A PERFECT example of Bush pulling the "never apologize" stunt

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/12/20041220-3.html

From this morning's "press conference." Note that when the reporter asked about "what RUMSFELD needs to do to rebuild the trust of Republicans in The Senate and The House," they DID NOT ASK "what do THEY NEED TO DO in order to "recognize what a good job he's doing."

TYPICAL Bush bait-and-switch reponsiveness. Ask him about a mistake, an error in judgement, and he goes off on a tangent about the "progress" that's been made and pushes it back onto the questioner.

TYPICAL.

:grr:

Q Thank you, Mr. President. Several Republican lawmakers recently have criticized Secretary Rumsfeld. What does he need to do to rebuild their trust?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, when I asked the Secretary to stay on as Secretary of Defense, I was very pleased when he said "yes." And I asked him to stay on because I understand the nature of the job of the Secretary of Defense, and I believe he's doing a really fine job.

The Secretary of Defense is a complex job. It's complex in times of peace, and it's complex even more so in times of war. And the Secretary has managed this Department during two major battles in the war on terror -- Afghanistan and Iraq. And at the same time, he's working to transform our military so it functions better, it's lighter, it's ready to strike on a moment's notice. In other words, that the force structure meets the demands we face in the 21st century.

Not only is he working to transform the nature of the forces, we're working to transform where our forces are based. As you know, we have recently worked with the South Korean government, for example, to replace manpower with equipment, to keep the Peninsula secure and the Far East secure, but at the same time, recognizing we have a different series of threats. And he's done a fine job, and I look forward to continuing to work with him.

And I know the Secretary understands the Hill. He's been around in Washington a long period of time and he will continue to reach out to members of the Hill, explaining the decisions he's made. And I believe that in a new term, members of the Senate and the House will recognize what a good job he's doing.