PRESS CONFERENCE AWARDS….There wasn’t any genuine news at the press conference last night, but there are awards to be given out. Here were the highlights and lowlights.
Best performance: The second to last question. “I also have this belief, strong belief, that freedom is not this country’s gift to the world. Freedom is the Almighty’s gift to every man and woman in this world.” He was genuinely animated and seemingly full of conviction on this one.
Worst performance: His answer to the question “After 9-11, what would your biggest mistake be, would you say, and what lessons have learned from it?” Warning: the transcript doesn’t do his answer justice. You have to watch the video to see him stumbling and stuck for words for nearly a full 30 seconds.
Question he most didn’t want to answer: “Why are you and the vice president insisting on appearing together before the 9-11 commission?” He really, really didn’t want to hear that.
Most perplexing answer: The second part of the question above: “Who will we be handing the Iraqi government over to on June 30th?” Answer: “We’ll find that out soon. That’s what Mr. Brahimi is doing.”
Huh? Bush has no idea? He’s just waiting for the UN negotiator to figure it out for us?
Least reassuring answer: “I expect to get valid information. I can’t make good decisions unless I get valid information.” Bush’s tone indicated that he figured that whatever information crossed his desk was all he needed. There didn’t seem to be any recognition that he should ever push back and ask for more.
Most memorable answer: “50 tons of mustard gas in a turkey farm.” This seems like the line most likely to turn into a late night routine on Letterman.
