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It was a very cautious news conference. 

The AP reports "WASHINGTON (AP) - What kind of politician brings a teleprompter to a news conference? A careful one. "

I almost ran to my computer last night and posted about what a wonderful job he did.  I was going to give him serious credit having the wherewithal to stand up and defend his policies to questions - even if they were pre-screened.  He took tough questions and gave good answers outside his normal oratory style.  Even if I didn't agree with the position, he would have gotten respect for taking the questions head on.

In particular, he admitted he started off with a cushy review largely because of race.  But since has been judged, as he should be, on the merits of his administration.  He admitted to being very wealthy (top 3% specifically).  I did not see him ignore or perry any questions.  His speaking style was broken but very coherent.

While telling this to a coworker this morning I learned that his style was broken (uncharacteristic pauses and "umms") because he was waiting for the lines to scroll on a TV in the back of the room.  A TV the cameras were careful not to show.  On follow up questions he paused so an aide could type answers into it for him.

Then I read this morning that the State Department and the Treasury Department allow less contact than under Bush.  That the access to the White House is hyper structure around prepared statements and talking points.   It's the illusion of being open to the public (read: the press).  Bush got lambasted for shutting the press out, the solution - pretend to let them in.  But not really.

So I'm happy he is having more contact with the American people.  I like that he made the "Special Olympics" gaff on the Tonight Show - it shows that he was winging it.  I am willing to accept a few screw ups in exchange for honest interaction.  I'm glad that he is willing to lay out his plans to the press.

But I'm very disappointed that it was a staged event.  More so that it was a staged event portrayed as a real press conference.   If you are going to read answers off of your teleprompters, be honest about it.

That is unfortunate. 

Ann Compton with ABC was notified a day ahead of time that she would called on, so her mock surprise, as well as President Obama's comment to her "are you surprised I called on you"  were all for the camera's benefit.

Why couldn't he have just talked to us?

The more I think about it, the more disappointed I am.

Quote from: Gaspar on March 25, 2009, 08:50:23 AM
Ann Compton with ABC was notified a day ahead of time that she would called on, so her mock surprise, as well as President Obama's comment to her "are you surprised I called on you"  were all for the camera's benefit.

Why couldn't he have just talked to us?

The more I think about it, the more disappointed I am.

Really?  She sold it well (as did he).  Given the nature of the question (she asked about race) I thought maybe at least that was honest.  Apparently the act was more in depth than I thought. 

The more I learn, the more pissed off I am.  I wish I could change my vote from average to something lower now.  If it was staged in that detail, then it wasn't impressive at all in the manner I was looking for.

I keep being more and more disappointed.  If I knew it was a staged event from the start I'd just be ho-hum about it.  But I was excited because I thought he did a really good thing and now feel like I have been let down. 

Obama was on TV again?

Who does he think he is, Ryan Secrist?

Quote from: Gaspar on March 25, 2009, 08:50:23 AM
That is unfortunate. 

Ann Compton with ABC was notified a day ahead of time that she would called on, so her mock surprise, as well as President Obama's comment to her "are you surprised I called on you"  were all for the camera's benefit.

Why couldn't he have just talked to us?

The more I think about it, the more disappointed I am.

Are you upset that you kept asking questions last night and Obama never answered them?

:P

Quote from: Trogdor on March 25, 2009, 09:27:11 AM
Are you upset that you kept asking questions last night and Obama never answered them?

:P

I had my hand up. 

"pick me." "pick me."

(http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2009/1/29/128777614340671049.jpg)

+1 Karma for using LOL Cats

I um, well, yeah, it was um, a uh, really uh, great news uh conference.

He might even be more deft and evasive than President Bush and that's a hard act to top. 

I'm scared.

Quote from: Gaspar on March 25, 2009, 09:29:00 AM
I had my hand up. 

"pick me." "pick me."

(http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2009/1/29/128777614340671049.jpg)

You were not on the list, so, in my best soup nazi voice, "no question for you!"

"The biggest problem we have in the future is medicare and medicaid"

Wow.. I never heard Bush say that!

Sometimes you smart guys are so dense it hurts.

First, never, ever, go into a meeting of any kind without knowing what questions will be asked and how you intend to answer them. That's just basic organization stuff. Winging it is amateurish and reeking of ego. You wing it when you're not prepared and have to. So he had a teleprompter to stay on message and help with clear, concise answers. Duh. Do you think he was there to do battle with his ultra critics as so well represented on this forum? No. This was not a debate. He was talking to his constituents and trying to calm fears, describe problems/solutions and show leadership to a populace who isn't very politically or business savvy. Yes it was staged. That's no surprise. Its surprising that you haven't noticed that all press conferences are staged.

Second, he was making an inside joke to Compton. Everyone in the room knew the joke. The fact that I didn't know that the time (seemed curious to me) didn't take away from the substance of the questions or their answers.

You must look at what the purpose of the press conference was (or any press conference for that matter).  Instead you chose to critique the format and the speaker for partisan reasons. There is a pattern I have seen here where actions are taken out of context or purely fraudulent in nature, that are then backed up with suspect sources, that are then revealed as inaccurate or at best spun in a blender for effect. The instigators are never taken to task for it. It diminishes your credibility.

Quote from: waterboy on March 25, 2009, 10:46:17 AM
Instead you chose to critique defend the format and the speaker for partisan reasons.

FIFY

I honestly don't get the constant harping of Obama using a teleprompter.

To my eye, using a teleprompter is called "using good tools at your disposal." It's called "being well-prepared." It's no damned different than carrying prepared notes with you.

I remember a few weeks ago when Sean Hannity on his radio show was trying to stir up a controversy about the teleprompter to former Huckabee campaign manager Ed Rollins. Rollins replied (and I'm recalling this from memory): "I don't see a problem. I wish George W. Bush had used a teleprompter a lot more than he did."

Hannity changed the subject really fast.

Waterboy, I have no partisan reasons for my comments.

And not all press conferences are staged.  The initial statement is always scripted, but generally the Q & A is open.  Any decent speaker will have a stock answer to all anticipated questions and non-anticipated questions will get a vague response, but staging a Q & A is generally poor taste.  May as well just read a statement or seed questions.

Not only does TOTUS have its own blog, it also has its own facebook page.  Also, there's this:

(http://www.blufftontoday.com/files/images/totus1.jpg)

Quote from: cannon_fodder on March 25, 2009, 11:37:39 AM
Waterboy, I have no partisan reasons for my comments.

And not all press conferences are staged.  The initial statement is always scripted, but generally the Q & A is open.  Any decent speaker will have a stock answer to all anticipated questions and non-anticipated questions will get a vague response, but staging a Q & A is generally poor taste.  May as well just read a statement or seed questions.

CF is many things  ;), a partisan hack is not one of them. 

Take it from this partisan hack.

There's nothing partisan in my comments, nor do I care if he uses a teleprompter.  When someone speaks for an hour, I'd expect that they have notes or an outline to follow to stay on track and get a point across.

To be perfectly honest, the parts I heard were not long on substance and revealed little that was not already obvious or had not been released to the press in recent weeks.  I'm simply still waiting to see what is so great and what the "change" is.  I was disappointed to hear the duck for cover about the health care problem he "inherited".  "This problem was uh, here when I got here..."  No smile, we know that, but quit trying to push a pre-concieved agenda as being the one thing that is still hindering our economy and deficit.

For the partisan hack brothers!

Republicanism, Worse than Socialism
http://rackjite.com/archives/3118-Republicanism,-Worse-than-Socialism.html

"Conservationism is made up of various subsets including Libertarians, the Religious Right, racist militias, gun crazy mofos, and certifiable morons like Joe the Plumber (and Guido from Tulsa Now Forum). Glenn Beck and Joe the Plumber are the intellectual cream of the crop."

"This entire mess is peopled by REPUBLICANS. Yes it is! And we all know it is. But because there is no way of actually proving it the corporate media cannot say it. "

And the best you can come up with is Teleprompter President?

Where's IpLaw? Was he too relegated to purgatory? Or did he just get frustrated and leave this branch in the fall of the economy and the republican potty?

The Devil awaits destructive criticism.....

Perhaps we are too critical of the format.  I do think it's very important for a president to use all of the tools at his/her disposal to convey a message.  My problem is the representation of the message as a "conference" when it is actually a prepared statement. 

To my knowledge, President Obama has not engaged in a press conference yet.

But since the statement, the Q & A, and the follow ups were all prepared in advance, I think he could do an even better job at using all of the tools at his disposal, by simply e-mailing us the script or just recording a podcast.  That way we could read it at our leisure. 

All of the acting, and the assembly of a group of reporters, who's only purpose is to fill chairs, really weakens his image.  It doesn't seem like something you should see in this country, and I hate the fact that other countries are talking about it now.

We always made fun of dictators like Castro for staging events and news conferences.  I am not so naive to believe that it never happens here, but does it have to be so blatant?

We're better than that, or at least we should try to be.

Quote from: cannon_fodder on March 25, 2009, 11:37:39 AM
Waterboy, I have no partisan reasons for my comments.

And not all press conferences are staged.  The initial statement is always scripted, but generally the Q & A is open.  Any decent speaker will have a stock answer to all anticipated questions and non-anticipated questions will get a vague response, but staging a Q & A is generally poor taste.  May as well just read a statement or seed questions.

No, I don't think you were CF. Your first instincts were spot on. The constant barrage of criticisms including "he is too available", "he uses telepromoters", "he is laughing at serious problems", "he is not formal enough', "he shouldn't go on Leno and diminish the presidency", "his budget will bankrupt us", "he knew they were getting bonuses", and other bizarre criticisms puts pressure on the rest of us to question the competency of the president and his administration. That is their purpose. This from people who gleefully voted for Bush...twice... that guy that used a backpack receiver in a debate.

And yes, press conferences are staged events. In the past the Q&A has been Shakespeare with soliloquys by the president. They may have looked impromptu but rarely were. When caught off script,  rather than answer off the cuff and risk disaster, presidents simply quote from their handlers memorized statements. Using a teleprompter is analogous to you guys keeping Wiki handy.

Just like a good business meeting, you don't call one without a purpose and only the inept leaders fail to manage the process. Bush made it clear that one long time veteran journalist would never be called on even though she sat on the front row because she wouldn't stay in line. Some reporters always try to exploit their moment of fame like the guy from Stars and Stripes last night, but it is dangerous business. Obama handled him very well and the reporter ended up looking like a prosecuting atty rather than a journalist.

Focus on the purpose of a press conference rather than the mechanics. Remember, this was not a debate or a free shot for journalists to build their resumes with gotcha moments. With that in mind it was above average. Gas, Guido and some of the others are quite comfy and don't mind if the rest of the country falls into disarray to prove a point and get their interests covered. They don't mind helping that happen.

I guess you're right Waterboy. 

I will try my hardest not to be critical of this format.  At least next time we will know what to expect. 

You're right, press conferences can be very dangerous for a President.  They have been down right embarrassing in other administrations. 

I predict as the administration moves forward, we will see a shift away from the press conference completely. 

... and you are wrong, I have nothing but the highest hopes for this country and our President, and have stated that on numerous occasions.

I will say it again, I hope the President Obama is the most successful President in the history of the country, and that we all see prosperity and success as a result of his intelligent leadership.  That however does not mean that I will worship him.

Quote from: waterboy on March 25, 2009, 12:15:04 PM
Focus on the purpose of a press conference rather than the mechanics. Remember, this was not a debate or a free shot for journalists to build their resumes with gotcha moments. With that in mind it was above average. Gas, Guido and some of the others are quite comfy and don't mind if the rest of the country falls into disarray to prove a point and get their interests covered. They don't mind helping that happen.

This is just rich. Do you really think I care about Obama's freakin teleprompter? The only thing I get out of this entire issue is the humor when he flubs up when he does not have it or when he has it and still flubs up. Thanking himself was riotous, but I guess during these grave and dire times you dare not criticize the messiah.

In actuality, I find the teleprompter issue is a distraction from the real problems Obama has, that being his flat lies he has told the American people. He lied about earmark reform when he signed the Omnibus bill, he lied about lobbyists in his administration, he lied about not using signing statements, he lied about having transparency in his administration, he lied about waiting five days before signing legislation...Furthermore, Mr. Hope and Change nominated tax cheats Geithner to head up the treasury, not to mention tax cheats Daschle, Killefer, Solis, and Ron Kirk for other high level positions in his administration. Oh, let's not forget about Richardson and the pay for play that derailed his nomination.

Also, there is that little problem I have with the ballooning deficit, tax increases on the so-called "rich" people in this country, and his horrid record on life issues.

"This is just rich. Do you really think I care about Obama's freakin teleprompter?"

Well about 30% of your posts in the last few days have referenced the teleprompter.  It isn't like the comment was out of the blue.

Quote from: Trogdor on March 25, 2009, 01:30:46 PM
"This is just rich. Do you really think I care about Obama's freakin teleprompter?"

Well about 30% of your posts in the last few days have referenced the teleprompter.  It isn't like the comment was out of the blue.

Gueed are you just reading off a teleprompter?

Quote from: Gaspar on March 25, 2009, 01:36:35 PM
Gueed are you just reading off a teleprompter?

Yes. When I try cases, I use a teleprompter. When I order at restaurants, I use a teleprompter. When I ready a response to Trog or soccerpunk, I read from "Horton Hears a Who" in preparation.

Quote from: Gaspar on March 25, 2009, 01:36:35 PM
Gueed are you just reading off a teleprompter?

Hahaha.  Yeah it did sound like I meant he was using a teleprompter.  I was referring to the Teleprompter of the US which you cannot read!  Obama will tell you what is on it.

Quote from: guido911 on March 25, 2009, 01:41:48 PM
Yes. When I try cases, I use a teleprompter. When I order at restaurants, I use a teleprompter. When I ready a response to Trog or soccerpunk, I read from "Horton Hears a Who" in preparation.

If I were an attorney I would prepare all of my cases using the Dr. Seuss technique.

"Did you take this person's life?
Did you do it with a knife?

I did not do it with a knife.
I did not, could not, kill my wife.
I did not do this awful crime.
I could not, would not, anytime.

Did you hit her from above?
Did you drop this bloody glove?"

Could have used that on my docket this morning . . .

Please your honor, do not toss this case,
I know you set the dispo because it's late.
But it moves on as well it should,
I'd have it settled if I could.

Or my hearing this afternoon . . .

Punitive damages are my right,
I plead you exercise this court's might.
The Defendant knew the dangers of the race,
Which ended up mangling my clients face.

Maybe I should start off working it in depositions, to get practice.

CF and Gas, way to take my slap to unforeseen heights. Well done.  :D

Quote from: cannon_fodder on March 25, 2009, 02:10:14 PM
Could have used that on my docket this morning . . .

Please your honor, do not toss this case,
I know you set the dispo because it's late.
But it moves on as well it should,
I'd have it settled if I could.

Or my hearing this afternoon . . .

Punitive damages are my right,
I plead you exercise this court's might.
The Defendant knew the dangers of the race,
Which ended up mangling my clients face.

Maybe I should start off working it in depositions, to get practice.

Sure would weed down your client list in a hurry.

Quote from: Conan71 on March 25, 2009, 11:49:01 AM
There's nothing partisan in my comments, nor do I care if he uses a teleprompter.  When someone speaks for an hour, I'd expect that they have notes or an outline to follow to stay on track and get a point across.

To be perfectly honest, the parts I heard were not long on substance and revealed little that was not already obvious or had not been released to the press in recent weeks.  I'm simply still waiting to see what is so great and what the "change" is.  I was disappointed to hear the duck for cover about the health care problem he "inherited".  "This problem was uh, here when I got here..."  No smile, we know that, but quit trying to push a pre-concieved agenda as being the one thing that is still hindering our economy and deficit.

You have tried to argue that Obama is an "empty suit" for months now... talk about a "pre-conceived agenda"..... Conan will reply using the word MYOPIC in... 3.... 2.... 1...

MAYOPIC
(http://toshspice.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/mayo.jpg)

How do you think this guy would have responded to Obama's policies thus far:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94lW6Y4tBXs&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fhotair%2Ecom%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2F25%2Fvideo%2Dthe%2Dobligatory%2Dconservative%2Dmep%2Deviscerates%2Dgordon%2Dbrown%2Dclip%2F&feature=player_embedded

Absolute obliteration.

Quote from: guido911 on March 25, 2009, 03:03:47 PM
How do you think this guy would have responded to Obama's policies thus far:

Absolute obliteration.

Yes, it sounds like an obliteration of Bush policies, especially the inability to pay down debt during good times.

Quote from: rwarn17588 on March 25, 2009, 03:15:38 PM
Yes, it sounds like an obliteration of Bush policies, especially the inability to pay down debt during good times.

Oh that's right, the first person I think of in connection with nationalizing private businesses, spreading blame around, creating high deficits to GDP ratios, spending one's way of recession and borrowing one's way out of debt is George W. Bush.  That sounds nothing like what Obama is doing right now. 

Guido. The press con last night was not a poor performance. You ruined the survey.

Hey moron, I didn't vote "poorly" in that poll. You are such an unbelievable waste of sperm.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1pINz6H54Ys/SZDBwoaKKTI/AAAAAAAAA5g/9izcluUFO_8/s400/terrorist+bump.bmp)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3515/3233991117_22f1bfed5e_o.jpg)


Here's some genius from Obama:

The "Nitaly" Lions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQLTekcur-E&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ewikio%2Eco%2Euk%2Fvideo%2F418063&feature=player_embedded

How many states? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws

Hey, where's my teleprompter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omHUsRTYFAU&feature=related

PEOPLE....DO NOT LET DOCTORED VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE OBSCURE TRUTH! They got me excommunicated from TNF..... (see the end of the republican party thread).

I do not recall you blasting Bush for not being able to hear his prompter or read his teleprompter.

The T in TOTUS stands for Transparency.....

Guido comes from the party of "NO". So there.

Quote from: guido911 on March 25, 2009, 12:43:21 PM

This is just rich. Do you really think I care about Obama's freakin teleprompter? The only thing I get out of this entire issue is the humor when he flubs up when he does not have it or when he has it and still flubs up. Thanking himself was riotous, but I guess during these grave and dire times you dare not criticize the messiah.

In actuality, I find the teleprompter issue is a distraction from the real problems Obama has, that being his flat lies he has told the American people. He lied about earmark reform when he signed the Omnibus bill, he lied about lobbyists in his administration, he lied about not using signing statements, he lied about having transparency in his administration, he lied about waiting five days before signing legislation...Furthermore, Mr. Hope and Change nominated tax cheats Geithner to head up the treasury, not to mention tax cheats Daschle, Killefer, Solis, and Ron Kirk for other high level positions in his administration. Oh, let's not forget about Richardson and the pay for play that derailed his nomination.

Also, there is that little problem I have with the ballooning deficit, tax increases on the so-called "rich" people in this country, and his horrid record on life issues.

Guido, we'll never know if you've stood your ground in IRS disputes over taxes owed ..... you are really grasping. Perhaps you should wait until there are some real issues before you follow boss Limbaughs instructions.....