Russert's interview of Bush on
Meet the Press, last week, which the White House intended to be a PR band-aid, actually opened old wounds. Bush agreed to release all of his military records, a position away from which the Press Secretary has rapidly backed. Furthermore, Bush said he would "perhaps" submit to be questioned by the 9/11 investigative panel. All-in-all, Bush seems to have made matters worse, as the spinmeisters in the White House have been out in full force, this past week, controlling the fallout from what was, obstensibly, Bush's "Interview from Hell".
Speculate with me, for a moment:
IF Bush gets reelected, and fortunately that if is looking bigger and bigger, how many public appearances do you think Bush will make, and of what nature? As any good Poli Sci 101 student will tell you, the 4 years of a re-elected President's term are, by and large, the years that President will try to hammer through the weightier portions of his agenda, since he doesn't have to worry about public opinion as much, due to term limits. As Bush has turned out to be one of the most partisan Presidents in decades, pushing through his agenda with full force these past 4 years, and as his Administration has been, perhaps, the most secretive since the invention of the television, and becauce Georgie-boy isn't known for his love of the camera, it's fair to speculate that the would-be Emperor will be seen even less frequently than before. On the other hand, it is also fair to speculate that Bush will make more appearances in order to gain support for a successor to his throne, a man or woman who will carry on his agenda for another 4/8 years.