WP: Tom Shales on Bush*s Speech

[kskiska]

(snip)

Consistently throughout the speech, Bush's eyes were glued to the prompting device attached to the camera -- though he still kept turning the typed pages of text in front of him -- and at first he seemed to be reciting rather than talking. He was stiff and listless, as he sometimes is without an audience present. The expression on his face suggested anxiety as much as it did resolve.

But as he continued, Bush relaxed a little in his delivery and seemed less frozen before the camera. He stumbled over two words -- "transforming" early in the speech and "country" late in it -- but otherwise had no problems with the script. He wore a somber black suit and a necktie of darker blue than usual.

Though the speech ended at 8:49 (with "Thank you and may God continue to bless America"), NBC News stayed on the air until 9 with trenchant analysis of the president's words and their importance -- Tim Russert calling Bush's remarks "extremely significant." But those scamps ABC, CBS and Fox rushed back to regularly scheduled, and sponsored, programming. In ABC's case, that meant continuing a moth-eaten old movie, "City Slickers," while CBS resumed a rerun of "Without a Trace," a popular drama series normally seen Thursday nights.

(snip)

Tony Snow anchored Fox's coverage of the speech both on the Fox News Channel and on Fox stations, including Washington's Channel 5. True to form, the pro-Bush Fox gave the speech as positive a spin as possible, with Snow declaring that Bush had spoken "movingly" of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Does anyone imagine for a minute that if the same speech had been delivered under the same circumstances by Bill Clinton -- a more skillful public speaker than Bush, for what that's worth -- Snow would have been similarly moved? Not bloody likely.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40242-2003Sep7.html

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. On Biden:

It was an odd situation, really: a prominent member of the opposing party doing a better job of making Bush's case than Bush had done. Biden was amplifying Bush's remarks instead of criticizing anything about the address, which presumably had been his reason for being there.

[Marlie]

2. Biden is sickening

Did you watch Bill Mahr a couple of weeks ago when Biden was a guest.
Even Bill Mahr said to him "Senator, you can say something bad about
Bush, he's on the other side". I sent him an email tonight and said
he should take a hiatus from his Sentor's job and run Bush's
re-election campaign for him - he'd do a terrific job, as he's
had so much practice cheer leading for Bush these past few years, no
one could do a better job.

[benfranklin1776]

3. Yes he is nauseating in his fealty to Junior.

Exactly what the hell is the motivation for such bootlicking? Inquiring minds want to know.

[pfitz59]

4. Biden..Delaware...napalm.....

C'mon, The connection is simple. Delaware belongs to chemical companies (who make explosives and other war goodies). Biden belongs to the chemical companies. Ergo: He's gotta dance to his master's tune!

[opihimoimoi]

5. Biden is bought...... paid for by the Pub Masters

I used to have respect for him, not of late.

[dennis4868]

6. People are we suprised by this?

The Dems in the House and Senate are spineless pussy cats and will not dare go after Bush and his cronies. They never have, and they never will. If Clinton put us through this unneccesary war in Iraq with all thge deaths and monies spent we would be in the middle of impeachment hearings right now with special prosecutors lined up and ready to go. There is no differene between the democratic and repub parties anymore. Thats why we need Dean and/or Clark to stand up and fight our battles.