Bush Allows Actual Questions (Surprise, Surprise), But Responds With Spin

After a speech yesterday before the World Affairs Council in Philadelphia, President Bush departed from his normally scripted affairs and took questions from an audience that included potential critics of his administration's Iraq policy, and even (gasp!) Democrats.

Too often, the president has insulated himself, speaking before partisan crowds who had to take loyalty oaths, with questioners hand-picked to lob softball questions. At one point, the White House filled a room with interns posing as reporters.

But just because someone asks a legitimate question of Bush, doesn't mean Bush has to provide a legitimate answer.

Faeze Woodville, 44, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Iran and now living in Stratford, Pa., asked why Bush keeps linking the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to the Iraq war despite no evidence of a direct connection.

Woodville asked a great question. Bush, no doubt providing a scripted answer he's offered many times before, answered by linking the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 to the Iraq War!

It was a tour de force for anyone studying empty Bush Administration spin.

Here's a transcript of that exchange:

Q Mr. President, I would like to know why it is that you and others in your administration keep linking 9/11 to the invasion of Iraq when no respected journalist or Middle Eastern expert confirmed that such a link existed.

THE PRESIDENT: What did she -- I missed the question. Sorry. I didn't -- I beg your pardon, I didn't hear you. Seriously.

Q I would like to know why you and others in your administration invoke 9/11 as justification for the invasion of Iraq --

THE PRESIDENT: Yes --

Q -- when no respected journalists or other Middle Eastern experts confirm that such a link existed.

THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate that. 9/11 changed my look on foreign policy. I mean, it said that oceans no longer protect us, that we can't take threats for granted; that if we see a threat, we've got to deal with it. It doesn't have to be militarily, necessarily, but we got to deal with it. We can't -- can't just hope for the best anymore.

And so the first decision I made, as you know, was to -- was to deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan because they were harboring terrorists. This is where the terrorists planned and plotted. And the second decision, -- which was a very difficult decision for me, by the way, and it's one that I -- I didn't take lightly -- was that Saddam Hussein was a threat. He is a declared enemy of the United States; he had used weapons of mass destruction; the entire world thought he had weapons of mass destruction. The United Nations had declared in more than 10 -- I can't remember the exact number of resolutions -- that disclose, or disarm, or face serious consequences. I mean, there was a serious international effort to say to Saddam Hussein, you're a threat. And the 9/11 attacks extenuated that threat, as far as I -- concerned.

And so we gave Saddam Hussein the chance to disclose or disarm, and he refused. And I made a tough decision. And knowing what I know today, I'd make the decision again. Removing Saddam Hussein makes this world a better place and America a safer country.

***

Woodville later told the Washington Post that she believed Bush ducked her question.

"There is no link, and he knows it as well as I. And I and others in the audience are insulted," she said.

Woodville may have been insulted, but she shouldn't have been surprised.

***

This item first appeared at Journalists Against Bush's B.S.

THE PRESIDENT: What did she -- I missed the question. Sorry. I didn't -- I beg your pardon, I didn't he
hear you. SERIOUSLY.

The president of the USA says SERIOUSLY after he asks the question. What is he 12? Do people usually not take him seriously? Oh yeah that's right. What a juvenile, immature imbecile.




Edited for clarity on emphasis.

Or 24/7. That bugs me more than anything.

Maybe next time he'll tell the reporters to talk to the hand, or is that too old even for Bush?

As if, in this one instance, he really is telling the truth.

I have two children, ages 7 and 13. I know from experience that, after a couple of botched attempts at lying, they will preface "the truth" with "OK, ok, I really am telling you the truth this time! Really! I am...Seriously!"

When JFK approached De Gaulle of France about his decision to block Cuba's harbors, he had U2 surveillance photos showing the missile placements in Cuba. De Gaulle said the evidence was not necessary, that he accepted the word of the President of the US. But can you see Bush doing that today?

I've got photos that show Iran is building nuclear-weapons facilities! No, I really do. Really. I really have these photos. Seriously!!!...

Sounds like the "Angel Martin" character from the old Rockford Files teevee series.

that reporters were dumbfounded that he was taking questions from non-screened people.

SERIOUSLY, he said, this is not a fake Q&A. This is not a drill. This is for real. :)

beforehand. Even the little "I didn't hear you" part could be staged. I maybe going nuts, but I doubt seriously that BushCo. would allow Smirky to screw up their carefully planned "comeback" offensive over the last week or so by letting him get blindsided by random questions. He has repeatedly proven over the years that he cannot handle unstaged Q & A sessions. I lean very heavily toward the notion that he KNEW the questions beforehand regardless of how well it was staged to appear unscripted.

Okay, you're sitting at home. There's a fly buzzing around, and it's annoying. You take a couple of swats at it, but no big deal. You'll get it sooner or later.

Suddenly, a madman bursts in with a shotgun and begins blazing away at the fly. He misses several times, blowing holes in both interior and exterior walls, obliterating the TV, the catbox (nearly the cat), and some other possessions. Finally, he produces a dead fly and proudly exhibits it. The fly, a potential carrier of who knows what vermin and disease, is dead. But instead of thanking him, you ingrate, you're obsessed with pointing out all the holes this guy blew in your walls, windows, and all the stuff you lost. Don't you realize the horrible, horrible fly is dead? What if it had landed on your toothbrush? So what if now a whole host of flies can come into your house? Don't you support the troops, you fucking traitor?

"I'd make the decision again."

or disarm, and he refused." No, he didn't, Bush pulled the inspectors out, claiming that Saddam was refusing. It was becoming obvious that there were no WMDs and Bush had to get his war on.