How "rigged" was yesterdays news conference?

[hexola]

I was watching the NBC affiliate - when the speech ended, they came back to the Today show - and there was David Gregory...he wasn't at the news conference.

Coincidence?

Was this a typical news conferece as far as what members of the press were in attendence? I did see some familiar faces.

Big man, Bush...beat up on Helen, look tough on the media...right...

[Vinca]

1. It was definitely rigged and Helen was the point of having it.

He knew she would confront him and he had the answer scripted. In fact, after one response, Bush muttered under his breath something like "they told me to say that."

[MADem]

2. Was Gregory doing TODAY SHOW sub work?

That is in his contract.

Also, the conference, as always, was "unscheduled." It wouldn't surprise me if they do choose dates when heavy hitters are out of town. It's always hit or miss--if the Monkey is in town, you take a chance leaving to go to lunch....of course, the odds are in your favor that you'll be able to get away with it, since he is more press shy than even Nixon.

[luckyleftyme2]

3. WHAT WAS HIS AGENDA

TWO POSSIBILITES ISEE:EITHER HE CAN'T ADMIT ERROR;OR HE WANTS PUBLIC OPINION TO FORCE A WITHDRAWAL!
the reason for the latter is to save face! just a different way of avoiding blame!
MY OPINION OF: WE'LL BE THERE TILL I'M OUT OF OFFICE=HELP I'M IN DEEP TEXAS B.S.
MY OPINION OF POLLS NEXT WEEK= HIS SPEECHES ARE COMPLETE LOSS!
MY OPINIONOF RIGGED: OF COURSE WHEN HAS THIS MAN EVER HAD AN ORGINAL THOUGHT?

[Brazenly Liberal]

4. If it was rigged, it was badly rigged.

The Shrubya was defensive, stuttering and stammering, and looked like he was damn close to losing his temper. His answers, which were his usual strung-together soundbites in place of saying anything, were even more disconnected from the questions than usual. His treatment of Helen Thomas made him look like an inarticulate, juvenile bully.

He KNEW what she was likely to say if he called on her, he called on her anyway, and then had the next thing to a tantrum at her question.

He blew it when asked if he could envision the US ever leaving Iraq, committing us to at least three more years on the spot and committing his staff and spokesliars to spending the rest of the day "clarifying" what he meant.

If this is rigged, give me rigged any time. I stopped watching his few and far between press conferences long time ago because they were so scripted and so infuriating. Lately, though, he's been speaking off the cuff more often, which is never good for him and often very revealing and/or highly amusing, so I watch again.

[H2O Man]

5. I don't think "rigged"

is an accurate description. If David Gregory had been there, Bush had the option of not calling on him. It was scripted, in a very real sense, from the president's end. He had specific points he was prepared to make.

[seabeyond]

6. just watched another interview of helen on msnbc

the reason for the conferenc, bush does this everytime numbers go down. he doesnt roll up sleeves and get to work. he goes out and talks and talks and talks. he has done it so much, the nation as a whole knowsw it is bullshit

i have heard reports on helen last night,...... journalists are asking, and she is saying. i watched helen just now on msnbc. i was waiting for her to sya pnac,..... she did last night, but didnt this morning. it was good what helen said. no it isnt unfair to bush. the american people are not getting the truth. that is our job. she talked about so much more.

i think this is a good thing. she grabbed wolfie by balls yesterday from what i heard. i think this will be good helen saying this out loud, for journalists. gregory, helen........

[Brewman_Jax]

7. When I hear that

Bush* "smoked" Helen Thomas, it was rigged. She can out-think and out-interview me, with relative ease. :silly:

[mattclearing]

8. I've noticed that Bush seems to wait until Gregory works the Today show

to call these informal press gatherings.

President Bush, You're a Coward.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

10. This was the second time in the recent future that this has happened.

[JudyM]

9. Appears he's subbing for Lauer who's on vacation. n/t

[Catshrink]

11. Tough little man, roughing up the press.

Oh Bush, he's so tough, so manly when he's angry. So resolute. Such a POS.