“If he’s so smart, why did you lose Congress?”

[babylonsister]

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/08/14/publiceye/entry3165890.shtml

Picking Bush's Brain
Posted by Matthew Felling

(CBS)
One of the accidental subplots to Karl Rove’s departure yesterday was a question directed to President Bush by CBS White House correspondent Bill Plante at Rove's farewell press event. His question was picked up by a DC media blog and generated many responses. So we asked Bill for his side of the story, which follows.

As the President and Karl Rove walked away from the lectern after their emotional announcement of Rove’s resignation, I yelled a question.

“If he’s so smart, why did you lose Congress?”

The President, as usual, didn’t answer.

That’s OK – he doesn’t have to if he doesn’t want to.

But judging by some of the reaction, you’d think I had been shouting obscenities in church!

“Unprofessional;” “Inappropriate;” “Unbecoming;” “Doesn’t show much class;” “you are a total idiot;” “Shill for the liberal Democrats.”

People who sympathize with the President – no matter who the President happens to be – always seem to think it’s impolite to yell questions. Or they argue that the question is inappropriate at the moment. That may sometimes be true, but not {this time}.

Rove has been a controversial figure in this administration, the man most often credited or blamed with framing support for the war by politicizing terrorism.

There was no time to frame that question because the event this morning was a statement, not a news conference. So I asked a more direct one. I thought it unlikely that they would answer, but it’s always worth a try.

This isn’t the first time I’ve been blasted for yelling. Twenty or so years ago, I yelled a question at President Reagan as he left the Rose Garden after the annual Teacher of the Year ceremony.

One woman wrote to tell me that I was a guest in the President’s house and ought to be behave as one.

Ten years ago, I asked President Clinton a question which brought a red-faced angry response.

The point is that reporters are not here as guests. We’re here to ask questions.

Why?

Because if we were ever to agree to “behave,” we’d be walking away from our First Amendment role – and then we really would be the shills we’re so often accused of being.

[eleny]

1. Bill Plante

I had forgotten what he looks like.

[Peregrine Took]

2. All hail Bill Plante!

[HughBeaumont]

3. I applaud Bill Plante, BUT. . .

. . . the whole "lose Congress" notion; See, one hasn't LOST a Congress that keeps giving them carte blanche. A "lost Congress" is one that doesn't GIVE Failure Fuhrers like Bewsh whatever the hell they want, lest they be accused of the usual "hatin' the troops" chestnut, damn it.

[Tactical Progressive]

4. Oh, those reporters are real tough. Now

that Bush is down and just about out.


"The point is that reporters are not here as guests. We’re here to ask questions."

Maybe I just forgot all the tough questions of George W. Bush the Presidential candidate back in 2000.

And maybe I'm forgetting all the tough questions about 9/11 and Bush's complete and beyond-any-defense lack of focus on an upcoming terrorist attack when he was being warned FROM EVERY CORNER about just such an impending catastrophe.

And I'm probably not remembering the complete lack of incredulity from America's "COMMANDER IN CHIEF"-worshipping journalistic institutions while a bunch of immediately recognizable lies were being repeatedly force fed, by BushCo through these self-same mainstream American 'journalistic' institutions, down America's throat to drive us into the most disgraceful war in all of American history.


Don't listen to this shit folks. These people aren't looking out for anything but themselves. Don't ever trust corporate journalism again. Oh, they'll be getting their tough grits again, don't worry about that: when progressive Democrats regain control they'll be sneering and snickering and cynical for sure.

If you want to call that journalism, go ahead.

When they start standing up for the progressive evolution of society, economically and in every other way, I'll call that journalism.

When they start attacking the rich but still greedy, and the haters and the bullies with all the verve and edge they have sandbagged progressives with for the decades I've been following politics, INSTEAD OF THE OTHER WAY AROUND, then I'll give Bill Plante and his cohorts the respect they think they deserve.

Until then I see them as THE SINGLE BIGGEST PART OF THE PROBLEMS we face in this world, and some sharp questions for a regime down and on its way out doesn't count for shit in my opinion.

[ryanus]

5. Yeah, congress is really a thorn in Bush's side

If you're so smart, how come you can't see that Congress doesn't stop Bush from doing whatever he wants?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. if deserved, I never mind a wellfounded investigation

of a democrat or progressive. when it is well founded.

[Martin Eden]

7. You gotta understand, Karl had a real tough job

He lost Congress because he was saddled with the worst president in history and a political ideology that is the antithesis of good government. That he achieved the degree of electoral success that he did is a testament to his political skill and to the vacuity of the American people.