Fleischer: Bush Is Not Taking Questions From Press Because Doing So ‘Would Hurt John McCain’
Fleischer: Bush Is Not Taking Questions From Press Because Doing So ‘Would Hurt John McCain’
On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said that Bush has not taken questions from the press in over seven weeks because he wants to “make sure this election remains fully focused on the two candidates”:
PERINO: If you guys had him in here, almost everything would be geared towards the election, and he is cognizant of that. He wants to make sure that this election remains fully focused on the two candidates. … The President is reluctant to be in a place where there’s going to be a lot of competition for questions that get him involved in the 2008 campaign.
This morning, however, former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer argued that Bush is instead simply trying to avoid damaging McCain’s political fortunes:
LAUER: Dana Perino is saying we haven’t heard the President out there answering questions from the press over the last several weeks and months because he doesn’t want to get into campaign politics. … Where do you fall on this?
FLEISCHER: Well remember hasn’t taken questions since early August, Matt — well before this crisis really hit. And I think it does come down to campaign politics. He doesn’t want to get in the middle of the questions that would hurt John McCain more than anyone else.
Watch it:
By his own declaration, Bush is more than willing to inject himself into the 2008 campaign. But as Dee Dee Myers comments in response to Fleischer, “the problem is the President has no credibility. It’s his economic philosophy, his economic team, and I think the White House realizes that and is trying to help by keeping him off the front of the stage.”
Indeed, GOP candidates in congressional races around the nation have distanced themselves from Bush, believing his record could hurt their election chances.
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The new Rolling Stone Magazine has a good article on how Bush destroyed the Republican Party. They do a good job.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:02 pmIs this Ari’s way of saying “Worst President EVER”?
September 19th, 2008 at 1:04 pmIt has been sort of amusing watching McCain run against the Republican mess he helped create.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:05 pmBizarro World.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:05 pmSorry, O.T.
This video is great…
McCain’s Green Economy: Drill, Baby, Drill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oro2Yh9HoEM
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September 19th, 2008 at 1:07 pmkasinca Says:
They think that if they cover their eyes, we can’t see them any longer. My daughter did this when she was three and four years old.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
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FYI – this is a very useful belief if you go to Traal and encounter a Ravenous Bugblatter Beast.
Not so useful in Washington, per se.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:08 pmBush is not taking questions because he has no answers… he is an empty suit, a moron… thank you very much SCOTUS.
The more bush exposes his ignorance, the further the republican party falls… not just McInsane. For heavens sakes, these folks are groomed to support us in danger… must keep up that image.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:13 pmEven the pathetic trolls can’t come out to defend Dubya on this one. They know he has fcuked up everything he has touched over the past 7 1/2 years.
The reverse Midas touch.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:25 pmIt’s not really distancing themselves from Bush when they’re just going to turn around and continue his policies.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:27 pmThe GOP probably wishes they could do everything off the stage, including this campaign. Next would probably be a big hole to hide Bush and talk of his policies.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:28 pmpolitics to the bitter end…
September 19th, 2008 at 1:28 pmRadioactive Bush. It’s what the little election stealers deserve.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:29 pmBush is the perfect poster boy for Republicanism
He’s a coward
He’s a thief
He’s a liar
He puts party before country
A typical Republican, just like McCain
September 19th, 2008 at 1:31 pmThey think that if they cover their eyes, we can’t see them any longer. My daughter did this when she was three and four years old.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:31 pmThe Repugs have just done what has been tried by a lot of people over the past 50 years; they have created a third party!!!!!!
The non-Repug Repug Party. Who’da thunk?
September 19th, 2008 at 1:34 pmin a rational world, people that still believe in a magic man in the sky would not only not be allowed to vote, they would be getting treatment for their mental illness
September 19th, 2008 at 1:34 pmBy 2012 the GOP, assuming they don’t change their name, will deny Chimpy ever even existed. The entire Presidency will be blamed on “libruls”.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:35 pmIs this Ari’s way of saying “Worst President EVER”?
No, Ari’s way of saying, ‘Worst President Ever’ is ‘History will judge this President and his policies in the fullness of time…’
September 19th, 2008 at 1:36 pm.
Remember, a Decider doesn’t need to field questions when he’s capable of hiding behind a podium and deciding…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFefI29TVi4
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September 19th, 2008 at 1:37 pmYeah, like none of us can see what his administration has done to this country. I don’t need to see him in person, I see “him” every day all around me.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:38 pmupside99,
I can understand if multiple posts are done at the same time that they might appear out of order… but past timestamped by 30 minutes… WTF???
I’ve been seeing this too…
Me thinks a hacker is at play.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:39 pm.
TESTING…
My last post in response to upside99’s post here was time stamped 30 minutes prior to upside99’s post.
… WTF???
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September 19th, 2008 at 1:44 pmMaybe Bush should take a vacation as he already holds the presidential vacationing record, so he could firm it up. He could go ride a horse–oops, wait, he’s afraid of horses. Ride a bike? Nope, too dangerous! Get drunk and do a couple of lines? Aahhh.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:45 pmIndicative of W’s biggest problem since the beginning…
…The utter inability to separate campaigning/politicking from governing.
I am sorry; he cannot refuse to answer questions about this crisis or any of the (many) others on his watch — McCain or not!
September 19th, 2008 at 1:46 pmSo candidates are far more important than the sitting President?
September 19th, 2008 at 1:48 pmBut the race is still close. That can only be because there are still too many LIVs and racists out there who would rather have another incompetent old white guy and a bimbo rather than someone who can actually MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
How sad is that as a commentary on the American people?? No wonder the rest of the world laughs at us!
September 19th, 2008 at 1:49 pm“Every time you open your mouth, you weaken the nation.” This is what Moe said to Curly in one of the vintage Three Stooges comedy shorts. It could also be applied to the statements of both McCain and Bush.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:49 pmWhy doesn’t Bush just slink-off back to his so-called dude-ranch, clear brush,ride his bike (the one with training wheels) to his little hearts desire! Nobody will miss him, that’s for sure!
September 19th, 2008 at 1:52 pmFunny, I can’t recall King George having any problem interfering in elections in 2002 or 2006.
And I can’t recall King George worrying about the consequences of his own actions at any time in the past.
Perhaps I’ve caught that GOP disease ICR – “I Can’t Recall”
PEACE
September 19th, 2008 at 1:53 pmHorse Hockey! Since when does someone hired to do the job, defer to one who is an applicant.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:58 pmupside99 Says:
But the race is still close. That can only be because there are still too many LIVs and racists out there who would rather have another incompetent old white guy and a bimbo rather than someone who can actually MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
How sad is that as a commentary on the American people?? No wonder the rest of the world laughs at us!
All because one has more skin pigmentation…the very intelligent one… the one that could begin turning things around in the interest of the people. It is very sad.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:58 pmBush has done an awful job for the past eight years (and the latest activity on the stock market has just been icing on the cake), and it’s become so apparent to everyone that it can’t even be spun anymore. Even our resident trolls no longer defend Bush.
Dubya’s probably grateful that all the campaign buzz allows him to sneak out from the spotlight, hide under the bed, and suck his thumb.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:59 pmHey TP! Why did my post a # 8 get back posted by over 30 minutes?
Are we in a time warp?
September 19th, 2008 at 2:00 pmFact: GOP candidates in congressional races around the nation have distanced themselves from Bush, believing his record could hurt their election chances.
Shouldn’t the voters also examine the voting records of all these GOP candidates who have been propping up the Chimp Administration for the last 8 years?
In a rational world, a record of voting with and unquestioningly supporting a corrupt and unaccountable chucklehead like George W. Bush would PERMANENTLY DISQUALIFY that candidate from public office.
September 19th, 2008 at 2:04 pmIf folks turn away from Obama because of his darker shade, then why do so many risk skin cancer for the darker shade?
If we lose this election due to this insanity, maybe we do not deserve this country.
September 19th, 2008 at 2:08 pm“it’s just a few steps, sir… that’s it… now hold on tight to that podium… good… just a few words, sir… very good…
yea… no, i don’t think he sounds TOO sloshed… it’s ok…
he did it… well done, sir…”
…
ari flusher also tried to put the blame for this economic failure on the american people… and dee dee got in the last word shutting that down…
September 19th, 2008 at 2:09 pmMy post at 15 was also back timed by 30 minutes …… WTF!
September 19th, 2008 at 2:10 pmAmerican Cow Pie says:
And how does the troll know this? Because all Repugs are liars, right?
September 19th, 2008 at 2:17 pmHeh. If the Pukes had any sense at all, they’d shove a sock in Chimpy’s mouth and lock him in the bathroom until after the election.
Thank FSM they don’t. ;o)
September 19th, 2008 at 2:20 pm.
WHY ARE POSTS APEARING OUT OF ORDER?
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September 19th, 2008 at 2:23 pmIf his record DOESN’T hurt republican chances this fall, our system is just broken and you can start with the “Fourth Estate”.
Just one little example: the gruesome David Gregory says we’ve got economic problems and asks rhetorically, “who’s responsible?” After repubs running congress from ‘94 to ‘06 and 8 years of repubs running the executive branch, this whore has the nerve to ask with a straight face, “who’s responsible?”
September 19th, 2008 at 2:38 pmhad enough Says:
If folks turn away from Obama because of his darker shade, then why do so many risk skin cancer for the darker shade?
September 19th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
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There’s actually a very salient evolutionary reason for that haveing to do with the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D after groups humans migrated from Africa 50,000 years ago, but it’s not very germane…
September 19th, 2008 at 2:47 pmRantingTommy Says:
in a rational world, people that still believe in a magic man in the sky would not only not be allowed to vote, they would be getting treatment for their mental illness
This is exactly why Repukes target this group, if they believe that, then they have a bridge to sell them.
Reasoning thought (for about 10 seconds) tells you that it all a big faerie tale.
September 19th, 2008 at 3:06 pmWhere are the trolls?
September 19th, 2008 at 3:14 pmatony and lido
Dude puts the LAME in “lame duck”!
Who’s watching Trig (or Calc for that matter)?
September 19th, 2008 at 3:22 pmbut aren’t the bush’s ex-economic advisers the ones trying to teach palin about the economy? or was that national security? doesn’t matter – she won’t learn either.
September 19th, 2008 at 3:24 pmWhite House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer argued that Bush is instead simply trying to avoid damaging McCain’s political fortunes.
Bush keeping out of sight has nothing to do with protecting McCain and everything to do with protecting his own ass.
Not only does he not want to answer difficult questions for which he has no answers, but if Obama lands in the White House, Bush may have to do a disappearing act ala Ken Lay. Unless he wants to spend the rest of his life in an orange jumpsuit.
September 19th, 2008 at 3:25 pmof course, not. The Bubble Chimp Prez must be kept away as much as possible.
September 19th, 2008 at 3:33 pmchimpy should put his foot in it for old time sake. fake it for pete’s sake. don’t ya know.
Don’t the repugs understand their leader is admitting he’s a failure. he’s a dumbass. he has f-up so many things in a short time span it makes bullet-cheney scared that your Constitution was so easily overturned.
But these repugs continue to stress that plain/mcchimpy is a wonderful choice. the repug msm keep saying it’s a race. plain/mcchimpy is a 3rd chimpy term.
The repug party should be abolished on sheer stupidity and the obvious murdering streak.
September 19th, 2008 at 3:56 pmchimpy can collect his pay, do his thing without questions.
Ridiculous! Trifin! Dirty! Foul!
September 19th, 2008 at 4:08 pmbentley1 Says:
Where are the trolls?
atony and lido
Thinking up more silly talking points or trying to rewrite history.
.:spin troll spin:.
September 19th, 2008 at 4:11 pmmcchimpy doesn’t need chimpy’s help in messing up things. More mcchimpy lies. Checked by FactCheck.
Useless lies.
September 19th, 2008 at 4:18 pmThe boy Bush goes into hiding again. Maybe he was hoping Pappa Bush would show up and fix another one of his “toys”. Only Pappa can’t fix this because Pappa is a “fiscal conservative”, you know, the kind of “free market” thinking that put us into this mess.
September 19th, 2008 at 4:19 pmGame of Life – McCain has nothing to offer except more of the same bull poo.
September 19th, 2008 at 4:20 pmHis silence is probably hurting the republicans in general… This strategy is pretty stupid.
As to be expected, thank god (or whomever/whatever beleif system/oracle).
September 19th, 2008 at 5:28 pmSo the POTUS is being political during the economic crisis he encouraged….not surprised.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:34 pmwhat a sad and pathetic little shriveled man Bush is. The nation should be ashamed of electing this failure TWICE. If McSane gets elected, sorry for the people with common sense and reason and sanity, but the redneck b#mfu#ks deserve their ass-backwards nation, good riddance!!
September 20th, 2008 at 12:58 am