Bush’s Lame-Duck Press Conference
By on May 31st, 2005 at 10:10 am
Bush’s Lame-Duck Press Conference
Wonder why Bush is having a press conference at 10:45? Check out some recent headlines:
BUSH FINDS SPENDING ‘POLITICAL CAPITAL’ NO EASY TASK; As poll numbers drop and setbacks rise, the president is struggling to get his agenda passed
Houston Chronicle, 5/26/05
CONGRESSIONAL SETBACKS, LOW RATINGS COULD LIMIT BUSH’S EFFECTIVENESS
Knight Ridder, 5/25/05
SETBACKS PIN ‘LAME DUCK’ LABEL ON BUSH
Independent on Sunday (London), 5/29/05
BUSH ISN’T HAVING GRAND OLD TIME IN HIS 2ND TERM
Dallas Morning News, 5/30/05
BUSH’S POLITICAL CAPITAL SPENT, VOICES IN BOTH PARTIES SUGGEST; Poll Numbers Sag as Setbacks Mount at Home and Abroad
Washington Post, 5/31/05
BUSH FACES STINGY CONGRESS
AFP, 5/29/05
BUSH FINDS CONGRESS IS NO PUSHOVER
Chicago Tribune, 5/30/05
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Will a “Bush as usual” press conference really change anything? I’d expect some lame “patriotic” answers to a few questions, then him finishing with “…thanks for your interest!” and retreating to the safety of the bubble.
This is probably just so he can claim that he did have press conferences, “as promised.”
May 31st, 2005 at 10:30 amHe ain’t no ‘lame-duck’ president. He was never a president from the getgo.
This ’stuff’ is all going to come crashing down. These ‘Pyrrhic victories’ have a huge cost.
The neocons have done enough fooling and sexed-up patriotic fervor to engulf the masses into a false sense of security.
It’s about to all fall down. It’s over for the Republicans. In 1929, the market crashed but it took about 2/12 years for it all to sink in hard. The same is about to happen. It has been enough and it is over.
May 31st, 2005 at 10:32 amRon,
Do you think it’s over for the Republicans because the American public is finally catching on or is your (hopeful) assertion based on the likelihood of a pending economic crisis forcing the American public to action, despite the collective tendency to ignore any and all bad news?
May 31st, 2005 at 11:08 amWhat have the Republicans done in the past 25 years of governance? Shipped jobs overseas, wreaked havoc on immigration to import cheap labor, debauched our monetary system to enrich themselves. In a nutshell, made America poorer. They only have themselves to blame for all of their troubles and are setting their house on fire. Believe me when I tell you that at one time I voted Republican, but NEVER again will I ever vote for another Republican.
Republicans? What Republicans? We don’t need no stinking Republicans.
May 31st, 2005 at 11:41 amMost of the Dems have their hands in the Big Lobby Money cookie jar so showing too much spine would jepardize their cashflow and hurt their re-election chances. The entire system is corrupted and it’s up to us to embolden them to do the right thing. Keep writing to your Congress members and hold their feet to the fire when they make decisions that don’t represent us!
May 31st, 2005 at 1:05 pmMost of these press conferences have been a staged waste of time. When will someone in the press get a spine and start throwing some hardballs to hit instead of beachballs?
May 31st, 2005 at 1:20 pmBush unleashed a real classic Bushism: referring to the Gitmo prisoners in response to a question about the Amnesty International report, he said many of them “disassemble” and then explained to the diction challenged audience of, eh, writers, that disassemble meant “to lie”.
I heard this on radio, but note two points:
1) 1 of the 3 NPR stations I can hear on my work drive did not carry the conference, and I read that on ABC the Deep Throat news trumped it. This at least suggests further important steps towards irrelevancy for W.
2) In listening, I heard very little energy from W or his questioners. The tone was really boring and of course, repetitive. Does this check from any who saw it?
Again, apart from the substance of the press conference, there is the issue of Bush tending towards irrelevance. If the MSM perceives him as boring, he is in big trouble. That provides us with opportunities if only we will use them.
May 31st, 2005 at 1:26 pmAbsolutely, dcs, tho I didn’t get a chance to hear the conference. An interesting analogy for you. Psychologists (and Dr. Phil) talk about “target patients.” These are people in a family unit who are showing outward signs of dysfunction, much to the rest of the unit’s dismay. Target patients are the “whistle blowers” of the dysfunctioning family. The only way things are going to change is if more of us start throwing tantrums, speaking out in outrage about what is going on. This is OUR nation! We have a right to the truth, and the right to our own opinions, and yet:
“Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.”
May 31st, 2005 at 1:58 pm-George Orwell
I’m not a journalist so I’m probably out of line. But, don’t you think if the journalists at these events asked some thought provoking questions that shead some truth on the last 4.5 years of shit that has come down the pike, it would show the shrub to be the flyswatter intellect that he is?
Come on, I can’t believe Rove controls all the press, all the time. Try to learn for the press in the early 1970’s, they would have flamethrowered Nixon to hell and back by now.
Try pressing for the truth, it starts with one or two, then everyone will be at the feeding frenzy. Ask the tough questions, embarish him, he’s the president and accountable to the electorate, he’s not the king and you won’t be beheaded. Try, you’ll see, it will all start to fall apart. The truth will set us free.
May 31st, 2005 at 1:59 pmToledo Blade. If we had more newspapers like that in this country, things would be different.
May 31st, 2005 at 2:33 pmI think that for any kind of assault from the White House press corps to be effective, it would have to come from all sides. Bush won’t call on you if he thinks you’re going to ask him a tough question. If Bush stops asking you questions then your relevance in that room will go down – while the easy question askers will get heard all the time (relevance goes up).
But, if they ALL started asking tough questions…
May 31st, 2005 at 2:49 pmGood point Russ. Here is an even gentlier method that won’t put anyone in the spotlight.
How about if none of the press showed up for the next press conference? Would that send the message that we’ve figured out this game and we aren’t playing any more?
May 31st, 2005 at 3:18 pmLittle will change as long as El Presidente chooses his own questioners. The American public’s weak appetite for hard-news means little real opportunity for a thorough drubbing of the administration as the hands of a well-placed White House correspondent.
May 31st, 2005 at 3:25 pmJay,
I thought you had fallen off the earth. Did you lose your appetite for discussion of how the poor are getting screwed by taxes? Now that we’ve established that they don’t pay income taxes, I’d like to continue the discussion of what taxes they DO pay.
Or have you had enough?
May 31st, 2005 at 4:56 pmIt is such a pile of crap, these f—ing “press conferences”. Don’t call them that, they are an orgy of mediocrity.
May 31st, 2005 at 5:26 pmJON FRIEDMAN’S MEDIA WEB
Washington Post scooped
The greatest media mystery of them all has been answered as “Deep Throat” reveals himself.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/commentary/default.asp?siteid=mktw&dist=LAskybox
Where is the Deep throat for this Presidents misdeeds? Come out come out where ever you are!
May 31st, 2005 at 6:04 pmYou missed one, that Congress is on break and there are none around to offer criticism to what he said today. Best to complain about Congress when they aren’t around.
May 31st, 2005 at 6:22 pmLook BS! Slate is a Liberal site! If you mean it tries to impartial, fair and balanced, that is.
http://slate.com/id/2119864/
May 31st, 2005 at 6:37 pmbuck,
I agree with you that if you look at the big picture, from a purely material standpoint, a poor American is probably better off (if gluttonous consumption can be defined as such) than a wealthy …INSERT 3RD WORLD COUNTRY HERE. I think the essential point here is that rather than demonizing the less fortunate and pushing for further consolidation of wealth for the top 2-5%, big corporations are f%^&* the rest of us over by not being held responsible for anything other than maximizing their profits. Why not direct your anger at the injustice of corporate welfare, tax evasion, offshore tax shelters, and the implementation of policy that not only allows that type of behavior but ENCOURAGES it.
You know what’s happening. Show some even-handedness and enlighten is with your thoughts on that topic. Ease up on the poor for a few minutes, they could use a break.
May 31st, 2005 at 7:11 pmI wondering why we keep encouraging buckshot, tony, and patriotic jesuit. These people are neocon plants to keep everyone diverted. Example; #13 b.s. comes out of the blue about taxes which has nothing to do with the posted blog about the relevence of the press and/or press conferences.
If we don’t engage these asshats with debate they’ll soon get tired for talking to themselves. Try it, see how long it takes them to leave for more conservative chatter.
May 31st, 2005 at 8:01 pmDavid B,
I’d agree with you except for one thing……these guys sharpen our points by continuing to propagate their foolishness.
May 31st, 2005 at 8:16 pmDavid,
Perhaps you think that namecalling is a good substitute for mature dialogue. You are in plentiful company, it appears.
I do agree with you, though. If my posts bother you, I agree that you could avoid being bothered by NOT READING THEM. I have always suggested this to anyone who is offended/bothered/angered by my posts.
Likewise, when I am disappointed with a particular person’s post, whether it is insulting, juvenile, or otherwise not worth reading, I simply don’t read them anymore. It is easy to see the auther – just scroll down & check the names first. There are at least four folks on this blog who I never read – they simply have nothing pertinent to say that interests me.
It is a conscious choice we make when we read a person’s post. Once I determine an individual spews nothing but nonsense, that’s it.
Another point on that…if a person is posting ten or twenty times during the day, that tells me he is either posting from work (which is unethical) or doesn’t work (in which case he should be out looking for work) In both cases, I’m not interested in his opinion.
I’m interested in hearing opinions from self-reliant people who are intelligent and desire to improve their own lives, as well as to make our society better. Honest discourse is a healthy thing.
Jay,
Your comment as to where I should “direct my anger” – I’m not angry. Not at you, not at our government, not at humanity. I don’t have time for anger. (Nor do you – but you don’t know it yet)
I have a feeling you will make the connection eventually – and you will stop trying to change 6 billion individuals who all disagree with each other, and start trying to control the one person you can control – and that would be Jay.
June 1st, 2005 at 2:30 amBullseye! Tight grouping at dead center mass.
I wondering why we keep encouraging buckshot, tony, and patriotic jesuit. These people are neocon plants to keep everyone diverted. Example; #13 b.s. comes out of the blue about taxes which has nothing to do with the posted blog about the relevence of the press and/or press conferences.
If we don’t engage these asshats with debate they’ll soon get tired for talking to themselves. Try it, see how long it takes them to leave for more conservative chatter.
Comment by David B
June 1st, 2005 at 9:52 amI missed this. Buckshot finally makes an assertion we all can agree on. He doesn’t like my style, so I have nothing to say. His styles doesn’t do much for me either, it’s boring, unoriginal and unimaginative, but it’s the failure to come up with facts that support his wild assertions and sweeping generalizations about the poor, and his intellectual dishonesty and limited perspective that really gall me. The fact that he is a complete and utter wingnut is true as well, but that’s just me be boring, unoriginal and unimaginative.
It is a conscious choice we make when we read a person’s post. Once I determine an individual spews nothing but nonsense, that’s it.
June 1st, 2005 at 2:44 pmbuckshot,
I’m not interested in changing the world, just trying to ensure that my kids grow up in a democracy. You know that they use 9/11 as an excuse for EVERYTHING, to deny that things under this administration haven’t gone comletely awry is not honest. These are extraordinary circumstances and you know better than to cop an “things have always been thus” attitude.
Quick question that gets off the path a bit here but ties back to anger:
After 9/11 when the snailmail anthrax scare took place and one of the letters went to then Senate minority leader Tom Daschle and another to Patrick Leahy from Vermont, how did that make you feel. I know your smart enough to connect the dots and you have no dog in the D v. R fight….so as a neutral party, did that make you angry?
June 1st, 2005 at 7:52 pmJay,
No it did not.
As far as you wanting to change the world; if you think you can do so by throwing yourself under the wheels of the runaway locomotive, dragging your wife & kids along for the crushing, well I guess you will have to try it and see if the locomotive stops.
My guess is it will still be picking up steam, long after you and your family have been ground into hamburger and left along the tracks for the birds to peck at.
As an alternative plan, you could come to terms with what you can change and what you cannot. You can change yourself. Maybe.
Once you conquer yourself, the rest is easy.
June 2nd, 2005 at 1:50 amThose are the comments of a selfish quitter.
June 2nd, 2005 at 9:15 amNo, Jay. Those are the comments of a separatist-survivalist nutbar. He and his family will be the first to die. The lunatic fringe always does. Bye!
June 2nd, 2005 at 9:59 amBut the upside for Buckshot is that the Y2K larder and post-apocalypse compound is still stocked with enough cartons of toilet paper to accomodate his entire family’s output of bullshit and all those felled trees won’t go to waste! He’s an environ-mentalist, doncha know!
June 2nd, 2005 at 10:04 amNice work chief ;-)
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December 28th, 2005 at 7:39 pm