I do not think it is functioning all that fine. What bothers me the most about this administration is that, unlike the Carter presidency, these guys are old hands. They have been in the Washington scene for decades. They know what the press is like. Yet, they seemingly allow themselves to get bitch-slapped by the likes of David Gregory on what seems a daily basis. Take this Katrina tape thing. The press is trying to make the president look bad but if you look at it closely, it exonerates Bush. However, to me at least, it also seems to exonerate Michael Brown, who was thrown to the sharks. As Bill Salmon said on Brit Hume yesterday eve, the press - while committing journalistic fraud - is attempting to rehab Brown at the expense of the President. That this administration cannot get their act together on Katrina is just stupid. Tony Snow himself has stated he is mystified as to why thiw White House allows itself to be defined by their enemies. This administration seems to want and let the alternate/new media - talk radio, the internet - defend him while at the same time continually sucking up to the old media.
The get behind on every story and issue. He even allowed the Dems to revise history regarding Iraq.... I truly believe the average freeper could do a better job than the President's Press Secretary.
I have been a Brown supporter, and continue to believe he was mistreated by old media. Having said that, Brown said he went around Chertoff on purpose. Can't do that and stay in a position of power.
An excellent observation that deserves repeating.
Believe there are more than a few of us who are and have been equally mystified for a very long time.
As you so excellently describe them, the people working in this administration have the resources, the experience and the talent to define themselves, so where is their booming voice? It's like they don't know how to put on their war face.
Because George Bush doesn't care what the media thinks about him. He also doesn't care about polls and he doesn't care about his "approval rating." The mid-term is 10 months away, an eternity in politics. Bush thinks that if he does the right thing (as he sees it) and perseveres on the course he has (repeatedly) outlined, the American people will respond favorably at the polls when elections finally come. So far, through three national federal elections, he's been right and the "experts" have been wrong.
Very old fashioned -- a principled man acting on a course he believes to be right. Ignoring the naysayers. Leading. Downright quaint. Possibly why all of the media and a good many on this web site find him inscrutable.
Tony Snow had better watch out for speaking his mind. If he keeps up with any criticism, even if it is constructive, he will soon be put in a league with Helen Thomas or David Gregory.
I'm in agreement with your speculation; this administration fights back with rubber bullets and water balloons. The sucking up to the old media you describe is apparently a symptom of Reach Across The Aisle Sucking Syndrome. Other early symptoms include a highly flexible and pliant backbone, boot-shaped dents on the butt cheeks and raw, puckered lips. Those who 'suffer' from RATASS are not called victims because they are actually willing participants. In its final stages, observers can neither distinguish a politician's party nor determine sucker from suckee.