Brendan Nyhan

Mind-reading at Bush news conference

When you’re a journalist and therefore not an expert on anything substantive, attempt to read the President’s mind based on his body language — it’s swami time!

Q Thank you, Mr. President. I may want to apologize in advance because —
Fortune_teller

THE PRESIDENT: Please do.

Q — I can’t help but read your body language this morning, Mr. President. You seem somehow dispirited, somewhat dispirited.

THE PRESIDENT: I think you need to apologize for advance — (laughter.) This is like — all of a sudden, it’s like Psychology 101, you know? (Laughter.)

Journalists sure do love to read people’s minds and tell stories about the president’s visual appearance. But asking him about the mind-reading during a press conference might be a new low.