Why Can't Bush Answer Questions On His Own? House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on George Bush having Dick Cheney at his side when he meets with the 9/11 Commission: "[I]t speaks to the lack of confidence that the administration has in the president going forth alone, period. It's embarrassing to the president of the United States that they won't let him go in without holding the hand of the vice president of the United States. I think it reinforces the idea that the president cannot go it alone. The president should stand tall, walk in the room himself and answer the questions."