Notes from today's presser, which featured money quotes galore...

Updated with the, apparently, preferred spelling of "Quds." Read more…

Bush held his last presser of the year today.

His solution for what ails us: "I encourage you all to go shopping more."

If we don't, how will we achieve that biblical ideal of "a shining mall on a hill"?

A few quick takes...

Though reporters have taken up his "surge" framing to describe throwing more young American bodies onto the funeral pyre that is the O.I.L. mission, he was tentative about saying that the new troops he wants will be added to Iraq — as opposed to, maybe, relieving some of our overtaxed soldiers or giving us five or ten guys who can guard us while the rest of our forces chow down on Iraqi chocolates. Read more…

In case you missed Bush's presser today:

As with most of Bush's recent press conferences, his confidence and speaking patterns varied wildly thoughout it, from fairly composed to awkward and lost. Read more…