Obama Presser: Diminishing Returns?

This was bound to happen. 1.) I think the president would be better served by keeping the press conferences to a minimum for the rest of the year. I think the man has had more press conferences in his first 100 days than President Bush had in first two years! 2.) There was no pressing news event (even with swine flu)to draw people in. Almost 50 million the last time was astronomical; nearly 30 million this time seems more reasonable.

Could it be that his press conferences are boring? He takes minimal softball questions from a fauning press and proceeds to give a rambling mini speech. Mabye if he answered questions about the disgraceful "I'm sorry" tour or regarding trippling the national debt; people would be more interrested. The reporters, who in the past, were like sharks with blood in the water are like bloated guppies with too much food in the water. Thank goodness we finally have all the intel on Bo the dog.

I disagree with jdt regarding Obama cutting back on press conferences -- he should have them as often as possible. However, in general they should not be held during prime time (unless there is something absolutely essential that requires direct communication to the American people.)

It could just be that he is a boring person..Everything is always all about him..I have to agree the teleprompter makes a better speaker

you folks are never, ever, satisfied....if he gave less conferences you would complain about that also.....

More more more... can't get enough of Obama. I need more of his rigorous discipline of rhetoric. Let's have more news conferences so I can fawn over his nuanced understanding of policy and human nature. Like Christopher Walken needing more cowbell, I need more news conferences...

Mr. Poniewozik, I must scoff at the implication of your article and some of the posters here who say, “we're seeing too much of Obama,” risking overexposure. Once again, Obama is changing the way the press game is played and the small-minded are bewildered. Rather than the bizarre and ineffective mix of theatrics (Mission Accomplished) and secrecy of the former administration(s), he is keeping in regular touch with the American people. In that regard, people will tune in when he talks about something that is personally important to them and tune out otherwise. We are a diverse country with diverse concerns, so we won't all tune in all the time – that is all your stats mean. But now we have a president who understands and cares enough to address our diversity and realizes that we have the technology to do so. Opponents may argue that it's not an effective use of his time, but I would answer it's amazing how much time you have to do your job when you aren't clearing brush back at the ranch.

Re afterthought's comment
How refreshing, another Obama sycophant who hates Bush. Funny,I can't remember Bush bowing down to the Saudi royalty like a neutered eunuch or acepting an anti american book from Hugo Chavez a half-wit dictator. But as pointed out he has mastered the teleprompter. Too bad he does not have enough of a grasp on what he is speaking about to do anything but babble when the teleprompter malfunctions.
Presiden Bush used secrecy apropriately in a time of war, something Obama has not learned. He would release secret CIA memos that the last 5 CIA heads said was inappropriate and damaged our efforts against terrorism. But who cares if you harm the intelligence service if you can make a political point.
He has already shown himself to be a self absorbed "Poser and Chief".

[...] See some-more here: Obama’s Press Conferences: Diminishing Returns? (Time Magazine) [...]

Well, I apologize to Mr. Poniewozik for not doing a bit of homework before posting, which is bad form - but you have to admit, terms like “much-hyped” and “press-conference exhaustion” aren't completely “objective.” But I see your point.

As to ashbyt, I don't hate Bush – as a matter of fact, I worked for his administration while he was Texas governor. He's a nice enough guy in person and it's likely I know quite a bit more about him than you. I also know that his administration did far more harm to our reputation in the world than Obama's perceived faux pas. Obama isn't perfect, but you can objectively (if that's possible for you) see that he is popular with the rest of the world. That will get us more in the long run than unilateralism. And – objectively – Bush spent more time, arguably almost 1/3 of his days as President – at Camp David or his Texas ranch, on vacation. Of course, if I weren't objective, I could make a crass comment like yours - that he wasn't always vacationing there, sometimes he was hosting Saudi King Abdullah, holding his hand and walking him around like a prom date. Man, it IS fun to twist facts! I see why you do it.

BTW, It's an outright lie that Obama “babbles” without a teleprompter. Show me one shred of actual proof rather than your SUBJECTIVE view. In the meantime, I can show you a long list of Bush malapropisms that made him look like a fool – good god, the man can't even pronounce “nuclear.”

Obama already has FAR more of a grasp on US and world politics than Bush ever did. I pity you and the other haters who can't enjoy the fact that we have an intelligent man in the White House. Oh well, you'll wake up in 8 years.