About Those Press Conferences
National Review,
by
Victor Davis Hanson
Original Article
Posted By: sagman,
4/26/2020 9:00:19 PM
President Trump seems increasingly ambivalent about the utility of the daily and sometime marathon press conferences. He should be — and for reasons besides just their length and frequency.
First, Trump gets bogged down into long, back-and-forth jousts with the touché Washington press corps. His impromptu skills, honed both as president and in his years on television, usually ensure him tactical victories. He is not peremptory but retaliatory in his put-downs. Fine. Most Americans don’t especially like the Washington press corps. So they don’t mind them earning the repartee that their rude provocation deserves.
But Trump’s victories are becoming Pyrrhic.
Reply 1 - Posted by:
sanspeur 4/26/2020 9:06:32 PM (No. 392608)
these were originally set as “briefings” . Not pressers . The format is now too static and wasteful of his time . Only do as needed for changing events . press will “improvise “ anyway .
91 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
Daria 4/26/2020 9:43:55 PM (No. 392624)
If President Trump reads one thing this weekend, I hope he reads this and takes it to heart. VDH has given him excellent advice.
136 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
acesfull 4/26/2020 9:45:54 PM (No. 392628)
I would especially like the questions asked ‘via Skype’ to come from the heartland and maybe even an everyday citizen.What we need more than ever is to get back to our new normal and regain our freedoms. We need hope. I’d love to see POTUS on April 30 from the Oval Office target Memorial Day weekend for an opening and tell the businesses big and small to begin the month of preparation now. He’d say, “thank you for your patience but now it’s time for Americans to step forward and go back to work and to our lives. In four weeks, just one more month we’re gonna be back open and we’re gonna all act safely and think smart.I’ve got your back . It’s time.” , The day after that speech the momentum will build and we’ll get our country going again.
96 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
Jesuslover54 4/26/2020 9:49:43 PM (No. 392630)
Pretty soon we'll be back to our regular lives and won't have the patience for a lot of snarking as the relevant content gets thinner and our lives get busier.
Those sad "journalists" will just have to watch the economy recover, all with a gnashing of teeth and wailing which we'll ignore.
81 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
Omen55 4/26/2020 9:54:44 PM (No. 392634)
VDH is worth every minute of reading time.
Imagine if demedia were like him?
84 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
The Remnants 4/26/2020 10:32:47 PM (No. 392653)
Yes, I hope the President continues his briefings, and I hope he uses all of Dr. Hanson's advice, especially having people from all over the country skype their questions and opinions to the President,. He could then break the mold of the three "experts", Brix, Redfield and Fauci, and perhaps have the two emergency room doctors from California present who were in a video posted here today and explained that it does more harm than good for healthy people to stay in place because they are weakening their immune systems by effectively living in a bubble. We need scientists who are telling us there is a better way and light at the end of the tunnel. Effectively, people whose only agenda is to do what is best to bring the country back to life. And, I agree with Dr. Hanson that it should be more structured - time-wise.
And skip the press altogether; their agenda has nothing to do with bringing the country back to life.
97 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
cThree 4/26/2020 10:41:16 PM (No. 392655)
Reading VDH is never a waste of time.
The older I get, the higher a compliment that is.
85 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
stablemoney 4/26/2020 11:16:11 PM (No. 392667)
I am glad Trump doesn't listen to those that would give him advice. If he did, Trump would still be in NY building things.
39 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
Connor 4/26/2020 11:16:59 PM (No. 392668)
Brilliant as usual. I normally love to watch Trump spar with the media, but now is not a good time. It is making my stomach hurt.
60 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
Johann 4/26/2020 11:55:30 PM (No. 392681)
It is sad to see Trump showing the world what an idiot he can be. I want him to be reelected because the Dems are a crazy lot especially with Pelosi and Schumer around if the Dems take everything. Trump loves to hog the mike but he'll run out of things to say or worth saying. He wants to show he is in charge but he does not know enough of everything. I blame the people who are supposed to help him. They are simply too timid to tell him that, at certain times, he should hunker down and keep his "China, China" mouth shut. Concentrate on whacking Biden. If Biden wins, America will have a president who cannot remember where he is and was wrong on every foreign policy issue according to Robert Gates, the Defense Secretary under the Obama Administration.
23 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
Sandpiper 4/27/2020 12:10:46 AM (No. 392690)
From VDH’s lips to Trump’s ear - I hope someone at the Whitehouse reads this article and gives it to Pres. Trump. Good advice here.
66 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
smcchk 4/27/2020 12:14:25 AM (No. 392691)
The WH press corps is just a mean girl high school clique. You can never win against them; you can never shake their smug superiority and disdain. President Trump thought he could but it is time to move on. As we all find out, there are many more people out there worth impressing.
56 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
doublesharp 4/27/2020 12:19:14 AM (No. 392695)
familiarity breeds contempt. don't lower yourself to the press's level.
54 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
bighambone 4/27/2020 1:24:35 AM (No. 392739)
The liberal reporters who think of themselves as White House “elites”, who attend the briefings are engaged in a very extreme politicized nitpicking game against President Trump. As an experienced counterpuncher it should not be hard for Trump to make those “elite” reporters irrelevant, by edging them out of the picture by favoring media reporters from outside the DC beltway and throughout the country when it comes to question time.
36 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
Flyball Dogs 4/27/2020 1:33:49 AM (No. 392744)
A Must Read. X2
1) a post by sagman
2) an article by VDH,
Must Must Read.
25 people like this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
ARKfamily 4/27/2020 5:56:19 AM (No. 392797)
#10, really don't appreciate the negative comments around here.
48 people like this.
Reply 17 - Posted by:
Krause 4/27/2020 7:14:19 AM (No. 392847)
They should only let professional reporters in. I think good reporters don't want to be seen with the usual idiots that are there.
13 people like this.
Reply 18 - Posted by:
janjan 4/27/2020 7:24:34 AM (No. 392856)
Why does Trump keep calling on Acosta and really anyone from CNN or NPR? Let them sit there and keep their mouths shut. I certainly would not hand them the mike so they can grandstand with their stupid disrespectful questions. And why argue with these elitist snobs? He is the President and they are not.
40 people like this.
Reply 19 - Posted by:
TCloud 4/27/2020 7:49:49 AM (No. 392877)
Pandemic Covid-19 Virus plus an election year means the Press see these pressers as mini political rallies and they react accordingly because they know he can use his bully pulpit at will! Make em short but sweet Mr. President!
25 people like this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
edgar 4/27/2020 7:58:52 AM (No. 392889)
I especially like the idea to conference in reporters from fly over country to ask meaningful questions, bypassing the jackwagons in the press room with their 'gotcha' questions. Wonderful idea Mr Hanson. That would make the pressers more informational for those of us that watch.
33 people like this.
I could probably find multiple links back but I have advocated 'democratization' of pressers for years.
There is no reason for the corporate media oligopoly.
18 people like this.
Reply 22 - Posted by:
rsgonner 4/27/2020 8:05:54 AM (No. 392905)
Absolutely spot on. The way to muzzle the press adolescents is starve them of their oxygen. Terrific idea to get REAL reporters from the heartland in instead of this gaggle of elitists from the self-admiration society.
43 people like this.
Reply 23 - Posted by:
The Remnants 4/27/2020 8:10:14 AM (No. 392912)
Forgive second post, but we have to get out all the honest reporting we can about this virus. The article I referred to above is found on True Pundit - still up - and begins: "ER Doctors Urge A Reopening...".
They've got all kinds of scientific data from which they read. One of the physicians said he is from Norway, and he read from a study that compared Norway, which was shut down, with Sweden where it was not. Very little differences - just slightly better results from Sweden.
The doctors also said that we have to expect a certain amount of illnesses to present themselves when the shut-down is stopped, as most of us will need to get our immune systems up to speed again after removing ourselves from all the germs that are always around, which our immune systems defeat daily to make it stronger. This should be heavily emphasized, because we all know that the naysayers are just waiting with their "I told you so's". "Knowledge is power", someone once said.
24 people like this.
Reply 24 - Posted by:
jacksin5 4/27/2020 8:10:36 AM (No. 392914)
At one time, the press would trade access to briefings in exchange for broadcast time for said briefings. This is no longer the case, The broadcasts are now just clips of snarky reporters getting in their "Gotcha" question of the day as a springboard for talking heads to disparage anything PDJT is doing, or in their lofty opinions, not doing.
I've gotten in the habit of watching the briefing on C-Span, and when the presser starts, changing the channel. I can't afford to replace big-screen TV's due to idiots like Acosta.
22 people like this.
Reply 25 - Posted by:
felixcat 4/27/2020 8:22:50 AM (No. 392941)
Trump has to stop treating these daily briefings as a substitute for his rallies. Stop with saying we are at war. The only war taking place is between tyrannical local and state governments and we the people. Foci and Birx do not need to be there - they have had their time in the sun. All they can reference is their models and what ifs. Get some real MDs who have actually treated patients like those two from California. And someone needs to say loud and clearly that states are counting almost every death as due to COVID-19 because it means more money for the state. I doubt many people are aware of this scam. I know Trump's instincts are to do what is best for this country and its citizens but every year we deal with some strain of flu, etc and everyday, people die of various illnesses. Stop treating us like babies. And yeah, we get it that the WH press idiots are just that, but it is such a waste of time.
14 people like this.
Reply 26 - Posted by:
Dodge Boy 4/27/2020 8:23:31 AM (No. 392944)
Good suggestions by VDH. Revamping the format of the President's pressers as VDH describes would be very helpful.
24 people like this.
Reply 27 - Posted by:
rushie 4/27/2020 8:34:29 AM (No. 392962)
#23 I saw that story on the ER doctors. I noticed that VDH suggested reporters from Bakersfield. I think that is where those ER Docs reported from. I wished at the time that Pres Trump would get those two on his press conference instead of Fauci and Birtz.
18 people like this.
Reply 28 - Posted by:
ussjimmycarter 4/27/2020 8:39:59 AM (No. 392967)
POTUS has become part of the press and that is bad! I know he loved the ratings, but I tweeted 45 days ago that he was becoming over exposed! Be our Leader of the whole country on every aspect of the Federal Government! Let others handle the daily grind with MSM elitist twits! Hope he reads this and DOES IT! Where are his advisors? Good grief!
22 people like this.
Reply 29 - Posted by:
Jebediah 4/27/2020 8:53:36 AM (No. 392975)
Hanson is the voice of reason and I hope Trump is listening.
24 people like this.
Reply 30 - Posted by:
Delilah 4/27/2020 9:11:44 AM (No. 393002)
See Pres. Trump's tweet today for his decision to stop pressers. Maybe he took your advice? /s
10 people like this.
Reply 31 - Posted by:
cor-vet 4/27/2020 9:17:02 AM (No. 393010)
At 1st, I watched the press conferences, but have pretty much been skipping them lately. I got tired of the constant gotcha questions, the interruptions when the President is trying to answer and the overtly rude treatment he receives. Asscosta is the most annoying of the bunch, but the females are trying their best to earn that title. Under no stretch of the imagination could you call them ladies. The idea of questions via Skype is fine, but do we really need questions? PDT could introduce different experts, like VHD proposed, let them have their 5 minutes and be done. And ditch the midget Dr. and the scarf lady.
When someone works as hard as this President does, he doesn't need to spend valuable time on these pressers. He is great at choosing talented people, and delegating, so that's what he needs to do.
21 people like this.
Reply 32 - Posted by:
JJ 4/27/2020 9:46:08 AM (No. 393044)
He doesn’t have to read this article. He hears these types of suggestions everyday and then goes out and continues doing it his way, like everything else Trump does.! It’s killing him in this case.
6 people like this.
Reply 33 - Posted by:
EQKimball 4/27/2020 9:53:21 AM (No. 393060)
The only thing you can “win” in a press conference is the approval of a majority of the audience. It if you lose that, it is of no relevance that your supporters may argue to heir last breath that you were right or treated unfairly. The press will always be confrontational. They know he will punch back twice as hard. That is the whole idea. They are pushing his buttons, and he reacts. President Trump should not take the bait. He should be calm, be courteous and be gone. The people will rally to him.
6 people like this.
Reply 34 - Posted by:
dman 4/27/2020 10:11:33 AM (No. 393086)
Amen. Simply, Amen!
4 people like this.
Reply 35 - Posted by:
Arby 4/27/2020 10:16:34 AM (No. 393094)
The best advice, of course, is to take questions from reporters across the country, not just the self-satisfied dolts from Washington and New York.
7 people like this.
Reply 36 - Posted by:
Saryden 4/27/2020 10:20:55 AM (No. 393099)
I am so tired of people giving President Trump advice... He is the one who stepped forward with his time, hard work, fortune, family life and health... to save the USA from Ozero's "fundamental change." For this octogenarian, he can do/say whatever he wants! He is a Patriot, an American Hero, and very human.
16 people like this.
Reply 37 - Posted by:
Bazi 4/27/2020 10:58:15 AM (No. 393149)
NOT via Zoom. Everyone should ditch Zoom...and TikTok. Can you say China =security risk? Zoom has no end to end encryption. TikTok has been forbidden to be downloaded onto our government phones/devices.
POTUS tweeted that he might not be doing the briefings anymore. I don't blame him but isn't that what the left wants... i.e. no POTUS Trump appearing every day and looking like a leader. The left wants POTUS off the world stage.
6 people like this.
Reply 38 - Posted by:
starboard 4/27/2020 11:06:38 AM (No. 393164)
FTA: "What Americans want to learn from the government is increasingly not what the Washington press corps wishes to pry out from Donald Trump."
Especially from the female stooges disrespectfully shouting out in the first row.
VDH should be an advisor to the president.
5 people like this.
Reply 39 - Posted by:
gone2pot 4/27/2020 11:14:37 AM (No. 393174)
Good suggestions by VDH but they wouldn't be necessary had we not over reacted to this virus. We did and now we're going to have to dig ourselves out of the disaster of the over reaction that is orders of magnitude times more fatal than the virus. The nation needs to reopen and do it fast sans lawyers drooling to sue all companies whose employees get the Chicom virus for going back to work (same for cities whose counsel lawyers are why there are ridiculous lockdowns and fines-they're doing it because of potential lawsuits against cities). Both coasts don't know this quite yet but here in flyover country, for the first time in history, we are slaughtering herd after herd after herd of cattle, hogs and chickens, right now because there are few places to process the meat. Oil is literally shutting down wells and the world is out of storage space. Cushing, Oklahoma is full, federal emergency declaration full. Oil tankers are anchored off the coasts worldwide. Twenty seven are anchored off the coast of Long Beach, CA alone because ALL ground based tanks are full. We just added 6.4 trillion dollars on top of our 4 trillion dollar spending for 2020 to throw money, not at the virus prevention or cure, but at the economy. The federal government always does so well with their genius knowledge of how free market capitalism works, right? I believe Trump is doing better than ALL 535 elected fidiots in Congress but faces the evil genius of the elected Marxists and MSM. NO ONE has threaded the evil needle like Trump and no one can but due to the evil, there's diminishing returns now and this nation needs to get the economy back up, put our heads down, understand the coming consequences and be the shining light on the hill for the rest of the world...or enter a new and VERY BAD and VERY long lasting situation.
9 people like this.
Reply 40 - Posted by:
Philipsonh 4/27/2020 11:15:57 AM (No. 393176)
I like the press briefings, but mr Hanson is on point ; however, the President should only accept WRITTEN qustions and questions from reporters OUTSIDE the room by setting up an internet connection that other media can access. My son's company uses Microsoft Meetings , but there are many types of communications wherein OTHER media can ask questions. Many of the reporters in the room are USELESS, asking attack questions and othe questions that have ALREADY been answered multiple times.
4 people like this.
Reply 41 - Posted by:
Red Ghost 4/27/2020 11:35:27 AM (No. 393193)
VDH, a true gem. But, Trump is Trump and he revels in mixing it up with the press. The Sarah Sanders briefings correctly were stopped because they all realized they were only a platform for the preening press as the briefings have now become. Thus the helicopter pad press conferences and that worked great. Kayleigh McEnany announced today that the briefings would continue but with a different format and hopefully they will work in some of VDH's suggestions.
In addition to national security and justice officials, the White House desperately needs to get a health expert out there telling people it's okay to start getting back into society. Someone has to to try to tamp down the absolute fear and hysteria that has been created around this virus. Andrew Cuomo is out there saying the virus is death. It's not for most people and that message must get across. I don't think Fauci or the Scarf Queen will carry that message but someone MUST start doing this otherwise it won't matter a whit if things start to open up. People will not participate in the opening if they think they are going to die. And right now, most think they are going to die if they get this thing.
6 people like this.
Reply 42 - Posted by:
qr4j 4/27/2020 11:43:13 AM (No. 393202)
I refuse to watch the news. I wash my hands. I wear that damned face covering (have the Muslims won in turning a male non-Muslim into a Muslim woman?). I wash my hands. I maintain social distancing guidelines. Did I say I wash my hands?
The stats are the stats. I can't change them except to be personally responsible. The news media aren't trustworthy except you can trust them to slam Mr. Trump any chance they get or make up. The news media are liars, so why would I entertain their coverage? Screw em! I have petunias to plant.
4 people like this.
Reply 43 - Posted by:
NotaBene 4/27/2020 12:00:18 PM (No. 393219)
So we lose a small battle with the Enemedia. Too many Marxists against Super Trump. But we got 50 days of the best use of the bully pulpit in our lifetimes. Americans that would never watch a rally got to know President Trump. We saw how one great man can govern with Federalism and bring in our fantastic private corporations. The WH Correspondents Association dug their own grave with their disrespectful impertinence. Many more Trump voters were gained by the exposure, right before Socialist-Democrats got their next Impeachment select committee going. Donate to Donaldjtrump.com to MAGA.
5 people like this.
Reply 44 - Posted by:
Lawsy0 4/27/2020 12:11:01 PM (No. 393237)
Thanks, Dr. Hanson for the confirmation. What do you know 'bout that. I have been watching only the Trump portions and the Pence portion should there be one. On the state level, I have only watched my Governor and his Commissioner of Health. The rest I tune out. If it isn't Trump or Gov. Lee, I switch back to Cartoons.
2 people like this.
Reply 45 - Posted by:
Citoyen 4/27/2020 12:15:09 PM (No. 393242)
I agree with #39. Had the country not overreacted and placed all its bets on the advice of experts who have time and time again been wrong we would all be living our lives, not normally, but certainly not hunkered down at home. The president, of course, is now stuck with the shutdown, caused in part by the administration's guidelines that led the governors to grind our country to a halt. Lucky for him that the experts, both political parties and 50 state governors demanded the lock down.
Hanson is right and I think that President Trump has already begun moving the focus from the doom and gloom we've had shoved down our throats for two months to the hopeful and vital thrust to get back to normal and not some sort of NEW normal. If people don't get back to work within a few weeks and the nation keeps printing money the president will lose this November. End the defensive posture and go on the offensive.
4 people like this.
Reply 46 - Posted by:
LesUNo 4/27/2020 3:26:02 PM (No. 393484)
Word from an ER doc.....very ill people are afraid to come to the emergency room for fear of becoming infected with Corona. As a result they are waiting far too long to seek help and many die unnecessarily. This irrational fear is Fauci and Birx and media driven.
5 people like this.
Comments:
Hanson makes sense. Hanson always makes sense.