WP: Bush's Isolation From Reporters Could Be Hindrance

[kskiska]

Some Presidential Advisers Worry That During Debates He Could Pay Price for Being Overprotected

During a campaign forum in the Cleveland suburbs last month, President Bush was asked whether he likes broccoli, to disclose his "most important legacy to the American people" and to reveal what supporters can do "to make sure that you win Ohio and get reelected."

The "Ask President Bush" forums, which on television look like freewheeling sessions with the commander in chief, are tightly managed by the Bush-Cheney campaign, with the president calling mainly on people sitting in sections filled with his most loyal supporters. At one such event, a veteran's question was whether Bush would permit him "the honor of giving our commander in chief a real Navy salute, and not a flip-flop."

(snip)

The president has stopped taking questions from the small pool of reporters who cover his photo opportunities, and he has answered questions from the White House news corps twice since Aug. 23, both times with interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi at his side. His last prime-time news conference was April 13.

The tradition of the White House news corps shouting questions at the president has largely faded during this term because Bush reacts testily and does not answer, and his staff typically sets up events so he does not have to walk near reporters.

(snip)

Although all presidents are kept somewhat removed from reality because of security concerns and their staffs' impulse for burnishing their image, Bush's campaign has taken unprecedented steps to shield him from dissenters and even from curious, undecided voters. On the way to the forum outside Cleveland, the media buses that went ahead of Bush were temporarily marooned in a church parking lot because police had been told to divert all buses since they could contain demonstrators.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16131-2004Oct7.html

[Cha]

1. "OVER PROTECTED"!?

I say coddled like a spoiled two year old...

"Overprotected"? because someone wants to get at him or he's just too "testy" to answer reporters questions.

Thanks, Mike, for getting this out..

"They have been very effective and disciplined at managing a message and getting through," McCurry said. "Until now, they have not paid any real price in their press coverage. They have mostly been getting out of the news every day what they wanted to."

[KittyWampus]

6. I... I.... I.... I.... Am..... Close... To .... Freaking

OVERPROTECTED

Is the fucking president a two year old and the people of this nation HIS PARENTS?

:WTF:

[crossroads]

7. 2 year olds never have to assume responsibility do they?

OMG, maybe the idiot really believes the lies his speech writers write!
:eyes:

[venus]

18. I.'m so sick and tired of the press praising the Bush Admin as

"disciplined". They are not.

[MSgt213]

2. It's hard to believe people are putting up with this bullcrap

people. The press is being played like a drum.

[Thrill]

3. Good Point by McCurry

Mike McCurry, who was Clinton's press secretary and is a senior adviser to Kerry, said Bush was hurt in the first debate because his aides do not appear to recognize the benefits of having reporters "regularly ask the hard questions that are on the mind of the public."

"They have been very effective and disciplined at managing a message and getting through," McCurry said. "Until now, they have not paid any real price in their press coverage. They have mostly been getting out of the news every day what they wanted to."

[ima_sinnic]

4. "overprotected" b/c "the president" is DUMB AS S#@%*(T

SPARE US THE INNUENDOES!! Bushit is INCOMPETENT. He does not have the mental capacity, the smarts, the brains, the IQ, the gray matter, the "stuff between the ears" needed to be the leader of a nation.

JUST COME OUT AND SAY IT.

sheesh.

this kills me (from the article):
"Bush has held 15 solo news conferences since taking office. At the same point in their presidencies, according to research by Martha Joynt Kumar of Towson University in Maryland, Bill Clinton had held 42; George H.W. Bush, 83; Ronald Reagan, 26 in his first term; Jimmy Carter, 59; Gerald R. Ford, 39; Richard M. Nixon, 29 in his first term; Lyndon B. Johnson, 88; John F. Kennedy, 65; and Eisenhower, 94."

[aquart]

8. Not to mention he's mean as a snake.

[Pithy Cherub]

5. Wow

These "journalists" are working really hard to bring the blindingly obvious to the people/sheeple of America! Did they get their work ethic and no need to talk to real folks from *? just wonderin'...

[aquart]

11. Welcome to DU.

In ancient Sumerian, "sheep" and "people" were represented by the same word, "lu."

"Lu" also meant "liar," "lie," "to deceive," "false," "treacherous," "many," "much," "to be," "to make numerous, abundant," "to multiply," "to graze," and "pasture."

I just mention it.

[Pithy Cherub]

13. Thank YOU

for the welcome! It is most wonderful to gain Sumerian knowledege while learning to drive here.

[Th1onein]

9. "The Country's Getting Better"?

Geezus! Can't this guy form a coherent sentence? What an idiot!

[Rose Siding]

10. This is a great article

It's horrible press for Bush. No prime time solo conf since APRIL 13?! After the show he pulled in the last debate, the *logical* conclusion is that he can't handle it. This is good stuff:

snip>
The tradition of the White House news corps shouting questions at the president has largely faded during this term because Bush reacts testily and does not answer, and his staff typically sets up events so he does not have to walk near reporters.
.....
Bush has held 15 solo news conferences since taking office. At the same point in their presidencies, according to research by Martha Joynt Kumar of Towson University in Maryland, Bill Clinton had held 42; George H.W. Bush, 83; Ronald Reagan, 26 in his first term; Jimmy Carter, 59; Gerald R. Ford, 39; Richard M. Nixon, 29 in his first term; Lyndon B. Johnson, 88; John F. Kennedy, 65; and Eisenhower, 94.

[Insomnicole]

12. Nooooo. Ya think?

Some Presidential Advisers Worry That During Debates He Could Pay Price for Being Overprotected

Another astute subhead from the political journal "DUH". I'm not one to get overconfident, but I'm hoping that Kerry will have a leg up in the debate tomorrow night simply because he's been facing hecklers all summer long, whereas Dubya's people go to extreme lengths to protect him from dissenting opinion.

[progressivebydesign]

14. No! No! No! Is the press just totally clueless??

I sometimes am left thinking that those who write these stories are completely ignorant. A GOOD journalist would ask the BIGGEST question?

WHY WHY WHY is Bush KEPT AWAY FROM reporters, crowds, Democrats, etc. THAT is the fucking $64,000 question! NOT why he sucked in the deabte.. but WHY is he shielded from speaking on his own?

God.. didn't you fucking imbeciles learn ANYTHING from Reagan's alzhiemers decline???

Let's do some simple math for the journalists:

Bush is shielded from even the most regular contact you would expect in the role of President + Bush refuses to take his physical = SOMETHING'S TERRIBLY WRONG!!!! Do we have to spell it out for these political pundits and writers?

[Leilani]

15. Mike Allen must have enjoyed writing this story

I believe he is the WP reporter who got into big trouble by displeasing His Royal Highness.

He was banned from the press room or bus, or some other kindergarten punishment for actually doing his job.

[Kimber Scott]

16. Divert all busses because they could contain demonstrators?

Augh! I just can't take it anymore.

[cosmicone]

17. but.... but ....

we're making good progress and it is hard work <blink> <blink> or is it hard progress is good work? <smirk> <snear> hmmm ummmm errr I think ... it is .... <blink> just hard work

[Judi Lynn]

19. Goodlordalmighty! Look at this photo!

From the great article kskiska posted (please click):

http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/images/I16493-2004Oct07L

President Bush points to a questioner during a forum at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School in Broadview Heights, Ohio.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He's whirling around and pointing dramatically, as if he's taking fast-paced, rapid fire questions! FROM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!!!!!!
The only way he can top this is to hold a press conference with students in one of the schoolrooms where he reads his "Hungry Caterpillar" books.

Oh, yeah. Looks as if he's doing some more (Republican swoon) "Theater in the Round" styled speaking! Whooooeeeee! Woof!

[DeepModem Mom]

20. 1. What took Mike so long? 2. See post 14 -- what the hell is wrong w/ W..

is a question that must be asked --

People have noticed obvious deterioration in video clips over time, and why is Bush skipping his usual physical until after the election? Reporters, in the name of God, it is time to do your job!

[Moderator]

21. Duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=890280