Dana Perino: Obama A "Phenomenal Candidate," "I'll Give You Eight Months" For Press Honeymoon

Washington Post:

The network stars were gone, the seats half empty and the questioning low-key as Dana Perino held a White House briefing last week, her biggest announcement that the administration would try to ease air traffic for the holidays.

President Bush has faded from the news, and the last year has been hard on his press secretary as she tried to follow his orders not to defend him from the verbal assaults of the campaign to succeed him.

"We took it from all sides, and it was difficult," Perino says. "When you're that close to your boss, it's hard sometimes not to take it personally."

Perino marvels at the glowing press that Barack Obama has gotten -- "He was a great candidate, a phenomenal candidate," she says -- but warned his incoming chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, that it wouldn't last forever. "I'll give you eight months," she told him.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[SeanGardner]

"Bush's low standing became a media fixation"

What is Perino talking about? Bush's low standing is the talk of the world. But, can you really blame the media for being fixated with his abysmal poll numbers? The press now what the rest of us know: that Bush did it to himslf. His cowboy diplomacy on Iraq and Hurricane Katrina incompetence are just the tip of the iceberg. If I went through horror after policy horror, it would be depressing.

Crying over Bush's low standing is useless. Instead, Perino needs to explain to the world why The Bush Administration became so much of a colossal failure. Indeed, a failure of uber Shakespearean proportions.

[DAE]

Looks like the Bushies are jealous.

[vshdst]

yea...jeal­ous because they haven't been endowed with intellegent minds.

only, well connected parents.

[separatingwheatfromchaff]

What Dana Perino is leaving out is the fact his 30% approval rating was more than well earned,those 30% are there no matter what,those are the party ideologues that would support him if his brain were removed.

I can understand why Dana Perino took the job,but she doesn't really think anyone's buying the BS she's selling,does she?The nation is waiting for Bush to leave,we're like children waiting for Christmas morning,it's palpable,wake up Dana.

[vinceoffer]

If Cheney had a fatal heart attack, Bushes brain would effectively be removed.

[philosopherkingtomas]

Bush Cheney and Perino BETRAYED this Country by ignoring the Financial system, Wall Street Greed, hedge funds! They should surrender Dorothy!

[FirstShirt]

Meanwhile, Barney [not the big dinosaur] and Nancy and Harry were doing what, fiddling? Try that spin on DailyKos. People who think sometimes blog here.

Bush deserves his legacy. Nancy and company held control over ALL of the committees in congress for two years. How many media releases do you remember decrying the coming crisis? right.

[jazzblues]

You m@r@n....a crisis such as this is more than 2 years in the making!...­do you remember the first 6 years of your Ch!mp prez's cabinet...­and g@per controlled congress..­.

Dude you really are delusional!. Come on over sometime and I'll take you on a step by step understanding of why you are unbelievably delusional!

[dc2nm]

America woke up after 8 years of a bad nightmare. We are smarter than that...so stop insulting our intelligence with your Republican mythology. You can no longer rewrite history. We won't let you.

This problem lies squarely on the Republicans. Trickle down has never worked and never will. Republican deregulation is the core of this problem.

It is going to be harder for Republicans like yourself to say stupid things and have it stick.

[Liberalforsure]

idiots out there are already criticizing Obama and he hasn't even taken office yet however those are the morons that didn't vote for him and desperately want him to fail. What is hilarious to me is they brook no criticism on the current president who has all but ruined this country yet harp on Obama's every move and he is actually trying to help this country. Amazing and sad.

[Charmed]

The press is trying to decide what church Obama should go to.......h­e's not getting a honeymoon. The pundits are saying "where is Obama", "why isn't he out there"....­.he hasn't even had a chance to catch his breath since the longest campaign in history.

[Wiserone]

Please, the "stewardess" should just hang it up as well as her boss.

[FirstShirt]

Now, now. Sounds like a sexist comment concerning her looks. How gauche, how sexist, how unprogressive of you.

Turn in your DNC card right now.

[Rural Juror]

Good thing she will be able to point out the exits.