I've been going through the past White House press gaggles and briefings from the day Mr. Guckert started as a White House "correspondent." They're all collected at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/briefings/
I found this for the May 15, 2003 briefing. Interestingly, Scotty is standing in for Ari. While I'm not sure that the Jeff called on by Scotty is our Jeff, his first question is a trademark Gannon/Guckert softball:
MR. MCCLELLAN: Let me finish -- Jeff. Go ahead.
Q Just two quick ones. Legislation now in Congress to index the gas tax to inflation would essentially raise gas prices over five cents a gallon. Does the White House have a position on this?
MR. MCCLELLAN: To -- what's the piece of legislation?
Q The legislation is to index the gas tax to inflation, which would raise the price of gas by over five cents a gallon.
MR. MCCLELLAN: Let me take a look at it. I'll see if we can post something on it.
Question is, why did he call him Jeff when he knew he was Jim or JD? Why was Scotty and not Ari the first to call on our boy?
I'll keep plugging away at this mind-numbing drivel.