If I were to consolidate my government education loans in December
2004, what interest rate should I have gotten, whether variable or
fixed?

Some government-sponsored student loans are tied to market interest
rates. This rule applies only to the original loans. When you
consolidate loans, here's what happens:

1) The new consolidating company pays back all of your existing loans.
These are the loans covered by government regulations. As soon as
those are paid off by the consolidating company, all bets are off.
2) The consolidating company now owns "new" debt from you... what you
owe them for paying off all of the old loans. This new debt is covered
only by the agreement you signed with them.