‘Maybe I don’t know and don’t want to tell you I don’t know’

July 7, 2006

As part of his not-so-exciting new public relations strategy, the [tag]president[/tag] hosted an hour-long press conference from Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry this morning. It was more or less like any White House [tag]press conference[/tag], except there were some local reporters on hand.

Most of the exchanges were pretty predictable — Bush filibustered to keep the number of questions down, and he awkwardly tried to joke around with reporters (telling one that he is “trendy” because he wore a gray shirt) — but one exchange about North Korea was noteworthy.

Q: Mr. President, if I could follow up, you say diplomacy takes time…but it was four years ago that you labeled [tag]North Korea[/tag] a member of the “axis of evil.” And since then it’s increased its nuclear arsenal, it’s abandoned six-party talks and now these missile launches —

[tag]Bush[/tag]: Let me ask you a question. It’s increased it’s — that’s an interesting statement: “North Korea has increased its [tag]nuclear[/tag] arsenal.” Can you verify that?

Q: Well, intelligence sources say — if you can — if you’d like to dispute that, that’s fine.

Bush: No, I’m not going to dispute, I’m just curious.

Q Our intelligence sources say that it’s increased the number — its nuclear capability —

Bush: — dangerous — it has potential danger.

Q: It’s increased is nuclear capabilities. It’s abandoned six-party talks, and it’s launched these missiles.

Bush: Yes.

Q: Why shouldn’t Americans see the U.S. policy regarding North Korea as a failed one?

Bush: Because it takes time to get things done.

It was more than a little odd.

A reporter noted the obvious shortcomings of Bush’s “policy,” at least as far as results go, and the president responded by casting doubt on existing intelligence and suggesting that four years of deteriorating conditions isn’t enough to qualify for failure. For that matter, for a guy who spoke with unnerving certainty about Iraq intelligence to ask a reporter, “Can you verify that?” was somewhat jarring.

Bush moved on, but then went back to the same reporter to say that it’s unclear if North Korea has “definitely” increased its nuclear weapons. When the reporter noted that maybe Bush does know but is unwilling to say, the president concluded, “Maybe I don’t know and don’t want to tell you I don’t know.”

When it comes to responding to policy questions, it seems like a comment Bush could use quite a bit.

“Maybe I don’t know and don’t want to tell you I don’t know.”

god help us all through the next two 1/2 years.

  • Holy crap …

    This may seem “unAmerican” and all, but I really, really, REALLY am considering moving to either Vancouver, Amsterdam, an island in the Pacific … anywhere but here.

    I’m convinced something will happen that will give this administration an excuse to stop the ’08 election from happening. (A while ago, Bush had said something about “if an election happens in ’08, but I can’t find the quote).

  • If there was any justice in the world…
    all of B’s press conferences would include laugh tracks.

    At least that way…
    the dumb ass Americans that voted for this sad clown would know whether to laugh or to cry.

  • “Maybe I don’t know and don’t want to tell you I don’t know.”

    Sounds like about the most truest thing anyone, let alone G.W. himself, has ever said about G.W. and his presidency. It would make a great T-shirt, though!

  • I posted a link to a Fred Kaplan article in the May 2oo4 Washington Monthly about BushCo.’s blunder with North Korea in yesterday’s NK thread. It is well worth reading for the background on this situation. Perhaps we should send a copy to W; It could help him bone up on the the problem he has created. Of course we’d have to get Condi or Laura to read it to him.

  • …the president hosted an hour-long press conference from Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry this morning.

    Maybe he should go in and learn about some cool things like evolution and global warming.

    Maybe I don’t know and don’t want to tell you I don’t know.

    :O is all I have to say.

  • Ever since the president declared on multiple occasions we had to invade Iraq because Saddam wouldn’t let the inspectors in, and no one outside of a few left of center pundits batted an eye, I’ve given up being astonished by this sort of thing. It’s horrifying, but that’s where we are.

    –Rick Taylor

  • I wish he would just go wherever Ken Lay went. Even if it means passing up a chance to try him at the Hague. (I’ll settle for Cheney and the rest of the Gang at the Hague) Go ahead – slink off to your desert island paradise with the jillions you’ve stolen from America. But just leave.

  • Bush: — dangerous — it has potential danger.

    It’s pretty incredible what they’ve gotten away with using just this one little phrase. All purpose and never stale. Danger is always with us. It’s imperative that that catapulted propaganda is never examined too closely.

  • I heard another part of this press conference where he sounded really irritated about the N. Korea questions “I just answered that yesterday”…..and “diplomacy takes time, words have different meanings…”

    What a joke.

  • I think Suzanne Malveaux was shocked with the responses. Perhaps CNN reporters will be tougher with him now (yeah right).
    I watched the press conference with amazement. Bush actually looked like he was immitating Jon Stewart. We have come full circle.

  • I hate him more than anyone has ever hated anyone in the whole history of the universe.

  • We had an advantage with Reagan. When he would slide off the desk, there were, at least, competent people to catch him and stand him back up again. We don’t have that with Bush. His handlers are as incompetent as he is.

    I know it’s been repeated ad nauseum, but the Bushies only know how to campaign (sleazily). We scratch our heads in wonder. The media adopts a blank, amused stare. The Democrats wander in circles. And the nation is being further undemined by ideology and inneptitude daily. This is train that is running off a cliff, and the country had rather look the other way than stop it.

  • Unholy Moses,

    I’m also thinking about moving to Europe to get away from the cancer that is the American GOP and the kill-crazy psychopaths they inspire (re. Haditha, Mahmudiyah, etc.).

    But I don’t think Bush would dream of cancelling the 2008 election. As much as he loves to be a two-term ‘The Decider’, I don’t think he actually likes pretending to be concientious. I doubt he gives a fuck about policy or governing at all, and the whole thing is probably wearing thin on his temperment.

    His whole Iraq strategy is to reject any policy changes (and thus avoid looking weak to his red meat mob) and hand over the mess to the next president, who will face a truly awful political, fiscal and logistical mess undoing all of W’s messes.

    For Bush, 2009 can’t come soon enough. To him, that’s when he’s no longer responsible for Iraq. He’s probably never had to take responsibility for his mistakes at any point in his life. His fixers probably huddled at some point in early 2005 and decided that the most important national priority for his second term would be to ensure the personal happiness and historical legacy of the Boy King.

  • Rather than head over the ocean to Europa, I think I’ll stay here and be a pain in the proverbial posterior for these ReThug bundists. Hell—someone’s gotta ante up against these demonizers….

  • Bush on North Korea having Nuclear devices: — dangerous — it has potential danger.

    Bush on Iraq maybe, possibly having a nuclear program: “I don’t want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud.”

    Rather big difference in language, that.

    “I’m convinced something will happen that will give this administration an excuse to stop the ’08 election from happening. (A while ago, Bush had said something about “if an election happens in ’08, but I can’t find the quote).” – Unholy Moses

    [blatent repeat of comment from yesterday. I’m watching for auto-trolls. See if they don’t appear again to distract you all 😉 ]

    No, I don’t think even Boy George II would declare a suspension of the electorial cycle.

    The Republican’ts could get a Constitutional Convention off the ground that would change the two term rule, but somehow I don’t think even they could get the change to apply to Boy George II. Not that he would be able to win again in 2008 even with Diebold.

    But I’ll spin you one. Google the phase ‘North American Union SPP‘. If you can stomach it (block popups, or Ann “the Bitch” Coulter will apear), read some of the wingnut paranoia there (many by Swiftboater extrodinaire Jerome R. Corsi himself. How the worm turns.). Then imagine Boy George II being sold a bill of goods that HE could be the first president of the North American Union. He lives in a bubble, after all. His strawman are actually Republicans who aren’t neo-conservatives. He never hears from the rest of America (or Mexico or Canada). He has no grasp of reality, but he must know he can’t be President of the United States after January 2009. This might well be his next job assignment from the Texas Mafia!

  • Steve,

    Remember, there’s no shame in stepping out the way of an oncoming truck. Lots of Poles, Czechs, and Hungarians left their countries after WWII and returned in the 1990’s. They loved their countries just like I love mine. I have complete faith that the GOP will eventually fuck things up beyond repair, providing an opportunity for a sincere American political reform movement. Until that happens, I’d rather raise my family in a place where the neighbors don’t jeer and cheer when our ‘enemies’ are raped and murdered.

  • Lance: “…read some of the wingnut paranoia there.”

    I’ve done this with various right wing blogs and comment sections.

    It made me incredibly pessimistic about America’s future.

    I was most shocked by the misogyny.
    I simply wasn’t prepared for that…

    You think we are brutal with B?
    Holy angry white men!
    You don’t know brutality….

  • I feel like I just witnessed some sort of cosmic synchronicty. At 11:10 this morning, Steve asked in another post, “Does anyone else ever get the impression that the president is a very powerful child?” Within minutes, Bush removes all doubt with, “Maybe I don’t know and don’t want to tell you I don’t know.”

    Na-Na-Na-Na-Na!

    (I’ve got the Presidential Seal, I’m up on the Presidential Po-o-dium…)

  • A presumption of ignorance, malice, and/or contempt on w’s part is obligatory. His comment was just another example of his wicked mockery of the media, American electorate, international law, the constitution, etc., as when he ‘joked’ about hunting for WMDS at some sycophants’ dinner. He IS a spoiled child, and our lack of response to his unacceptable behavour, renders his contempt predictable and warranted.

  • The most dangerous place in the universe right now is the six inches between The Crony-in-Chief’s right ear and his left ear.

  • Lance, you’re forgetting that he’s the War President. If it’s necessary for the prosecution of this war that Bush continue in office after January 20, 2009, then by George he’ll stay in office until the war ends. And he’s the Decider who determines whether it’s necessary.

  • The most dangerous place in the universe right now is the six inches between The Crony-in-Chief’s right ear and his left ear.

    Comment by bcinaz — 7/7/2006 @ 9:11 pm

    Wouldn’t it be nice if we could put him and NK’s Long Dong in the same, well-isolated, playpen…

  • A mssile through Ws head would not slow down accodring to Newton.

  • “Lance, you’re forgetting that he’s the War President. If it’s necessary for the prosecution of this war that Bush continue in office after January 20, 2009, then by George he’ll stay in office until the war ends. And he’s the Decider who determines whether it’s necessary.” – KCinDC

    Use quotes when you say “War President”!

    I think it would be amusing to see Boy George II dragged out of the oval office screaming “I’m still President, I’m still President”, but any reasonably smart person would just wait until he went down to Crawford, than never send Air Force One back to pick him up 😉

  • My fave Shrub quote is still “Who cares what you think?”… said on July 4th, 2001, to a citizen.

  • Maybe he could request a transfer to a base in Alabama again and then just leave town for the next two years. It seemed to work when he was in the national guard.

  • My husband and I tortured ourselves last Fri by watching the entire press conference. We experience such a range of emotions when watching/listening to Bush–from discomfort to embarrassment to disgust to anger. And to think that more than a third of our fellow citizens think he is doing a good job–we despair for the future of our country. We were appalled at his treatment of Suzanne Malveaux. Really, he has no class.

  • I think the current policy on North Korea suggests two things:

    1) Bush and cronies know that his approval rating can’t take another hit if they want to keep control of Congress in the fall, and doing nothing is a better alternative than doing something that doesn’t work.

    2) As I’ve assumed from the start, there were more motives for invading Iraq than were let on (oil, democracy in Middle East, balance of power shifted to Israel, Hussein tried to kill his daddy, etc.).

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