"Thank you, Master President."

My favorite question from last night's Bush press conference was this one:

"Mister President, you have spent the last several months dismissing the Social Security trust fund, which is made up of U.S. Treasury Bonds, as a bunch of worthless IOUs. But, a few minutes ago, you described Treasury Bonds as the safest investment on earth, backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. These characterizations are precise opposites of one another. Which one is the truth?"

Oh, wait. My mistake. That's my favorite question that didn't get asked.

The White House press corps is an embarrassment to the craft of journalism.

Bush went before the nation last night to give Social Security privatization a last-ditch hard sell. In an attempt to sway the American people from their loathing and distrust of his private accounts idea, he added a wrinkle. The president acknowledged that it is understandable that people might not want to take a risk with the guaranteed returns of Social Security. With that in mind, the risk averse (my term, not his) could have the option of investing their money in a private accounts fund populated entirely by U.S. Treasury bonds, offering a rate of return similar to that of... Social Security! That, of course, is because the trust fund is made up entirely of those stacks of paper for which Bush can barely conceal his contempt.

So, there he stands before the cream of American journalism with their knives sharpened and fangs bared, waiting to tear the warm flesh from his body.

- Master President, permission to speak?

- Speak.

- Forgive my impudence, Your Greatness, for daring to question thee. But, if your servant may be so bold, how dost thou feel about... the polls?

- "Polls? You know, if a president tries to govern based on polls, you're kind of like a dog chasing your tail. I don't think you can make good, sound decisions based upon polls. And I don't think the American people want a president who relies upon polls and focus groups to make decisions for the American people."

This was AP White House correspondent Terry Hunt lobbing the softball about polls, setting Bush up for the stock answer about how he don't pay no attention to 'em. Great job, Terry. Way to go, big guy.

Not one of these battle-hardened elite journalists thought to challenge Bush on the pathological inconsistencies spilling out of his mouth. The only word for it is "malpractice."

Be ashamed of yourselves, White House "press corps." Be ashamed.