The cosmetic roster changes at the White House only comprise one plank of the Bush administration's strategery to regain its "mojo," to use Chief of Staff Josh Bolten's snarky little phrase.
The next major phase of the president's plan can apparently be summed up in one word: hide.
As part of his goal of changing the communications strategy, Bolten has replaced press secretary Scott McClellan with Fox News commentator Tony Snow. The move means that an experienced conservative television personality, who at times has been critical of the president, is the public face of the White House."... where reporters and the press secretary frequently air disputes in front of the cameras."
Bolten said it may be worth considering whether to end the daily televised press briefings where reporters and the press secretary frequently air disputes in front of the cameras, but he will leave that decision up to Snow.
"I think that will be Tony Snow's first test _ to see what kind of power player he really is and whether he's able to establish the right kind of relationship with the press that we need going forward," Bolten said, appearing on the same show that Snow hosted for seven years.
"Disputes?"
Those are called "questions," Josh. They only turn into disputes when the press secretary steadfastly refuses to answer them, preferring instead to repeat the same talking point over and over and over again.
Q Scott, given the current situation in Iraq, what the President described today as "havoc" --"Has the mission been accomplished?"
MR. McCLELLAN: As what?
Q Havoc, he used the word havoc today, could he, would he possibly stand under a sign that says "Mission Accomplished" today as he did three years ago?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Peter, I think that there are some Democrats that refuse to recognize the important milestone achieved by the formation of a national unity government. And there is an effort simply to distract attention away from the real progress that is being made by misrepresenting and distorting the past. And that really does nothing to help advance our goal of achieving victory in Iraq.
Q Scott, simple yes or no question, could the President stand under a sign that says --
MR. McCLELLAN: No, see, this is -- this is a way that --
Q It has nothing to do with Democrats.
MR. McCLELLAN: Sure it does.
Q I'm asking you, based on a reporter's curiosity, could he stand under a sign again that says, "Mission Accomplished"?
MR. McCLELLAN: Now, Peter, Democrats have tried to raise this issue, and, like I said, misrepresenting and distorting the past --
Q This is not --
MR. McCLELLAN: -- which is what they're doing, does nothing to advance the goal of victory in Iraq.
Q I mean, it's a historical fact that we're all taking notice of --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think the focus ought to be on achieving victory in Iraq and the progress that's being made, and that's where it is. And you know exactly the Democrats are trying to distort the past.
Q Let me ask it another way: Has the mission been accomplished?
MR. McCLELLAN: Next question.
"Next question."
What more needs to be said? This president is literally incapable of answering for his actions.
No wonder he needs to pull the wool over our eyes. No wonder he wants to pull the blanket over his own head.
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