Free Republic

After a hero’s welcome in Albania, President Bush returned to Washington last night faced with a slew of domestic problems and the sober reality that his influence is fading rapidly at home. His embattled Attorney-General, Alberto Gonzales, was facing a Democrat-led vote of no confidence; his plans for immigration reform are on the verge of collapse and there is growing conservative anger over his failure to pardon Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Dick Cheney’s former Chief of Staff. Libby was sentenced to 30 months last week in connection with the CIA leak scandal. The no-confidence motion in Mr Gonzales was blocked by...

George W. Bush, Hero of Albania! At least there's one place in the world where they show the Decider some love. That was a wonderful reverse-Borat moment Sunday, with the joyous townspeople of Fushe Kruje yelling "Bushie! Bushie!" and Albania's prime minister gushing over the "greatest and most distinguished guest we have ever had in all times." The crowd pressed in for autographs, photographs, a presidential peck on the cheek. Years from now, in his dotage, Bushie will feel warm all over when he recalls those magical hours in Albania. How they adored him! Outside of greater Tirana, however, the...

For the first time in five years, President Bush will attend the Senate Republicans' weekly policy lunch today as he pushes to revive his moribund overhaul of the nation's immigration laws. But even before he set foot in the Capitol, several Republican senators issued a terse warning yesterday: Don't expect much. In the days after the sweeping compromise on immigration collapsed on Thursday, opposition, if anything, appears to have hardened among some senators who had once been willing to consider the deal. The bill's vociferous critics have also had a long weekend to throw dirt on its grave. .... Republicans...

Bush’s wristwatch disappeared while he shakes hands with Albanian citizen 11 June 2007 | 19:22 | FOCUS News Agency Tirana. US President George Bush lost his wristwatch while he was shaking hands with Albanian citizen yesterday on his visit to Albania, Spanish agency EFE informed according to local TV channels information. Televisions broadcast a video that shows that while Bush greeting Albanian citizens, his watch disappears. Although the White House denies information that US President has lost his watch.

SOFIA, Bulgaria — President Bush braced for problems at home Monday with the cheers from his European trip still ringing in his ears. He pledged to resurrect his derailed immigration bill in the Senate — "I'll see you at the bill signing," he declared — and dismissed Democrats' effort to hold a no-confidence vote on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales as a waste of time. "I'll make the determination if I think he's effective or not," Bush said of Gonzales, a member of his inner circle from Texas. Returning to Washington Monday night, Bush said he would be on Capitol Hill...