BEGALA:   Welcome back to CROSSFIRE. Time now for "Fireback," where you get to take shots at us. First, the response to our audience poll. We asked the audience whether President Bush should send troops to Liberia. Two-thirds of the audience said no. Democrats and Republicans alike overwhelmingly say no, Bob. 
NOVAK:   You know, it's so very rare that there's bipartisan agreement on something for a change. OK, we'll take a look at the e-mails. Larry Seehagen of West Vancouver, British Columbia, asks: "Does Tucker accompanying Al Sharpton to Africa confirm the rumor that Tucker is finally officially joining the Al Sharpton for president team?" Maybe not, but both Tucker and I think that Al would be a fitting representative of the Democratic Party against George W. Bush. 
BEGALA:   That's what makes me nervous, although, Al Sharpton at least is trying to prevent a war. And to the best of our knowledge, he's never misled us about a war, which you can't say about Mr. Bush. Bob Glatter of Santa Barbara, California, writes: "Why kind of bird is George Bush? He strutted like a peacock on the deck of the aircraft carrier to declare an end to combat in Iraq. He stuck his head in the sand like an ostrich when it became known that Saddam Hussein did not get yellowcake uranium from Africa, as he claimed. I think he's just a turkey." Well, Bob... 
NOVAK:   I think you read Bob -- I think you write Bob Glatter's stuff for him.    Question from the audience? 
BEGALA:   Yes, sir. 
UNIDENTIFIED MALE:   Hi, my name is Brendan (ph). I'm from San Rafael, California. And my question is, which Democratic presidential candidate is in the best position to take advantage of the Iraq intelligence scandal? 
NOVAK:   Well, I don't think it's a scandal, young fellow. But I think it's a Democratic ploy perpetuated by his friends in the media. I think Howard Dean is in the best position. 
BEGALA:   Well, honestly, I don't know. The question is not, was the intelligence right or wrong? The question is, did the president make it right or wrong? Did he massage it? Did he spin it? And the abundant evidence is that he did, that our president misled us about this war and the intelligence. 
NOVAK:   Well, that wasn't the question.    Let's get another one. 
BEGALA:   Yes, sir? 
UNIDENTIFIED MALE:   Hi, Dean (ph) from Chicago. I'm wondering how you rate Tony Blair's chances of survival. 
NOVAK:   In Britain? I don't know. His approval rating is about 24 percent, which -- I think that's pretty good, because the British don't know what they're doing most of the time anyway. So I go with the 24 percent. 
BEGALA:   He is a remarkably gifted leader. And as one who disagreed with him on the war, when I saw him standing there in the well of the Congress, I was praying to God he was our president, instead of Bush. But I guess I shouldn't say that, huh? 
NOVAK:   Well, you can always go to Britain and obtain citizenship. 
BEGALA:   On a personal note, today is the birthday of our very fine director, Howie Lutt (ph). Howie, happy birthday. Thanks for making us look good.    From the left, I'm Paul Begala. That's it for CROSSFIRE. 
NOVAK:   From the right, I'm Robert Novak. Join us again next time for another edition of CROSSFIRE.
