http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9997-2004Apr13.htmlA Prime Time to Ask The President Questions By Tom Shales
Wednesday, April 14, 2004; Page C01
"When I say something, I mean it," George W. Bush said decisively near the end of last night's prime-time presidential news conference. Nobody called out, "When will you say something?" -- the White House press corps is too mannerly for that -- but some reporters, and some viewers, must have been thinking it.
One network reporter predicted accurately beforehand that Bush would vow to "stay the course" in Iraq -- reviving one of the most inescapable clichés of daddy Bush's years in office. What the people of the United States as well as the people of Iraq want to hear, the reporter said, is what "the course" is. Bush said he would stick to the June 30 deadline for handing the government over to Iraqis but also said the U.S. military presence there would continue after that date.
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Earlier still, Bush stopped in mid-answer and for a few seconds appeared to have lost his train of thought. Looking anxious, he fell back on phrases and thoughts he'd used earlier, saying he and the world changed after 9/11, which was a truism, and that in the 21st century, America is no longer protected by the oceans on either side. But that's been true since the invention of nuclear weapons and of missiles to deliver them from halfway around the world.
After the news conference, CBS News anchor Dan Rather said Bush had come across as "steady, competent and forceful" while answering questions but that he delivered his opening statement "in a rather flat monotone," perhaps intentionally. It was a peculiar performance; Bush would look down, read a sentence, look up, look around, pause slightly, then look down and read another sentence.
Although the short speech was well-written, especially toward the end, Bush looked upon it as an address in which all sentences were created equal. He never stressed any particular point or added any emphasis. He might as well have been reading letters off an eye chart.
On NBC, reporter David Gregory, who'd been among those asking Bush questions in the East Room of the White House, said the president was "filibustering at times" with his meandering responses. Indeed, most of the questions seemed to go unanswered. A reporter asked, twice, why Bush and Vice President Cheney insisted on appearing together when they testify before the 9/11 commission. Bush ignored the question both times, uttering familiar generalities instead.
In contrast to the emotionless delivery of his prepared remarks, during the Q&A Bush appeared passionate at times, answering journalists' questions with an almost religious fervor. Bush said that freedom was given to Americans by "the Almighty" and encouraging freedom throughout the world is "what we have been called to do." Later he said, "It's a conviction that's deep in my soul."
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Fox had already scuttled a telecast of its gigantically popular "American Idol" to make room for the president and will air the show tonight instead. Anyone tuning in and expecting to see an American idol saw an American president instead -- one who didn't exactly seem confused but who at times appeared to be teetering on the very brink of confusion.
And yet people responding to polls today will probably give Bush points for just showing up. By having so few televised news conferences, he's made the ones he does have into big events. By expressing tremendous confidence in his own judgment and actions, even to the point of not being able to recall a single mistake, it's likely Bush made Americans feel a renewed confidence as well.
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