Centerfield

I agree that it was unfortunate that the press saw fit to essentially badger the president on a couple of issues. However, I also think several of the questions were lobs. They were on topics that absolutely should have been anticipated, and they were asked in an easy way. If the President had been prepared and agile, he could have hit them out of the park. Instead, he popped them up.

While asking different versions of the same question can look like badgering, it's hard to blame the press too much when he failed to answer them in the first place. Bush's obstinate refusal to make any sort of "buck stops here" or "in retrospect I wish we had done x and y a bit better" statements was Bush's failure, not the press's. I think these are things that Americans would appreciate hearing. Further such statements could be artfully phrased (he has speechwriters, right?) to make Bush look realistic and human but still resolute and on top of things. Instead, he looked stubborn and defensive and maybe a little out of touch with public sentiment.

I'm not saying he should bow to his critics and an irresolute public. But he should show the strength and fearlessness to acknowledge their concerns and be frank about successes and failures so far. I think this would strengthen the public's view of him.

I still think the speech was good. But the press conference was a golden PR opportunity lost.

Bush's lacks are obvious, are they not?
He's totally incapable of having a "Press Conference" without Cheney behind him pulling the strings.

Regarding the Press: There are far too many media types -- everywhere. A Pool approach and taking turns seems a better solution.
Am tired of these Prima Donnas to morons--based on nepotism and quotas for marketing.
(And, journalism and cworse yet communications postgrad and Ph.Ds? JMore absurdity from yuppies who want to live off other people's moneys & productivity.)

Resent them, especially the extra we pay in goods for having all of them around.

Alex

Alex,

I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I wonder how many people still believe the meme of "Cheney being the puppetmaster"? From my perception, it seems like Cheney is a close advisor, but I still think Bush calls the shots. Personality-wise, he seems to have a lot of self-confidence (arrogance) and I don't sense he has the right personality to be "second fiddle".

Bush isn't a very good public speaker, which at times makes him look ignorant, but while some people may call his views overly simplistic, I think he has a handle on the issues, makes his own judgments, and acts upon them.

Are my impressions out of the mainstream, at least for moderate voters?

Will, I'm somewhere in between. I basically agree with your assessment of Bush, his views may be a little simple, but he makes his own judgements and acts.

But I think Cheney plays the role of the smart industrious kid who lets GWB copy his homework. I think Bush relies on Cheney for facts and background and assessments at least enough that Bush's judgements and actions must be a function of Cheney's views to some extent.

bk, and the Leftist press -- yes, THEY want the Pres. to confess to making mistakes. Bush doesn't think he's made any mistakes worth mentioning -- it's the PRESS, and bk, who are being obstinate in their refusal to accept Bush’s words. When Clinton LIED, and the Dem Attack Machine was smearing Starr until there was DNA semen proof that Clinton was knowingly speaking falsely about his own actions, then Clinton comes on TV and apologizes. Yeah, Oprah junk touchy feely we’re all victims of our uncontrollable urges. Junk.

When Bush says he’s NOT going to wait for an imminent threat, the Bush haters and Leftist press keep criticizing him for using imminent threat as a justification.

Bush is not accepting the PC discussion framework. The Left hates that, and the unfair criticism of Bush (9/11, US should withdraw now) is driving out reasonable criticism (is the current policy the BEST for Iraq?).

Hi, new visitor here so I hope my brief thoughts are not out of place. :)

My impression of Bush's 3rd press conference was that while the reporters were asking in polite voices their questions were disrespectful and leading. I am beginning to notice the duplicity of the Liberal media and this was one egregious example of their confess-on-national-television-or-you-will-be-sorry attitude.

I also read an opinion that Bush's admittal of any mistakes would immediately be shunted by Kerry's campaign into attack ads. Possibly but even the president's speech writers could have slipped in "I knew I erred in judgement on occasion but the overall good we are doing outweighs them."

What I'd like to have seen, were questions like: "Is there anything that the US coalition could do better such as minimizing innocent civilian casualities in Iraq?"