Bush makes no mistake in responses

townhall.com ^ | 4/17/04 | Kathleen Parker

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON - It is not surprising in our confessional, therapeutic culture that the most pressing question for the president of the United States is whether he feels he messed up.

And wouldn't he like to unburden himself by sharing exactly how badly he messed up? Um, no, but thanks anyway

No fewer than five reporters at Tuesday night's press conference asked George W. Bush questions along those lines.

- How do you explain how you got it so wrong?

- Do you feel any personal responsibility for 9-11?

- What was your biggest mistake?

- Do you believe the American people deserve an apology from you?

- Have you failed in any way? Have you failed as a communicator?

Pundits have spent days analyzing Bush's responses, expressing nearly unanimous disappointment. It's as though the president's declination to crumple into a heap of self-loathing were a personal insult.

He won't apologize! He won't admit he was wrong! He won't kiss my "ow-ie!"

[Aeronaut]

Good essay.

[MEG33]

This a good essay concerning the press conference and the apology,failure,mistakes questions.

[txrangerette]

This is gold. She was there at
the press conference. Writes that
one need only to LOOK at President
Bush to see how much the weight
of 9-11 + Iraq rests on him.

[Michael81Dus]

Yeah, it´s a good comment. For what should Bush apology?

- For 9-11?? No way, he is as much responsible for that as Clinton is: zero. Responsible is AQ and its supporters (oh, and please, fellow-Freepers, don´t lecture me that your hated Clinton is supporter of AQ! ;-))

- For wrong reasons for the Iraq war?
If he would apology for that, he´d admit that he lied to the public, and that´s what he cannot do, even if it was so. And having believed in misleading informations is no fault at all.

- For the Iraq war itself?
Who would apologize for toppling down an regime that has killed hundreds of thousands innocent people?

So there´s indeed no reason for Bush to apologize.

[seastay]

These reporters were fishing for a trap in asking if any mistakes were made, a yes answer would imply that the President was responsible, and a no answer would imply that the President was insensitive to the deaths.

Bush did well in diverting the responsibly of the attacks to those that committed them, the terrorists!

Regarding making any apology, I have been offended by those who, like Clark who are offering public apologies. In doing so they take the high pompous position declaring that they alone have the power to stop such things, when not even God has the power to control the will of criminals such as these terrorists.

The very nature and concept of free will given to all of us is that those who choose evil are responsible for their own acts as individuals and will be judged accordingly.

The Godless pretentiousness of those who hate the messenger because of the message, is amazing in this whole inquiry!

[xzins]

Given the blatant partisanship of the mainstream press, the President needs to insure that all the new media is invited to send reps to the press conferences. He then needs to call on respondents in a bipartisan way: one liberalsocialistdog/one conservativepatriot; one liberalsocialistdog/one conservativepatriot;one liberalsocialistdog/one conservativepatriot;one liberalsocialistdog/one conservativepatriot;one liberalsocialistdog/one conservativepatriot;one liberalsocialistdog/one conservativepatriot;one liberalsocialistdog/one conservativepatriot;

And then we will have had a fair and balanced viewing of facts.

[leprechaun9]

These reporters were from the Washington Bureau of Al-Jazeera!

[mondoman]

The best aspect of a prime-time press conference is that the President gets his message direct to the American Public.

Mr. Bush was asked the SAME question 5 times out of 20 questions (?) isn't it clear that the press corps has an agenda? The coordinated attacks from the mainstream press became apparent and transparent (but then again, I have a predisposition to support the President).

I, for one, would like to see the Bush Administration make better use of an unfiltered 'bully pulpit' to reach the public.

[sgtbono2002]

I agree the press corps. met beforehand and set up their agenda to question Bush for an apology.

[NonValueAdded]

I think I have finally found a use for someone with one of those "throwaway" degrees in things like womyn's studies, etc. Will someone with a degree in "multiculturalism" please educate the press about how the rest of the world would perceive a presidential apology? From our American perspective it would be cathartic but from the viewpoint of other cultures it would be a huge mistake. Arabs would take it as a sign of weakness; Eastern cultures would consider it a massive loss of face, especially if it was in response to one of those insulting questions; even in America, it would label GWB as "wuss," perhaps subconsciously, but admit it - that is what most of us would think. He must never apologise.

GWB handled the questions very well. Even in his evasive responses, he let show the deep feelings he holds and anyone with an ounce of perception should know that he feels remorseful that this happened on his watch. But the key difference between GWB and Clarke who did offer a lame apology, GWB is actually doing something about the problem.

[showme_the_Glory]

not even God has the power to control the will of criminals such as these terrorists.......

He has given them a choice....life or death....they have chose poorly....

[Colonel_Flagg]

The only problem with your idea is the assumption that there are seven conservative patriots in mainstream media.

[bray]

I want Clinton and Clarke to admit they were incompetent and derilict of duty. I want them to tell us what really happened to the 350 people on TWA 800?? I don't want or accept their stinking apologies!!!

Pray for W and The Truth

[Mo1]

As far as I'm concern the liberals can go pound sand. President Bush has nothing to apologize for .. he didn't attack us on 9/11 .. THE TERRORISTS DID

I do have a question for the libs ... Why are they so eager to see us fail on this war on terror?

It's really sad if one thinks about it

[xzins]

I said that the president should ask in the new media. I probably should have underlined the word "new." I meant by it: internet, radio, bloggers, newsmax, etc.

[gooleyman]

I think there should be a reverse Press Conference. One in which President Bush can ask the media questions and put them on the spot.

[Colonel_Flagg]

I could have used a sarcasm tag, too :)

[xzins]

Thanks, Colonel.

You're a fair person.

Good hunting! :>)