Well, that explains it

Bush, today, speaking to the press:

The role of government is not to try to manage the economy.

Silly me.

The role of government is to create an environment in which the capital flows and entrepreneurs feel emboldened to take risk, and to make sure workers are trained for the jobs of the 21st century.

The government's job is to provide the labor for private entrepeneurs.

The other thing we talked about was our firm resolve to spread freedom, and therefore peace, around the world.

At the end of a cattle prod, because you know, sometimes people just don't take to freedom right away. Once those Iraqis get a taste of that peace, though, they'll see that we're doing it for their own good.

A free Iraq will be an ally of those nations who honor human rights and human dignity and the aspirations of men and women everywhere.

Can you believe he actually said that? Because, I'm pretty sure he's including America in that list of nations. Maybe not.

And we're making progress toward that goal. We've been there -- it has been 14 months since the fall of Baghdad. And the work has been hard and difficult. Yet our military on the ground has done an excellent job of making sure the conditions are such that an Iraqi government can emerge and lead their nation to better days.

Let's see - is it three of the newly named officials that have been killed so far before they even get to officiate?

A press conference is no place for reality.

QUESTION: Given your administration's assertions that it works closely with the International Red Cross, are you disappointed that Secretary Rumsfeld instructed military officials in Iraq to hold a member of Ansar al-Islam without telling Red Cross officials?

BUSH: The secretary and I discussed that for the first time this morning, and he's going to hold a press conference today to discuss that with you.

I'm never disappointed in my secretary of defense. He's doing a fabulous job and America's lucky to have him in the position he's in.

That's a little subtle, but it's there. Why not just say we discussed that this morning? Why "for the first time"? I think you know why. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.