"The methodology has been discredited."
George W. Bush (10/10/06 Press Conference)

In answer to a question concerning the recent report that 655,000 Iraqis have died since 2003, due to the war, President Bush refuted the study. Fine. I'm sure if only 654,000 died, he could have been right. It is his response to the reporter's followup of whether he stood by his "around 30,000 dead" statement he made a few months ago that really exposes his lack of any credibility in this war.

None.

That's right. In a war he started to save the Iraqi people from the murderous Saddam Hussein, he refuses to honestly address how many of those he has saved have been murdered since he saved them.

But he did actually say that he was amazed how well "the Iraqi people tolerate violence." Like they have a choice.

He did actually say that most American people believes the same as he when the polls say exactly the opposite, by a bunch.

There was so much more bullshit spread in today's press conference that there's no mistake why the Rose Garden flourishes. But if there is something to revel in the Presidential dodge of confronting the bloody consequences of his decisions. Even though he did not answer, the question was asked. But now the real job of a dutiful American press is now at hand. They must continue to ask the question until we get an honest answer.

And until the President allows Helen Thomas and David Gregory to ask every (any?) question the rest of the White House Press Corp needs to step up and not let the President get away with avoiding the truth so we, as a nation, can make decisions that affect our lives...and the futures of the lives left orphaned by this President's lethal mistakes.

Steve Young is author of "Great Failures of the Extremely Successful," www.greatfailure.com and the wacky new children's novel, "15 Minutes" (HarperCollins)