Selective taste in company

Steve Benen, Crooks and Liars: As he is inclined to do, the president assembled a group of sycophantic media guests to boost his ego at the White House yesterday, the latest in a series of gatherings between Bush and like-minded allies who enjoy telling him exactly what he wants to hear — and agrees with every word he says.

At yesterday’s press gaggle, Press Secretary Dana Perino read the names of the invited guests:

Michael Barone (U.S. News), Tony Blankley (Washington Times), David Brooks (New York Times), Ron Kessler (NewsMax), Charles Krauthammer (Washington Post), Bill Kristol (Weekly Standard), Larry Kudlow (CNBC), Morton Kondracke (Roll Call), Kimberly Strassel (Wall Street Journal), Kathryn Lopez and Kate O’Beirne (National Review).

When she was done, some White House reporters literally laughed. Out loud.

It has come to this. The Bush Bubble is so strong, and the president is so loath to talk to people who might confront him with ideas that conflict with his own, that the White House press secretary draws laughter by reading the lists of “reporters” (read: sycophantic media allies) Bush is willing to hang out with.