Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

You passed on an opportunity to be offended? What are you even doing here?

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

Jesus watching the most hateful people claiming to be his followers

People identifying as christian while ignoring christ and his teachings is a strange thing indeed.

I really should read my own blog.

The fight for our country is always worth it. ~Kamala Harris

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

The press swings at every pitch, we don’t have to.

The low info voters probably won’t even notice or remember by their next lap around the goldfish bowl.

Tide comes in. Tide goes out. You can’t explain that.

“Loving your country does not mean lying about its history.”

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

Dumb motherfuckers cannot understand a consequence that most 4 year olds have fully sorted out.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

Donald Trump found guilty as fuck – May 30, 2024!

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

So many bastards, so little time.

We will not go back.

The lights are all blinking red.

They want us to be overwhelmed and exhausted. Focus. Resist. Oppose.

He seems like a smart guy, but JFC, what a dick!

Dear elected officials: Trump is temporary, dishonor is forever.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

You are here: Home / Politics / Media / DC Press Corpse Open Thread: ‘But the Amontillado Press Conference!…’

DC Press Corpse Open Thread: ‘But the Amontillado Press Conference!…’

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Keep reading, because successful professional liar speechwriter David Frum actually has some good arguments…

Reason 1) Assertive presidential leadership can polarize something that otherwise would be broadly unifying. IE the reason we had a “Marshall Plan” (named after then SecState) rather than a “Truman Plan” was that President Truman’s name excited strong partisan feelings 2/x

We saw this in the Obama and Trump years over and over again. People might not have an opinion over this program or that issue. They had STRONG feelings about Obama/Trump. Attach the high-intensity name, and the merits of the program/issue got lost. 3/x

By keeping a low profile, Biden is de-escalating and de-polarizing politics – a smart move, especially at a time when the supreme national priority is to get everyone of all points of view vaccinated as fast as possible. 4/x

Reason 2) The presidency is an ensemble performance, not a one-man show. Putting a cast member on the White House press stage underscores that truth. It teaches the public how their government works – and how their government SHOULD work. 5/x

People on Twitter often complain of the “green lantern” theory of the presidency – that the president can achieve things by sheer willpower. Americans need to *see* that other people in government beside the president also make decisions – and must answer for those decisions 6/x

Reason 3) Reporters get more useful information from operational officials than they possibly can from the president – and are less tempted into performative stunts.

Nobody ever says to a reporter, “Congratulations, you really tripped up the IRS commissioner!” 7/x

When you put on the White House stage the official with direct operational responsibility – you incentivize reporters to try to extract useful information, not to generate viral video. 8/x

Reason 4) For me, a top concern about the Biden presidency was: Would this highly emotional and often over-talkative man muster the self-discipline required to succeed at the job?

By *not* talking, Biden has already answered the most urgent question I had. END

Reader Interactions

82Comments

  2. 2.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Maybe I’ll start a twitter account of the stupidest questions asked of Jen Psaki:  (at) thatsastupidfuckingquestion dot twitter dot com. I’d start with this one from Peter Alexander

    Alexander conceded some of Psaki’s points, and said: “But on the development of the vaccines, it was Operation Warp Speed that was invented, executed, initiated under the former president.”

    “So in the spirit of bipartisanship and unity last night, as opposed to the first comments which were about the denials in the first days weeks or months, why not just say, ‘With credit to the previous administration and the former president for putting us in this position, we are glad that we have been able to move it forward?‘” Alexander asked.

  5. 5.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    They proved during the Trump administration they don’t matter. Fuck ’em.

  6. 6.

    RandomMonster

    That uneasy feeling when you think you might agree with David Frum on something. It’s like when you you grin and say, “Hey, Bill Kristol, you’re not wrong!”, and you freeze and wonder what planet you live on.

  7. 7.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    These are the people Peter Baker is feigning outrage about

     

    Jiang asked, “A lot of Americans are saying that, you know, the surges are happening under President Biden’s watch, after he reversed some previous policies. So, does the administration take any accountability for what’s happening?”

    Psaki asked innocently, “Who are the Americans?” …

    “Well,” Jiang hesitated, “I know you don’t want to answer to him, but the former president just, um, issued a statement saying that, uh, ‘The Biden administration must act immediately to end the border nightmare that they have unleashed onto our nation.”

    Psaki smiled, “Former president Trump?

    I mean, I agree trump is a lot, but…

  8. 8.

    Ken

    After he does hold one, during which at least half the questions will inevitably be about something inane, or asking Biden to play pundit, criticize the questioner for wasting time instead of doing journalism

    Can we persuade Anne Robinson to come out of retirement to screen questions?  “You… are the weakest link.”

    Or maybe some of the judges they have on the cooking shows.  “Your question lacked creativity. In fact, it was the same as the previous question — weren’t you listening? For this reason, we had to chop you.”

    And if we could somehow combine this with that Ellen DeGeneres game show, so the losing reporters are dropped down a chute or sprayed with slime, all the better.

  10. 10.

    BruceFromOhio

    Just finished listening to today’s presser. There are some good questions, and I appreciate our free and fair presses.

    And there are some really bad reporters that just drag the whole thing down.

    Jennifer Psaki is the right person for the Biden administration.

  11. 11.

    dmsilev

    The “Biden is senile and is being managed by people” thing was an attack that originated in the less-sane corners of the Berniesphere during the primary and then repeated and amplified by the supporters of The Former Guy during the general election. You’d think that the debates would have killed the idea dead, but guess not.

  15. 15.

    danielx

    Given his performance so far, I could care less if Handsome Joe ever holds a press conference. I’d rather have him focused on doing his job, in delightful and competent contrast to He Who Shall Not Be Named.

    As to the discontent of Villagers and press corpse wankers? Fuck them. Nobody owes them anything.

  17. 17.

    David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch

    Handsome Joe already held a 90 minute town hall with Anderson Cooper where he was asked a ton of tough questions.​

  18. 18.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    I usually like Jonathan Lemire, but this shit…. a very dramatic story about Joe Biden going to his own house on weekends

    Jonathan Lemire @JonLemire
    Mar 13
    As he stood in the Rose Garden celebrating his first big legislative win, President Joe Biden gestured to the White House and said it’s a “magnificent building” to live in.

    Except during the weekend.

  21. 21.

    Baud

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    C’mon, man. Between going home to Delaware, not holding press conferences, and Meijers, you know Biden is simply trying to distract the country from the scandal concerning his failure to adopt the First Cat.

  24. 24.

    Mike in NC

    Donald J. Trump Sr. was a functionally illiterate snake oil salesman turned host of a stupid reality TV show. How will historians reflect on that in 100 years?

  25. 25.

    jonas

    After the way the WH press corpse spent four years tripping over themselves to capture every one of TFG’s orgiastic liegasms — I mean “press conferences” and other in-front-of-the-helicopter sidebars that gave them all sorts of “I’ve-got-frontline-access” tinglies — they can sit down now and enjoy a big, steaming mug of stfu and do some righteous penance for their complicity in the last four years of political bedshitting. Biden will talk to you when he’s ready. In the meantime, his eminently competent press secretary will take your questions…

  26. 26.

    David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch

    Buckle up — word is a major new outlet is working on a devastating expose on how Kamala Harris always takes up two parking spaces.

  27. 27.

    BruceFromOhio

    I can see an SNL skit of Jen Psaki, with What Jen Psaki Really Wants To Say doing the overdub. Compare that to what happened to Sean Spicer. Motorized podium, anyone?

  28. 28.

    Baud

    Media still upset they couldn’t leverage Tara Reid into gaining access to rumage through Biden’s Senate papers.

  29. 29.

    JMG

    IMO the best drag of Baker’s tweet came from his own wife, Susan Glasser, the New Yorker’s Washington correspondent, who tweeted in “defense” of her husband that something to the effect that “wishing the President to hold press conferences is something White House correspondents do.” She didn’t add “the poor dears” but it was in there.

  31. 31.

    L85NJGT

    Exposing their institutional irrelevance is upsetting the White House press corps.

    I’m not sure what Joe is supposed to do about that. Maybe some warm milk before bedtime?

  32. 32.

    Jeffro

    People, come ON!  Will no one summon up even an ounce of sympathy for the DC press cor…no, never mind, I can’t even go there.  Fuck those people.

    SORRY WE’RE BORING YOU, snooze media!  Just trying to deal with a global pandemic, historic economic recovery, and post-insurrection gutted democracy, oh plus climate change and repairing transnational alliances in our spare time.

    Jen Psaki can borrow my bat any. time. and doesn’t even have to return it in good shape.

  34. 34.

    Kay

    Caroline Kelly
    @caroline_mkelly
    ·3h
    “I think it’s very important for former President Trump as well as the vice president, to actively encourage all the followers to get the vaccine,” Adm. Brett Giroir told
    @jaketapper today

    Just ordinarily refer to them as “followers” now.

  36. 36.

    rikyrah

    I love how folks are not having their whining shyt about this..

    Pointing out the pure stenography during Dolt45’s Administration.

    And, now, we are supposed to care that 46 is paying them dust??

    I think the phuck not ?

  37. 37.

    L85NJGT

    The W administration gave serious consideration to moving the press out of the West Wing before rehabbing the press offices and briefing room. The days of Pierre Salinger giving a hot tip to one of the boys is long gone, and they can have Psaki give them their daily beatings anywhere in D.C. It’s just a career ticket punch that breaks little or no news.

  39. 39.

    L85NJGT

    @dmsilev:

    It’s always projection.

    I think one of the factors in letting Trump slide on the second impeachment was the GOP knowing he wouldn’t be around in 2024.

    He’s ill, so why piss off his followers?

  40. 40.

    Roger Moore

    @RandomMonster: ​ David Frum may be an immoral monster with the blood of innocents on his hands, but he appears to operate in the same factual universe as you and I. That makes it possible to agree with him when he stays in the world of facts rather than the world of beliefs. That’s a stark contrast to most of the Republican Party, who appear to live in the Q Continuum.​

  41. 41.

    Brachiator

    I suppose that I would be more concerned about press conferences if White House reporters demonstrated more competence. Or any competence at all.

  48. 48.

    Starboard Tack

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    DeJoy reminds me of the joke about the parts of the human body arguing about who should be the boss. What irony that miserable bastard has Joy in his name!

    ETA: Of course, that’s what the whole Republican Party reminds me of.

  49. 49.

    BruceFromOhio

    @Kay: ​
     

    Brett P. Giroir (pronounced jir-WAH) (born November 4, 1960)[1] is an American pediatrician and a former four-star admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. He last served as the 16th Assistant Secretary for Health under the Trump administration from February 15, 2018 to January 19, 2021.

    He would know.

  52. 52.

    Amir Khalid

    I have always felt that the really good reporters are wasted on press conferences, which get more prominence than other forums but exercise only the most basic journalist skills. They should be working their investigative skills and and extensive contact networks to follow the long-term, in-depth stories. They should measure themselves on getting bigger and more significant stories than you get at press conferences. Press conferences are routine work that should be left to younger journalists who aren’t vain enough to make themselves the story.

  53. 53.

    Brachiator

    The press should matter. This recent BBC News story about India is striking:

    Earlier this month, in its annual report on global political rights and liberties, US-based non-profit Freedom House downgraded India from a free democracy to a “partially free democracy”.

    Last week, Sweden-based V-Dem Institute was harsher in its latest report on democracy. It said India had become an “electoral autocracy”. And last month, India, described as a “flawed democracy”, slipped two places to 53rd position in the latest Democracy Index published by The Economist Intelligence Unit.

    I would suggest that the Republicans are trying to establish an “electoral autocracy” in America, and that the UK under Boris Johnson is on shaky ground as well. The White House press corps should focus more on the GOP, and investigate that party’s attempts to subvert democracy.

     

  54. 54.

    Steeplejack

    Great thread on self-radicalization (seven tweets):

    1/ One of most important things I’ve learned:

    Severe personality problems find *camouflage.* No one thinks “I’m a sadist” or “I’m a malignant narcissist.”

    They find a belief system/social group that validates their most hateful, destructive impulses & construes them as virtues.

    — Jonathan Shedler (@JonathanShedler) March 12, 2021

  55. 55.

    jonas

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: ​
      a very dramatic story about Joe Biden going to his own house on weekends

    It could be worse. He could be like this total out-of-touch asshole who spends the whole weekend golfing *at his own countryclub* or something, and charging taxpayers for his staff and secret service detail to stay there. Now *that* would be a scandal and I’m sure the WH press corps would totally crucify any president who did such a thing….

  57. 57.

    Wag

    @RandomMonster:   Bill and David are following in Jen Rubin’s footsteps, and may be awakening from the slumber induced by listening too intently to and believing the bullshit poured into the country’s soul by Reagan.

  59. 59.

    Wag

    @Starboard Tack:   Neither Bill nor David deserve a party, but neither should we waste energy condemning  them when there are so many more deserving candidates around.

  60. 60.

    grumbles

    The whine-fest about a lack of press conference is just perfect, and I can’t believe how lazy and dumb the WHPC got during the Don Show.

    So, the White House just keeps playing this out, not giving them a presser. Maybe subtly mess with them a bit. Keep them focusing on it.

    But keep doing the important without giving the press input, without politicizing it. Anything that gets the name Biden attached to it instantly becomes more polarizing than it would have been without it.

    And then eventually you give a great press conference, announcing great stuff, and make all about reporters being pissy when someone asks a pissy question.

    Helen Thomas never would have gotten pantsed by such an obvious game, but these clowns keep begging Psaki to grab their underwear.

  61. 61.

    joel hanes

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    That question was a disappointment.

    Wejia Jiang has done some good reporting in the last couple years, and asked some good questions at the Trumpie gaggles.

    I hope it was a one-time lapse.

  64. 64.

    LongHairedWeirdo

    You know, the reason a lot of Republicans are vaccine hesitant is because they were lied to, over and over again, by a bunch of people who form and support a national party.

    Now *that* is a news story that ought to have press conferences.

  66. 66.

    LongHairedWeirdo

    @Jeffro: Heh. Flashback to West Wing when CJ gets her promotion.

    “He’s going to get us all fired!”

    “That is *not* a good argument to make to either of us right now!”

    @Roger Moore: I knew there was a reason I liked you.

    @Steeplejack: That is actually a good observation. Stuff that makes a person feel right(eous) will be attractive, and wishful thinking might be the worst crime against rational thinking, but in part because it really is *that* common.

    Me, I’ve lived by the idea that if something confirmed my suspicions, I had to be extra careful, for that very reason.

  67. 67.

    Arclite

    I actually send the WH an email yesterday not to bow to the pressure of doing a press conference.  I didn’t care about them under Trump, and I don’t care about them now. Focus on governing, and let Press Sec Psaki handle things.

  68. 68.

    matt the somewhat reasonable

    Biden should say he’s not doing a press conference because he got enough dumb questions from Republican reporters in the presidential debates.

  71. 71.

    James E Powell

    @gratuitous:

    Humorous little fact for Peter Baker: TFG held one (1) press conference during his first year in office.

    So what’s he talking about with “at this point” five? Is there anyone can get an answer from him?

  72. 72.

    Kathleen

    @Baud:  “Biden Failed To Deliver Cat To The White House.  Can He Be Counted On To Deliver Press Conference To American People.”

  73. 73.

    sab

    Peter Baker went to Oberlin. Michelle Malkin went to Oberlin. Lena Dunham went to Oberlin.

    What the fuck is wrong with Oberlin College these days? Founded by abolitionists, spent 20th and beyond cranking out RWNJ people. ( I know, Lena Dunham pretends not to be.)

    Some screwy thought process in their admissions. They have always been hostile to locals. Only accept people from way out of state. So the incomimg kids are shocked by the Midwest, without actual Midwestern kids to buffer their reaction. Just pack up and move east, since your whole place hates us.

    Also too. Their professors are assholes on recomendations. Substituting their own opinions to shaft and steer kids in career choices. Bad mouth them on where they want to go, sing them up on where professor wants them to go. And these professors not making the best choices for the kids.

    As a Midwesterner, this place irks me.

  75. 75.

    sab

    @frosty: Think about Camp David. (The dogs might love it.)

    Wasn’t one of the early insults of the Obama presidency that he was neglecting the Camp David staff to stay in DC? So four years of TFG neglect was nothing? Let’s compensate by worrying about Champ and Major and family not going off to fenceless rural Maryland. on the weekends

    ETA Do they have ticks at Camp David? Maybe better to keep the dogs away.

  76. 76.

    gogiggs

    Why won’t the President stop doing his job long enough to let me ask him an inane question that requires a bullshit answer?

  77. 77.

    lowtechcyclist

    Maybe the ladies and gentlemen of the press could publish lists of all the tough questions they are dying to have the opportunity to ask President Biden directly, so we can point and laugh.

    And same with the GQP.  If they think it’s important that Biden have a press conference, they must also think there are important questions Biden is avoiding.  Let’s see ’em. More pointing, at least until we’re rolling on the floor laughing because it’s hard to point then.

  79. 79.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @Brachiator: I suppose that I would be more concerned about press conferences if White House reporters demonstrated more competence. Or any competence at all.

    They long ago ceased being journalists and are now urinalists, waving their (largely symbolic) willies around in public and pissing on anything bladder pressure and gravity permit. In the immortal words of Lenny Bruce, unscrew them.

  80. 80.

    JustRuss

    @Roger Moore:  How much does Biden charge the Secret Service to stay at his resort when he goes home for the weekend? Oh, right, that was The Former Guy.

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