By his refusal to engage one or more of the press, avoiding the subject of that interrogation, he does avoid what is too often from him a lie, but he also denies the people he governs, who he expects to support and to follow him, ways to make rational decisions about the nature of their participation in this democracy. As citizens of a democracy, we have the right to decide many characteristics of our participation and these choices can seldom develop well from faulty information.

I think the press must also use new tactics with this man. Press must not be dismissed - when one member's question is dismissed unanswered another must take it up rather than ask a different question. Divide/dismiss and conquer is his plan against the press. Press must refuse to participate in that. it's harder to dig up your own FACTS but you're obviously not going to get them from him. You'll just have to work harder (or work - investigate-and-report rather than merely edit).

We need the press, as a tool of our democracy, to find ways to insist on answers to questions that clarify or reveal incidences, coincidences, or stances. So if you must, band together across corporate, network, party, or other affiliations to get answers to questions and to challenge defamations. Don't allow his hollow acts to become mere articles of repetition for sale in print, posting and projection. Don't let him get away with it.

These are not performances awaiting review; they are pronouncements requiring judgment and evaluation.