If, like me, you were caught in your car during the president’s last press conference and couldn’t punch the button fast enough to change the station, you heard these introductory remarks. And you were puzzled.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Tapper. We have been through a lot together. As I look through the room, I see Jake, Mike, Herman, Ann Compton. Just seemed like yesterday that — that I was on the campaign trail and you were analyzing my speeches and my policies. And I see a lot of faces that travel with me around the world and — to places like Afghanistan and Iraq and Africa.* I see some new faces, which goes to show there’s some turnover in this business.
What, you wondered, does that mean? Turnover? No, just time marching on.
But when we find out the truth, the remark makes a lot more sense.
The White House had high expectations for yesterday’s final, historic news conference. “ONE CORRESPONDENT PER ORGANIZATION,” proclaimed the bulletin sent to reporters. “STANDING ROOM ONLY FOR NON-SEAT HOLDERS.” But when the appointed hour of 9:15 a.m. arrived, the last two rows in the seven-row briefing room were empty, and a press aide told White House interns to fill those seats.
Last September, ABC’s Martha Radditz noted that there were so few reporters at press conferences that Bush was beginning to be happy to see them.
The press is paying so little attention to him that he actually looks excited to see us when he ventures out. The briefings are so sparsely attended that practically everyone there could get a front row seat.
What must it be like to be George W. Bush these days? The proof of his failure is all around him yet he forges on, rationalizing and explaining it away.
* Africa. You know, a country, like Iraq and Afghanistan.
