From my blog

Well, there isn't much to say about this interview except how wonderful it is to read.

Two NYT reporters interview President Bush on a number of issues.
Let's take a look:

"On Senator Kerry's war record:
Ms. Bumiller: Do you think Senator Kerry lied about his war record?

THE PRESIDENT: I think Senator Kerry should be proud of his record.

Ms. Bumiller: But do you think he lied?

THE PRESIDENT: No, I don't think he lied, and I think that he ought to be proud of his record. Let me talk about a larger issue, and that is 527s. I spoke to John McCain today, and I think these ought to be outlawed. I thought they ought to be outlawed a year ago, when I — whenever I signed the bill. I think they're bad for the system. And when you've got people — you know, billionaires writing checks, large checks to try to influence the outcome of the election. And so I — "

Not bad Mr President, but Elisabeth wants to know about condemning the ad

"Ms. Bumiller: But Mr. President, if you don't think he lied, why can't you talk about this one ad, why can't you denounce it —

THE PRESIDENT: Elisabeth, 527s, 527s; the larger issue of 527s."

Whoa, easy there, but Elisabeth isn't going to leave it at that.

"Ms. Bumiller: I'm talking about this smaller issue of this attack on Senator Kerry by Swift Boat Veterans —

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I understand how Senator Kerry feels — I have been attacked by 527s, too. I think it's a — the issue is, let's get rid of them all. That's where we ought to be — that's where this debate ought to be, how to get rid of this money that's flowing into the system."

OK, you clearly are dodging this one
One more try..

"Ms. Bumiller: Can I just try one more time? You don't want to address that specific advertisement. Will you condemn it?"

The moment of truth....will he answer it??

"THE PRESIDENT: All those ads ought to go, Elisabeth, every one of them, including the ads that have been run on me. Millions of dollars have poured into this system in an unregulated fashion..."

Of course not...
Bush maintains a nice distance from the group by disagreeing with them, but allows the criticism to hurt Kerry by not denouncing it. (A CNN poll today showed that only 22% of those asked if Kerry's war service made them more or less likely to vote for him said more likely, down from the mid-40s in early August. Scary.)

Honestly, the liberal 527s are spending millions and having little affect, and the swift boat ads cost half a million dollars and has seized the news cycle for three weeks. All I can say is WTF? The liberal 527s need to learn strategy from the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. That strategy is of course - lie, as blatantly and offensively as possible.

Back to the interview...let's see if President Bush actually answers some questions -