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I felt sick listening to that press conference on NPR. The White House press corps, chuckling at every lame attempt at humoring them that comes out of the president's mouth, seems to pride itself that they are finally asking "tough questions." But the only real tough questions came from Helen Thomas, and the answer she was given was a spew of bullshit. I am not an expert on these matters, but when Bush told his like about the weapons inspectors, I was screaming at my radio. Given that no reporter is allowed a follow-up question, why didn't someone back Thomas up and ask one? Why didn't someone ask the president if he'd ever heard of Hans Blix? Are they all so intent on asking their own pre-decided question that they can't see an opening and run with it?
Afterwards, the main story the media told about the conference was that Bush seemed to enjoy the "spirited debate," when actually he sounded petulant and pissy. Bush had also said, indirectly, that the troops would be in Iraq in 2008 and beyond, and this was seen as a newsflash to the dimwits with microphones.
The press is incompetent, which is frightening enough, but what is really terrifying is that it honestly seems to think it's doing a good job. It is like President Bush in that regard.
