For those who think press wasn't hard on Bush in beginning

[PretzelWarrior]

read this blistering critique of Bush and his fumbling for basic facts about laws he signed in Feb. 2001. Jake Tapper did pretty good on this one.

The thing that got me researching this is the whole flap over teleprompters and Obama. I remembered how excellently Obama handled press conferences without a teleprompter or constantly referring to notes or such. So I wanted to compare Bush's performance and am happy to see my memory was correct.

Bush was a douche from the very beginning and it wasn't really until 9/11 that the press took a more subservient hands-off view of the administration.

http://archive.salon.com/politics/feature/2001/02/23/press_conference/

[PretzelWarrior]

1. way back then.....calling reporters by nicknames

talking about Iraq's "weapons of mass destruction", etc. It is scary how all the same players were and are. Clinton, McCain, etc.

It is such a refreshing change that we hadn't heard of Obama back in 2001 but a mere 7 years later, we'd elect him president and dispense with the old crowd.

[blm]

2. Too few and far between. Press was still harping Gore aplenty and fer crissakes the WH was trashed

by Clinton stories went on for 7 months straight until 9-11.

[Gin]

3. I seem to recall Bush was falling badly in the polls..and 9/11 helped

his image...hell I was even with him right after 9/11...I felt a sense of patriotism I never had felt before...but it ended once he showed his hawk ass...

good riddance you dunce!