam Hussein suffers the same fate as the Taliban. And my question: does the President believe Senator Helms is wrong?
MR. FLEISCHER: Again, I'm just not going to speculate about anything that may come next.
Q Since the President has such an extensive professional background in sport, and he attended both baseball and football games in time of war, but the President surely supports Father Malloy of Notre Dame in getting rid of the extensively lying coach George O'Leary, doesn't he? (Laughter.) Rather than agreeing with Maryland's coach Friedgen, who claims O'Leary has unquestioned integrity? Surely, he supports the President of Notre Dame in getting rid of this monumental liar, doesn't he, Ari? Surely he does. If he had a manager of the Texas Rangers who lied like this, he would be gone. Isn't that true, Ari?
MR. FLEISCHER: Les, this week the President is focusing on personnel issues that have 50 votes to them and that would be the United States Senate. (Laughter.)
Q Is he going to desert his friend, Father Malloy? He surely won't fail to support --
Q Thank you. (Laughter.)
MR. FLEISCHER: Thank you, Helen.
END 1:02 P.M. EST