Bush loses his cool at press conference

I already wrote about my initial reactions of the press conference.  But the more that I think about the tone of the exchanges, President Bush was indeed very angry.  He has been angry at press conferences before.  However, unlike any other time, the press knew it and some members of the press even tried to frame questions in a way that would get under his skin.

Read this exchange between President Bush and a reporter around the end of the press conference.  I remember watching this earlier this morning, and immediately after the question was asked in this smart ass sort of way, I thought Bush was going to lose it.  He almost did (and the words in the parenthesis below were inserted by me):

Q: I want to ask you about the thump that you took in yesterday's rodeo (obviously making fun of Bush's Texas sayings). You said you were disappointed, you were surprised...

BUSH: See, there you go. (almost losing it)

Q: You said you were...

BUSH: You notice that — taking one...

Q: That was thumping without a "g," correct?   I just want to make sure we have it right for the transcript. (making fun of Bush's accent, while Bush glares at him)

You said you were surprised. You didn't see it coming. You were disappointed in the outcome.

Does that indicate that after six years in the Oval Office you're outof touch with America for something like this kind of wave to come andyou not expect it?

And on a semi-related note, does Nancy Pelosi look much like Bob Bullock to you?

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: It's an inside joke; I'm not commenting on it. (almost over the edge)

Secondly, I'm an optimistic person. That's what I am. And I knew we were going to lose seats. I just didn't know how many.

Q: How could you not know that and not be out of touch?

BUSH: You didn't know it either.  (again, almost about to lose it)

So who is Bob Bullock, whom the reporter referred to?  Bob Bullock was the Democrat Lieutenant Governor of Texas when President Bush was Governor there.  Over and over throughout the 2000 campaign season, Bush invoked Bullock's name to cite instances when he worked with the Texas Democratic Party beyond partisan lines.  Six years later, we can say with certainty that Bush has failed when it comes to being bipartisan.  The reporter's joke had to do with the fact that the election now forces Bush to work with Pelosi.  In other words, Bush should stop invoking Bullock's name every time he is criticized for his lack of partisanship, and instead get out of his protective bubble and work with Pelosi and the Democrats for the good of the country.

Again though, this is a verbal stab that only President Bush understood.  I think this reporter was really going after Bush in a way that was uncalled for.  There is nothing wrong with challenging the President in each press conference.  But when you challenge the President, it should be on substantive issues -- otherwise it is a waste of our time.  The press corps has a job: to act as the only unfiltered bridge between the President and the American people on a daily basis.  Every second they waste asking him questions just for effect, in hope that he loses his temper and creates a ten-second sound bite for the network news, is a second wasted that could be spent challenging him on one of the most disastrous wars in American history.

With Cheney now no longer as close to him in comparison to before he fired Rumsfeld, President Bush is very vulnerable.  He is also emotionally unstable.  The American people can see that for themselves.  But the last thing we need is some wise-guy reporter wasting our time playing a psychological game of "who is your daddy" with the President.

Comments

[Jeff Hendrickson]

Bush looked very unstable at the Rumsfeld resignation press conference, like a whipped puppy. But can he get through an entire press conference without lying about something? No. Never. He must tell a lie every time he speaks, so he lied about the abruptness of Rummy being fired. Bush told the American people just a few days before the elections that Rumsfeld was not leaving, not now, not ever. But the day after the election, Bush suddenly "remembers" that he had been planning this all along, and was only waiting for a good replacement to show up. And who is the replacement? Robert Gates, the man who created and funded Osama bin Laden and probably made Al Qaeda what it is today. George Bush, worst President ever, worst person ever, worst thing consisting of more than 2 atoms ever.

[ted K]

Bush Lied People Died..right Jeff?

Jeff, you are a partisan hack who hates Bush no matter what.

And Jeff, Bush is worse than Hitler, Stalin, Mussilini and Hussein all rolled together isn't he?

Worst President ever, at least in modern times is Jimmy Carter. Clinton is one of only 2 Presidents ever impeached (although Nixon would have been if he didn't resign)

Top 5 President in HISTORY is Reagan (put that in your pipe and smoke it)

Understand your history and what Iran/Contra was all about and how Reagan was lied to when he supplied arms to the contras and the reasons he did so.

We were also fighting the Cold War against Commie Russia when funding the Afghani rebels was a good thing.

I don't suffer fools that hate Bush and every fiber of his being and claim he lies about everything and is just a worthless human being.. for no reason other than you HATE the man.

Go out into a protest march, sit in a tree, save some owl, or protest some military funeral and PLEASE don't father any children you close minded Progressive, Lefty, LIberal hack.

[ted K]

Todd,
I also listened to and watched that press conference, and your "take" on the Pres. loosing it or not is a little off (a Lottle off, actually)

The Pres was perturbed, but in no way ready to "lose it" as you say.

That is your slant and should be kept to yourself, being an open minded Poli sci major and all.

Now that the Dems have house and Senate, I expect the media to become a little more snippy towards the Pres, because he no longer has the Hill.

By the way all, congrats on the Senate victory as well.

[The Mexican]

Jeff,

Even as a democratic socialist as I am, I'd be hard-pressed to admit that Bush lies every time he speaks: I mean, he was certainly clear he enjoyed using The Google(read: Google Earth) to look at his ranch. He doesn't lie all the time.

Also, I think it's fair to say, that as George Carlin said, all presidents do lie; as well, as I'll say: all people lie, to varying depths and degrees about this or that and the whatever else. It's not that any of us do it all the time unless there's some disorder or cognitive dissonance with what's going on, but it's inherent in humanity to be flawed, as every other creature or other. The hope is so much more that we can ruminate on matters.

[Administrator: Todd]

Thanks, Ted. But I don't know what press conference you were watching, to be honest. THe PResident certainly seemed ticked off, to me....and rightfully so. I was actually defending him, if you read what I said. That one reporter was being a total jerk -- making fun of his accent and all, just to set him off.

Bush was so close to going off on him, but he didn't. He even embarrassed Karl Rove in front of everyone. So, although I respect your opinion, I completely disagree. I thought the President did lose his temper.