Last week, we were witness to a saga almost quixotic in the quest for its ultimate goal: a White House Press pass. In fact, this DCist witnessed it all from just a few feet away from our desk, as Garrett Graff — blogger at FishbowlDC — logged phone call after phone call in his attempt to gain the elusive press pass. Friday, Graff declared victory in gaining a pass to a White House press briefing. Was it “hard” or “soft”? The pass, that is. We can’t say without closer examination.

Nonetheless, this morning Graff — whose roots in journalism go back a couple of generations — becomes probably the first blogger ever to attend a White House press briefing. And he managed this achievment without the advantage of an x-rated website or a $1,200 weekend rate. Obviously, it’s a proud moment for Graff, and another milestone for bloggers. It’s also an opportunity for the White House to distract attention from the late unplesantness surrounding another White House press pass.

So, bloggers and bimbos now have White House access, though the former have to work longeg and harder at it. Now that “the gate is open,” so to speak, this DCist can’t help wondering what it would take for us to get a White House press pass. A week’s worth of phone calls, or a weekend of “outcalls”? Without credentials and a pedigree like Graff’s, probably the latter.

>> Gothamist on Garrett Graff’s West Wing access