First you had Virginia's incumbent Sen. George Allen "macaca" himself out of office with the help of an overzealous Washington Post. Now you've got that same state's Sen.-elect, Jim Webb, embracing his inner jackass.

At a recent White House reception for freshman members of Congress, Virginia's newest senator tried to avoid President Bush. Democrat James Webb declined to stand in a presidential receiving line or to have his picture taken with the man he had often criticized on the stump this fall. But it wasn't long before Bush found him.

"How's your boy?" Bush asked, referring to Webb's son, a Marine serving in Iraq.

"I'd like to get them out of Iraq, Mr. President," Webb responded, echoing a campaign theme.

"That's not what I asked you," Bush said. "How's your boy?"

"That's between me and my boy, Mr. President," Webb said coldly, ending the conversation on the State Floor of the East Wing of the White House.

Sen. Webb, you're off to an inauspicious start. You might want to consider the benefits of learning how to play well with others.