Presidential news conference (#334, Topic R)

One of today's Wall Street Journal editorials, commenting on the just concluded 6-nation meeting on North Korea's nuclear program, is labeled "Faith-Based Non-Proliferation Pact." At 9:30, the President held a news conference, carried live by CNBC. The shot showed the president standing behind a podium, with a huge red carpet -- for Valentine's Day, no doubt -- covering the vast ground separating him from the journalists. Perhaps influenced by the word faith I read earlier, I thought the setting resembled the interior of a church, with the one behind the podium pontificating. As the president spoke, he somehow began comments with "I believe." On the North Korea agreement, he said: "I believe it's an important step in the right direction." Fair enough. He also said: "I believe that success in Baghdad will have success in helping us secure the homeland;" "I believe [in the Middle East policy];" "I believe [in NATO's stabilizing influence in Afghanistan];" "I believe [in securing the border]" About the same time, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke was testifying before a Senate Committee. At first, CNBC showed both the president speaking and Bernanke testifying on a split screen -- side by side. About 10 minutes later, CNBC dropped the president's image and focused on Bernanke's answers to various senators' questions. Why so? I ask myself. Clearly, both the president and Bernanke were making forecasts -- one on international politics and the other on international political economy -- both are, of course, vital. Was it because the former's forecast lacked fact-based documentation while the latter's forecast was more solidly grounded? In any case, as far as I could gather from their non-verbal gestures and body languages, the latter had more confidence or self-confidence. But, of course, confidence or self-confidence is not in the same league as faith. Saying "I believe" undoubtedly moves confidence or self-confidence to a higher level.