I say the "won't you just be in the way, Mr. Bush" question was a setup

[NNN0LHI]

Bush wanted out of the hurricane mess and that gave him the out. Someone realized a photo-op with Bush yucking it up on one screen and water pouring over the New Orleans levees and buses afire on the other screen was not going to bring Bush's number up. So someone handed Gregory the question to ask Bush. Betcha.

Don

[Mr_Spock]

1. I think answering it was a setup

I don't think Gregory is a moron.

[Bouncy Ball]

2. I was thinking the same thing. He NEVER answers questions.

If that wasn't a setup he would have just kept on walking. But he very dramatically turned around, answered it, answered a follow up, then kept on talking and was in no hurry to cut it off like he normally is if he deigns to take a question.

It was too easy. It got him off the hook.

And he's totally hiding from the war protestors in DC this weekend. Betcha.

[NNN0LHI]

4. I have watched him keep walking dozens of times. Not this time n/t

[Lisa]

14. normally, he doesn't even hesitate to walk away ... (n/t)

[NNN0LHI]

15. Yes. He hesitated like he was waiting for the question

Lets face it. Bush never says or answers anything without prepping for it for hours or days before hand. And then he can still barely make himself understandable. This phonied up deal is no exception. This was supposed to be one of those "I am in charge" bullhorn in hand moments.

Don

[karlrschneider]

3. I dunno about that, Don. If it wasn't D Gregory I might agree but I don't

think he's that much of a whore...
:eyes:

[NNN0LHI]

5. He has bills to pay like everyone else does n/t

[karlrschneider]

8. True dat...

I hope you're wrong though.
;-)

[ewagner]

6. I don't think so

his quick spin around was a short burst of temper.

I think he was just about to lose it and once he regained control he had to answer questions to keep from exposing his near-temper-tantrum.

[TomInTib]

9. I agree

If he hadn't spontaneously spun around like that I might have had doubts, too, even tho the questioner was D G.
* is way too clumsy on his feet (ever see clips of him "dancing"- Good God) to pull that off had it been scripted.
Add the anger-flushed face. He got really red.
Cherkoff had to look at the floor to keep from grinning.

What a punk.

[Gloria]

12. He looked like he was pissed and turned around, with his

famous charm, to turn it into a "light-hearted" moment....

He was being needled and he didn't like it all, IMHO

[nansocal]

17. I agree.....

He spun around really fast....and he looked angry and then composed himself....I think it cut into him...and he would have liked to tell off david gregory...IMHO.....

[RevolutionStartsNow]

7. I might be cynical enough to believe that, except...

he also asked him if it was just "overcompensation for Katrina", which is in no way a question that * wants shouted out on TV, reminding everyone how he failed.

[Imagevision]

10. DC. is the last place Bush wants to be this weekend...!

which in a way is good...! for him it'll have more impact when he hear/see's it and Cindy Sheehan in the news...!

I think Bush is paranoid over Cindy and all the reminder's of death she represents? -- nah! - Bush doesn't care how many are killed or how long it lasts...the longer the better for defense contractors (Carlyle - Halliburton)

[samsingh]

11. i think David Gregory is pretty decent

so i don't think the question was a plant.

[wellstone_democrat]

13. No, for a couple of reasons

the turn around was too fast, too angry and the answer rambling

the "overcompensating" isn't something Bush* would "like" in a scripted moment. Not at all. Think Jeff Gannon, there is a question that gives Bush* a chance to "shine" not one that has "negative" connotations about anything his majesty has ever done

What I do think: WH feared that the press was going to dog his visit to SA and report on such things as first responders used for photo ops or lights being turned out, etc. and , with the Texas highways jammed, people dying on buses and in cars AND with the potential for more to go wrong: they didn't want him directly associated with it. Better to have him be "honorable" and stay "out of the way" since that was suggested by the press and get his photo ops as Supreme Commander of the relief effort.

I truly believe that and from the moment he answered I wondered if they would either reconsider the trip or show him only meeting Perry at the airport for a "briefing"

[grasswire]

16. no, since his insistence made him look WORSE

His babbling and false bravado made him look even more dopey and useless. Besides, I have a fair amount of trust in David Gregory because every day he's needling Bush. Every day. This time Bush took the bait.

[KoKo]

18. I like David Gregory...but it did look fishy, to me, also. Gregory is NBC

and hob nobs with Imus alot. Maybe he's a decent fellow at heart...but hey...he want's to move up in his job with GE that means hob nobbing with Russert, Tweety and former CEO Jack Welch on Natucket a few weeks a year.

I can hear Welch taking Gregory to task saying:"Hey, kid..you got balls to go after Chimp...but you gotta understand I've got millions in retirement stock and people still working at my company (GE) who look to me to make 'em rich. I like your spunk kid..I'll make your career...but you gotta' learn how to "tone it" just right to get the stupid folks out their in TV land on your side...but keep "puttin' out" for those of us who pay your rent....Got it Kid?"

[jane_pippin]

19. I just saw the clip of it, and I disagree.

Bush and his posse were turning to leave, or at least have their backs to the press. Other reporters were asking questions, but when Gregory asked his Georgie whips around and answers it in that pissy, preachy, confused way of his.

Plus, David Gregory just wrote a pretty harsh article on his MSNBC blog so I don't buy the premise that he's some kind of set-up guy.
It's on this page: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8045532