(Bush*s) Upbeat Tone Belies Downside Risks

[kskiska]

Thursday, July 31, 2003; Page A01

His poll ratings are down, his administration's credibility on Iraq has been challenged and the economy continues to limp along, but everywhere he looked yesterday, President Bush saw reasons for optimism.

Whatever the issue, whatever the question that came his way in his first formal news conference since the start of the war in Iraq, the president had essentially the same answer: "We're making progress." But threaded through that display of self-confidence was another, more sobering message that his advisers hope Americans will accept: "This is going to take time."

(snip)

Yesterday's news conference, coming three days before Bush leaves for a month of vacation and political travel from his Texas ranch, was designed to buy him time.

(snip)

Two Democratic rivals challenged Bush on Iraq. Sen. Bob Graham (Fla.) questioned why Bush finally accepted responsibility for the State of the Union speech after weeks of pointing to others. "If the president thinks this will end the controversy, he's completely wrong," Graham said in a statement. "It only raises more questions about what kind of cover-up has gone on inside the White House in the last few weeks in order to try to shield the president from facing culpability." Sen. John Edwards (N.C.) charged in a statement that Bush had declared "a premature victory" in Iraq last spring and called on the administration to enlist the support of other nations to help win the peace.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4998-2003Jul30.html

[stopbush]

1. OK, he's certifiable

"Whatever the issue, whatever the question that came his way in his first formal news conference since the start of the war in Iraq, the president had essentially the same answer: "We're making progress." "

All hail the village idiot.

[ewagner]

2. I saw that news conference.

He wasn't just upbeat, he was downright cocky.

[GreatAuntK]

3. He was an annoying twit.

In his press conference today, did anyone catch the question, what is being done about high tech jobs being lost, including to other countries - he didn't "get" the question at all. He went into a long speech about how even as a governor he had noticed the importance of community colleges, and workers need to catch up technically - I'm paraphrasing here. He completely ignored the question and instead insulted highly skilled American workers who are out of work as if they lost their jobs because they weren't smart enough. Anyway, that one had me LOL, and it seemed odd that the lady didn't follow up to clarify what she meant, since he so obviously missed it.

Truly stupid speech today, not dignified, not just skirting topics as politicians do, but "misunderestimating" them.