Why Bush Held His Own with Russert (Noonan is wrong)

TechCentralStation.com ^ | 02-09-04 | Fraser Seitel

[Tribune7]

The most memorable part of the interview for most viewers is the sincere concern for the families of those who lost loved ones.

It was a win for Dubya.

[cake_crumb]

"McAullife WAS denigrating the Guard when he stated that Bush 'had never done military service.' McAuliffe's implication was that serving in the Guard was chopped liver.

Right. And so has Kerry. I disagree with the author on that point too. He's just dead wrong. When they claim he was AWOL, they're attacking Bush. When they imply the Guard isn't real military, they're attacking the Guard.

[_Jim]

Bush's appearance yesterday was underwhelming and unconvincing to

YOUR impressions, YOUR take, +24 HOURS after the fact, WITHOUT benefit of review via video tape I'LL BET.

WHEREAS a number of us now HAVE reviewed his performance several times and DON'T have the same 'impression' as you, you, without benefit of review or even taken notes at the time!

I guess you DID appreciate the insincere, mock joviality of Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton et al - FOR ME they made my brain leak out my ears!

DID you NOTICE the quick little "yeahs" that Pres. Bush gave Russert on quite a NUMBER of those questions - right after Russert would pose a question?

I'LL BET those 'sailed' right past you - those were part of the subtle 'full court press' that Bush countered Russert with!

[Porterville]

Bush's appearance yesterday was underwhelming and unconvincing to the people who need to be convinced

It wasn't for that, Ye have little faith; Bush always, always, always, pulls the carpet out from under the idiots. Democrats are barely, barely, barely, a challenge for Bush, they fall down every time the Bush team focuses their energy on the democrats. Kerry is a fresh target, and like a fine wine, you let it breathe, swish it around in the cup to check out its legs, and take a small sip before you suck it down. Gore is nutz, Dean is nutz, Lieberman is isolated, McCain is on board, Anne Richards is nutz, the Clintons are no longer a factor (they look like political whores).

Bush always destroys his enemies, completely.

Join reality.

[wtc911]

My comments were based solely on Bush's MTP appearance. It was weak. You disagree, fine, that's why this forum is here. But, don't presume to know anything about what I'm thinking if I didn't put it in words. My grasp on reality is firm. I believe he will win in November and I am aware of the clear weakness that hangs on Kerry past and present.

As I wrote earlier, the very fact that others of us (both here and in media ie Noonan and Rush) saw a less than persuasive performance indicates that he could have done much better.

[cake_crumb]

"In settings such as these (if you compare his other interviews as well), looking TOO rehearsed would have been grounds for a whole other raft of complaints"

I recall listening to Tony Blair testifying before the Hutton commission. His detractors were so bound and determined that his government had "sexed up" Iraq WMD intel that they immediately started saying "Oh he'll get off because he's a such a smooth talker. He's still guilty."

Same with Bush. If he HAD had his "talking points" down, he would have been condemned as being too slick, which MUST be proof he's guilty.

Do NOT change, Mr. President!

[Porterville]

Something tells me that Rush and Noonan aren't privy to the Bush blueprint. In fact, I have a lot more faith in the Bush Team than Rush and Noonan's opinion.

[MamaLucci]

Agreed. Peggy Noonan is usually very perceptive, but not this time.

[cake_crumb]

Twice that I remember, Russert tried to cut the president off and the president cute right back with "Let me finish". And Russert did. That didn't look weak.

BTW, you're repeated use of the word "underwhelming" makes it look like you're using a talking point of your own.

[MEG33]

Could it be we in flyover country,Texas,etc., simply like and understand his way of expressing himself better than ,say,a New Yorker?

I thought he did fine.Not out of the park fine.. just fine.

[cake_crumb]

Righto! Give me honest over slick ANY day. We had 8 years of slick, and look at that happened to this country in that time. "Slick" isn't "strong" any more than "honest" is "weak".

Anyone who thinks that way is an idiot.

[wtc911]

Yep, that's it, I'm a New Yorker so I couldn't possibly have a valid opinion on it.

[Democratshavenobrains]

There are DUers to this very DAY, who are crazy enough to think Gore won all those Presidential debates, even though he acted like a pompous bully in the third one.

[Mo1]

Peggy Noonan compares the significance of the Bush-Russert interview to Teddy Kennedy's horrifying, post-Chappaquiddick kamikaze performance with Roger Mudd in 1980.

Please tell me Peggy didn't say this??

[Mo1]

Peggy has been hanging around Chris Matthews and Howard Fineman too long....

Don't forget Pat too

[wtc911]

Answer you both...there are millions out there who want Bush to look weak. There are millions for whom Bush could never look weak. Those groups don't count, they are set in stone.

The other millions of Americans want either Bush or the presumptive Dem nominee to make them feel safe and that someone they can trust is in charge. Those millions were yesterday's target audience. If I were one of those, and I am not but a lot of people I know are, my mind would not have been put at ease by this (here it comes again CC) underwhelming performance.

One poster on this thread decided that I had not "reviewed" the interview enough to have a valid opinion of it. How many times do you think the average fence sitter will go over it? You get one chance to make that first impression and given the lack of public appearance by Bush (compared to the primaries-hyped Dems) this amounted to a first date, at least a first shot in the election year.

And for the record, I do not have an agenda here, my assessment of yesterday is my honest one. No one would have been happier to see him come out crushing all those in front of him. It just didn't happen.

Good luck to both of you, this horse is getting pretty near dead.

[The Wizard]

finally someone gets it right

[ZOTnot]

I was fairly upset with the interview at first, thinking it had gone badly. This assessment makes me feel MUCH better!

[MEG33]

Re read my post.I said it might account for some of the widely differing perceptions.I did not say your opinion was invalid..it was an opinion.