THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS, WELL, SORT OF – AT 10:30 P.M. ET:  Today the president held his first formal press conference since taking office.  It wasn't as big a hit as "South Pacific."  In fact, linguists all over the world are trying to figure out exactly what he said and why he said it. 

The image Mr. Biden presented was that of a man only semi-present, briefed by his staff, and equipped with notes to which he frequently referred.  He also had before him a sheet with reporters' names and their photos.  He would not call on a single opposition reporter during the conference.  Compare please with President Trump, who loved the give and take.  From From Fox: 

President Biden referenced "cheat sheets" detailing key policy points and the identities of attending journalists when he conducted the first formal press conference of his presidency on Thursday.

Photos taken at the event showed Biden holding a card labeled "infrastructure," with key statistics and talking points. One bullet point noted that "China spends 3 times more on infrastructure than U.S."

In another photo, Biden was seen consulting a sheet that appeared to show the pictures and news outlets of journalists who attended his press conference. Some of the pictured reporters had a circled number next to their images.

Just 25 reporters were permitted to attend the press conference. Biden took a limited number of questions from a list of pre-selected reporters before leaving the podium. Fox News’s Peter Doocy was not among the reporters who were selected to ask a question.

Biden answered questions related to the ongoing crisis at the southern border, his view on calls to end the filibuster, and an array of other topics. The president said he intends to run for reelection in 2024.

Critics of the Biden administration have called on administration officials to make Biden available to the press on a regular basis. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki holds daily briefings.

The use of note cards is not unprecedented at press conferences. In November 2019, Trump held a notebook with handwritten prompts during a press conference on testimony delivered at his first impeachment hearing.

Biden made no attempt during the press conference to extend a hand of bipartisanship to the Republicans or show any interest in real compromise, even in areas often handled on a bipartisan basis in the past.  From Ari Fleischer at Fox: 

President Biden has detached himself from his highly touted inaugural promise to promote national "unity" and furthermore made stunning comments in defending the administration's purported transparency when it comes to access to federal border facilities -- some of which are exponentially above capacity, according to former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer.

Fleischer, who served in the George W. Bush White House, told "The Story" following Thursday's press conference that Biden conducted one of the most "partisan news conferences" in history and egregiously dismissed his own promise of fomenting unity.

"This was Joe Biden saying that all the problems are the Republican problems. As somebody whose whole soul's for unity, who says the issue is that Republicans are posturing?"

Fleischer also called out Biden for his comments when asked about the lack of proper media access to federal holding facilities on the southern border, where an immigration crisis is rapidly growing.

"I will commit when my plan very shortly is underway to let you have access to not just them," Biden said. "I will commit to transparency."

Fleischer said he translated that to mean essentially that the media must wait until the administration tries to clean up the crisis somewhat before allowing the public proper open access via the media.

"He said 'I'm not letting you in now. I'll only let you in when my plans go into place' -- That is like a co-conspirator saying when the police knock on their door 'oh sure, I'll let you in but let me hide the evidence'," he said.

COMMENT:  We don't know when the next "real" press conference will be held, or who will be permitted to ask questions.  Or whether Biden will show up or send Ed McMahon.

March 25,  2021