The press conference.... The reporters in their usual role, attempting to make Mr. Bush look bad. The President not letting them succeed.

Yes, I'd be happier if President Bush were a better public speaker. Yes, I wish he'd directly answered some of the questions rather than getting long-winded about some of them. It's clear he was never the Debate team captain. It's also clear that his speaking gets better when he's more passionate about the subject.

I wish he'd tackled some of those questions head-on. Comparisons of Iraq to Vietnam should have been easily and decisively thrashed. The question about the number of contractors vs. Coalition/allied troops could have been answered simply by explaining the roles of contractors.

Complaints aside, I still think it was a decent presser, as such things go.

They tried -- oh, how they tried -- to get a soundbite from him in which he admitted any degree of culpability, responsibility or failure over the attacks of 9/11. His response, the right response, the only possible response:

The person responsible is Osama bin Laden.

So you tell me what's better:

     a) a president tripping over his own tongue while telling the truth, or
     b) a president glibly delivering finely polished, well-rehearsed lies?

I'll take honesty every time.

Posted by Russ at 10:33 PM, April 13, 2004 in News