All Blog Posts from Political Hotsheet

Based on his comments during a series of interviews last night, it seems as though President Obama’s harshest critic may just be President Obama.

“I think I messed up, I screwed up,” President Obama told CBS News’ Katie Couric. “In not recognizing the perception that even though this is a honest mistake,” he explained. (Read the transcript of the interview here.)

The president was referring to revelations hours earlier that his pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Daschle, had withdrawn his nomination amid criticism of his initial failure to pay $140,000 in taxes.

During interviews with CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX and CNN, President Obama was asked about the cabinet staffing hiccup. The typically confident president repeatedly said that the appointment scandal was his responsibility and apologized over (and over) again.

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An uncharacteristically reflective George W. Bush just wrapped up the final press conference of his presidency.

It was not likely to be the last time the nation hears from Mr. Bush before he leaves office: As CBS News' Peter Maer reports, Press Secretary Dana Perino said that a presidential farewell address is “customary and likely."

But today's press conference had the feel of a final hurrah for Mr. Bush, who was perhaps more reflective this morning than he has been at any point in his presidency.

The president had kind words for the press corps, despite the fact that "[s]ometimes I didn't like the stories that you wrote or reported on."

After joking that some members of the media had "misunderestimated" him, the president said, "but always the relationship, I have felt, has been professional, and I appreciate it."

Mr. Bush characterized members of the press corps as "just people that are trying to do the best they possibly can."

The president also admitted mistakes, among them his speech below the now infamous "Mission Accomplished" banner in 2003, where he said "in the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed."

In Iraq, Mr. Bush told reporters, "not finding weapons of mass destruction was a significant disappointment."

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