[IrishHand]

Your thoughts echoed my father's - he said the most painful aspect for him of watching Bush's speech was how clearly his lack of intelligence came through. Take away the script, and it's pretty clear that he simply searches the recesses of his brain for some crafty line he's used before in a speech. The only times he allowed original thought to enter his responses, he contradicted him official line.

As for him looking down at the podium prior to each question, the primary reason for that, as I understand it, is that Bush has absolutely no idea who 99% of the media are. It wouldn't look to good for him to be like "how about you...no, not you...you in the yellow shirt with the bad tie...yeah you!" I tend to doubt the questions were scripted, but I'm likewise positive that his handlers told him only to ask questions of reporters who could be counted on to lob softballs as opposed to hammer him with the challenging questions he'd hang himself on.

Good points from all above though.

Thanks,
Irish