While I didn't watch Bush being interviewed by Tim Russert-- I was busy becoming a godfather to beautiful Amanda Virginia--I did read the transcript. Listening to talk radio, you got the feeling that Republicans were disappointed. Rush railed about putting the CINC with Russert as bad. I disagree, Bush is what he is, a poor public speaker when he is answering questions. He gets the point across, but not in a Clinton-like way. This to me is a good thing. Most folks can't answer fifty questions in a row, let alone fifty questions that will be dissected upside down and sideways. Relax people, one of the things that appeals to Americans about Bush is his down-to-earth qualities. By the way, I like Russert. The candidates on the Dem side have all been grilled by him and I'm glad Bush sat down and talked. Russert asks great questions but seemed to be respectful of the Office of President. Peggy Noonan sums it up:

President Bush's interview on "Meet the Press" seems to me so much a big-story-in-the-making that I wanted to weigh in with some thoughts. I am one of those who feel his performance was not impressive.

It was an important interview. The president has been taking a beating for two months now--two months of the nonstop commercial for the Democratic Party that is the Democratic primaries, and then the Kay report. And so people watched when he decided to come forward in a high stakes interview with Tim Russert, the tough interviewer who's an equal-opportunity griller of Democrats. He has heroic concentration and a face like a fist. His interviews are Beltway events.

But certain facts of the interview were favorable to the president. Normally it's mano a mano at Mr. Russert's interview table in the big, cold studio. But this interview was in the Oval Office, on the president's home ground, in front of the big desk. Normally it's live, which would be unnerving for a normal person and is challenging for politicians. Live always raises the stakes.

...George W. Bush is not good at talking points. You can see when he's pressed on a question. Mr. Russert asks, why don't you remove George Tenet? And Mr. Bush blinks, and I think I know what is happening in his mind. He's thinking: Go through history of intelligence failures. No, start with endorsement of George so I don't forget it and cause a big story. No, point out intelligence didn't work under Clinton. Mention that part of the Kay report that I keep waiting for people to mention.

He knows he has to hit every point smoothly, but self-consciousness keeps him from smoothness. In real life, in the office, Mr. Bush is not self-conscious. Nor was Mr. Reagan