The White House Appears to be Botching It
I saw Mollie's post, then turned on Fox News--that would have been at about 7.38 or so Pacfic time, eight minutes after the White House had requested air time. For ten minutes or so, I listened to Geraldo Rivera speculate, wildly, about the reason for the President's address, vamping for time. At about 7.48, Geraldo Rivera, handed a note, suddenly confirmed that bin Laden was dead. It is now 8:06 and the news is everywhere--the Wall Street Journal, Drudge, the New York Times. Still vamping as he waits for the President, Geraldo is now on about his fifth national security expert.
So?
So if the White House had had its act together, and the President had gone on the air at 7.30 as his press operation had promised, then the entire world would have heard the news from the President himself. Now? The news is out, half digested, people are turning back the channel to whatever they were watching earlier...and the President has yet to appear.
Maybe the President will have more news to announce. Maybe there is some last-minute security alert with which he must deal. But for now, it sure looks as though the Obama White House has trouble with the little matter of...competence.
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Mar '11
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
The white house has to figure out a way to make sure GW Bush doesn't get any credit, and the involvement of the military MUST be minimized.
Apr '11
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
It is just taking extra time to load it into the teleprompter.
May '10
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
I love it. Obama is going to be so furious that he lost the limelight on this one. I've already turned off the TV.
But I have to say, hearing it 10 years after the tragedy.. from Geraldo... while waiting on President Obama... as our nation pisses away its future...
I know, I know. I feel like such a pessimist right now. Enjoy the moment for me.
Maybe I'll read tomorrow how someone can verify the identity of a cave-dwelling camel jockey after he has been bombed. A DNA reference and dental records couldn't have been easy to come by.
Jul '10
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
I wonder how many times he will use the word "I".
May '10
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
It's pretty amateurish, isn't it? It's now almost an hour since the promised announcement, and it sounds like the parties are already underway.
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
Peter, I thought the WH might have been heel-dragging on purpose, so as to go live at 5 minutes past the hour. A thirty-minute delay gives time for millions of people to call each other, build up the hype. But five-past was . . . well, 25 minutes ago. You're right, this is clumsy.
At least this didn't happen a year to 16 months from now. Conspiracy theorists would be going nuts about deliberate "October" surprises.
The odds of Trump calling a press conference, saying this is a distraction from the vetting of the long-form birth certificate? :)
Edited on May 1, 2011 at 8:33pmRe: The White House Appears to be Botching It
I believe he is finishing his waffle.
Sep '10
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
The White House wants to find the Long Form Death Certificate.
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
They are arguing whether to sound sad or not.
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
He might be counting his approval rating percentage points. I remember Bush the Elder's 90% after the 1st gulf war.
Mar '11
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
He's looking for old report cards.
May '10
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
Some thoughts;
--Does it really matter if most people first hear the news from the lips of Obama for him to benefit (assuming he would)? On his watch=on his watch.
--I've just heard the MTA has announced that all NYC subway and suburban rail line fares will be discounted 75% for the next month...
--I guess that after a little spike, this incrementally shifts 2012 even further to the domestic policy side.
Feb '11
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
Some of this makes you - commenters too - sound small. Now is the time to be happy. Do the politics later.
Nov '10
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
He was probably practicing saying "tolly bon".
Sep '10
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
Percival
He's looking for old report cards. · May 1 at 8:48pm
Delta Force is cleaning the ceiling spackle off the headlights.
Oct '10
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
Peter, I was wondering what you thought of the remarks the President gave. Should he have been more extemporaneous? It seemed pretty bad, especially with him reading off the teleprompter. It was like he nothing inside him to offer the nation, no thoughts, no feelings, nothing.
Feb '11
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
This post and the comments are beneath us.
I salute the President on a good speech. I applaud the American team that performed such an impressive mission. I'm delighted the mass murderer is dead. I pray those who lost loved ones on 9/11 find a small measure of comfort.
Lets get back to politics 24 hours from now. Now is not the time.
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
Can't agree with you there, Israel. The ability of a president and White House staff to execute--to get done the work of the presidency--is in no way a "small" matter.
But I am happy. Promise.
Feb '11
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
Peter Robinson
Can't agree with you there, Israel. The ability of a president and White House staff to execute--to get done the work of the presidency--is in no way a "small" matter.
But I am happy. Promise. · May 1 at 9:28pm
Ecclesiastes 3, 1-8.
Feb '11
Re: The White House Appears to be Botching It
I would love to have heard Obama announce "The chickens have come home to roost."