# GWB Press Conference Tonight: Is it a cry of pain? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 13, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777 "2004-04-13T14:13:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/1 "2004-04-13T14:13:28Z")
So the President is holding a press conference tonight at 8:30. If I recall correctly it’s his first of 2004. Is this being inspired by the Bush/Kerry polls lately? Certainly the administration is going through a difficult patch right now with Rice having to testify (after saying she wouldn’t) and the current hard times in Iraq. Is it a good idea for GWB to hold this press conference? Will it give him back the initiative on Iraq and other policy questions? ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/2 "2004-04-13T14:18:29Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > Will it give him back the initiative on Iraq and other policy questions? Doubt it. Kerrey just [pre-empted](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6753-2004Apr12.html). ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/3 "2004-04-13T14:22:05Z")
> [@](#): > > If I recall correctly it’s his first of 2004. Please tell me you are joking. I knew that US democracy was in poor health, but had no idea that it had reached the point where the President _never_ had to respond to a difficult, unscripted question face-to-face. (Although even his ad libs to _friendly_ questions make me cringe so much that I have to change channel - perhaps it’s a blessing?) ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/4 "2004-04-13T14:23:30Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > Is this being inspired by the Bush/Kerry polls lately? Certainly the administration is going through a difficult patch right now with Rice having to testify (after saying she wouldn’t) and the current hard times in Iraq. > Is it a good idea for GWB to hold this press conference? Will it give him back the initiative on Iraq and other policy questions? Well, since you put it this way, I’m dying to find out. I doubt if this will have any more effect than the talking points machine already in place. I expect that he’ll just restate whatever balloons are still afloat because they grew legs gained traction in the slung mud. IOW, I expect that he’ll just restate whatever talking points that haven’t been too well thrashed on the internet and the popular media. The effect will be from the PotUSA saying them. I’ll be surprised if he comes out with something new. I doubt that he gaffs. I expect it to be sorta what I expect. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![NotMrKnowItAll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@NotMrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/5 "2004-04-13T14:32:56Z")
Quotes from April Fool’s day White House Press Conference MR McCLELLAN: \ And that’s all I have. And with that, I’ll go to your questions. Helen, go ahead. Q When is the President going to hold a news conference? He has not tackled any of these issues in an overall news conference, full-scale, since last December 15th. Isn’t it about time that we had a time – chance, that is, to question? MR. McCLELLAN: I appreciate your question, and I always try to work to accommodate your needs. Q Well, is there any possibility of having one – MR. McCLELLAN: Well, there’s nothing I’m announcing today. But I understand your question and I will certainly take it into consideration. Q Is it a difficult question? … Q A couple things. First, I just wanted to associate myself with Helen’s request here. There are a lot – MR. McCLELLAN: Anybody else? Anybody? Okay. Q It would be great to hear from the President. MR. McCLELLAN: Okay, we will do one later today. Oh, April Fool’s, I’m sorry. (Laughter.) Apparently the laugher was more of groans. So December 15 was the last one. ---
**Author:** ![grayhairedmomma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/47e85d/32.png) [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/6 "2004-04-13T14:34:55Z")
[slight hijack] from the Kerry link above: _“We should urge NATO to create a new out-of-area operation for Iraq”_ Could someone please explain what is an “out-of-area operation”? ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/7 "2004-04-13T14:36:10Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > Is it a good idea for GWB to hold this press conference? Will it give him back the initiative on Iraq and other policy questions? Yes, it’s a good idea to have a press conference, but like the last prime time press conference it will be staged, complete with a list of who to pick, so it’s not going to be any kind of free for all. He needs to at least give the appearance of being concerned about what’s happening in Iraq, and acknowledge the reality and gravity of what our armed forces, their families and relatives, and the Iraqi populace are going through. I’ll be saddened if he gives us the boilerplate freedom haters stuff. I also anticipate that the 9/11 testimony today - forget Rice - is going to be pretty harsh and he’ll have to respond to that as well. And like everything else he does, it will shore up his base and give the opposition plenty of ammo. ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/8 "2004-04-13T14:40:44Z")
Why do I have the feeling that Bush will say Iraq is in important in the fight against terrorism once more ? Its so blatantly false and no one is calling his bluff on that… pisses me off. If he’d been honest about wanting troops out of Saudi Arabia it would have been more appropiate. I doubt he will say anything important today… its only about giving the impression he cares. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/9 "2004-04-13T14:52:02Z")
I wonder if he will bring Cheney with him to the press conference, too? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/10 "2004-04-13T14:59:09Z")
> [@mornea](#): > > [slight hijack] > _“We should urge NATO to create a new out-of-area operation for Iraq”_ > > Could someone please explain what is an “out-of-area operation”? A military operation outside of the geographic area the NATO members are treaty-bound to defend, namely their own combined territory and that of any nation that attacks a member (AFAIK, that is - if someone has a cite, thanks). That makes such an operation voluntary by the participating NATO governments, simply using the existing command etc. structure for convenience. Kosovo was an out-of-area operation, using NATO because Russia would use its UN veto against any operation against its traditional Serb friends. Kerry seems to be advocating, or at least willing, to use NATO to shortcut the UN bureaucracy. NATO’s national governments are, after all, a subset of the UN and include 3 of the 5 permanent Security Council members as well as the bulk of the forces that the whole UN could make available anyway, so there isn’t much loss of legitimacy in the already-proven approach. ---
**Author:** ![beajerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/11 "2004-04-13T15:21:37Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > Please tell me you are joking. I knew that US democracy was in poor health, but had no idea that it had reached the point where the President _never_ had to respond to a difficult, unscripted question face-to-face. (Although even his ad libs to _friendly_ questions make me cringe so much that I have to change channel - perhaps it’s a blessing?) Yes, it is very sad. The press are getting bolder now, but prior they were utterly complete sheep in the White House Press Corp. It was (and we’ll see tonight) a complete waste of time to even be in the WHPC. Even so, it wouldn’t look like a cry for help if Bush would hold more press conferences, instead of 1 or 2 a year. Disengaged? I say Ultra-Disengaged! ---
**Author:** ![grayhairedmomma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/47e85d/32.png) [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/12 "2004-04-13T16:13:52Z")
Thanks for the explanation, **Elvis**. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/13 "2004-04-13T16:20:48Z")
Fearless Misleader is not good at press conference. Which is rather like saying a chicken does not play the piano particularly well. His handlers know this, of course, hence we may reasonably assume that this decision is not a joyous one. They would prefer to dangle thier naughty bits in a pool of piranha. So they must figure they simply have no other option. How to spot the shill? Simple. The shill is the one who asks the Prez a question about those marvelous job numbers of late. Expect him to emphasize the “bad guy” ploy: the latest “bad guy” is this Sadr fellow, he replaces Saddam, Saddam’s sons, and that Al Queda guy. The “bad guy” is the guy that as soon as they get him out of the way, things in Iraq will resume thier peachy-keen trajectory. As well, he will point out that the greater portion of Iraq is entirely peaceful. He will never forgive the reporter who points out that the greater portion of Iraq is largely unpopulated. When asked about more troops, he will pour fulsome praise on our Brave Persons, standing just close enough so that some will splash onto himself. He will jut his widdle chin in manly defiance, and insist that he will provide whatever is needed by his commanders, that no sacrifice is too great for somebody else to bear. He will insist that the June 30 handover date remains firm, as if there were some significance therein, as if the ceremony of installation marks some accomplishment. The word “Kerry” will not pass his lips, but he will make some insinuation about “defeatists” and thier inadequate love of our freedoms, and will infer that his opponents are eager to run sniveling to France for help. Thank you, and God bless America. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/14 "2004-04-13T16:36:33Z")
Bush did appear on Meet the Press on February 8 for a one-on-one interview. But he is, indeed, a hermit in a castle. I can’t wait for Bush to give a serious opening statement, only to call on Stretch and Super Stretch for questions. What a dork. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/15 "2004-04-13T17:19:57Z")
Is there any point in watching this? I expect it to be a tightly-controlled, pre-scripted affair, just another attempt by Karl Rove to make George W. Bush look more presidential than he really is. Short of Bush admitting he’ll start a draft if re-elected, or the Washington Press Corps growing a spine, I don’t see how paying attention to this is a productive use of my time. ---
**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:** [April 13, 2004, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/16 "2004-04-13T17:26:09Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > Please tell me you are joking. I knew that US democracy was in poor health, but had no idea that it had reached the point where the President _never_ had to respond to a difficult, unscripted question face-to-face. (Although even his ad libs to _friendly_ questions make me cringe so much that I have to change channel - perhaps it’s a blessing?) Tonight’s press conference will be Bush’s _third_ prime time press conference, and only his _12th_ press conference (total) in his [entire presidency](http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/13/bush.presser.ap/index.html). ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/17 "2004-04-13T18:53:53Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Is there any point in watching this? I expect it to be a tightly-controlled, pre-scripted affair, just another attempt by Karl Rove to make George W. Bush look more presidential than he really is. Short of Bush admitting he’ll start a draft if re-elected, or the Washington Press Corps growing a spine, I don’t see how paying attention to this is a productive use of my time. It should be okay to ask tough questions now without being called a traitor, so we’ll see if the members of the press have stopped being pussies. Are there enough wimps out there, or is he only going to call on the White House correspondents of Fox News and Oprah? ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/18 "2004-04-13T19:14:41Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Is there any point in watching this? I expect it to be a tightly-controlled, pre-scripted affair, just another attempt by Karl Rove to make George W. Bush look more presidential than he really is. Short of Bush admitting he’ll start a draft if re-elected, or the Washington Press Corps growing a spine, I don’t see how paying attention to this is a productive use of my time. rjung from reading your posts I can safely say that no there is no point for you to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/19 "2004-04-13T19:39:58Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > It should be okay to ask tough questions now without being called a traitor, so we’ll see if the members of the press have stopped being pussies. Are there enough wimps out there, or is he only going to call on the White House correspondents of Fox News and Oprah? The reporters with balls won’t get the chance to ask any questions. Bush press conferences are completely scripted, the questions are vetted beforehand and the questioners are preselected. Here are some comments by journalist, [Ron Suskind](http://dailytrojan.collegepublisher.com/news/2004/04/09/News/Bushs.Press.Conferences.Too.Scripted.Author.Says-656561.shtml) (author of the Paul O’Neil book) on how Bush’s press conferences are conducted: > [@](#): > > For each press conference, the White House press secretary asks the reporters for their questions, selects six or seven of the questions to answer and those reporters are the only ones called upon to ask their questions during the press conference, Suskind said. > > This system makes it so that the president has answers already prepared for questions that he knows will be asked, Suskind said. But wait, there’s more… > [@](#): > > Suskind also said that the White House uses intimidation to force writers into only writing favorable stories about the administration. > > “If you write something the White House doesn’t like, they take you in and say, ‘If you ever write something like you did today, nobody from the White House will ever talk to you again,’” Suskind said. “(The White House is) pissed, and … angry.” I see no reason to believe that the planned charade tonight will be any different. The chimp will not subject himself to any unvetted questions or even stray from the scripted order of questioning. Every question and answer is already known before the conference starts. This will purely be an infomercial for Bush. Do not expect to see any news. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777/20 "2004-04-13T19:49:30Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > But wait, there’s more… > [@](#): > > Suskind also said that the White House uses intimidation to force writers into only writing favorable stories about the administration. > > “If you write something the White House doesn’t like, they take you in and say, ‘If you ever write something like you did today, nobody from the White House will ever talk to you again,’” Suskind said. “(The White House is) pissed, and … angry.” What a great point! I mean, there has been an incredible lack of anti-Bush press out there! :rolleyes: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwb-press-conference-tonight-is-it-a-cry-of-pain/239777.md?page=2)