Bushists suddenly remember to butter up the press.

[BurtWorm]

Press ready to roll over and expose belly.


http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002237283

Bush Holding Off-the-Record Meetings With Reporters

...

Ron Hutcheson, a Knight Ridder reporter and former president of the White House Correspondents Association, said he had not been invited to a chat, but knew of several others who had. "He has done two of them," he said Monday. "I don't recall them happening before."

He said it was likely part of the outreach aimed at improving support for the Iraq War. "He is personal and persuasive in the small group setting and they know that," he said of White House officials. "He used to do them during the campaign, come to the back of the plane and talk to reporters."

Hutcheson said Bush initially sought to speak off the record with reporters on Air Force One shortly after taking office in 2001, but most opposed the idea. "The consensus was that you can't do that now that you are president, be off the record," he explained. "Air Force One is a pool setting and you are obligated to share with the press corps what you hear. We always argue to be on the record."

Such concerns apparently prompted The New York Times to decline participation in one of the chats set for Tuesday, the paper reported. "The Times has declined this opportunity after weighing the potential benefits to our readers against the prospect of withholding information from them about the discussion with Mr. Bush," Times Washington bureau chief Philip Taubman said in Tuesday's edition. "As a matter of policy and practice, we would prefer when possible to conduct on-the-record interviews with public officials."

Los Angeles Times Washington bureau chief Doyle McManus said Monday he did not know if any of his staff had been to such a session. But he showed concern over where such discussions might lead. "If people are going to make small talk about kids and vacations, it is not a big deal," he said. "But when you get in to policy discussions, it can be."

[madrchsod]

1. i would say something pertaining to butter

but i think most of us have seen or heard of "last tango in paris"

[EST]

2. The peeing and trouser humping probably disturb

the atmosphere of a high class press luncheon...

[flyarm]

3. i want to know what reporters and what media establishments!

and then i want them to pay for their air time or pay for the freebees they get for being the fourth estate!

fly