# Bush and the Press **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 1, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-and-the-press/185653 "2003-07-01T20:49:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Major\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Major\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Major_Kong)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-and-the-press/185653/1 "2003-07-01T20:49:04Z")
Is it me or does Bush not talk to the press nearly enough? Has he had a press conference to discuss anything lately where he answers questions? Why does he talk to the press so little? ---
**Author:** ![MrTuffPaws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MrTuffPaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTuffPaws)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-and-the-press/185653/2 "2003-07-01T21:03:23Z")
Other than horrible speaking skills, he has a press secretary. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-and-the-press/185653/3 "2003-07-02T05:06:41Z")
As of March 8, 2003, President Bush had performed [8 solo press conferences](http://www.thesunlink.com/iraq/90455.shtml). This is an all time low in the last 30 years compared to any President who had been in office the same length of time. So, no, it’s not you. Bush is avoiding questions from the press like no other President in recent memory. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-and-the-press/185653/4 "2003-07-02T05:18:16Z")
If you don’t hold press conferences, you reduce the chance some reporter not holding a game card is actually going to ask a question that confirms America has made a terrible, terrible mistake. ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-and-the-press/185653/5 "2003-07-02T06:16:43Z")
Does anyone else think it high time America imported the tradition of the Prime Minister’s Questions? Tony Blair doesn’t get to duck all the tough questions. I’d love to see our presidents forced to explain their actions on a weekly basis. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-and-the-press/185653/6 "2003-07-02T07:51:01Z")
Do you REALLY want to listen to him talk? ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-and-the-press/185653/7 "2003-07-02T09:38:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 2sense \* > \*\*Does anyone else think it high time America imported the tradition of the Prime Minister’s Questions? Tony Blair doesn’t get to duck all the tough questions. I’d love to see our presidents forced to explain their actions on a weekly basis. \*\* Absolutely. I caught one of those sessions on cable a little while ago, and I was amazed. Bush wouldn’t last five minutes in that room.