The way I figure it: the Dems got flustered when GWB beat them to the punch with a presser (while they, the Dems, were franticaly trying to get ahold of Bagdad Bob to deliver a message of calm and rationality). While that wouldn't have accomplished anything, at least it would've looked good. The Dem mantra is "its better to look good doing nothing, than look bad doing something good."