1 Amateur.  That's no way to kiss Presidential Ass.

2
DrewM,

You make excellent points, but when the scuffle is between/among the MSM, a lefty blog, and this administration, I'm rooting for injuries.

3 But the OB spice must flow, DrewM, but only through the Guild!

4 Ace: Mr. President, exactly what steps has your administration taken to address the Scandi menace, and do you feel they've been successful?

5 I don't get the uproar either. That was a good question and I agree with you about Nico. I guess it would be a problem if Obama knew the specific question but clearly, given his answer, that's not the case. Hannity just mentioned this on the air and, no surprise, muffed it.

6 PRESENTly enjoying sum ice cream lolz #me

7 They're not doing so hot in the online world anymore either

Time Spent On Many Top Newspaper Sites Is Dropping

while the site belonging to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer—which is now without a print version, went from 15 minutes on average last year in May to just over 7 minutes last month.

Heh!

8 "the more you ignore me, the closer i get"

9 Absolutely agree on the job he's done liveblogging. I find the blogging phenomenon fascinating and obviously prefer the work of the "citizen journalists' over the traditional media outlets. I particularly appreciate that bloggers are open about their partisanship. What most surprised me was, in spite of his Huffpo association, the question wasn't a gimme ...

Odd, doncha think?

10 The better question is:

Why did Obama's people allow the question if he was going to punt.

11 Great cartoon today by Michael Ramirez

12 I think that this is an extension of the Jeff Gannon crap, in which the Kos Kids and the MSM pitched a fit that someone would show up to ask softball questions to Dubya instead of the "gotcha" crap they kept asking.

The accusations made against Bush, that he knew Gannon was a "plant", are actually true in this case because the White House had the HuffPo person escorted into the press pool and made sure Obama would call on them.

13 Posted by: lorien1973 at June 23, 2009 03:16 PM (IhQuA)

They may have thought he'd roll over with a softball or they honestly figured here's a guy who knows more about the story than anyone else in the room, let's see what he's got and let Obama handle it.

Either one fits with the outsized ego of Obama and his administration.

The real test is, does he get invited back.

14 Who is this Pitney guy and what would he know about enchantment?

15 Gannon...Gannon..Gannon...

16 Someone just sent me the link to this video again.  since North Korea wasn't mentioned at all today by anyone this seem even more important, but its funny.

17

I've got oozing sores and a chaffed ass, all from trying to get front row seats and the priviledge to ask one of the first questions at a White House presser.

Now, some blogger steals my thunder.

I hope he got the clap.

18 It was a poorly worded question, IMHO. It allows teh Won to tap dance around it.

Had he asked, "Under which conditions would NOT you accept the election of Ahmadinejad," Obama would have had a more difficult time escaping a direct answer. Such a question to the negative would give a window into the workings of Obama's foreign policy.

19 Why didn't anybody ask him what flavor of ice cream enchants him?

20 the press is right to be pissed.  This was obviously set up and Obumbles couldn't even fake like he didn't know what was going on.  The blogger was put into the main press section right before the press conference and then Barry said "I think you have a question from somebody in Iran...."  Of course the blogger had no follow up and Obumbles filibustered a non-answer.  This was a total farce.

21

I was all prepared to denounce this as another example of the lapdog media (if you can call HuffPo a member of the media), but the question he asked doesn't strike me as staged.  Maybe Obama just mistakenly assumed the guy would throw him a softball.

It would be different if he performed some ass-kissing in the form of a question, but I'm not seeing that here- the question he asked was perfectly legitimate, and one quite a few of us would've like to have seen answered... but instead the Obamatuer just answered "present" yet again.

22 Ariana is happy, that is all that counts, dontcha know?    Besides, this guy provided all the content, all the content for CNN and FOX.  Without him they wouldn't have been able to give their little "now this is all unfiltered speech".

23 >>...here's a guy who knows more about the story than anyone else in the room, let's see what he's got and let Obama handle it.<<

I don't think so. If nothing else, I'll give the Obama team credit for knowing that their guy is a creampuff.

If he's invited back--to the chagrin of O's coterie of loyal press lickspittles--I smell a fix.

24 What was the question he asked? I missed it because I had a thrill up my leg and had to run to the bathroom.

25 Jim, I think they may have moved Nico Pitney to the front but I really, from the flustered way he behaved when the president called his name, didn't think they "briefed" Nico about why he was being moved.  They sure as heck briefed the prez as he had the entire back story.  I almost felt nico felt the prez was sort of stepping on his toes by giving all the information he had out up front.  All Nico could do is think in his mind "Oh crap, he is talking to me, really me, crap, now what question out of the thousands do I ask, oh wait, this one, this is the one most asked"

26

It was a poorly worded question, IMHO. It allows teh Won to tap dance around it.

Had he asked, "Under which conditions would NOT you accept the election of Ahmadinejad," Obama would have had a more difficult time escaping a direct answer. Such a question to the negative would give a window into the workings of Obama's foreign policy.

I doubt it- Obama would've almost certainly given the same sort of non-answer.

27 #8 - Don't you even start. Back in college, all I had to do was drop a "I wear black on the outside, 'cause black is how I feel on the inside" on a fe-male, and I was in. Moz quotes are not to be used lightly...

28

o/t...but the sidebar article by Christopher Badeaux laying the smack down on Andrea Sullivan is EPIC!!11!!1!  Will.i.am's manager needs to take lessons from CB on how to properly pimp-slap a gay man. 

Come on, Ace...I know it's about Andrea, but elevate it to the center.

29 Posted by: Hollowpoint at June 23, 2009 03:24 PM (rf03a)

Yeah, I'm not even a blogger (just a guy squatting on a site someone else built) but if could have asked a question, that would have been in the mix as one of the top things I'd like to know.

Posted by: Chimney Sweep #8 at June 23, 2009 03:22 PM (kIjlp)

I think he would have answered the same way to your formulation. His 'it's up to the Iranians' was a prepared line he used several times to various questions. It's an evasion but a telling one. Obama may think it's a winner, I think it shows the bankruptcy of his position. Any question that provides that lays out someone's positions that clearly is a good one. It set the context for the rest of his answers.

30  YEESSSSS,  Finally a good question. Obama fielded it for a error.  

31 Fresh could've been easily played into a corner had someone cited the civil rights riots down south fifty years ago. That someone--those veterans of dog-attacks and firehoses, maybe?--hasn't asked Fresh how long he's going to ask the Iranian oppressed to suffer at the hands of their government staggers the mind.

Where's all the fucking liberation/workers unite rhetoric now, brothers and sisters?

Yeah. That's what I thought.

32 I object, Mr President! This press conference is a travesty. It's a travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of a travesty of two mockeries of a sham.

33

Any Iranians here?

*chuckle*

Well, of course, their requests for support was not from Iranian protesters in and of it is as it were the United States government would never have if I, uhhhhh I, had not and as far as I know that's the way it will always be. Is that clear?

34 Just think - the FCC fines resulting from allowing Ace to ask a question would certainly put a dent in the budget deficit.  What network puts a 5-second delay on a Presidential press conference?

35

"It's up to the Iranians..."

How can they decide anything when the election is rigged and they're getting shot in the streets for calling bullshit on the regime?

Sorry Barry, that just doesn't cut it. Voting "present" is not an option, now that your seated with the adults.

36 Plus, when the next Republican President invites Ace to ask a question, we can point to this example and tell the left to stick it.

Let's face it, that's what I care about.  Oh the questions that would be asked.  Though it it's Teh Fred, I rather think we'll all end up being challenged to duels for the questions that we'd submit to be asked.

37 Guess I ought to make clear that the historic parallels between Montgomery and Tehran aren't mirror___d, and aren't intended to be; the moral imperatives contained in both scenarios are worth consideration, though.

38 I can see letting Pitney ask a question, especially from an Iranian. But someone needs to explain Sam Stein to me.

39 According to Politico, it was staged;
http://tinyurl.com/ncd3ta

UPDATE: Deputy press secretary Bill Burton responds: "We did reach out to him prior to press conference to tell him that we had been paying attention to what he had been doing on Iran and there was a chance that he’d be called on. And, he ended up asking the toughest question that the President took on Iran. In the absence of an Iranian press corps in Washington, it was an innovative way to get a question directly from an Iranian."

40

Plus, when the next Republican President invites Ace to ask a question, we can point to this example and tell the left to stick it.

Posted by: DrewM   Dude, that assumes that El Presidente Para Siempre Barack Obama the First lets us have a Republican chief executive anytime soon.  It also assumes Ace's liver will hold up for another 7 1/2 years. 

41 Chimney Sweep

Had he asked, "Under which conditions would NOT you accept the election of Ahmadinejad," Obama would have had a more difficult time escaping a direct answer. Such a question to the negative would give a window into the workings of Obama's foreign policy.
 
Had that been the question he may not have been invited.

42 I was listening as it happened and was kind of surprised that it sure seemed like a planned deal where the President and the "reporter" had arrainged before hand to have this question and I was kind of amazed they would do that but when I heard the question and it was not some sort of "President Obama, is there anyway you can think of where you could be even more awesome?"  I was even more amazed.

43 Ace: President Palin, in consideration of the abysmally low opinion of America following former President Obama's Carteresque performance, do you have any plans to regain the high moral ground in international affairs by briefly showing us, and the world, your absolutely delightful rack?

44 All anyone will see tonight on the evening news (they still have evening news broadcasts, right?) is a cut about how healthcare is killing us.

45 I don't care that a blogger got a question, particularly, as it has been described that Pitney has been in the trenches where the chattering class hasn't; so, kudos to Pitney for the "plum" (I guess). The bothersome component is the perpetual choreography of it all. There are no spontaneous questions with follow-up. The president knows to varying degrees every body in every seat and, now, the general topic to be addressed... if not actually the questioner as an outright plant.

What's the point? Let's just let TOTUS read and answer every question without the facade of it all being an open conference. It isn't. Call it a press speech and let's quit pretending that this is some transparency where the Executive gets checked. It doesn't.

46 Does the name "Jeff Gannon" ring any bells?

47

Yeah, it's a little clubby to basically give a guy a guarantee that he'd get to ask a question but so what?

 

You're kidding me.

48

"Since we're on Iran, I know Nico Pitney is here from Huffington Post.

Q Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Nico, I know that you, and all across the Internet, we've been seeing a lot of reports coming directly out of Iran. I know that there may actually be questions from people in Iran who are communicating through the Internet. Do you have a question?

Q Yes, I did, I wanted to use this opportunity to ask you a question directly from an Iranian. We solicited questions last night from people who are still courageous enough to be communicating online, and one of them wanted to ask you this: Under which conditions would you accept the election of Ahmadinejad? And if you do accept it without any significant changes in the conditions there, isn't that a betrayal of what the demonstrators there are working towards?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, look, we didn't have international observers on the ground. We can't say definitively what exactly happened at polling places throughout the country. What we know is that a sizeable percentage of the Iranian people themselves, spanning Iranian society, consider this election illegitimate. It's not an isolated instance -- a little grumbling here or there. There is significant questions about the legitimacy of the election.

And so ultimately the most important thing for the Iranian government to consider is legitimacy in the eyes of its own people, not in the eyes of the United States. And that's why I've been very clear: Ultimately, this is up to the Iranian people to decide who their leadership is going to be and the structure of their government.

What we can do is to say unequivocally that there are sets of international norms and principles about violence, about dealing with peaceful dissent, that spans cultures, spans borders. And what we've been seeing over the Internet and what we've been seeing in news reports violates those norms and violates those principles.

I think it is not too late for the Iranian government to recognize that there is a peaceful path that will lead to stability and legitimacy and prosperity for the Iranian people. We hope they take it."

49 33

Any Iranians here?

Not here, but you can't walk into a Ferrari dealership in Beverly Hills without hearing a bunch of guys speaking Iranian. I'm serious

50 Posted by: flenser at June 23, 2009 03:41 PM (HDRtE)

You do know any President can call on anyone he wants, right?

Why exactly should Obama or Bush back in the day or any President be restricted to questions from whomever the major MSM outlets deign to send over?

The guy asked a legit question, I don't get why anyone would be defending the MSM's self-proclaimed monopoly on questioning the President. Other than those in the MSM of course.

51 Hi initial statement about Iran is on the website also with a translation in farsi.

52

Yeah, it's a little clubby to basically give a guy a guarantee that he'd get to ask a question but so what?

The objection is to the fact that the question was prearranged, not to the fact that it was asked by a blogger.

53 The media is irritated that obama knew the nature of the question he was gonna be asked, but it was still a question who's answer, when received was revealing.

Meanwhile noone's saying anything about Harris's question about the whitehouse dog, or in a question that was actually an attack saying Bush and Cheney think Obama is a treacherous?

54 Also bob krumm has a good quote.

55 Posted by: flenser at June 23, 2009 03:47 PM (HDRtE)

You have any proof that Obama knew what he was going to be asked?

I haven't seen anyone make that charge. I'd love to see evidence of that kind of collusion. It would be a big story.

56 lame question, lame answer, lame "briefing".

Lame, lame,lame.

profit.

57

You do know any President can call on anyone he wants, right?

You do know that it is not normal practice for presidents to prearrange questions wth reporters, right?

Actually, I guess you do know, you just don't care.

58 muffy

Hi initial statement about Iran is on the website also with a translation in farsi.
 
The one where he said there is no difference between Dinnerjacket and Moussavi?

59 O/T:  Wow, what a fight on closing bell between  Guiterrez and Jonathon.  When Guiterrez dessimated him and his arguments which Guiterrez characterized as "liberal rhetoric that doesn't work" the guy, Jonathon resorted to saying BO got elected cause Bush runined the economy.  Guiterrez was amazingly effective.  wow.

60 It may be true that the pitcher (blogger) grooved a pitch (asked a question that Obama knew would be asked) but Obama whiffed on it, so no harm done, I guess.

61 "58 muffy

Hi initial statement about Iran is on the website also with a translation in farsi.
 
The one where he said there is no difference between Dinnerjacket and Moussavi?

Posted by: loppyd at June 23, 2009 03:49 PM (oqAUJ)"

There is a lot of stuff there.  they put it in different sots but if you search you might find it.

62

I haven't seen anyone make that charge.

"Huffington Post's Nico Pitney says the WH called him this morning and invited him to ask his Iran questions at the news conference."

 

It's not a "charge", Drew. It's a fact.

63

Great cartoon today by Michael Ramirez

Damn right, kbdabear. 

64 I don't know what's going on with this administration. The transparency is hard to see through. (paraphrasing martytime)

65 You do know that it is not normal practice for presidents to prearrange questions wth reporters, right?
Posted by: flenser at June 23, 2009 03:49 PM (HDRtE)

So you are defending the MSM's monopoly. I'm sure they appreciate your support.

Here's a clue, Obama also took questions from Jennifer Loven of AP, Chuck Todd of NBC, Chip Reed of CBS, Major Garret of FNC, some chick from McClatchey, another chick from some S. American outlet and a guy from Reuters (plus some others).

Obama knew he was going to call on all of them before he went out there. Why is it so damning that he also knew he was going to call on Pitney as well?

Again, you can defend the monopoly of the MSM to be the people who get to ask quesitons but given their performance I don't know why you would.

66    I think it's important for us on the right to support those on the left when they are doing the right thing and/or being attacked undeservedly.

We should be supporting Pitney in this.  Pitney has, let's be honest, done an awesome fucking job liveblogging a revolution.  He has been THE go to source for a lot of information.

So, Pitney, we support you.

MSM, go fuck yourself.

67

And from your own damn link, Drew.

With Foresight of Coming Question on Iran, Obama Welcomes Huffington Post Writer

 

68 "You!  Over there.  The hairy one.  Yeah, you, Ewok."

69 All the world's a stage right now.

70 Posted by: flenser at June 23, 2009 03:51 PM (HDRtE)

Genius, there's a difference between knowing who is going to ask a question, see my post #65 and knowing what the question is and being prepared for it.

The former is a fact of life (it's how Bush did business), the late is an ethical violation.

If you can find proof that the White House and Pitney conspired to provide the question before hand you have a story. If all you got is Obama knew who he would call on before taking the stage all you have is your dick in your hand.

71

So you are defending the MSM's monopoly. I'm sure they appreciate your support.

You are being more of a idiot than usual. I'm not defending the MSM, I'm attacking Obama. That is still allowed on this site I hope.

 

72 muffy

There is a lot of stuff there.  they put it in different sots but if you search you might find it.

Now that I think of it, I believe it was during the superfly interview with John Harwood.

73

The blogger asked a decent question about Iran - maybe not a perfect question, but still pretty good.  A moron from the MSM asked about "The One's" smoking.  OK, more bloggers, less reporters - sounds like a better press conference. And besides, wouldn't it be fun to watch Ace ask "The One" a question?

 

74

This strikes me as a little bit of guild jealousy. The White House press corps may think they are the only ones qualified to ask tough questions but clearly they aren't.

The White House press corps are Obama's Praetorian Guard, Revolutionary Army, shock troops and Basij -- all rolled into one. With that kind of power it's totally understandable why they'd attack a questioning Pitney like a pack of wild dogs.

75

The objection is to the fact that the question was prearranged, not to the fact that it was asked by a blogger.

There's little indication that he question was pre-arranged, though the questioner was.  Given Obama's non-answer ("this is up to the Iranian people"?  Really?  The ones getting beaten and shot?), it doesn't seem all that likely.

Certainly he expected a question about Iran, but it wasn't a question no one else would be asking; he'd be expected to have a response for it no matter who asked it- though it turned out to be another evasive non-answer.

Why pre-arrange a question that you know you aren't going to answer to anyone's satisfaction?

76 Posted by: flenser at June 23, 2009 03:53 PM (HDRtE)

So you're surprised that Obama was going to take questions on Iran?

That makes one of you.

Again, of course he knew the topic of Pitney's question. It's a big story, been in all the papers and blogs.

What exactly is wrong with having a reporter/blogger who knows more about the story than any of the regular WH reporters come in and ask a question on this topic?

77 I agree with flenser for the most part.

I'm starting to feel like this could be another disappearing comments section....

78

Genius, there's a difference between knowing who is going to ask a question, see my post #65 and knowing what the question is and being prepared for it.

Non-genius if you'd pry your lips off of Obama ass for five seconds you'd notice that the clear mesage of the the things being said is that Obama did know what the question was going to be. That's why he was able to state the first part of the question before the guy asking it could.

79 69 All the world's a stage right now.

Posted by: gator at June 23, 2009 03:54 PM (yUiO3)

Damn right, and there's always a teleprompter in the orchestra pit for the actors on stage. Now if Biden would just remember to turn off his mike when he goes to the toilet

80 In case you didn't notice I plosted the exchange from the WH transcript. 

81

So you're surprised that Obama was going to take questions on Iran?

Read the Fox story you linked to, you dishonest dope.

I've had more rational converations with moonbats.

82 Non-genius if you'd pry your lips off of Obama ass for five seconds
Posted by: flenser at June 23, 2009 03:58 PM (HDRtE)

Wow. Self-discredit much?

Do you even read the site? I think I've spent the better part of the last week beating the shit out of Obama on this issue (and months before on every other topic) and you think I'm kissing up to him?

You were more fun when you were defending von Brunn from charges of being a white supremacist.

83 Oh for chrissakes, I hear Charlie Gibson and Ann Compton on ABC News on the press conference, saying that Obama sounded more "forceful" and "tougher" on Iran

Well, I am over-fuckin-whelmed

Next thing you know, Obama will really lay down the gauntlet and tell those diplomats to put their own mustard on their hot dogs

84 On the thread below this one some dude named Levi has said a mouthful.

85

you can defend the monopoly of the MSM to be the people who get to ask quesitons but given their performance I don't know why you would.

Drew, I'm not going to stay silent while you defend the bombing of Pearl Harbor! I'm just not!

Eh, bloggers on this site are acting really odd these days. Attackng Sanford, excusing Obama. Maybe the Little Green virus is spreading.

86 DrewM,

The WH specifically asked Pitney because they wanted a question from an Iranian. They weren't honoring his work, they were using him.
Did they conspire as to what the question would be? No, they didn't need to as Obama had every intention of dancing around  it no matter what it was and he did.
They certainly knew what the question would be about, Iran and the election afternmath, and that there would be no follow up. The whole thing was to make Obama look tuned into what's going with the internet and Iran because he has looked so out of touch. I don't blame Pitney but it's nothing to crow about either. The Iranian asking the question never got an answer.

87

You were more fun when you were defending von Brunn from charges of being a white supremacist.

And you were just as dumb and dishonest then as you are now. I repeat, read your own fucking links. They contradict the line you are trying to sell us here.

88 DrewM.,

"Huffington Post National Editor Nico Pitney ... said the White House apparently has been reading some of the entries (Iranians had been asked by the site to submit questions to the president.)."

The White House 1) had researched HuffPo, Pitney (previously non-existent), and the questions asked by Iranians via the site, 2) had moved in notable aberration this new questioner to prime seating, and 3) had Obama prefacing the question so much so that it ate up half of the content of Pitney's actual question.

Did Obama know exactly, verbatim, the wording? No. But really, he didn't need to. His staff had already collated the line of questions from the Iranians and assembled an encompassing answer to Pitney's inquiry. Obama essentially knew the "parsed answer" to the question already if not actually knowing the question itself.

Don't be so obtuse to flenser's gripe.

89 Geez, what about "it's up to them" don't you understand?

It's up to the Iranians to peacefully vote in a new gov't.

It's up to the North Koreans to peacefully vote in a new gov't.

It's up to the Cubans to peacefully vote in a new gov't.

It's up to the Chinese to peacefully vote in a new gov't.

They need to do this without violence. The US has no interest one way or the other how another country is run as long as we can bear witness.

Except for the JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOS! Israel must do what I say!

90 Posted by: Rocks at June 23, 2009 04:07 PM (Q1lie)

I don't think it's a matter of honoring his work. The 'question from an Iranian' thing maybe a stunt but Pitney was doing it before he had any clue he'd be going. Tapper does the same thing (but he knows he'll be there and likely called on).

Even if you look at it as purely a question from an Iranian, I'm guessing he got dozens if not hundreds. His experience with the subject matter enabled him to select a relevant one likely to generate news as a response. I'd say he did that.

If it were a softball, I'd have been Pitney up but it was a very legitimate question. It certainly compared well to the smoking and black unemployment questions.

If reaching out to bloggers gets more news like this one did, I say bring it on. If it brings out a virtual blow job disguised as a question (yeah, I'm lookinig at you Mr. Enchanted from the Times), then fuck 'em.

91 I won't say this often, but i'm with the MSM on this one.

Nico Pitney apparently was ferried to the press conference by the Deputy Press Secretary.  In other words, he wasn't sweating it out amongst the flies and the mosquitoes in the notorious DC Swamp.  He jettisoned out of the White House, into press row, and then was #2 on the questioner list.

Aren't you enchanted by this?  Jeff Zeleny probably is.

92

Yeah, it's a little clubby to basically give a guy a guarantee that he'd get to ask a question but so what?

Was it "clubby" enough when zero turned the teleprompter around for pitney to read from? Plus, pitney looked like he was 10yrs. old. I just really get the nails on the chalkboard feeling when in the white house press corps  there is a "huff po" idiot.  I guess next presser the teleprompter will be turned around for the "kos" kid.  Think about the reactions if ace, or drudge, was at the bush presser. It would have been better if the question was handed over to a legitimate news site to quote from. I think chavez has a pitney too.

93 Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at June 23, 2009 04:12 PM (rZ235)

Then go beat up Tapper and other reporters who solicit online questions. There's no way to know for sure if they wind up using one but given that news is news, odds are it's likely one of the commenters hit on a question the reporter was going to ask anyway.

There are only so many legitimate choices.

Guess what, when he called on the woman from the S. American outlet, he knew he was going to get a question on...wait for it....S. America.

When he called on the woman from the American Urban Radio Network (which he's done before I think) he knew he was going to get a question on...black America.

The only question I imagine was a surprise in terms of content was the smoking one and it was embarrassing.

94

On the thread below this one some dude named Levi has said a mouthful.

No, he just wants me to give him a mouthful.  I already told him he'd have to wait his turn behind Andy Sullivan.

95 You sound like a pretty dissatisfied customer, flenser.

You know what smart customers do, don't you?

96 Actually DrewM., I don't mind Pitney's question. I'd prefer that any in the peanut gallery earn their space; but observing the depths to which the legacy media pool has sunk, pedigree doesn't seem to matter anymore. Pitney's question was as pertinent as any. It's just that in this particular case, the White House and Obama were particularly vetted to the content of Pitney's material.

My gripe continues to be the idea that this whole process is enlighteningly instructive. It's so manipulated by design that it's essentially useless except as a conduit for the Executive message than an inquiry on behalf of the public of the issues of the day. The only excitement and "news" comes if there's a flub or gaffe -- a gotcha that can be looped.

Press conferences in the modern age are a mirage of public scrutiny of the powers that be whether asked by Pitney the Blogger, Thomas the Wench, Cronkite the Red, or Rather the Dead.

97 Wasn't this also Pitney's first press conference at the White House?

I like the more random approach to questions for the President, but this White House isn't even pretending the order is random.  They seat Ed Schultz in the front row of the White House press conferences held inside.

98 Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at June 23, 2009 04:35 PM (rZ235)

Well, if you want to go on about the show nature of politics, that's fine and fun. It's been that way for a long, long time (Nixon/Kennedy in '60 is considered the start I guess).

So yeah, overall that's true and I agree with you. The idea of turning reporters into celebrities of a sort (going back to Woodward and Bernstein) has done tremendous damage to the profession.

That said, as a matter of theater I don't think the Pitney Incident (to coin a phrase) is an egregious or note worthy footnote in the whoring of the Media/Political Complex.

99 AnonymousDrivel,
 
Perfect timing. Check this out.

100

anyone there could have asked the question, which wasn't bad.  all it would require is a little bit of knowledge, professional objectivity and a little skepticism.  of course, that does put it beyond the reach of professional journalists.

101 "The White House press corps may think they are the only ones qualified to ask tough questions"

I could count the number of reporters asking 'tough questions' on 3 fingers.  Does that mean we can fire all the rest of those twits?  And Helen, baby, you'd be the first to go!

102

Wasn't this also Pitney's first press conference at the White House?

I like the more random approach to questions for the President, but this White House isn't even pretending the order is random.  They seat Ed Schultz in the front row of the White House press conferences held inside.

Does anyone really think that questions are taken at random- under Obama or any President in modern history?  Sure, others might have done a better job of pretending they're random, and perhaps they do occasionally pick someone at random, but I suspect it's been pretty non-random all along.

I can see why the MSM is upset that someone from outside their clique was brought in for the specific task of being called on, but considering that the actual question was a completely fair and relatively tough one, I don't see this as much of a scandal outside the cadre of MSM White House types.

103 DrewM.@99,

Ugh.

Well, I'm all for the ladies in the party, but that is exactly the kind of cynicism that poisons every fiber of politics. The politicos are just mocking democracy.

Of course, it does give me the opportunity to promote Sarah Palin in the most respectable and wholesome manner; so,

Palin/Darth Cheney '12

104 Here's a clip from Pitney's blog on Huffpo.

The White House didn't guarantee that I would be able to ask a question. But I decided that if there was even a chance, I should try to reach out to as many Iranians as possible. With the invaluable help from some readers -- Chas, Chuck, and other Iranian Americans I wish I could name because they deserve the credit -- I was able to post a message in Farsi on Twitter and have my request for questions posted late last night on Balatarin. I ended up choosing the question I did because it was one of the consensus questions that many people had suggested.

Thanks also to the White House staff. They were up front about not being able to assure that a question would be asked, they never asked what the question would be, and they helped me move through the very packed briefing room when I showed up a bit late (sorry to the many toes I stepped on getting through).

105 Hehe....sounds like MSM Reporters are getting a little snippy because despite all of the fawning coverage of the administration that they provide, Obama continues dis them by giving credence to the notion that bloggers are seen by the administration as being legitimate journalists.

106 Oh, like I'd call on Ace. And I wouldn't be a Republican. Or President.

You can refer to me as Conservative Emperor Aggie. My first presser would be my last.

Ms. Thomas? off with her head. The rest of you? clear out, unless you want to lose your head.

107

Yes, Mr Ace, you have a question?

Yes, Mr President, with the cost of valu rite sky rocketing and the clamp down on hobo hunting, what do you propose to do with all the sober bored morons?

108

Let's be honest Pitney has done more on this story than most msm reporters. I don't see the big deal in letting him follow it up this way.

Plus, when the next Republican President invites Ace to ask a question, we can point to this example and tell the left to stick it.

+1

109 Oh shit. A commenter didn't agree with DrewM. That is a capital crime right there.

110 no one in the modern press corpse knows the difference between asking the tough question and asking the question tough.

111 The question actually wasn't bad. The answer was something out of Cognitive Dissonance 101 (as are most of the answers Obama gives). But we don't care about that. We know where our bread is buttered.

112 Drew said, "Well yes and know."

Heh.

113

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114 "Mr. President, do you ever refer to your Democrat predecessor as 'Douchebama' and if not, do you think you might start?"

115

Pres:  Mr. Ace will you please repeat your question.  I didn't hear anything after Valu-Rite Vodka.

116

Behind the scenes at today's White House Press Room Briefing:

Gibbs: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps...

3GS blows up with 'Poker Face."

Gibbs: Que pasa?

Anonymous: Bahram saghari, asshole!

Gibbs: And a wonderful day to you as well, mi amigo! How can we help your cause?

Anonymous: zzzzzsh 'students are taking cover' zzzzzhtz 'Basij is shooting' zzzshrktkz 'open your eyes, don't stop breathing' dzzzt.

 

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