Is that what he was really interested in? To me it seemed, and I thought it obvious to everyone, that he was interested in getting some publicity and photo ops. If you bring the media out it's only reasonable to expect some questions. I don't think Bush was as out of it as Dean was, but they are in the same neighborhood. It was strange.
A photo op is a photo op and, it would seem, a press conference is a press conference. Seems like the reporter was doggedly persistant and couldn't take a hint.
Are we really that sensitive? Bush goes on an *obvious* photo op with virtually no redeeming social value, and he expects free press without one real question from those who are giving him free coverage? C'mon. It's ridiculous for reporters to play along with these photo ops, just as it's ridiculous for reporters to expect politicians to address real issues during photo ops.
I'm amazed somebody wasted the time to type up that transcript. What the heck is it supposed to mean or prove? You've got to be a stalker of the president to care that much what he said in some rib joint. Sheesh. People scare me.
Well there is freedom of the press, and the President was in public trying to drum up publicity. It's not the press' job to be the publicity department for the President. It is their job to get ansers about pressing issues. So contrary to the President's hopes of a day of free publicity from the Press the reporters were doing their job. As a result Bush couldn't handle it and wigged out a little.
Bush rarely has press conferences when he does he usually only takes the scripted questions from reporters he knows won’t push him too far. How can somebody really blame ‘Stretch’ for taking advantage of a rare opportunity to ask a thought provoking question of Bush?
