5pm news briefing on Boston bombing postponed indefinitely, per local Boston news station

[WilliamPitt]

5pm news briefing on the bombing now on indefinite hold, the reason being given is that the bomb threat at the courthouse scrambled everyone's eggs.

I hope the real reason is because they're too busy. But anyway, no news briefing at 5pm.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Thanks for letting us know, my dear Will...n/t

[FarPoint]

2. Thank you Will...

it makes sense in light of the new chaos.

[Auntie Bush]

3. Damn, Tweety's going to be mad he can't report on the breaking news conference.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. No he won't because news conferences keep him from flapping his gums.

He essentially took over Smerconish's show this morning on SiriusXM during the segment when he was a guest.

[City Lights]

4. That's just swell. nt

[FarCenter]

6. News briefings are a stupid idea. Why can't they just post a press release to the web?

They seem to be too heavily oriented towards providing a photo op for the mayor, the US district attorney, the MA district attorney, etc.

Although they may also be an opportunity for career advancing face time for the FBI agent in charge and the various law enforcement partners, I'd bet that they would rather release a statement and get back to work.

Elizabeth Warren appeared at one last night. A Senator is completely useless as part of the investigation and has no business at a briefing.

[WilliamPitt]

7. . . . . . . . . .

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[BumRushDaShow]

9. "A Senator is completely useless as part of the investigation"

Elizabeth Warren is now the Senior Senator from the state of Massachusetts (since Kerry stepped down). As an elected official representing the state where this occurred, how is she not relevant?

I expect there will be hearings on this event and even if she isn't a member of the Committees that might hold those hearings, they often invite other Senators to question panelists, and having any background info on something that happened in her state will help with any future federal legislation that might arise.

[FarCenter]

10. She may be involved in hearings later, but she's just a bystanding cheerleader at this time.

Her statement was uninformative and formulaic.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. She's still an elected official

and is being paid by the taxpayer to represent her state regardless of what she says or how she says it. It would behoove that she be there as a federal representative.

[FarCenter]

12. To do what?

At least the Governor is the superior of the State Police Superintendent and the Mayor is the superior of the Police Commisioner (although their roles are now limited because the State Police and Boston Police are under the command of the FBI Special Agent In Charge). The US and MA attorney generals are pretty useless at this point, although they may be involved in processing warrants. They don't really get engaged until there is someone to prosecute.

All you basically need at a press conference are the FBI, ATF, State Police and Boston Police. But like I said, they would probably all prefer to release a written statement on the web, instead of dealing with inane reporters shouting repeated questions to which the obvious and logical answer is "I can't answer that at this time."

[BumRushDaShow]

13. Your issue is with the press conference process

vs who should or shouldn't be there. With these types events, they usually don't continue on with more and more of them after some set amount of time anyway, so I expect that absent some arrest or final summary pending any other breaking info, they are probably about done with them.

[FarCenter]

14. True, but the process is driven by the political types

I don't think that the law enforcement types consider the process to be a good one, or the best way of releasing information to the public.

[HiPointDem]

18. news conference is to allow chance for questioning & particpation by elected officials & press

who theoretically watchdog police.

i don't think press releases by police, which would allow them to control the process *more,* are really an improvement.

[FarCenter]

20. In an investigation of this sort, the police officials have no trouble saying "no comment" anyway.

The press are not so much watchdogs as strays looking for whatever scrap they can scavenge for the next news cycle.

[HiPointDem]

21. nevertheless, that's their function. better to ask them to do their jobs responsibly than to try

to block them from the process.

[Chan790]

17. Have to point out...

The MA AG is the chief law enforcement official of the state of MA. The US Atty is the chief law enforcement official of their federal district.

Everybody else you've named as belonging on that stage is accountable to one or the other.

Further, they're there to answer/address any questions of a legal nature or questions regarding order or procedure.

[FarCenter]

19. The governor appointed the superintendent of police.

GOVERNOR PATRICK APPOINTS TIMOTHY ALBEN SUPERINTENDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE

http://www.mass.gov/governor/pressoffice/pressreleases/2012/2012713-governor-appoints-state-police-superintendent.html

They could use this web site for press releases.

[Chan790]

22. ...and the AG can fire the superintendent of police.

It's a lot like how the President appoints US ambassadors but they answer to the Sec. of State.

It's a lovely website. It doesn't repudiate the effectiveness or legitimacy of press conferences.

[dgibby]

15. Hmmm......

because not everyone in this country has a computer or ready access to one.

As for Sen. Warren, she has every right to be there.

[FarCenter]

16. I'm sure that CNN and Faux have computers and can read the information to the public.

She certainly has a right to be there, but she adds no value.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

8. It's being said the FBI has an image of a possible suspect.

Perhaps they're still trying to work out if they want to release the image or not? If the person isn't the bomber it could cause them - or anyone resembling them - to become the target of vigilantes.