Feel safer?

Wonkette has posted the transcript of today's press gaggle with Scottie McTalkingPoint (emphasis mine):

Q Does the President really believe we could respond to a terrorist attack with any -- amount of weeks, months?

MR. McCLELLAN: We've actually done a lot of exercises, David, to prepare for possible attacks, but --

Q Do you think most Americans agree, based on --

MR. McCLELLAN: But the most important thing we've got to do is focus on --

Q You mean exercises for Hurricane Katrina.

MR. McCLELLAN: We've got to focus on prevention, and that's what we're doing by staying on the offensive.

Q Well, let's talk about it. Are you saying the President is -- are you saying that the President is confident that his administration is prepared to adequately, confidently secure the American people in the event of a terrorist attack of a level that we have not seen? And based on what does he have that confidence?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, and that's what he made clear earlier today, that obviously we want to look and learn lessons from a major catastrophe of this nature.

Q Yes, but you're telling us today there will be time for that somewhere down the road. Well, what if it happens tomorrow?

MR. McCLELLAN: We can engage in this blame-gaming going on and I think that's what you're getting --

Q No, no. That's a talking point, Scott, and I think most people who are watching this --

MR. McCLELLAN: No, that's a fact. I mean, some are wanting to engage in that, and we're going to remain focused --

Q I'm asking a direct question. Is he confident --

MR. McCLELLAN: We're going to remain focused on the people.

Q -- that he can secure the American people in the event of a major terrorist attack?

MR. McCLELLAN: We are securing the American people by staying on the offensive abroad and working to spread freedom and democracy in the Middle East.

Q That's a talking point. That's a talking point.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, that's a fact.

Go ahead.

Q No, it's not. And you think people who are watching this think that's -- from what does he derive that confidence, based on the response --

MR. McCLELLAN: David, I'm interested in the people in the region that have been affected and getting them help. We can sit here and engage in this back and forth --

Q The whole country is watching and wondering about some --

MR. McCLELLAN: The time for bickering and blame-gaming is later. The time for helping people in the region is now.

Q How soon can we look for the start of this investigation? I mean, are we talking about weeks, months? How far down the road --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the first thing we've got to do, Mike, is make sure that we're continuing to save lives and give people help that they need, that we're addressing the flooding issues in New Orleans. We are. There's a lot of progress made on the levees, and they're starting to pump water out of there now. We've got to make sure that we restore central services. We've got to continue the search and rescue missions. And we've got to make sure that the plans are in place for the long-term response that is going to be needed.

The long-term -- this is a long-term project that will be needed to help rebuild the flooded and shattered cities, places like Biloxi and New Orleans. And so that's where we're going to keep our focus.

Q So at what point in this --

MR. McCLELLAN: I mean, you're asking me to put a time frame on it. I don't think you can do that at this point. There will be a time to do that, and we will do so.

Hasn't Dubya heard the expression "the best offense is a good defense"? This administration thinks that by expending all its resources on the "offense" in Mess-o-potamia, that it's making us more secure?! That's kind of like the Indianapolis Colts -- they have a great offense lead by a great quarterback but have a mediocre defense. They can't prevent the other team from scoring touchdowns. It's a flawed strategy that has yet to win the games that count.

Feel safer?

Oh, BTW, I'm starting a pool based on when we will actually see this "investigation" launched by the White House. Based on Scottie's response to the press today, I'm picking Jan 21, 2009.