Bush Press Conference Yesterday

[Popo]

What did you guys think of his press conference?

[Eiru]

I try not to watch incoherent people on TV. Gives me a headache.

[Allison]

First, I thought it was interesting when he said he would have tried to convince the world to go after Iraq, even without the issue of WMDs. Second, I think it's important to try and convince the Iraqi people that we're committed to Iraq, so I give him points in that area.

But, other than that, nothing really stood out for me. Same ol' same ol'. (I do confess, though, that my mind wandered here and there. So I might have missed something. I wish someone would give him lessons on how to read a speech with more conviction than he would a shopping list. It really tests my concentration skills. ;) )

[Swifty_Johnson]

He did good in getting his points across, and some in the media really tried to tear into him and trip him up.

He made a few stumbles, but did okay overall.

Swifty

[Jammer]

I like Bush just fine as a president and will likely vote for him in November. That said, I also have to admit this is the first president in my life that I literally think I could outperform in a press conference/question & answer session. It's just not his strong suit. He actually did pretty well overall on this one, considering all the touchy subjects in the news now. But for any person to not have a slick, canned response to questions as obvious as "have you made mistakes" seems silly. I mean how hard is it to get a steely look in your eye and say "Well, I think one mistake we all made before September 11, 2001 is to underestimate the level of evil and hatred that some extremists harbor. That's a mistake I will never make again and it's why the sacrifices we've made for the last 2 and a half years are so critically important." Yeah, it's pretty hollow, but I just made it up on the fly and it's a hell of a sight better than the long, awkward pause approach. :)

The flip side is that this simple, vulnerable side to Bush makes him a knock down, drag out success in informal, one-on-one situations. I think this helps him a lot with the average Joe six-pack (wait, this is the LoL board...I meant Joe Case.) It's going to be an interesting campaign.

Jammer

[Airr]

"Well, I think one mistake we all made before September 11, 2001 is to underestimate the level of evil and hatred that some extremists harbor. That's a mistake I will never make again and it's why the sacrifices we've made for the last 2 and a half years are so critically important."
I vote for Jammer!!

Damn, wrong thread...

[Hammer]

I didn't get to see it except in small clips. I saw the reporters repeating the same question 7 or 8 different ways. Just once I would like see someone in this situation say, I guess you weren't paying attention, next question please. Wait, Rummy does that all the time;) He's not smooth but he avoided giving Kerry his, "I made mistakes" ad clip, so it's probably a good PC for him.

Jammer the problem with your response is that the following day's headline in the NYT would be, "Bush admits Mistakes reguarding 911". Opening sentence. In a stunning reversal, president Bush admits that he personally underestimated the terrorist threat before 9/11. The full quote would never be used or it would be buried near the end of the piece. You know I'm right.

[malkovich]

hi airr ... :) ... nice hooters ! ... :P ...

hope you and eiru are doing well ... :) ...

don't mind me , just passing thru ... :P ...

[Eiru]

Wah! Malk! Stay and chat for a bit!

[Airr]

Hehehehe - I knew YOU'd totally remember that episode!!!! :rolly:
Miss ya Mallllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllk


And: Still voting for Jammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - it's his steely eyes :hump:

[Rooster]

Here's what I don't get.

SLICK Willy... did NOT help him. It made people feel he was disengenious (whether he was or not).

People feel he is sincere, and people know it (whether or not they agree with him).

I'd rather a president do a good job and be sincere than silver tongued.

[Allison]

Rooster, I think you're in the wrong thread. You're looking for the one entitled, "Random Clinton Bashings."

[spyder913]

i don't feel bush is sincere because he can't answer questions quickly

[Jammer]

Well, Hammer, I really did that off the cuff so cut me some slack. If I were president, I would have the golden, impervious version ready to go. :)

Using your cue, maybe it would be something like "My biggest mistake is that I continuously overestimate the ability of reporters to listen to their colleagues and not ask the SAME FUCKING QUESTION OVER AND OVER!"

I would really vote for him if he said that. :rolly:

Jammer

[Rooster]

Ahh yes. A thinking man = insincere. Got it.

[Airr]

Oh Roo ;)

[Allison]

Oh, come now, Roo. Let's allow people their opinions without getting smarmy about it. :p

[Rooster]

That's what Spyder was inferring, no? Can you tell me another way to read it?

[Eiru]

HAHA! The question, Roo, is did he pause because he was thinking or because he didn't know what to say? Bush pauses a lot when he's asked questions outside the scope of his talking points and he always seems to end up circling back to those talking points in a way that avoids answering the question. At least Reagan could think on his feet.