It seems clear to me that the President braces the most for questions from ABC, CBS, and NBC. Kate Snow, Campbell Brown, and John Roberts asked three of the most attitude-laden questions. They wanted another tape loop to extend the Sixteen Words story, and he wasn’t biting, unless you count his very forceful endorsement of Condoleezza Rice. But he went long and deep into the press corps and the session should accomplish its purpose of letting some of the steam out of the avoiding-us feeling among the press.

While we all realize the political dangers for Bush of live swimming with the media sharks, I can tell you that WH reporters also want these sessions to increase the prestige of their own beat within their own news organizations and the media in general. The beat can make reporters feel like copy boys getting handouts, which increases the aggression you see in the live sessions.