A Quick Synopsis of President Bush's Press Conference

This link is the quickest summary of the press conference Bush gave this morning.

For those who prefer more detail, here are some highlights, from the actual transcript. I swear to God, this is on the level. I watched it. I wish it was satire.

Question: Mr. President, in the debate over Dr. Rice's confirmation, Democrats came right out and accused you and the administration of lying in the run-up to the war in Iraq. Republicans, in some cases, conceded that mistakes have been made. Now that the election is over, are you willing to concede that any mistakes were made? And how do you feel about --

THE PRESIDENT: Let me talk about Dr. Rice -- you asked about her confirmation. Dr. Rice is an honorable, fine public servant who needs to be confirmed. She will be a great Secretary of State. And Dr. Rice and I look forward to moving forward. We look forward to working to make sure the Iraqis have got a democracy. We look forward to continuing to make sure Afghanistan is as secure as possible from potential Taliban resurgence. We look forward to spreading freedom around the world. And she is going to make a wonderful Secretary of State.

Question: No reaction to the lying? No reaction? (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Is that your question? The answer is, no. Next.

Regarding social security:

THE PRESIDENT: I am looking forward to working with both Republicans and Democrats to advance a plan that will permanently solve Social Security.

I'll bet.

Here's a statement that will live in infamy:

THE PRESIDENT: I'm the President; I set the course of this administration.

Let's hold him to that, shall we? Because soon thereafter:

Question: Mr. President, do you think it's a proper use of government funds to pay commentators to promote your policies?

THE PRESIDENT: No. (and in another paragraph) Mr. Armstrong Williams admitted he made a mistake.

Okay. Bush sets the policies, but is not resposible for anything that goes wrong. What a wonderful life! And I love the way he frames it: Willams made a mistake. Yeah, right. By involving himself in unethical behavior on behalf of the republican party! Oh, sure... we're supposed to think he thought the plan up by himself?

Regarding civil rights:

THE PRESIDENT: Civil rights is -- is a good education. Civil rights is opportunity. Civil rights is home ownership. Civil rights is owning your own business.

How nice. Apparently, civil rights is for the wealthy, too. Do the patriot act and the personal accounts go together somehow? I mean, give up your right to protection against illegal search and seizure in exchange for participation in the "ownership society"?

And finally, Bush gave his traditional "f**k you" to the press:

If we'd been having this discussion a couple of years ago and I'd have stood up in front of you and said the Iraqi people would be voting, you would look at me like some of you still look at me, with a kind of blank expression.

First of all, a "blank expression" would be preferable to the snickering, Pat Robertson-like giggling delivery Bush insists on using. But you know what? I saw their expressions. On those journalists who were not obvious right-wing shills, the expressions weren't blank. They were pissed.