In a Raucous Political Year, a Little Low-Key Fundraising

Liberia's president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, paid a visit to President Bush at the White House last week, and each had kind words for the other's fancy footwork -- on the dance floor. (By Aude Guerrucci -- Pool Photo Via Bloomberg News)

"Democracy and capitalism are the two great pillars of the American idea," Johnson continued. "To have rocked one of those pillars may be regarded as a misfortune. To have damaged the reputation of both, at home and abroad, is a pretty stunning achievement for an American president."

So You Think You Can Dance

The president enjoyed a small reprieve from the tide of bad economic and political news when one of his favorite foreign leaders, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, visited the Oval Office last week.

The "Iron Lady of Africa" is one of many African leaders who praise Bush for making international aid, especially to developing nations, a priority of his administration. Johnson Sirleaf was in town for a White House summit focused on the need to continue such aid despite the economic crisis.

Bush visited Liberia's capital of Monrovia in February, when he tossed off his jacket to take part in a lively dance with Johnson Sirleaf. The video of the event was a big hit on the Internet and highlighted Bush's recent tendency to bust his groove when given the chance.

"Madam President, I could not think of anybody better to give me dancing lessons than you," Bush said during his summit speech Tuesday.

Johnson Sirleaf returned the compliment during her visit to the White House the next day, telling Bush: "We want to say to you that your visit to our country is one that goes down in the record books as being one of the most enjoyable -- not only for the dancing."

This Thaw Has a Flaw

During a trip to Alexandria, La., last week, Bush turned his metaphors inside out in talking about frozen credit markets. "This thaw -- took a while to thaw, it's going to take a while to unthaw," he said.

The cold was catching. On Wednesday, White House press secretary Dana Perino expressed hope that emergency measures are "starting to have an impact on unthawing the credit markets."

On Thursday she referred to the need to "unthaw the credit freeze." On Friday she said the market was starting to "unthaw a little bit."

Perino laughed when asked about the slips. "Sometimes things like that just get stuck in your head," she said.

Just for the record: The White House favors a thaw for those frozen credit markets.

G-20 Maneuverings

Everyone agrees that Bush and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd discussed the global economic crisis during a telephone call Oct. 10. What was actually said, however, is another matter.