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Blogging the Presidents Big Press Conference
(Probably the only one for another year)

OMG our President speaks! Of course, he still has an awful delivery and can't help insulting his fellow Americans, ("The American people need to understand this..."). He reads rather than delivers. He entertains questions from the press (the purpose of the press conference) and starts his answers with the genius sound, "Uhhh..." From the very first question about Vladimir Putin, he addresses the press with a tone that indicates supreme boredom with his audience, an air of superiority and just the slightest hint of defensiveness, (okay, a huge undercurrent of defensiveness).

Still living in la-la land, the President believes his relationship with Putin is "a good one." He believes Donald Rumsfeld is doing a "good job" (Of course, he believes that "in times of war," the government should be allowed to behave any way he wants it to). Tim Russert asks him, "What's going wrong?" Bush's answer? Repeat his strategy against "the thugs." The question? A valid one. The answer? As usual, a non-one. Are you as tired as me of hearing about "the will of the American people"? He thinks if he repeats it enough it will become self-fulfulling.

Bush suddenly referring to "The Hill," a new one for him. Now a Kerick question. Was there a nanny? I don't THINK so. The President thinks his vetting process is sound, "Let's continue to vet." (Huh?) Goofing up and referring to a press party as an "interminable press conference," drawing a laugh. Thumping the lectern like Kruschev (what's new?). Refers to the press as "mass medias." Refers to the efforts of Syria in Iraq as "meddling," and they've been warned.....ooooo. Social Security? "Very important...but not the only issue." The budget? "I'll be talking about it....entitlement programs." Education? "No child left behind (will be) strengthened." Denies ducking the Social Security issue even though nobody called him on it (defensive). Talking about the issue of dealing with Congress as though it's a game of "Go Fish" (Got any threes?). Says he's "not going to negotiate with (him)self," then blurts, "Don't bother to ask me."

WHAT?! He covers real quick with "that's not in the holiday spirit, You can ask. There is a problem (wow, he knows)." He's talking like the press is 5 years old. Claims, "I understand how this works" then stumbles trying to explain. Reporter askes for a clarifying question. The answer? "No." No escape, though, because another Social Security question. Tells "you people" to go look at some report, that he's not going to "debate with myself." Apparently finds this moronic statement worth using twice. Why is he still banging on the podium? He's trying to explain his plan but claims the reporters are "being clever" to "get (me) to tip my hand." Does a poor job then says "let's get away from the media," yet takes a print reporter's question (apparently someone told him that television newspeople are The Media and forgot to tell Bush that so are print, internet and photog people).