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August 21, 2006

Well of course he's frustrated

Should there be an official position on the President's mood? Yes. A president is more than a a chief executive; a president is also the figurehead of the nation. That's not an official designation of any kind. But it is reality just the same. Citizens look to a leader to represent who they are as a nation.

One bit of advice: The official mood must match reality, otherwise the press wants to know why.

Consider this:

One reporter later asked: "If the president is not frustrated by the situation in Iraq, what is he?"

Snow replied: "Determined."

That was last week. But today we learn:

BUSH: Diplomacy can be a frustrating thing. I think the strategy can work, so long as the force is robust and the rules of engagement are clear.

...

BUSH: Frustrated? Sometimes I'm frustrated. Rarely surprised. Sometimes I'm happy, you know. But war is not a time of joy.

Bush is human. Of course he's frustrated. Who wouldn't be? There is absolutely nothing wrong with being frustrated over the current state of affairs in Iraq. It would be very strange if he were not frustrated.

So why is this taking up time and ink in the news? Because Tony Snow couldn't just say: Well of course he's frustrated.



Posted by acline at August 21, 2006 12:44 PM | | Spotlight