On the prison abuse scandal: "Mr. Sanger: Mr. President, you said you believed that the prison abuse scandal was the act largely of a few individuals. And you've now seen the Schlesinger report and you've seen the Fay report, and they describe a far more systemic problem, one that they said came from inadequate resources, had its origins or at least traced its way back up to the very senior levels of the Pentagon and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Do you agree with that conclusion, and do you also agree with their recommendations about how to overhaul the treatment of detainees?

THE PRESIDENT: I think we ought to look at all their recommendations seriously. And I think that this report is a useful report, so that we can, in the future, do a better job of dealing with prison issues in regards to the military. So I take the report as a very constructive move. And I think there is — "

Come again? Agree or disagree?

"Mr. Sanger: Do you agree with them that there is a wider problem than just individuals, as you said in the Rose Garden?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think we ought to look at all their recommendations very seriously"

I honestly think a viable strategy for President Bush to win is to keep talking until us liberals kill ourselves in frustration.

About nuclear North Korea:

"In other words, they've done exactly what you were concerned Saddam Hussein might if he had been more advanced. And you've declared several times you wouldn't tolerate a nuclear North Korea or a nuclear Iran. I'm not sure you've ever defined that term. Does tolerate mean to you that you won't condone it, does it mean you'll set some deadlines?

THE PRESIDENT: It means we'll try diplomacy as a first resort.

Mr. Sanger: And how long will that last? THE PRESIDENT: It means we'll try diplomacy as a first resort. Mr. Sanger: And how long would that last?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I don't think you give timelines to dictators and tyrants. I think it's important for us to continue to lead coalitions that are firm and strong, in sending messages to both the North Koreans and the Iranians. "

Wait, wait. No timelines to dictators? I seem to remember an address to the nation where President Bush required Hussein and his sons leave Iraq within 48 hours. There was also the rougher deadline for Iraq to disarm, which of course they either did or didn't have to, but we know how that turned out.

This is how the interview ended - so fitting -

"On mistakes made in his first term:
Ms. Bumiller: At your last big press conference, you said that you couldn't think of any mistakes you had made. It's been about three or four months. Can you think of any now? It's been a long time.

THE PRESIDENT: You mean other than having this interview?"