Every once and a while, a press conference would be nice

Something occurred to me while reading over the speech the president delivered on Wednesday night about Iraq: he didn’t take any questions.

I understand that he was giving an address to a private group on private property, and under the circumstances, presidents don’t usually open the floor for a Q&A. But it got me thinking, does Bush ever take questions? And why haven’t I seen a presidential press conference in so long?

Bush is obviously big on giving speeches. He’s got a world-class speechwriting staff (particularly Gerson, who’s a genuinely gifted speechwriter), and when he’s reading from a teleprompter, he can deliver a clear and powerful address. But historically, presidents, particularly when they are preparing a nation for war, are available for press conferences to answer lingering questions and respond to inquiries from skeptical reporters.

This president obviously disagrees. While it’s hard for anyone outside the West Wing to know for sure why Bush avoids answering the media’s questions, the fact he avoids press conferences like the plague is disconcerting. It’s even more perplexing given that he’s about to send troops into battle, and Americans seem to still have a few questions as to why they’re going.

I’ve watched most of the press conferences Bush has been willing to endure, and I think it’s fair to say they’re not his best venue. He seems to have trouble fully preparing for the questions, there’s obviously no teleprompter to tell him what to say, and every time he has one, he ends up giving his critics more gaffes to add to the list. (On Feb. 22, 2001, for example, Bush held his first press conference. Half-way through, he mentioned looking forward to an upcoming meeting with Tony Blair and his wife. Bush said, “Laura and I are looking to having a private dinner with he and Mrs. Blair Friday night.”)

Whether Bush likes press conferences or not, Carpetbagger believes he has a responsibility to start having a few on a regular basis. These briefings are the nation’s only chance to see the president give unscripted responses to questions that are on all of our minds. There’s international uncertainty dominating the times, and Bush must be available to answer some queries now and then. The fact that the president generally avoids the briefings only reinforces concerns that he’s unprepared, and worse, hiding something.

Last fall, the New York Times reported that Bush had held a total of 36 news conferences at that point in his presidency. At the same point in his predecessor’s presidency, Clinton had given 73 news conferences — a little more than double Bush’s number. The article also noted that the first President Bush had held 61 press events in his first 21 months.

Those who thought the article might prompt Bush to hold press conferences more frequently were wrong. Carpetbagger’s research shows Bush is averaging less than one a month since the Times article ran on Oct. 14.

On Nov. 7, Bush held a legitimate press conference. He answered 17 questions. Good for him. Of course, to put it in context, the event was held in the immediate aftermath of a very successful Election Day for GOP candidates nationwide, and many believe he only had the press conference so he could gloat a little. But why split hairs? It was a real press conference — Bush was in the White House answering questions from the White House press corps.

That was almost four full months ago. On the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, he answered eight questions from reporters in the parking lot of a gas station near his ranch in Crawford, Texas. I’m sure, given the paucity of press conferences, the reporters present were thrilled to get that much out of him. (There was a ninth question, dealing with Bush’s New Year’s resolution about eating fewer cheeseburgers. Carpetbagger was only counting real questions.)

Even if we’re generous, and we call the parking lot conversation an actual press conference, we’re looking at two media briefings in four months.

I know the president promised to “change the tone” in Washington, but I didn’t know that would mean silence.