Here's a portion from Lapham's notebook, which contains a colloquy between President Bush and a reporter on the California recall:

The President (insulted): It is the biggest political story in the country? That's interesting. That says a lot. That speaks volumes.

First Reporter: …You don't agree?

The President (irritated): I don't get to decide the biggest political story. You decide the biggest political story. But I find it interesting that that is the biggest political story in the country, as you just said.

Second Reporter: You don't think it should be?

The President (cute and sarcastic): Oh, I think there's maybe other political stories. Isn't there, like, a presidential race coming up?

Lapham continues: "In California the Hollywood press corps would have known better. It's never any good mentioning the names of two action-movie stars at the same news briefing….