But Bush never said ran on being transparent and open and ......

But if he's going to pre-select to his advantage, why pick a Fox News guy? Maybe the pre-selection had nothing to do with what questions they were going to ask, but was a reward/punishment for unrelated things (which would still be weird; I'm just saying, if you're going to cherry-pick friendly questioners, the Fox News guy probably isn't the one you turn to.)

Where in the article does it suggest that the questions were pre-screened or scripted?

I dont get the story here.

Pre-selecting reporters? So what. This has little or nothing to do with transparency

In a national press conference with a hundred+ reporters in the room, you dont want to open it up to the possibility of questions about local issues by the reporters from Dubuque or Peoria.

There is a reason why the network guys, the cable guys, the big dailies always get the questions...and Helen!

But the questions are not pre-screened.

Town meetings are for both local and national consumption, not national press conferences, and unlike the Bush administration, these have not been pre-screened for the make-up of the audience or questions.

EVERYTHING is international - everything. Welcome to the age of the internet. That is just a simple fact.

Obama chose a normally very conservative town where the unemployment rate was more than double the nat'l average on purpose.

I love the way that the CEO of Catepiller countered what Obama said at the same little dog and pony show.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpu...terpillar.html

Transparency...No pre-screening.

I would think you would like that rather than the scripted responses during the Bush town halls.

This one caught my eye:

John Boehner, House Minority Leader: "the future of our party is Cao" referring to Anh Cao.

Anh Cao: "I'm voting along what my conscience dictates and the needs of the 2nd Congressional District dictate, even if I were to be the only member of the GOP to vote for the stimulus package.."

A quote from the link:

Its amazing how they seem to cover both sides of an issue at the same time. Truly a talent of sorts.

What does that have to do with my comment?

no way. :rolleyes:

The conference committee bill is about $30 billion smaller than both the Senate and House bills.

Worse? I think so because its not big enough!

I thought that was odd as well. I'm hoping maybe he just wanted make sure different news organizations got a question, and so had a list of reporters for various ones prepared.

All he said is that wouldn't have an immediate effect because it will take time for the money to get out. I think everyone knows the impact will not be immedaite, but gradual. He still said he supports the bill.

John Boehner is a tool. Notice how he always looks constipated? :D

I agree.