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Tuesday, Oct 28, 2003
"Aggressive Press Corps"
G. Dubya held his tenth solo press conference today. In the post-conference wrap-up, David Asman of Fox News Channel, said "But he sort of rose to the occasion when challenged by an aggressive press corps." In what alternate universe does this group of lap dogs appear to be aggressive?
In the pre-war solo press conference, Bush let it slip that "this is scripted". Yeah, we're talking about aggressive press corps. So I watched this one closely to see signs of scripting. A teleprompter would make it too obvious, but there are other telltales.
As with the March 6th solo, Bush seemed to be calling on the press in a pre-ordained order. He allowed not one follow-up, and got snippy at one reporter for interrupting with a request for a follow-up. Sacre bleu, speaking out of order at a press conference! At long last, does this aggressive press corps have no sense of decency?
Prior to most questions, the Dubster looked down to his podium in an apparent move to read his scripted answer while the scripted question was being asked. I'm just guessing about that, but it was a very consistent affectation. At times during an answer he looked down, as if looking for a missing talking point, and then resumed his answer with more vigor. He seemed to be trying to mask this downward looking guesture by pretending to be gassy. Chug too many O'Doul's this morning, Mr. Dubya?
This was not a press conference. This was a scripted series of monologues. And those were not questions, they were scripted cues for the monologues. Aggressive press corps, my ass, Mr. Asman.
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