Washington Press Corps Laughs...And Laughs...And Laughs...And Laughs...
February 16, 2007 -- 11:59 AM EST // View Comments (4325) // Post a Comment

I've hauled this one out before, but it's worth another look in light of the President's press conference yesterday. So let's play compare and contrast. Ready?

From All the President's Men, page 163, depicting a press conference in the early '70s at which reporters questioned Nixon campaign director Clark MacGregor about a particularly eye-opening turn in the Watergate case:

MacGregor entered the room from the rear and walked up the middle aisle. He is a big man, six foot three inches, about 210 pounds. Arriving at the lectern, he grabbed both sides of it and gave a half-hearted smile. Because of the "unusual developments of the past few days," MacGregor said, he would be unable to answer any questions.

Clark Mollenhoff, six foot four inches and 230 pounds, Washington bureau chief of the Des Moines Register and Tribune Syndicate, rose, his face contorted with anger. Mollenhoff, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter, had briefly served at the White House as resident ombudsman charged with keeping things honest. MacGregor and Mollenhoff looked like two giants getting ready to lay clubs on each other.

"What credibility do you have?" Mollenhoff shouted. His voice was booming, and the other reporters fell silent. "What documents have you seen?" Mollenhoff demanded. "Because if you can't tell us, you have no right to stand there."

When MacGregor had entered the room, copies of his prepared statement had been handed out, so the reporters knew what was coming. Others were shouting at him now, though none as vigorously as Mollenhoff. "Why should we sit here and listen to you, why should we print a word you say?" he insisted.

When those reporters were stonewalled about something they considered important, they got angry. Now let's look at Bush's press conference yesterday:

QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President. Sir, we've now learned through sworn testimony that at least three members of your administration, other than Scooter Libby, leaked Valerie Plame's identity to the media. None of these three is known to be under investigation. Without commenting on the Libby trial, then, can you tell us whether you authorized any of these three to do that, or were they authorized without your permission?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, thanks, Pete. I'm not going to talk about any of it.

QUESTION: They're not under investigation, though?

THE PRESIDENT: Peter, I'm not going to talk about any of it.

QUESTION: How about pardons, sir? Many people are asking whether you might pardon --

THE PRESIDENT: Not going to talk about it, Peter. (Laughter.) Would you like to think of another question? Being the kind man that I am, I will recycle you. (Laughter.)

John.

QUESTION: Thank you --

THE PRESIDENT: You like that one? "Recycling" him. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: That took care of one of my questions, as well, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: If that's the case, sit down. Next question. (Laughter.)

Look, the questions from the Post's Peter Baker were good, and the comparison is far from perfect, because in the first instance a campaign official was being questioned, and in the second the target was the President. What's more, the advent of the Internet and YouTube means reporters' performances at press conferences are far more public and more scrutinized than they used to be -- which probably means it's inevitable that reporters will be more careful and less confrontational. This isn't reflexive White House press corps criticism.

Still, the comparison's instructive. It's a reminder that tolerance and even jadedness towards official mendacity and stonewalling have become about as pervasive and unremarkable as the air you breathe. I mean, here you have testimony saying that three of Bush's senior officials helped destroy the career of a CIA officer. The President blithely refused to say whether he authorized it. And the response is...laughter? What the hell's so funny about this?


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-- Greg Sargent | Comments (4325) | Post a Comment


COMMENTS:

Then we need a list of the people in the press corps. Who is laughing about our kids getting killed. i don't think it's funny at all. We complain about pundits but who are all the other guys?

Posted by: TexMex
Date: February 16, 2007 12:22 PM

court jesters know not to tweak the king TOO hard....

Posted by: snotsdale
Date: February 16, 2007 12:23 PM

How many more Jeff Gannons have been slipped in.

Posted by: TexMex
Date: February 16, 2007 12:24 PM

Didn't the Prevaricator-in-Chief say he would dismiss anybody involved in such leaking? Why doesn't somebody challenge Him on his own prior statement of cause & effect?????

Posted by: td
Date: February 16, 2007 12:25 PM

Didn't Bush say earlier in this whole Plame outing incident that he wouldn't tolerate this kind of leaking, and that there would be consequences if he found out who did it? (or am I thinking of one of the other many scandals)

Posted by: Ann H
Date: February 16, 2007 12:26 PM

I got a rare opportunity to watch the press conference live (home because of the snowstorm) and I was quite disappointed that there was no follow up to the President's refusal to answer the question. Would it have been inappropriate or disrespectful for someone to ask "with all due respect sir, you said that you would fire any White House employee who leaked information about Valarie Plame/Wilson. One of the leakers is still in your employ and is sitting in this room. He is paid by the citizens of this Country and you are also in the employ of the citizenry of this Country. You are not a king and therefore I do not believe you have the right to refuse to answer this question."

Posted by: Arnold Dorman
Date: February 16, 2007 12:27 PM

Actually I think the Mollenhoff moment was exceptionally rare, and came of unique circumstances. In fact the White House press corps then was much like it was now. Read Boys on the Bus--my favorite political book--and you will see the author, Tim Crouse, an outsider, begging, begging, begging reporters to ask tough questions, and getting the response in return that they can't risk losing their access, or that that's just not how it's done, or something like that.

Posted by: Rick Perlstein
Date: February 16, 2007 12:28 PM

and if td and I thought of this immediately, why the hell didn't anyone in the press corps? (I assume you would have reported if there had been that kind of follow-up)

Posted by: Ann H
Date: February 16, 2007 12:28 PM

It seems like some reporters would at least want to win some notoriety by calling Bush on his stonewalling. What easier way to get famous than to actually act like a reporter in this situation?

Posted by: Dale
Date: February 16, 2007 12:28 PM

Tex Mex is right. Let's get some names of the giggling sycophants. Is the video posted on YouTube or something?

Posted by: b
Date: February 16, 2007 12:28 PM

Even worse was that night when Howard Fineman went on Olberman. Keith plays the clip of Baker and Bush doing their thing as a lead in, and when the shot shifts to Howard, he's chuckling right along with his idiot brethren at the press conference. Oho! We just can't pin this guy down becuase he's such a kidder! Yep, hey, whaddya gonna do?

Posted by: Pinson
Date: February 16, 2007 12:31 PM

Allow a couple of citizens to attend these conferences and ask questions. They'd show both the press and Bush & company how angry the public is and how much the people want ANSWERS, not jokes, prevarications, and the never-ending effort to create of the illustion of management of increasingly out-of-control situations.

Posted by: Paul
Date: February 16, 2007 12:35 PM

Surely there is a difference between shouting at a campaign director and the President?

Posted by: Perm Dude
Date: February 16, 2007 12:35 PM

Rick, agreed. My point in making the comparison was more meant to make the point that this is as extraordinary a moment as that one was, and calls for extraordinary behavior on the part of the press corps today, too...that make sense?

Posted by: Greg
Date: February 16, 2007 12:36 PM

I don't know why the press corps isn't laughing at him most of the time. His news conference about Iran was a hoot. When he starts smirking and talking down to his audience, I don't know how they control themselves. I'd be howling with laughter and saying, "Come ON! You really don't expect us to buy that one again, you kidder!"

Posted by: Lynn
Date: February 16, 2007 12:42 PM

My take was this: At least the press are now asking the sharp questions. So I was giving the press credit for doing that - over and over about a variety of issues.

bush simply looks like a fool. more and more.

Sometimes it's better to let someone's foolishness play out - rather than to address it and become the main issue yourself.

I'm not a reporter. And yes, it drives me nuts that bush never listens. But - that's the whole story, isn't it?

Posted by: TheraP
Date: February 16, 2007 12:45 PM

With far too few exceptions, today's MSM is populated by ball-chasing little puppies, too lazy to exert the effort needed to transform themselves from stenographers to journalists.

If Edward R. Murrow were to come back and see what is being done in the name of journalism, he'd never stop throwing up.

Posted by: draftedin68
Date: February 16, 2007 12:49 PM

The WH press corps laughing their heads off is almost more disturbing than Bush's awkward, moronic responses. I agree---let's see who's doubled over in hilarious laughter. Name them. Ask them what they find so rib-tickling as thousands die. And it's almost like they're falling all over themselves in trying to please Bush with hardy guffaws because his comments are the most inane things ever uttered outside kindergarten.

Posted by: vic
Date: February 16, 2007 12:50 PM

I recall the WHPC getting itself in a twist when a BBC journalist sat down while asking Bush a very blunt question; and the high dudgeon that the British did not stand up when the Pres and his side kick PM Blair entered.

Say what you like about yellow journalism in the UK, those fellows know how to put the boot in when leaders give themselves airs.

The WHPC are easuly sqaushed because they have this overwhelming urge to be polite.

Posted by: bp
Date: February 16, 2007 12:52 PM

It seems to me that the WH press corps has been reduced significantly to relative pansies when it comes to the tough questions. My guess is that they know that their bread and butter WH credentials are easily revoked, and that if they are perceived as enemies, they will be blacklisted from being called on..? Yes?
Has GannonGate taught them that falsity is acceptable? Or, are they gelded before entry?

When the tough questions are asked, a la Helen Thomas, the answers are slippery evasions 99% of the time from this administration.

Accountability is not in their vocabulary.

Posted by: Bob Colgan
Date: February 16, 2007 12:54 PM

What I find most depressing though is
a.
the incredible arrogance with which this idiot of a president treats the press corp('... then sit down..') when his blunders should cause him to be deeply humble, and
b...
That these meek softies let him get away with it, laughing - a what : their own cluelessness ?
If the leader of another major civilized country whould eben try to behave like King George he'd be eaten alive by the press.

JMH
Miami

Posted by:
Date: February 16, 2007 12:55 PM

The press corps' laughter struck me as an expression of fear, rather like the anxious laughter of students observing a bullying teacher.

Posted by: Lewis Schwartz
Date: February 16, 2007 12:57 PM

Yes, my wife and I watched some of that and couldn't believe that the press laughed and played along. What a bunch of wusses.

Posted by: Needles
Date: February 16, 2007 1:02 PM

Bush has cornered himself into a difficult position having promised to fire anyone in his administration who was involved in outing Valerie Plame.

Now that we have learnt that those closest to him, namely Cheney and Rove, were deeply involved in the crime, and possibly even Bush himself-- he appears to have misled the public.

In the event that Libby is found guilty, will Bush pardon him? If so, then one could be forgiven for reasonably assuming that a deal was brokered between the White House and Libby to protect Bush and Cheney.

Posted by: ego peto verum
Date: February 16, 2007 1:02 PM

Never mind what credibility the Bush Administration has. What credibility does the manstream media have

Posted by: Bubba
Date: February 16, 2007 1:12 PM

I'm reminded of the scenes from the movie "The Untouchables" when the sycophant press laughed and joked with murderer Al Capone about his "business" activities. Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, Gonzales, Feith -- all are criminals and traitors. Where is Elliot Ness when you need him?

Posted by: DurangoDave
Date: February 16, 2007 1:14 PM

GREG AND JOSH - YES GET US A LIST OF THE PRESS CORP - WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE THAT THINK THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR COUNTRY IS A JOKE?

Posted by: bb
Date: February 16, 2007 1:19 PM

You know, this is a really remarkable juxtaposition.

U.S. society in general is not exactly, shall we say, up to its ears in decorum, but no-one wants to take the risk of pushing a functionally deficient President to answer a question directly.

British society, on the other hand, is generally recognized to be more observant of the conventional niceties but public officials expect to be pushed and prodded, whether in Parliament or on TV or in between - and if they don't perform they don't survive.

Posted by: JB
Date: February 16, 2007 1:23 PM

I give Baker credit for his question. But, I think the press is not really interested in getting to the bottom of this. I have heard too many members or representatives of the Fourth Estate declare time and again that
(a) this is a "much ado about nothing" case and
(b) they want it to be over because it does not cast them in a very favorable light.

Their sycophantic laughter at Bush's bratty little dodge of Baker's question disgusted me. I could not help but think that I could have easily sat there without cracking a smile. It would have been much more of a challenge not to sigh loudly and say "Give me a break."

BushCo looks bad if the truth comes out. The press has looked bad as a bit of information has been unearthed a teaspoon at a time. The unspoken pact is "Let's just agree to put this one behind us." Bush is vulnerable and rightly so. The press should not fear holding him to account. But they cannot afflict the comfortable because they are among the numbers of the comfortable. So "status quo" it is.

Posted by:
Date: February 16, 2007 1:23 PM


The White House Press corps regulars are the Main Stream Media
(MSM) and George W. Bush is their creature/monkey.

Any semblance of objectivity is just that, a semblance.

Why the American public forks into campaigns to pay the MSM to
get a president that only the MSM will allow is beyond understanding.

Since Nancy Pelosi is saying "We are the voice of the Ameriican people." she should be the President before the year is out.

And the MSM can stick it.

Posted by: MichaelAOlson
Date: February 16, 2007 1:38 PM

This interplay represents much of what's wrong with DC journalism: Reporters are more concerned with maintaining their "access" than they are with getting at the truth.

And people wonder why newspapers are in trouble ...

Posted by: Mike H.
Date: February 16, 2007 1:38 PM

I can remember watching Nixon at a press conference with both arms leaning on the lecturn, jaw jutted out, trying to look tough and resolved. He actually looked like a drunk steadying himself when Dan Rather threw a question at Nixon. It was almost like he threw a slow-motion dart that tended to drift some up and down, side to side as Rather chose his words to correct its course all the way across the room until it stuck itself in Nixon's nose.

I am still waiting for a moment like that, and Bush would be the perfect fool if somebody had the balls to do it.

dc

Posted by: dc
Date: February 16, 2007 1:39 PM

I don't understand why there isn't a headline tomorrow saying, "Bush refuses to deny he authorized Libby leak." If the White House wants to play games and not discuss stuff, fine; that's a story in its own right. And if reporters did their jobs and reported on these evasions instead of chuckling while Rome burns, the politicians in power would get the message pretty quick that there are consequences to treating the public with contempt.

Posted by: Miggsathon
Date: February 16, 2007 1:45 PM

Surely there is a difference between shouting at a campaign director and the President?

Why? The campaign director is supposed to dodge and lie for a living. What's Bush's excuse?

Posted by: Jay B.
Date: February 16, 2007 1:49 PM

That's the Stockholm Syndrom in action right there. The White House Press Corps is a hostage to the administration, and everybody in the building knows it. If someone stood up and called out Tony Snow, the phones would be ringing in publisher's office back home in seconds.

"He's too emotional."

"He's lost his objectivity."

And the publisher, who's probably a GOP contributor, might look at and decide the White House is right.

(Do you think the White House hasn't regularly complained to Hearst that Helen Thomas just can't cut it anymore?)

Anyway, those guys have to laugh Bush pokes fun. You don't laugh, you might lose your job, your cache, your party invitations, your better-decent-paycheck-that-you-work-hard-for, and numerous other perks.

The administration calls the tune, and these people dance. The old days are gone.

Posted by: Long Memory
Date: February 16, 2007 1:49 PM

You want to see a press conference, look at some of John F. Kennedy's press conference. There you will a literate, eloquent man with wit and charm and knew what he was talking about without talking points.

Posted by: Bonnie
Date: February 16, 2007 1:49 PM

To give Bush a free ride on the most obvious of lies and to be harsh on Democratic contenders on the silliest of things is being "fair and balanced" in modern DC.

Posted by: Robert
Date: February 16, 2007 1:49 PM

This makes me angry and disgusted. The fourth estate has closed ranks and joined forces with the government. As someone said earlier, no wonder the newspapers are in trouble. The bloggers have taken over the mantle of the fourth estate. What a bunch of sycophantic clowns. Where, oh where is their self-respect?

Posted by: ExBrit
Date: February 16, 2007 1:51 PM
I mean, here you have testimony saying that three of Bush's senior officials helped destroy the career of a CIA officer.

As bad as that is, what happened was actually worse. In destroying her cover, they significantly impaired a program that was trying to prevent the wrong people from getting real WMDs.

Posted by: Bearpaw
Date: February 16, 2007 1:52 PM

What consequences? I haven't seen anything other than biting comments in blog posts. I have yet to see anyone actually take time off work, buy a bus or plane or train ticket to D.C., and actually put their money where their mouths are.

Any takers? If not, who's the bigger wusses, us or the MSM?

Posted by: Drucifer
Date: February 16, 2007 1:56 PM

Watching the press conference, I was struck that Bush's performance was simply embarrassing. It is both a shame and an embarrassment that such an inarticulate boob occupies the highest office in our land. That seems to be the elephant in the room that none of the reporters can ever acknowledge or write about.

Bloggers and commenters , on the other hand, can indeed acknowledge this sad fact.

Posted by: Colby
Date: February 16, 2007 1:59 PM

And what then, Drucifer? You think you'll be allowed to attend the WHPC briefings? I don't think so.

Don't mistake marching around the WH with a sign as useful protest. All that does is alienate the very middle America you want on your side.

Posted by: ExBrit
Date: February 16, 2007 2:01 PM

I had the honor of studying with Clark Mollenhoff at Washington and Lee in the late seventies. There's not a member of today's press corp that could carry his jock strap. (Though to be fair the gym rats frequently remarked about what a jock strap it was.)

Posted by: cameraman
Date: February 16, 2007 2:02 PM

It remains a puzzle why the White House press corps laughs at the mindless attempts at humor in which this president engages unless most of them are equally mindless or for some unknown reason continue to be cowed by this incredibly flawed president.

Posted by: findingavoice
Date: February 16, 2007 2:06 PM

Maybe they're in on the joke...

Posted by: Mark F.
Date: February 16, 2007 2:12 PM

and now Ladies and Gentlemen....the recycler...give us a break

Posted by: couser
Date: February 16, 2007 2:13 PM

While the comparison is interesting, I don't think it really holds up. By the time the Watergate scandal was unfolding the nation had endured an entire decade of considerable unrest over Vietnam and the whole counter-culture explosion. Maybe, if today's youth were as agitated as those in early 1970s, we might have more confrontation and the eventual fragmentation of this insane authoritarian regime. Remember, Nixon grew mighty paranoid over the demonstrations and street violence. The only things these wingnuts fear right now is losing their grip on the oil and civil engineering industry and of course being branded a homosexual.

Posted by: Sloo
Date: February 16, 2007 2:14 PM

They must find it hilarious to be neutered.

Posted by: AlphaLiberal
Date: February 16, 2007 2:16 PM

Frankly, I interpret the laughter in psychological terms; in terms relative to the dysfunctional relationship the American people, and by extension the press, have with the President. It's kind of a Stockholm syndrome; you'd rather have the bully laughing at/with you than have him get angry with you. Yes, Bush is a bully. And the idiocy of his remarks doesn't absolve him of the contempt we must pay him for his ferocious attitude toward dissent among those he views as his inferiors. And, yes, I am a psychologist.

Posted by: Nina
Date: February 16, 2007 2:17 PM

I might be the only one here who remembers this, but on CBS during that period, Clark McGregor was met with audible laughing on his televised press conference right after he said, "The purpose of CREEP (which stood for "Committee to Re-Elect the President") was not to re-elect the President, but to RENOMINATE the President." (This was an attempt to evade sought-for disclosure from Congress.)

My dad and I were watching this. My dad, former McCarthyite, staunch Republican, responded to this by saying, "CBS has always been slanted liberal!"

Posted by: captcrisis
Date: February 16, 2007 2:30 PM

Radio Times had a good piece on the lap-dog press:
If the White House had a campaign to discredit war critic Joseph Wilson, why didn't anyone tell us? That's what's Media Matters for America columnist ERIC BOEHLERT wants to know. We'll talk to him about the Libby trial and what it says about the state of journalism. Boehlert is author of Lapdogs: How the Press Rolled Over for Bush. In his Feb 6th column titled Scooter Libby and the media debacle Boehlert blast the White House media corps for what he says is their own complicity in the cover-up in the CIA leak case.
http://www.whyy.org/rameta/RT/2007/RT20070215_20_2.ram

Posted by: Dave
Date: February 16, 2007 2:34 PM

Not many things piss me off more than how readily the White House press corps laughs out loud at the lame humor of Bush, Snow, and the recently departed Rumsfeld. Aren't the press supposed to be a bit antagonistic toward government?
At the end of most press conferences I usually think to myself; "And a good time was had by all."

Posted by: JohnW
Date: February 16, 2007 2:36 PM

Your point it taken, but times do change. For instance, now that briefings are televised, you can't lose your composure that way. Of course, it would be refreshing if someone would.

Posted by: Phil
Date: February 16, 2007 2:54 PM

what happened to Bush's early position: that any member of his administration involved in the leak would no longer have a role in the administration?

has anyone asked this?

Posted by: pkoso
Date: February 16, 2007 3:17 PM

Aren't the press supposed to be a bit antagonistic toward government?

Where do you think you are? In England? We're much friendlier here, you know. As an ExBrit "fawning" springs to mind in relationship to American press and the Washington punditocracy.

Posted by: ExBrit
Date: February 16, 2007 3:19 PM

-- And the response is...laughter? What the hell's so funny about this --

Greg ... that was exactly my reaction when I heard them giggling ... poodle-press

Posted by: Nanite
Date: February 16, 2007 3:30 PM

The tone of his response to the second question "Peter!"

He sounded like a schoolteacher trying to quiet an unruly twelve year old. Unfortunately, that's how Bush views the press.

(and my anti-troll code, appropriately enough, is school)

Posted by: Jim
Date: February 16, 2007 3:35 PM

BTW, what about Richard Armitridge -- why wasn't he charged? They've even got him on tape leaking Plame's name & position to Woodward and played it at Libby's trial. Both Armitridge & Woodward testified as such. What's with that?

Posted by: Claire
Date: February 16, 2007 4:35 PM

To be fair, the Libby trial is not over yet. Bush and McClellan have long held that they wouldn't comment on an "ongoing investigation." You'd have to think that included the trial as well.

But the very moment the jury announces their decision, I expect the press corps to ask Plame questions over, and over, and over until Bush answers them, as he promised to do.

(People can dream...)

Posted by: SkippyFlipjack
Date: February 16, 2007 4:46 PM

Claire asks: BTW, what about Richard Armitridge -- why wasn't he charged?

Because he didn't lie about it before a grand jury. That's what the Libby trial is all about - not the fact that he outed a CIA agent, but that he lied about it before a grand jury. Libby's being charged with perjury.

Posted by:
Date: February 16, 2007 4:54 PM

Umm, while I agree that the press corp and media have been total fucking wimps in the face of this administration, this is the President of the United States, not the press secretary. I think most people still show deference to the office even though this is the fucking dumbest president in history.

Are there any example of the press corp yelling at Nixon?

Posted by: Mayor McCheese
Date: February 16, 2007 5:56 PM

What's most depressing about the press corps performance here is that Bush is, without question, a VERY unpopular President.

It was bad enough that the press corps couldn't say boo to Bush when he was riding high at 70% in the polls -- but they can't do so even when he's at 35%?

I really do think there must be some selection factor here that keeps the ballsy types out, and pulls the soft news types in. I wonder if it isn't partly due to the selection for pretty boy types in the quite prominent TV "newspeople".

Once upon a time, I think that TV journalists took their cues from the tough print reporters; now I think they come with their own little social and "journalistic" code quite intact.

And that code revolves around being sweet and amusing and loved by all.

Posted by: frankly0
Date: February 16, 2007 6:06 PM

Thank you for writing this. All that laughing was about to make me puke on my keyboard. THEN, I turned on Keith Olbermann. He and Fineman sat and yucked it up for a few minutes. Huge disappointment.

Et tu, Keith?

Posted by: cotterperson
Date: February 16, 2007 6:11 PM

BTW, it rather misses the point to say, as some commenters have, that it's all very different because Bush is President, and the example from the Nixon administration involved only a spokesperson, and outright anger expressed to a President would not be appropriate.

But, for Christ's sake, NOBODY demands that the press actually express anger with Bush. Simply that they NOT laugh.

Are we to believe that the press corps can't or shouldn't greet stonewalling even with steely silence? Or more hard questions?

This is too much to ask?

Well, of course, it is too much indeed for our WH press corps.

Posted by: frankly0
Date: February 16, 2007 6:21 PM

Hilarious? What's hilarious is the hypocrisy of those of you responding to the "moral cowardice" of the White House Press Corps, when, given the opportunity, most of you would most likely respond in exactly the same way. How many of you, for instance, would even contemplate the possibility of telling your supervisor (or client) to take his or her patronizing, intimidating, emasculating attitudes and stuff it? How many of you would be willing to return to your previous residence, or send your children to public institutions (instead of a private, ivy-league university), or consign your family to the tender mercies of Medicare or some other inferior, more expensive health insurance system? And how many of us would be happy to shut up and take your place? Scapegoating the journalists of the MSM, or any other profession, is good sport for the rest of us, who would otherwise remain mired in our collective misery.

Posted by: Noam D. Ploom
Date: February 16, 2007 6:53 PM

I have said it before, and will say it again: The President only understands a metaphorical whack on the side of the head with a 2x4. The Democrats winning a majority was such a metaphorical whack. The vote by the House is not such a whack. A decision to impeach the President and Vice President, asking Pelosi to become President, would serve nicely to accomplish this. Cutting off some of the funding would also accomplish this. Until the Democrats learn this lesson, they will see more of the Press (which are only lap dogs) following the same old tired pattern.

Posted by: OCPatriot
Date: February 16, 2007 6:54 PM

I e-mailed Peter Baker this morning thanking him for at least asking, and pointing out that by laughing off the stonewalling, his colleagues were suffering from Stockholm Syndrome (to put it nicely) or a bunch of mendacious and craven syncophantic butt-kissers (to put it not so nicely).
He responded that I was being to hard on them as they want answers too.
To that response all can think to say is, if they want answers so bad, why laugh in this fashion? In the tone of a dirty blogger: save your fucking laughter for fucking Rich Little you creeps!

Posted by: flounder
Date: February 16, 2007 7:08 PM

you know what is REALLY funny? Bush's video at the 2004 WHCD. You know, the one where Bush mocks the search for the WMDs which were the rationale for sending our troops to risk their lives and die for an illegal invasion of a sovereign nation which had never attacked the US.

Har. Har. Har.

I bet a lot of the same press corpse members laughed at that video, too. A lot funnier to them than Colbert's appearance last year, I'm sure.

Posted by: r€nato
Date: February 16, 2007 7:48 PM

The reporters don't want to press the president, the vice-president (the one in charge of vice), or his lumpenmensch because they might lose their access? And they don't want to lose their access because they won't get stuff to report that they won't ask questions about? Will the circle be unbroken? Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye. In the meantime, game over, long time now. Looks like the only questions that will get answers are the ones asked of those under oath. Let us pray.

Posted by: ViniloSuave
Date: February 16, 2007 7:58 PM

And the next question should have started:
"Yo garbage man, wh....."


"And we'll respect our elders just as long as they allow" ~Phil Ochs

Posted by: mo
Date: February 16, 2007 9:17 PM

I quit taking most of these people seriously - excepting in particular David Korn, who did not find it funny, and Helen Thomas, who is the noblest journalist ever to grace the White House's press conferences - when they laughed at Mr. Bush's satiric routine about not finding WMDs in the Oval Office. Yeah, and maybe we can escape in some sort of executive humor from the horror of 3,000+ American and Allah knows how many Iraqi deaths because of this moral midget's military aggression.

Posted by: David
Date: February 16, 2007 9:23 PM

I'm late to the comments but I just want to say that I appreciate that this subject was brought up. I sat in amazement as the president joked, the reporters giggled and guffawed, and our troop died. I knew Bush was a goofy goon; but I thought the White House press corps had more to it. The whole event could have taken place in the men's locker room at a health club where they served booze.

Posted by: Mat Conly
Date: February 16, 2007 9:35 PM

i don't know who "pete" is, although i did see the Q&A at the press conference. we've come to expect performances like this from bush, but i fault "pete". stand and hold your ground, man, or give your credential to someone else. no one...NO ONE in the white house press corps has guts, courage, balls or any other description of what is needed.

Posted by: les
Date: February 16, 2007 11:52 PM

Hey Noam D. Ploom, do you realize that Bush is neither the supervisor NOR the client of the press. Supposedly they serve the interest of the people, not the government. The concept of a free press, at least as Jefferson saw it, was to keep the public informed so that they might participate in their democracy in a meaningful way. Call me old-fashioned, but the idea of the press as somehow subservient to the elected (or appointed) government officials is the hallmark of a totalitarian state--not a democracy.

Posted by: DurangoDave
Date: February 16, 2007 11:54 PM

these guys in the fourth estate and the so-called Free Press are supposed to be the keeping the citizenry informed of the great issues of the day so that democracy can thrive, and also be one of the main firewalls against the tyranny of power and an over-reaching corrupt intrusive government?

don't make ME laugh

Posted by: michael72
Date: February 17, 2007 3:23 AM

The concept of a "free" press (or "free" enterprise, or a "free" people, or any other comparative social construct qualified by constraints of "freedom") was meant to "in-form" the public of the limits of its freedom. In other words, we're free to shut up and obey our superiors, or suffer the consequences. Anyone who does anything else is automatically "rcycled". The laughter which followed his veiled threats was the nervous laughter of people who understood exactly what he was telling them.

Posted by: Noam D. Ploom
Date: February 17, 2007 11:29 AM

If they ask the President tough questions, they will not be in the White House. They will be kicked out. Their bosses will not go to bat for them--who the hell do you think they work for Ben Bradlee?

Folks, Watergate coverage was a myth. Remember no one who was a serious bigtime reporter even wanted that story and the same is true today. They won't get to go to the Vice President's Christmas party if they ask tough questions. Look what happened to Dan Rather when he asked George, Sr. tough questions about Iran-Contra on the air--it took a few years but Rove saw to it that he got faked documents that contained truth. He essentially quit because he believed the truth in faked documents.

It is going to take someone in the administration to grow some balls and admit what we all know. They are wiretaping members of the press corp. They are wiretaping members of Congress and judges, too. They are spying on Americans and everyone is scared shitless.

He is going to be out of office in two years so why the signing statements that leave unbelievable power for the next president? As a defense for when someone finally catches the bastard.

Brezenski told us what happened. No WMDs? No problem. We lie. He said they will create the need to invade Iran. May be a terrorist incident. May be, and I never believed it before, but may be they did it before to amass power because they sure as hell didn't have a plan when they took office to do anything with it.

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Date: February 18, 2007 1:29 PM

"you have testimony saying that three of Bush's senior officials helped destroy the career of a CIA officer"...a CIA officer and the entire cover organization working on Weapons of Mass Destruction.

THIS is the result of Jerry Ford's pardon of Nixon. THIS is what happens when they know thsy can get away with it.

Posted by:
Date: February 18, 2007 3:48 PM

The giggling is even worse when Snow is at the podium. Sometimes, women in particular are giggling even while serious questions are being asked. It is irritating and appalling. Are these people clackers hired to interrupt or to give the impression that no one really thinks the situation merits gravity?

Posted by: libra
Date: February 18, 2007 4:52 PM

To Noam D. Ploom...
As a retired print newsman who operated for 35 years on a much smaller and much less significant "stage" than the WH beat...and, at least on one significant (to me) occasion opted to take a journalistically ethical stance, and lost his job for doing so, I can answer your "what would YOU do" question.

The answer is, yes, you may quietly steam at the smarmy condescention, the disrespectful dismissal, et all. That ain't important. But when it comes to the ethical issues you must have the balls to fight the fight. And you do so knowing you will pay whatever the price... loss of credentials, loss of job, whatever... You do this because you are a newsman and and not a PR flack!

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Posted by: Sparkles the Iguana
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