contrapositive

LAUGH LINES Number of US military fatalities in Iraq since the war began: 2681

Number of "laughter episodes" noted today in the official White House transcript of the President's morning press conference: 16

There was also this:

THE PRESIDENT: Let's see, New York Times, Sheryl.

Q Hi, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Fine. How are you doing?

Q I'm well today, thank you. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Did you start with, hi, Mr. President?

Q Hello, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay, that's fine. Either way, that's always a friendly greeting, thank you.

Q We're a friendly newspaper.

For the record, I'm pretty sure that was Sheryl Gay Stolberg embarrassing herself, her employer and her profession.

UPDATE: A couple more choice snippets:

Q Recently you've also described bin Laden as a sort of modern day Hitler or Mussolini. And I'm wondering why, if you can explain why you think it's a bad idea to send more resources to hunt down bin Laden, wherever he is?

THE PRESIDENT: We are, Richard...Pakistan is a sovereign nation. In order for us to send thousands of troops into a sovereign nation, we've got to be invited by the government of Pakistan.

And this:

THE PRESIDENT: When I work the ropelines, a lot of people come and say, Mr. President, I'm praying for you--a lot. As a matter of fact, it seems like a lot more now than when I was working ropelines in 1994.

No kidding.