4:14 P.M. EDT SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Let me just start by saying we’ll do this on background as senior administration officials.  And I just wanted to start by just giving a sense of where we are in Afghanistan.  And we…

11:50 A.M. EDT MR. GIBBS:  Before we start, let me just do a couple of — just one quick scheduling announcement for tomorrow.  Thursday, the President will host two events focusing on the administration’s work to increase America’s competitiveness and…

11:02 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Have a seat, everybody.  Good morning.  Before I take your questions, I just want to talk a little bit about our continuing efforts to dig ourselves out of this recession and to grow our economy.  …

1:32 P.M. EDT MR. GIBBS:  Sorry for the delay.  Good afternoon.  Take us away. Q    What is your reaction to Iran saying earlier today that they’re going to release one of the American hikers this weekend? MR. GIBBS:  We are…

1:12 P.M. EDT MR. GIBBS:  All right, fire away. Q    Mr. Boehner has come out with a proposal that would freeze taxes at their current level and put spending at 2008 levels.  What’s the administration’s response?  Is that something you…

12:16 P.M. EDT      MR. GIBBS:  Yes, ma’am.  Good afternoon.      Q    Good afternoon.  Robert, there’s a church in Gainesville, Florida, that says it’s going to go ahead and burn copies of the Koran to mark the…

* The President spoke with FEMA Administrator Fugate today at 1:15p.m.EDT about Hurricane Earl. * The President was briefed on the oil platform fire in the Gulf and the government response today by Assistant to the President and Deputy National…

11:40 A.M. EDT MR. BURTON:  Thanks for joining us on this flight to Fort Bliss.  Just for starters, the President did speak with President Bush this morning.  We won’t be reading that call out, but they did speak on Air…

10:24 A.M. EDT MR. HAMMER:  Hi, good morning, everyone.  Sorry for the slight delay.  The senator was coming from a meeting. So today we have Senator Mitchell, the Special Envoy for Middle East peace, will give you an on-the-record briefing. …

2:22 P.M. EDT MR. GIBBS:  Good afternoon.  Let’s start with one very quick scheduling update.  On Monday, September 6, 2010 — Labor Day — President Obama will travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he will attend the Milwaukee Laborfest, organized by…