The moment arrived as the press conference in Crawford,
Texas, was going poorly for George W. Bush. He had just
struggled through an answer about why he had believed
there were 60 stem-cell lines that could be used for finding
cures to debilitating human ailments, from spinal-cord
injuries to Alzheimer's disease.
Beyond the question of whether those 60 stem-cell lines
actually exist for federally funded research, it now appears
that most or all of those lines have been mixed with mouse
cells and might be dangerous if used to develop cures for
humans. The stem-cell lines were intended for only initial
stages of research, though Bush's stem-cell decision of
Aug. 9 now prevents untainted lines from being created for
the advanced research. [Washington Post, Aug. 24, 2001]
Bush, who had made his intensive personal research into
the stem-cell issue a counterpoint to critics who consider
him intellectually lazy, put the blame for this crucial
oversight on scientists at the National Institute of Health.
He said they "came into the Oval Office and they looked
me right in the eye and they said, 'We think there is ample
stem cells - lines to determine whether or not this
embryonic stem-cell research will be - will work or not.'"
Seemingly flustered by this embarrassment to his widely
lauded stem-cell decision, Bush turned to a familiar
reporter who had covered him as Texas governor. In a
boisterous bonhomie, Bush called the Texas reporter "a
fine lad, fine lad," drawing laughter from the national press
corps.
The Texas reporter began to ask his question, "You talked
about the need to maintain technological ..."
But Bush, acting like an excited party guest who couldn't
keep a funny comment inside, interrupted the reporter to
deliver the punch line. "A little short on hair, but a fine lad.
Yeah," Bush said, provoking a new round of laughter at the
reporter's expense.
The young reporter paused and acknowledged meekly, "I
am losing some hair."
The reporter then soldiered on with a question about
whether the administration would "go forward with the
V-22" warplane, a question of particular interest to the
economy of Fort Worth, Texas.
Bush, however, wasn't through having fun with the young
reporter, who "represents Fort Worth," Bush noted,
prompting another round of knowing laughter from the
national press corps.
This is the behavior of the man who would return
dignity to the oval office, and the behavior of a press
corps still patting itself on the back for its
fierce independence in covering all the real and
imagined foibles of Clinton.
Shrub is yet again revealed as as dumbass frat boy,
and he reacts by childishly taunting a reporter who's
going bald. Meanwhile, the press that can't wait to
offer breathless daily "updates" about how Chandra Levy hasn't been found sits there and giggles like the rest
of the frat boys at the kegger.
