Tom Shales: Prime Time for the President

[kskiska]

Although President Bush's speech at Fort Bragg, N.C., was scheduled to last about 30 minutes, CNN anchor Paula Zahn told viewers last night it would "no doubt" run longer because of "interruptions by the supportive crowd" of men and women in uniform.

Well, yes and no. The speech -- a relatively brief status report on the war in Iraq -- may have run a tiny bit longer than was announced, but there was only one interruption from the "supportive crowd." In fact, since the military men and women were technically at attention, noted anchor Brian Williams of NBC News, they didn't even applaud when Bush walked onstage to deliver the address.

(snip)

Matthews led a post-speech discussion that included assembled experts, most of whom leaned to the right or far right, and an audience made up largely of military families. Matthews got giggles from the audience when he asked one soldier's wife about "IUDs" being used by terrorists in Iraq. He quickly corrected himself; he meant IEDs, he said -- "improvised explosive devices."

Two soldiers' wives interviewed said they were prepared for the war to last 10 or 12 years, which was more alarming than Matthews's tiny gaffe.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/29/AR2005062900035.html

[Kota]

1. I thought Bush looked suprised when no one clapped on his

entrance. He's spoken in front of so many of these groups of soldiers wouldn't he have know they would not applaud.I think the story of them being at attention is to cover the fact that the military is not behind him. All the way through he seemed to be expecting applause.