But if you need them to talk about Ignatieff...

Here is a transcript of a White House briefing this week on talks between President Barack Obama and Israeli  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. By my rough count, over 40 questions on the actual meeting and about 2,500 words worth of answers from Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

And here -- see below --  is a  sorry excuse of a message, sent by email today to   the Parliamentary Press Gallery, to elaborate on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's talks with the Israeli Prime Minister.

"Prime Minister Netanyahu called Prime Minister Harper today to discuss Prime Minister Netanyahu’s recent visit to Washington D.C., and in particular, the prospects for Middle East peace negotiations.  Leaders agreed to remain in close contact in the weeks ahead."

  Yes. That's it. You wonder why they bother, don't you?