2 Russian Reporters Challenge Bush

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2005/02/28/003.html

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia -- Incensed by U.S. talk of a lack of press freedom in Russia, two Russian reporters tried to turn the tables on U.S. President George W. Bush during his news conference with President Vladimir Putin.

After Bush said he had raised concerns about Russia's democracy in Thursday's talks with Putin and felt reassured, he suddenly found himself on the defensive.

"Mr. Bush, not long ago you made the statement that the press in Russia is not free. What, in your view, is that lack of freedom all about?" Interfax reporter Alexei Meshkov asked.

Before Bush could answer, the reporter then turned on Putin and demanded to know why he was not sticking up for Russian reporters by talking about violations of the rights of American journalists.

A startled Bush then replied that Putin had brought up the subject of journalists getting fired recently in the United States.

more

[deutsey]

1. "Reporters challenge Bush"

Three words we normally don't see together in America.

[blm]

5. Haven't seen those 3 words here since 9-11.

.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

25. They didn't challenge Herr Busch before 911 either. The only reporter....

...who tried to challenge Herr Busch was Helen Thomas...and we all know what happened to her.

[mmonk]

8. We sure could use some of that

(challenging the president) in the USA. It would be something like a fourth estate or freedom of the press. I would like that very much.

[Roland99]

11. That would certainly be refreshing!

[lebkuchen]

12. I'd be happy with "reporters"

used in the unadulterated (no pun intended) sense of the word.

[Morose]

23. I was beginning to think we must have some

administrative law against Reporters asking the Shrub challenging questions....

Isn't it a threat to national security or something?

[Mika]

2. an even better excerpt

Earlier in Thursday's news conference, another Russian reporter, Andrei Kolesnikov from Kommersant, which is often critical of Putin, said America's democracy was also faulty. He urged Bush and Putin to see this as a unifying factor.

"It seems to me that you have nothing to disagree about," Kolesnikov said, addressing the two presidents. "And it is worth agreeing that the regimes in place in Russia and the United States cannot be considered fully democratic, especially when compared to some countries of Europe, for example, to the Netherlands.

"It seems to me that, as far as Russia is concerned, excuse me Vladimir Vladimirovich, everything is more or less clear. But as far as the United States is concerned, we could probably talk at length."

The Kommersant reporter said Bush should account for limits on personal freedoms imposed after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. But before Bush had a chance to respond, Kolesnikov called on the two presidents "to simply agree , to shake hands and continue to be friends."

:wow:

[NNN0LHI]

3. Sounds like Vlad and his comrades in the Russian media...

...played Chimp Boy like a fiddle to me. I wonder if dim bulb stomped his feet and demand that they call him Mr. President like he does here in the USA?

Don

[adigal]

9. This was the most important part of that show

and only Maureen Dowd picked up on it. The reporter so nonchalantly said, "There is no disagreement - neither country is democratic."

I said, BINGO!!!!!

[DulceDecorum]

4. Nothing to see here.

Interfax reporter Alexei Meshkov
and
Andrei Kolesnikov from Kommersant
are two journalists you can forget about
ever seeing on your local men4men/hotwhitehousewhore.org/sm board.

And they each have such a nice BIG pair of ....

[anarchy1999]

6. "A startled Bush"? And just why do you think there aren't more

press conferences here in the US with our dear *? He is always "startled" by honest questions, stumbles and delivers "Bushspeak". What a guy, I believe he will go down in history as the worst president ever along with the most corrupt administration and the historians will ask where were the governed and why didn't they do something.

[NewJeffCT]

7. Wasn't the Irish reporter that asked semi-tough questions reprimanded?

there was a woman from Ireland that asked him slightly tough questions and got Bush all flustered & defensive like the coward that he is... but, the Bush gang demanded that she be reprimanded.

[BrotherBuzz]

10. Yes, Coleman just did her job

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0629-02.htm

June 29, 2004 by the Capital Times / Madison, Wisconsin
Pampered Bush Meets a Real Reporter
by John Nichols

<snip>


Unfortunately, it appears that Coleman failed to receive the memo informing reporters that they are supposed to treat this president with kid gloves. Instead, she confronted him as any serious journalist would a world leader.

She asked tough questions about the mounting death toll in Iraq, the failure of U.S. planning, and European opposition to the invasion and occupation. And when the president offered the sort of empty and listless "answers" that satisfy the White House press corps - at one point, he mumbled, "My job is to do my job" - she tried to get him focused by asking precise follow-up questions.

The president complained five times during the course of the interview about the pointed nature of Coleman's questions and follow-ups - "Please, please, please, for a minute, OK?" the hapless Bush pleaded at one point, as he demanded his questioner go easy on him.

After the interview was done, a Bush aide told the Irish Independent newspaper that the White House was concerned that Coleman had "overstepped the bounds of politeness."

As punishment, the White House canceled an exclusive interview that had been arranged for RTE with first lady Laura Bush.

<more>

[phusion]

13. Found an excerpt of that interview...

http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/0625/morningireland/morningireland1f.smil

You can hear Bush sweating...

[shanti]

14. "My job is to do my job"

wtf is THAT supposed to mean???

[BrotherBuzz]

18. Yep, WTF....

Oh, and don't forget "It's hard work!" Cripes, I don't know when to stop laughing, and start crying!

[shanti]

21. you and me

both, brother! :crazy:

[Seabiscuit]

16. "where were the governed and why didn't they do something"

This will be the thorniest issue for historians to sort through - the Bush phenomenon is just a result of this problem.

[Cocoa]

15. Alexei Meshkov, the Russian Jeff Gannon

Bush is obviously quite envious of Putin. Putin is way ahead of him on eliminating the independent press.

But Bush is catching up...

[jswordy]

17. HEHEHEHEH...that is why Putin and Bush have dumbfounded so many...

...with their friendship. They are kindred spirits! Thanks for the post!

[fshrink]

19. Those reporters should learn to reframe!

I also love the "Mr. Bush", which is exactly the way he should be addressed all the time.

[NNN0LHI]

22. Can you imagine what was going through dim bulbs little brain when...

...they kept asking him questions and then wouldn't let him answer? Bet the little slime ball felt like a real idiot. Thats why he went back to his Waco pig farm to sulk. Probably drinking heavy too.

Don

[TexasLawyer]

20. when can we hire these guys

to come and replace our sorry-assed press? This is one kind of outsourcing that I'd be happy to support!

[98geoduck]

24. Nice of the Russian's to point out the similarities between Pooty and *!