... Q So it's too soon to say -- MR. McCLELLAN: Mark, see, this is all -- Q -- whether the President will sign something -- MR. McCLELLAN: Mark, see, this is all -- this is all part of the D.C. process game. This isn't the time to be getting into ruling things in or ruling things out. This is a time to be putting ideas on the table. That's what we're doing and that's what we appreciate others doing, as well. It's time for Democrats to stop standing in the way of solutions and start offering ideas for moving forward and working with us. Go ahead. Q Yes, Scott, along the same lines as Social Security, what does the President think of taking the surplus from Social Security and using that to help fund private accounts? There's legislation on the House side -- MR. McCLELLAN: You want to engage in some negotiations here and talk about this? Q I'm just asking what the President thinks of this. MR. McCLELLAN: The President has outlined his proposal, Roger, and the President believes his approach is the way we should proceed. But he welcomes all those who are coming forward with ideas and putting ideas on the table. The President, as I just said, laid out some very clear principles, and he said all ideas are on the table as far as he's concerned. We need to work together to solve this important priority for the American people.

...The American people -- there's more surveys that came out over the weekend showing the American people are concerned about their retirement security. They're concerned that their Social Security retirement funds won't be there for them when they retire, particularly younger generations. They're concerned about the direction Social Security is headed. They know that Social Security faces serious problems. Social Security is headed towards bankruptcy. That's why we need to act and get it done now. It's a problem that only grows worse each year that we wait, and our options become even more limited each year that we wait, $800 million more a year each year that we wait to solve this problem. We should be solving problems, not passing them on to future generations. And Democratic leaders have an opportunity to come forward with ideas and work with us. We would hope that they would stop engaging in their obstruction -- obstructionist tactics and join with us to get something done on behalf of the America.

...Q On Iraq, the speech next Tuesday, should we expect a sort of assessment on the strategy or any change in strategy? Can you give us any idea or any sense of what that might be -- MR. McCLELLAN: The speech is still several days away. It's too early to preview the speech. But as I indicated to you previously, that the President will continue to keep the American people informed about the progress that we're making on the ground in Iraq, the difficulties and dangers that remain and that lie ahead, as well as the strategy for succeeding in Iraq. We are making important progress, the Iraqi people are making important progress. But there are dangers that remain. And that's why we need to continue training the Iraqi security -- we need to continue to support the Iraqi people as they move forward on the political process. We also need to continue training Iraqi security forces so that they will be able to defend themselves and then our troops can return home with the honor that they deserve. But again, the speech is in very early stages at this point. Q Should we look at it as a speech that sort of graduates to a different phase or anything? MR. McCLELLAN: I would leave it where I did for right now, Roger. We can talk about it when it gets closer to the day of the remarks. Q What's the venue? Or any closer to the venue -- MR. McCLELLAN: Not yet. No, we're not ready to -- Q Can you say if it's in Washington or not? MR. McCLELLAN: No, it's not here, but we're not ready to update you on the President's schedule at this point. Les. Q Scott, the President has been asked to remove Ken Tomlinson as head of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting by 16 Democrat Senators, including Senator Durbin. And my first question, of two -- doesn't the President feel that this is actually a commendation of Mr. Tomlinson, coming as it does from Durbin and the rest of these Senators who should instead be asking Durbin to resign as Minority Whip? MR. McCLELLAN: Wow, that's tying a lot of things together, Les. Let me just say that we continue to support him. We reappointed him. He was originally appointed by the Clinton administration and we continue to support him in his work.