Tuned Out

[eggwards]

You know when you message isn't getting through to the American people when the networks are ready to move back to Survivor and The Apprentice. Apparently President Bush's surprise prime-time press conference was so full of information that three networks pulled away before Bush was finished (ABC doesn't have much to show on Thursdays).

Besides just trying to "do the little sidestep" on so many questions that were thrown to him by the press corps, Bush really wanted to talk about his floundering Social Security reforms. The problem is, not only is it not popular with the Congress, it's not popular with the American people. Although Bush keeps talking about who this would promote ownership by allowing people to make investment decisions with a portion of their Social Security money, what he doesn't explain is that the new program creates an annuity that pays back the government, not the individual, who then makes the payments to the recipient. You don't really have ownership at all. Quelle surprise!

Most of the time when a bill proves unpopular, or a judicial nominee doesn't seem to be going through, a politician will take it back, regroup, and try something that's similar, but reworked to be more popular, but not this president. Apparently he thinks a lot of that political capital that he thought he had.

I'm wondering if he even lost political capital with his evangelical base, since he refused to acknowledge that the Senate was holding up nominees because of their religious beliefs, going against the message of a large Christian rally from last Sunday attended by Senator Bill Frist. When asked about his religious beliefs he said they were "personal", which seems to fly in the face of those who would like to have those beliefs form a more active role in how government is directed. It seemed like an odd concession at this time.

Still, according to the Drudge Report: Sensing he was running into trouble, Bush joked, "We better finish this up, there are TV programs to show. For the sake of the economy."

But it was too late. No one was listening, anyway.

Comments

[dedos.livejournal.com]

OK, I only saw a little bit on the web-clips of The Daily Show. But did he REALLY say he needed 20 billion for a COAL initiative??!!?
._______.

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

Coal is the new black.

[chrisglass.livejournal.com]

Nice summary :)

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

Muchas Gracias!

[chifurbuddy.livejournal.com]

Wow. I'm turning to you for all my Dubya summaries! Spot. On.

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I really do appreciate that, but please, do your best to keep yourself informed through many sources, which I'm sure you do!

[gmjambear]

When asked about his religious beliefs he said they were "personal", which seems to fly in the face of those who would like to have those beliefs form a more active role in how government is directed. It seemed like an odd concession at this time.

I'm very puzzled by Bush's remark. I heard it in my car radio on the way to work and nearly drove off the road.
If his religious beliefs are personal, then why discuss it in public? I thought he would be on the side with Sen. Frist and, especially, Rep. DeLay.

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

I wasn't too surprised. His handlers do try to keep him away from making too many comments that would clearly put him in line with Sens. Santorum, Frist et al. I think they like to have just a little bit of plausible deniability just in case the senators and congressmen happen to get a little too inflammatory.

Still, that being said, is there really a reason why he does this? It doesn't seem to gain him points that he says these moderating statements but his actions and directives certainly point in a different direction. I understand it while he was trying to moderate himself for the campaign last year, but now?