SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, as the President has said, and as we've articulated in the days after the Inaugural, the work of ending tyranny in the world doesn't happen overnight. He said that in his Inaugural address. And it's going to take different shapes and different forms with different countries. And you can expect that the President will talk about the progress of liberty and -- and an amazing progress, if you just look at the short history; not even taking it from the Cold War on, just taking the last six months -- but there is more progress that can be made, and there are areas where the international community can come together.
I mentioned the Middle East peace process, for example. This was a significant topic of conversation with President Mubarak, as well as the Crown Prince and King Abdullah, for example. And as the President has articulated many times before, having democracies emerge in the heart of the Middle East -- both in Palestine, as well as Iraq -- sends an enormous signal to other peoples in the region that democracy is the path for success. And I think you can expect the President to talk at length about that.
Q I know you and Scott have talked about the dangers of setting artificial timetables to pull out of Iraq. Will the President even talk about the notion of American troops coming home from Iraq, how he would define what it would take to start bringing troops home?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I think that requires an articulation of the mission and what will it take to accomplish that mission. And you can expect him to do that tomorrow night, and how he views us reaching that -- accomplishing that goal of a mission. So I think you can expect him to talk -- he has already, as many of you know, spoken at length about what he believes is one of the most important ingredients of success, and that's training Iraqi security forces. And you can expect him to talk a little bit more about that tomorrow night.
Q But would the notion of troops coming home pass his lips at all?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, it passes his lip all the time. He says that they will return home with the honor that they deserve by completing the mission. Obviously, he'll say that.
Q Judicial nominees -- since the President will have the full Senate in front of him, will he speak directly to them about confirming his judicial nominees that they've filibustered for two years?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Absolutely. Absolutely.
Q When you talk of continuing economic momentum, will the President specifically in the speech call on Congress to make the tax cuts permanent, as he has in the past, as he did in the campaign? Or does that not take a backseat to this longer-term tax reform?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I have to check on that, but the President's position has not changed, and he'll make it clear to the Congress, whether it's in many different forms. And I think -- and I just, right off the top of my head, I can't remember, but we -- our position has not changed on making the tax cuts permanent.
Q But if he doesn't mention it in a speech like this, some will take it to believe that your emphasis has changed.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: That's a hypothetical, because again -- I'm just, because my memory is not serving me well. But make no mistake, the President is intent on making the tax cuts permanent and it will always be one of the centerpieces of his economic policies.
Q Any idea when Social Security legislation may be forthcoming, specific legislation --
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I can't predict time frames. Obviously, we believe that this is the year to act. It is a -- an issue of this magnitude requires careful attention by both the House and the Senate. I'm sure there's a lot of discussion going on between the leadership in the House and the Senate about who goes first, and those things, and that will be discussed in the coming weeks and months. But this is the year. And the President and this administration will make every effort to help the Congress come to a conclusion this year on this issue.
Q There was some chat about late February, early March. Is that --
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Late February, early March for --
Q For legislation, yes.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: It's February 1st. No --
Q Late February, early March.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: No. That's the first I've heard of that.
Q Will the President be talking about atrocities such as Darfur, or genocide or anti-Semitism? Will he mention those?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, those are obviously very important issues to this President and to this administration. And if there was an opportunity to talk about everything, he would. But I don't believe in this speech that he'll be talking about Darfur.
Q What about immigration reform?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: It's an important priority of this President and he has articulated his position on that many times. But it will remain an important part of his agenda, so obviously it will be a part of --
Q Will he use the speech as an opportunity to give it a push?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Of course.
Q He will?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Of course.
Q On fiscal discipline, how specific is he going to be with regard to spending restraint that he expects from the Congress? And will he name certain programs that he thinks need to be looked at? Will he call for a certain level of growth --
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yes, he will -- he will talk about at least the main principle of what will guide his budget as far as you mark these things -- like, last year it was non-defense, non-homeland discretionary spending just below 1 percent. And he will articulate a similar type of goal or principle which his budget will adhere to.
Q Was Karen Hughes involved in this speech again?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yes, she commented on it, yes.
Q Did she help draft, or was her involvement more or less? It sounds like it might be less.
Q Who?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Karen Hughes. She's never drafted, that I recall, the speech. It's always been drafted by the speech writers. But she provided comments like she has in years past.
