Drowning in Pool Reports

Freud might have said that Hank Paulson inadvertently revealed his true feelings. (By Melina Mara -- The Washington Post)
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On Tuesday, transition chief John Podesta had to go on damage control with an unhappy White House after The Washington Post and the New York Times reported that President Bush, in his private meeting with Obama, suggested a quid pro quo in which Bush would support an auto industry bailout if Obama supported a free trade agreement.

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Helen Thomas hasn't lost anything off the old fastball.

The 88-year-old legend of the White House briefing room returned to her front-row seat yesterday afternoon after a long illness-related absence. "We're happy to welcome back Helen Thomas," Bush press secretary Dana Perino said at the top. "We missed you a great deal, and we'll let the sparring begin here in just an instant."

Thomas wore her trademark scowl but sat silently through much of the briefing. Perino was about to close the session when it was brought to her attention that Thomas had a question. "Helen has a question!" the 36-year-old press secretary exclaimed with a smile.

"Yes, I do," Thomas piped up. "You say the president is not at fault for the auto industry problem. Do you think he's responsible for a solution?"

"Well," Perino began, I think that he -- " But Thomas had not yet relinquished the floor. "And also, is there a quid pro quo on the Colombia trade agreement?"

Perino explained that there was no quid pro quo between an auto-industry bailout and the free trade deal, and she assured Thomas that the auto industry is "very important."

Not good enough. "Is he aware that Michigan has 9 percent unemployment?" Thomas demanded.

"Very well aware of it," Perino said, padding her answer with a few more sentences.

Still not good enough. "Is he aware that Detroit won World War II by retooling in a matter of days to a wartime condition?"

"He knows how important Detroit is, its history," Perino assured Thomas.