President Bush looks to support a 'Deal'

Maybe President Bush was watching "American Idol" the other night instead of a Texas Rangers baseball game. And when he saw that the three main presidential candidates who know they can do a better job in the White House could reach millions of TV viewers simply by doing a taped video, he got an idea.

Anyway, tonight with his own approval ratings in the cellar in large part due to the ongoing Iraq war, Bush will appear briefly on NBC's highly rated "Deal or No Deal" to wish good luck to a 29-year-old American soldier who's trying to pick the briefcase containing the million dollars. And to thank him for his service in Iraq.

Capt. Joseph Kobes of Sumner, Wash., a Purple Heart recipient, has completed three tours of duty in Iraq in the last four years and he's just reenlisted for another three years.

Kobes told the show's producers that Bush was one of his heroes. They told White House aides. They told the president. And on tonight's show, the commander in chief will wish the captain good luck.

On the surface, it's a nice public relations gesture. But wait. What if the captain picks the wrong briefcase? Who ya gonna blame in this political year?

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo: Agence France-Presse