NYT: On the Road, Bush Fields Softballs From the Faithful

[kskiska]

By ELISABETH BUMILLER

(snip)

Last week alone, in Virginia, Florida, New Mexico and Oregon, Mr. Bush had four "Ask President Bush'' question-and-answer sessions with rapt Republican audiences. The week before he had one in Columbus, Ohio, and this week he has one scheduled for St. Croix, Wis.

(snip)

Many times the questions aren't even questions at all. Exhibit A might be these words from an audience member in Niceville, Fla., on Tuesday:

"I'm 60 years old and I've voted Republican from the very first time I could vote. And I also want to say this is the very first time that I have felt that God was in the White House.''

"Thank you,'' Mr. Bush replied, to applause.

(snip)

The result is often a love-in with heavily Christian crowds. Mr. Bush relaxes, shows off his humor and appears more human than in his sometimes tongue-tied and tense encounters with the press. He clearly relishes the sessions: As of this coming Wednesday in Wisconsin, Mr. Bush will have had 12 such campaign forums, which is one less than the number of solo news conferences he has had in three and a half years in the White House.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

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http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/16/politics/campaign/16letter.html

[NMDemDist2]

1. I like this coverage and there seems to be more and more of it

we need to pound away at what a coward he is and shame him for not being "America's president" rather than just the "Republican's president"

go get em!

[In Truth We Trust]

Are these campaign appearances at PUBLICLY FUNDED venues?!?!

If so what right do they have to ReQUIRE loyalty oaths???? what total fascism!!!!

[hatrack]

2. Our Glorious Leader has convinced me!

Tomorrow I will single-handedly harvest 2 hectares of wheat with only a hand sickle, in order to lay the fruits of the glorious harvest before the feet of our Great Leader, George W. Bush!!!!

Abject, appalling BULLSHIT!!!!

[kskiska]

3. Reporters seem to be satisfied reporting this pap

They throw these little stories out there. They should be incensed that nothing substantive comes out of this guy's mouth. The masses read this stuff and think, "Oh, how cute. The populace just loves their plain-spoken president."

[qanda]

4. God is in the White House????

What in the world was she talking about?

[acmavm]

6. Well, taken one way, it's blaspheme. Taken another, that person is a

dumbass who has no understanding of the concept of God.

[qanda]

7. I know God--

I happen to feel that I have a personal relationship with God. Bush is NO God!

Something is wrong with anyone who thinks that Bush is God.

[KittyWampus]

5. "First Time I Felt That God Was In The White House"?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rumguy]

8. It's so disgusting it makes you want to puke

* is such a coward - and dayum those questions are lame and idiotic...

I'd like to ask that 'Christian' lady who thinks 'God' is in the WH who she thinks Jesus would torture.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. kick

[SpecialK84]

10. "God in the White House ... "

That is the exact wording I heard from my overzealous born-again evangelical christian Uncle when giving his argument for voting Bush. It saddens me how many people "think" (and I use the term loosely) like that.

I do have to find the humor in the situation though. Last night someone posted the article about lack of hostile questions. Someone else made a comment that Bush is going to be asking Rove on Nov 3rd how he lost when "everyone he met loved him"

I laughed when I read that, and then I watched (aka 'suffered extensively for an hour') through the Larry King Live interview tonight (I believe it was a repeat but I hadn't seen it) and he really said "the vast majority of people that have been coming out do so in a friendly fashion."

Yea, when it's invite only, that tends to be the case ... moron.

[truthisfreedom]

11. this really doesn't bug me. if bush's handlers are controlling his crowd

so strictly they are actually doing him a terrible disservice by creating an illusion of no hostility... bush has no idea how much hate there is for his twisted, biased, weirdo policies. he's a wacko. let him believe everything is fine... he won't do anything freaky before the election that way.

[Moderator]

12. kskiska

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news source.


Thank you.

DU Moderator

[gratuitous]

13. "That is the kind of question I like to hear"

Golly! Elizabeth Bumiller (the "Bu" stands for "Bush Unifier") reports to us that Stupidhead is calm and relaxed when he's surrounded by a small crowd of sycophants and doe-eyed butt-kissers. THAT's reporting!

I can't wait for the "Why are so darn popular" question.