White House press corps not insulted by Shrub's jabs. AND claim always asked hard questions.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/07/07/DI2007070700784.html

Washington Post White House reporter Peter Baker was online Thursday, July 12, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the latest in political news. ....


...My question is, why does Brush have these press conferences? What does he expect the results to be? He must know that he does not perform well in these type of settings, and that his impact on public opinion will be neutral at best. Is it simply his belief that he still can sway public and political opinion? ....

Peter Baker: My, my, such a cynical summation of the news conference experience! And, truth to tell, pretty close. You're right, these things can have a Groundhog Day feel to them, but what else should the president do at this point if he's committed to his policy course? If he's determined to stay on the current course, then he clearly needs to get out there to explain and defend his decisions, whether such events move the needle on public opinion polls or not. Staying quiet certainly wouldn't help him, would it? ....



Anonymous: When the President mocks you and your colleagues as he did at the opening of the Press Room, what is the feeling generated in you White House journalists?

Peter Baker: It's just part of the show. No one in the briefing room thinks much about it either way. I know that some watching on television think reporters should feel insulted or that it shows we're too chummy or whatever, but frankly, we don't focus on it very much. ....



Arlington, Va.: Thank goodness the press corps finally is asking Bush some hard questions. He looks really uncomfortable trying to answer these questions. And bravo for someone calling him on his claim that the people we are fighting in Iraq now are the same as the people who attacked us on Sept. 11. Does he ever stop lying?

Peter Baker: I realize it's a popular myth among critics of the evil MSM that the press corps is only now asking the president hard questions, but frankly I don't think that's the case. I've been back on the White House beat for more than 2-1/2 years and the questioning today seemed the same as it's been both in this tour and my last tour on the beat. ....

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And he still insists he's a good reporter...

fucking amature...