In her final White House column before going on leave to write a book about Condi Rice, Elisabeth Bumiller of The New York Times decided to list a few "misperceptions" about the White House beat. Near the top of the list was this:

The White House doesn't care about the press.

Who on earth believes that? This White House spies on the press, and threatens the press with prosecution; no one could possibly believe that the Bushies don't care what reporters say and do.

No one, that is, who isn't steeped in White House spin. Bumiller is in that category. The White House wants everyone to think that its occupants live true to their own moral compass, manfully sticking to their guns like Western heroes while ignoring the cavillers and naysayers who try to distract them. No one outside the administration hothouse still believes that, but she's been immersed in the B.S., so I guess it still seems plausible to her.

Bumiller also gives us a snapshot of Bush that's much more negative than anything she's shared up to now, although, still experiencing the Stockholm syndrome, she suggests that his peevishness is her fault:

... like just about everyone, he can be short-tempered, impatient and brusque.... One time I had my own little encounter. I was leaving the Rose Garden in May 2002 when I turned around in a corner of the colonnade and found myself face to face with Mr. Bush. Startled, I blurted out: "Hi, Mr. President. What are you doing here?"

This was not a good question to put to the actual occupant of the White House. Mr. Bush testily shot back, "What are you doing here?"

Er, this was not a good answer to put to someone who, in effect, works out of the White House. Bush was rude to you, Elisabeth. I think just about every president of at least the past 75 years would have reacted to a question like that with grace and humor. Bush is just a sullen brat.