[what's up]

stick up for himself and to let the liberals set the tone and define the rules of discourse

Other Presidents spent a huge portion of their time fighting the media (Nixon & Clinton come to mind).

Bush decided he was going to concentrate his energies on other parts of his job and during his tenure his CIC role was of paramount importance.

I'm glad he didn't squabble with the left which loves to brawl. (A by-product of this BTW is that media viewership went DOWN which is precisely BECAUSE Bush didn't engage like they wanted.) Bush instead concentrated on keeping us safe and did a fine job.

[rlmorel]

I understand exactly what you mean, but it is a mistake to cede the battlefield of the media to the enemy.

I think his administration and he himself could have done a better job of presenting their side, and they didn’t have to be nasty to do it.