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The contempt shown for the American public is perhaps most evidence in the disdain Bush has for actually lowering himself to being questioned. He seems to have the idea that he should be able to put forth whatever "message" is important to him at the moment and not have to worry about the petty concerns of other people.

Bush's Distaste for News Conferences Keeps Them Rare (washingtonpost.com): "Communications director Dan Bartlett said this White House uses news conferences more sparingly than other types of presidential events, because 'if you have a message you're trying to deliver, a news conference can go in a different direction.'"

After two years and 45 days in office, President Ronald Reagan had held 16 solo news conferences, President Jimmy Carter had held 45, President Gerald Ford had held 37, President Richard M. Nixon had held 16 and President Lyndon B. Johnson had held 52. (From the same article.) When you've had fewer press conferences than Dick Nixon, that's an accomplishment.