Don't Blame Me

But why would he do that? One possible reason yesterday was: To preempt any television coverage of a press conference at which leading Democrats were unveiling their Bush-bashing security agenda.

Indeed, Bush's event had originally been scheduled for 1:20 p.m. yesterday. But Tuesday afternoon, the White House suddenly moved it up to 12:50. The Democratic press conference was scheduled to start at 1. Bush finally wrapped up his talk at 2:22. Anyone know when the Democrats stopped talking? Anybody see anyone in the audience giving him hand signals?

The Democracy Exception

After speaking so passionately about the glory of democracy and insisting repeatedly that democracies don't war with each other, Bush was faced with a counterexample: A democracy that Bush is trying to punish, and one he accuses of wanting to make war on its neighbor.

"Q Thank you, Mr. President, and I think I sprained my arm trying to get your attention. The main reason for that is because I think I speak for the unheard people. I'm a Palestinian. My name is Bushra (phonetic) and I come from a refugee camp and I'm currently working at the World Bank.

"THE PRESIDENT: Welcome.

"Q Thank you. What can I say to my cousins, my friends, people in the streets who are asking, why is the United States punishing us and cutting funds for people who choose fair and free elections? I think the National Endowment for Democracy has characterized it as the textbook, fair and free elections. Then why are we punishing the people -- I don't mean the government -- the people of Palestine -- the refugees, the poor, the malnourished mothers and children?"

After once again insisting that "democracies don't war with each other," Bush explained his position this way: "If the goal of the United States is two states living side-by-side in peace, and one government elected says, we want to destroy one of the parties, it makes no sense for us to support that government. We support the election process, we support democracy, but that doesn't mean we have to support governments that get elected as a result of democracy. . . .

"I weep about the suffering of the Palestinians. I particularly weep about the fact that the leadership has let them down for year after year after year. And now is the time for strong leaders to stand up and say, we want the people to -- we want the people to decide. And I was pleased that there was an election in the Palestinian territories, and I agree with you that the elections were good elections. And -- but now the government has to make a choice, and we will continue to watch very carefully about the choice they make. "

Freedom House

Incidentally, according to Freedom House's widely respected Freedom Book , which tracks freedom across the globe, Iraq still gets a failing grade of "Not Free."

Freedom House's most recent survey of the region found "modest gains" in Iraq, "where, despite brutal violence carried out by insurgents and terrorists, elections for an interim parliament and a constitutional referendum were conducted."

But it called those elections only "modestly successful" and warned that they "could be wiped out if the current level of violence escalates into outright civil conflict among Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds."

Quipping Man

Jennifer Loven chronicles some of Bush's numerous quips for the Associated Press: