The Libby-Cheney Bummer

Bush Light

Peter Baker writes in The Washington Post: "While the House of Representatives debated weighty matters of war and peace yesterday, President Bush headed to the YMCA.

"In a brightly lighted basement gym, he visited children bending paperclips into different shapes and urged Americans to volunteer as mentors. He talked not of armies in Iraq but of 'armies of compassion' at home. Even the kids seemed confused. One asked why he came. 'I came to see you,' the president responded. As the cameras clicked away, a 7-year-old boy made peace signs. 'Put your hands down,' Bush chided playfully.

[Here's an Associated Press photo of Bush surrounded by little peaceniks.]

"That was the most extensive case made yesterday by the commander in chief against the growing antiwar sentiment gripping Congress and the nation. . . .

"In recent weeks, he has participated in events focused on childhood obesity and national parks. He hosted photo opportunities with last year's Stanley Cup and NASCAR champions. And this week, he is meeting with three foreign heads of state -- the presidents of Lithuania, Liberia and Panama -- representing a combined population smaller than that of Michigan."

Here are Bush's remarks on volunteerism at the White House yesterday, and at the YMCA.

Todd Gillman of the Dallas Morning News related this scene to his colleagues: "The following exchange was overheard by another pooler, between younger boys at the first table, as the president schmoozed elsewhere. . . .

"1st kid: 'He's my favorite president.' (referring to Bush)

"2d kid: 'My favorite president is President Obama.'

"1st kid: 'Who's that?'

"2d kid: 'He's the first black president.'"

The Iranian Allegations

Farah Stockman and Thanassis Cambanis write in the Boston Globe: "Security analysts and critics of the Bush administration are questioning the quality of intelligence presented by three unidentified US officials in Baghdad on Sunday to demonstrate the Iranian government's ties to sophisticated explosives that have killed 170 US soldiers in Iraq."