NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - It's not often that financial journalists, or journalists of any kind for that matter, get invited to private briefings with the president of the United States. So imagine my surprise and delight when I got an invite to join a handful of my peers for a half-hour chat with President Bush Thursday afternoon.

Going into something like this, it's obvious that the president, whoever he may be, has an agenda. Or else why would he bother?

In Bush's case, right now he is down in the polls, even though the economy appears to be riding a lot higher than it was just a few months ago. So why not summon some business reporters eager for an opportunity to ask tough questions, and see if you can get your upbeat message heard?

CNNfn's Kathleen Hays met with President Bush and chatted about the economy. Find out what his thoughts are on tapping the oil reserves, inflation and taxes. Play video (Real or Windows Media)

The obvious explanation for this apparent contraction in the Bush numbers -- isn't it supposed to be the economy, stupid? -- is the war in Iraq, which seems to get uglier by the day, with the prisoner abuse scandal exploding, American GI's getting court-martialed, and an wedding party allegedly getting strafed.

But first let me set the stage. A group of seven journalists, most of whom know each other from working at the same networks or covering the same beats over the years, ushered into a high-ceiling, formal room with a long rectangular table in the middle, where we sit and chat waiting for the Man to arrive.

All stand when the president enters the room and introductions are made all around. We sit, journalists one side, Bush and his staff across from us on the other, and the briefing begins.

One of the president's first salvos was to note that he had taken over a "terrible economy," adding that was how it was described to him by Jack Welch, former head of GE. In other words: It was Clinton's recession, not mine.

And he hammered home another theme right out the gate: It's Congress's fault (i.e., Democrats and bad Republicans) that we're suffering with high gas prices because they didn't pass the president's energy policy. "You can't consume your way to less dependence, you have to be more productive," Bush said.

With gas prices over two bucks a gallon nationwide and crude oil over 40 bucks a barrel, it's no surprise that three of the seven journalists asked questions about energy policy, in particular the president's refusal to tap the nation's strategic petroleum reserve.

The president repeated that he would only tap into the SPR in the event of an emergency, so I asked him to clarify if by emergency he meant terrorist attack.

"If somebody were to attack a refinery, if someone were to blow up a something," he said. "It's a time for an emergency, a major disruption caused by... an unfriendly nation."

I also asked him, if he would at least consider filling up the SPR more slowly. He said that the SPR is about 90 percent full and the administration must be consistent in its plan to fill it up.

But he said one option that might be considered would be, if the price of oil in the futures market falls below the price in the spot market, to buy oil in the futures market instead.

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Bush also acknowledged that "it's a tough time for the country," and that the imagery of war is "disconcerting" for Americans, making it hard for them to be optimistic. But he said the economy has turned the corner, that "it's strong and getting stronger," and that he sees that not just in the economic reports from the government but in anecdotal evidence. "The attitude is different," he said, compared with when he took office.

Asked what he thinks about rising prices, from milk to gasoline, and if he sees a rising inflation problem, Bush said it's the job of the Federal Reserve to watch for inflationary pressures, adding that he reappointed Fed chief Alan Greenspan this week because "he's doing an excellent job."

At one point, a tall serious man strode into the room, relaying a message to the president. Bush told us the Iraq commanders were waiting for him in the next room, not that "I don't think you are important," he added with a smile.

We all got one question, and a follow-up, though I managed to stretch mine a bit by starting with a "clarification" instead of a question. I asked him what he considered the most important economic achievement of his administration. He said the tax cuts, because they got us through the 9/11 attacks, corporate governance scandals and recession. Also, the No Child Left Behind Act because he thinks it is fundamentally changing education for the better.

When the time was up, he shook hands all around. I told him he should stay for lunch next time. He smiled, saying "The burgers are great here," and my Thursday in the White House with George was over.

Kathleen Hays anchors CNN Money Morning and The FlipSide, airing Monday to Friday on CNNfn. As part of CNN's Business News team, she also contributes to Lou Dobbs Tonight.