[Schattie]

Russert is such an obvious shill.

[summer]

Some Dem posters were very upset with this strong finish by GW, while I thought this was a perfect way to summaraize the upcoming campaign:

Russert: Biggest issues in the upcoming campaign?

President Bush: Who can properly use American power in a way to make the world a better place, and who understands that the true strength of this country is the hearts and souls of the American citizens, who understands times are changing and how best to have policy reflect those times.

And I look forward to a good campaign. I know exactly where I want to lead the country. I have shown the American people I can lead. I have shown the American people I can sit here in the Oval Office when times are tough and be steady and make good decisions, and I look forward to articulating what I want to do the next four years if I'm fortunate enough to be their president.

[summer]

BTW, a lot of people here really liked GW's response to this question:

Russert: Why do people hold you with such contempt?

President Bush: Heck, I don't know, Ronald Reagan was unpopular in Europe when he was President, according to Jose Maria Aznar. And I said, ‘You know something? ‘

He said to me, he said, ‘You're nearly as unpopular as Ronald Reagan was.’ I said, ‘so, first of all, I'm keeping pretty good company.’

I think that people when you do hard things, when you ask hard things of people, it can create tensions. And I heck, I don't know why people do it. I'll tell you, though, I'm not going to change, see? I'm not trying to accommodate I won't change my philosophy or my point of view. I believe I owe it to the American people to say what I'm going to do and do it, and to speak as clearly as I can, try to articulate as best I can why I make decisions I make, but I'm not going to change because of polls. That's just not my nature.

[rwfromkansas]

I am shocked that he was so biased this time. Usually he is tough, but not so obviously slanted. This was disappointing.

[thesummerwind]

Someone who didn't see the interview asked if there were any light moments in what they correctly heard was a day of the ever-obnoxious Russert playing the prosecuting attorney for the Democrat Party.

Yes there was a light moment............. near the end, the blowhard Russert was telling G. W. that his poll numbers were bad, and that he was as unpolular in Europe as Ronald Reagan. Bush shot back firmly and quickly with a smile on his face, "At least I'm in good company." Sweet!

******

And Kerry................ Kerry is so dull, he could take the excitement out of a soccer riot.

[2111USMC]

Thanks for posting Schattie!

It's the first I was able to see the entire transcript.

Russert's such an ass. I can't believe that he would be so disrespectful to a sitting President in a face-to-face personal interview.