a time honored part of American tradition and the president fully understands it. It's the strength of our democracy.

Nepal is fighting a Maoist rebellion, and Nepal is an example, again, of a democracy, and the United States is committed to helping Nepal.

People will see what a man of integrity (Ashcroft) is, a man of strength, a man of conviction. They have concerns, and will raise them in a partisan manner, but we are very confident he will be in good shape. Sen. Ashcroft is going to receive a fair hearing in the Senate.

The president welcomes peaceful protests -- it is a time-honored tradition. The president agrees violence is not the answer in Iraq, and that's why he hopes Saddam Hussein will disarm.

[Earlier, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer reiterated the administration's support for reforming the authority.] It is time for the Palestinian Authority to reform. That is what the president is watching, ... That is the heart of the matter.

a thankless job. . . . Always a flak-catching job.