I know Bush’s scripted appearances and hand picked audiences are not news, but I’m still getting weary of being jerked around like this. These people think we’re morons. It bugs me that I can’t trust the White House to give us any kind of honest picture of Iraq or of the troops in Iraq or of the Iraqis themselves. They just see as a marks. These staged news events have turned into nothing but infomercials. I only wish that the television media would start calling these fuckers on this bullshit on the spot and quit covering it. Is there anyone left who still buys these performances as being legitimate news events? is anyone all fired up by the assurances made by this carefully selected and rehearsed group of soldiers? Is it possible that the news media will ever tell the WH that they aren’t going to cover these phony events anymore?
When’s the last time Bush ventured out in front of an unvetted audience? I notice we haven’t seen him throwing out any pitches at baseball games lately. There’s a reason for that.
Really, the man lives in a bubble of fantasy; almost everything he sees is prescripted. It’s not surprising he makes bad decisions; he’s a stupid, ignorant, irrational man who’s isolated himself from reality.
Yes they do treat us like morons, because so many of us act like morons. That’s why he’s in office, after all.
I read the transcript and watched the video of the press conference yesterday with Scotty defefending this. I’ll admit I was quite surprised they posted it on the site. I figured anything with them getting them bashed might be accidently “left off”.
Clinton staged events. Remember his strolling along the beach at Normandy and pausing to create a cross out of stones laying on the sand? That was completely staged.
Politicians’ events are going to be choreographed. The junior senator from New York is an expert in this area. The mistake here was pretending they are not.
But of course, those of you so eager to jump on the least little thing President Bush does will disregard that this is not news. Go ahead, have your feeding frenzy. I’m going to be busy writing my congressmen about the hideous non-recommendations of the Tax Reform Panel. You know…something important.
Countdown with Keith Olbermann last night was priceless – they showed the “chat” and then the troops being prepared beforehand. Then they showed Scotty getting pounded about it. Video of Keith’s piece is here.
So, did the Clinton White house (1) claim the event was completely unscripted, and (2) provide the press with a video feed of the pre-staging being done??
First, virtually everything Bush does appears to be staged; he doesn’t appear to be capable of normal human interaction. Second, Clinton was more than appearances; he accomplished things. All Bush does is fail and lie.
Third, this is something that people have been pointing out for years; the man is all surface. Since his apologists aren’t listening, we in the “reality based community” should yell louder. Being nice and polite hasn’t worked very well, has it ?
Actually, I don’t remember it. Googling turns up a number of righty blogs that accuse Clinton of staging the event but no actual news stories to that effect.
Regardless, I hope you can see that there’s an enormous qualitative difference between arranging a few stones on a beach and choreographing dozens or hundreds of people for phony “town ahll meetings” and the like.
Moreover, Clinton didn’t base national policy on scripted cross memorials.
This isn’t about a scripted event. This is about the Bush Administration pretending (at the very least) or lying about (at worst) the situtation in Iraq being better than it actually is. Squelching contrary opinions and accusing critical reporters of being pro-terrorist are simply evidences of a larger sickness.
Does anybody remember Iraq’s Minister of, I think, Information. The “those are not bombs you hear in the streets!” and “We will beat you with shoes!” guy. Did McClellen kind of remind you of him in that?
Even in a scripted meeting, Bush was awkward and fumbling. (Like, what was all that going on with his earpiece?) I couldn’t help wincing every time he attempted to make a funny. And when the soldiers answered his questions, he never acted like he was listening to what was being said. I guess because he knew it already, but good GAWD man, at least pretend like this is the first time you’re hearing the bullshit!
The soldiers needed much better coaching, too. The soldier who kept passing the microphone to everyone else should have been told to wait until each person noticeably volunteered to answer. The whole production came off like a kindergarten play where the teacher pushes each kid on stage when its their turn.
Even without the damning footage, the phoniness of it all was obvious.
Has Scott McClellan ever, in his entire tenure as Press Sec, actually answered the question that was asked instead of spinning an answer that has nothing to do with said question? Every time I watch a briefing, it seems like the only answers he gives are ones that he’s already been told to give. He spins questions about one event or policy so far around that the answer he gives has absolutely nothing to do with the question. I know it’s his job to spin, but isn’t spin supposed to be subtle? Or is that an outmoded technique now?
The question asked in that video clip to McClellan:
Do you think that Harriet Miers might drop out of the nomination rather than face a rough hearing?
The answer that McClellan gave at least four times in that video clip:
We believe that Harriet Miers’ nomination should be decided on qualifications, not side issues like religion or previous experience.
