Opening The Files: 10/26/06
Can't get no satisfaction...or patience.
Another presidential presser yesterday. And as has become usual for these 'major' addresses, nothing new was really said. Bush warned the Iraqi's that America's patience is not unlimited but said no undue pressure would be applied. He noted American's frustration and said the he too was unsatisfied with the progress in Iraq. He said he owed the American people an explanation without ever, y'know, actually giving one. As President, he says he is ultimately accountable for Iraq and then proceeds to blame everyone else for the troubles there.
During the Q & A session, the press corps put froth some pretty solid questions. The hardest one for Bush to give a straight answer seemed to be the one asked by NBC's David Gregory about how the current plan for "benchmarks" for the Iraqi government were any different than the "timetables" put forth by his opponents. He went so far as to ask if this was just an election year stunt. Seems the press may finally be coming out of their stupor.
And since Bush has now made Iraq the focus of the elections, something tells me that might not sit to well with the likes of Sen. Bill Frist who has urged GOP candidates to avoid the topic.
Speaking of candidates, Bush also mentioned that he likes to campaign. "It’s what guys like me do in order to get here" he says. Considering how eager members of his party are to be seen with him, though, I guess you could call him a 'stealth campaigner'. Maybe the GOP should invest in some new technology to help out on the campaign trail.
Glenn says that regardless of all the talk about "benchmarks", the underlying theme of this presser is that we are staying in Iraq "until the job is done" (i.e. forever).
Blogenfreude thinks Bush is a little overdrawn on his political capital account. I say he's been charging it to his Visa for a while now and the due date for the bill is fast approaching.
Josh says Bush seems to have given himself a new title: Prognosticator-in-chief.
Marty Kaplan notes that The Decider is only The Decider when someone else isn't The Decider.
And The Heretik teaches us about realities and loads. Or something.
Elsewhere...
During a CNBC interview, Bush said he likes using "the Google" to look up such things has satellite photos of his Crawford ranch. Will Bunch has a Top Ten of things The Decider has also probably looked up using "the Google". (Update: Rosa Brooks)
Vice President Cheney, meanwhile, confirmed that US interrogators had indeed used "waterboarding" on terrorism suspects. He says he doesn't consider it torture, calling it a "no-brainer". Dick may want to be careful of his endorsements. He doesn't want to end up like his animated counterpart.
(Filed at State of the Day)
Another presidential presser yesterday. And as has become usual for these 'major' addresses, nothing new was really said. Bush warned the Iraqi's that America's patience is not unlimited but said no undue pressure would be applied. He noted American's frustration and said the he too was unsatisfied with the progress in Iraq. He said he owed the American people an explanation without ever, y'know, actually giving one. As President, he says he is ultimately accountable for Iraq and then proceeds to blame everyone else for the troubles there.
During the Q & A session, the press corps put froth some pretty solid questions. The hardest one for Bush to give a straight answer seemed to be the one asked by NBC's David Gregory about how the current plan for "benchmarks" for the Iraqi government were any different than the "timetables" put forth by his opponents. He went so far as to ask if this was just an election year stunt. Seems the press may finally be coming out of their stupor.
And since Bush has now made Iraq the focus of the elections, something tells me that might not sit to well with the likes of Sen. Bill Frist who has urged GOP candidates to avoid the topic.
Speaking of candidates, Bush also mentioned that he likes to campaign. "It’s what guys like me do in order to get here" he says. Considering how eager members of his party are to be seen with him, though, I guess you could call him a 'stealth campaigner'. Maybe the GOP should invest in some new technology to help out on the campaign trail.
Glenn says that regardless of all the talk about "benchmarks", the underlying theme of this presser is that we are staying in Iraq "until the job is done" (i.e. forever).
Blogenfreude thinks Bush is a little overdrawn on his political capital account. I say he's been charging it to his Visa for a while now and the due date for the bill is fast approaching.
Josh says Bush seems to have given himself a new title: Prognosticator-in-chief.
Marty Kaplan notes that The Decider is only The Decider when someone else isn't The Decider.
And The Heretik teaches us about realities and loads. Or something.
Elsewhere...
During a CNBC interview, Bush said he likes using "the Google" to look up such things has satellite photos of his Crawford ranch. Will Bunch has a Top Ten of things The Decider has also probably looked up using "the Google". (Update: Rosa Brooks)
Vice President Cheney, meanwhile, confirmed that US interrogators had indeed used "waterboarding" on terrorism suspects. He says he doesn't consider it torture, calling it a "no-brainer". Dick may want to be careful of his endorsements. He doesn't want to end up like his animated counterpart.
(Filed at State of the Day)
Labels: OTF
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