And finally...

In case you hadn’t heard or realized; according to Countdown to Crawford, it’s been two months and three days since “President” Bush held a formal press conference… and according to White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, Bush has not even taken a question from the press in over seven weeks.

Why? Because he wants to, in Perino’s words, “make sure this election remains fully focused on the two candidates.”

Put it another way: no one wants to share a stage with the man lest they get caught-up in the snowballing disintegration of Bush and his administration.

Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer agrees;

LAUER: Dana Perino is saying we haven’t heard the President out there answering questions from the press over the last several weeks and months because he doesn’t want to get into campaign politics. … Where do you fall on this?
FLEISCHER: Well remember hasn’t taken questions since early August, Matt — well before this crisis really hit. And I think it does come down to campaign politics. He doesn’t want to get in the middle of the questions that would hurt John McCain more than anyone else.

Sure… Bush wants to help McCain and down-ticket republicans get elected, but, as former Clinton Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers says; “…the problem is the President has no credibility. It’s his economic philosophy, his economic team, and I think the White House realizes that and is trying to help by keeping him off the front of the stage.”

In other words; he’s a lame duck… and he’s only getting more lame duckier.