Can President Bush Be the Next 'Come-back Kid?'

Subscribe to this Podcast:

Listen to/Watch entire show:

Legacy Player:

With 21 months left to go in his second term, George Bush looks more and more like a lame duck president. We hear some harsh criticisms from life-long Republicans and hear whether the awesome powers of the White House can provide for a comeback. On Reporter's Notebook, we talk with the Italian journalist who exposed forged documents used to bolster the war on Iraq.

Making News

Bush Will Meet but Not Negotiate with Democrats on Iraq ()

Speaking to an American Legion post in Virginia today, President Bush had strong words for the Democratic leaders of Congress. He said delay in appropriating money for the war in Iraq is unacceptable and "irresponsible." In the Senate, Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid had some tough words of his own. Sheryl Gay Stolberg is White House reporter for the New York Times.

Guests:

Sheryl Gay Stolberg: White House Reporter for the New York Times

Main Topic

President Bush Fighting to Stay Relevant ()

Two term presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton had their problems, but Iran-Contra and Monica Lewinsky were not the war in Iraq. Add the flap over Walter Reed, the trial of "Scooter" Libby, the firings of US Attorneys and the defections of former aides. It all adds up to a lame-duck president with 21 months left in office. Can a beleaguered chief executive regain the initiative? We talk with some loyal Republicans who say they're fed up and hear about the awesome powers of the White House.

Guests:

Victor Gold: Former Senior Advisor to President George Bush, Sr
Thomas Mann: Senior Fellow of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution
Jim Nuzzo: Deputy Director of Policy for President George Bush, Sr
Bruce Buchanan: Professor of Government at the University of Texas at Austin

Reporter's Notebook

Competitive Intelligence and Italy's Connection to the Iraq War ()

In his 2003 State of the Union Address, President Bush said that Saddam Hussein was seeking uranium from Africa. That claim was part of the rationale for war in Iraq, but we now know it was based on forged documents. Newsweek called the documents "the sort of flimsy scam that could have been exposed by a two-hour Google search." Democrats in Congress have asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to testify next week about what happened. The forgery story was broken Italian journalist Carlo Bonini, who's co-authored a book on international espionage and the war on terror.

Guests:

Carlo Bonini: Investigative reporter for La Repubblica

Search KCRW