[mburbank]

You don't think those comments were influenced in any way, by, say the fact that W. is the first President since HOOVER to turn down their invitations for the entire length of his presidency because of 'schedule confllicts'?

I don't see why W. was 'proud' to speak to them five year ago. If they hate him now, it might have something to do with whjat he's done in the intervening years. Or mybe he was just full of crap when he said he was 'proud', just doing the olitical rounds, and now he doesn't feel like he needs to. That would be fine with me if he had the spine to say so or say why. Instead he's like some snarky highschool cheerleader saying "Oh, Gosh, Darla, I'd really, really like to go to your party one of these years, but I'm SO busy."