Bush Loosens Up With Press

W A S H I N G T O N, March 29 -- Two months into the Bush presidency, the smirk is sneaking back.

It's not quite the same George W. Bush grimace that got him in trouble in the campaign for appearing smug and over-confident. This look is more playful, teasing, mugging. And perhaps it can be read as a sign that the new president is feeling pretty comfortable in his job.

During the course of his second formal White House news conference, President Bush loosened up, cavalierly volleying questions and answers about a particularly intense week of policy discord.

"I will not accept a plan that will harm our economy and hurt American workers," he parried, without apology to those who are livid about his environmental reversals on air, water, and energy.

There was a snide tone for those who challenge his political incorrectness in wanting to drill for new resources in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

"It would be helpful if we opened up ANWR," Bush said. "I think it's a mistake not to. And I would urge you all to travel up there and take a look at it."

He ran right past an interruption.

"Let me finish please — and you can make the determination as to how beautiful that country is," he finished sarcastically.

Bush was unusually playful with reporters who seemed unusually long-winded themselves in the half hour news conference. Twice reporters asked for a traditional "follow-up" question. Twice the president deadpanned, "No."

NBC's David Gregory seemed to propose his own tax bracket adjustments. The president teased, "When you all come up with a solution, let me know. Gregory is in the top 1 percent."

Then, as chuckles rose, a quick compliment: "If not, you should be, David."

The place rocked with laughter when a fresh Bush-ism seemed to escape the president's lips.

"Those who think that they can say we're only going to have a stimulus package, but let's forget tax relief, mis-underestimate — excuse me — underestimate me "

Actually, the inside story gets better. A key aide confided that the "mis-underestimate me" phrase was actually a punchline written for the roast of the press scheduled a few hours later at an annual black tie press dinner. The president had been practicing, and the malapropism just slipped out ahead of schedule.