His lame-duckness blows photo-op

Well, not completely. The NYTimes writer went along:

WASHINGTON, Oct.13 - President Bush used a new tool - a videoconference hookup - to rally American troops in Iraq today, telling them that they were helping to "defeat a backward, dark philosophy with one that's hopeful."

And the Post:

President Bush, speaking to U.S. troops in Iraq today ahead of Saturday's referendum on a new constitution, thanked them for "being a part of this global war" and vowed to press on until "total victory" over an enemy he described as ruthless and cold-blooded.

But not AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It was billed as a conversation with U.S. troops, but the questions President Bush asked on a teleconference call Thursday were choreographed to match his goals for the war in Iraq and Saturday's vote on a new Iraqi constitution.

The Times hed: "Bush uses video hookup to bolster troops in Iraq"
Post hed: "Bush rallies U.S. soldiers ahead of Iraqi constitution vote"
AP hed: "Bush teleconference with soldiers staged"
The Times and Post writers did note that it was scripted, but AP pretty much inverted their formula, giving short shrift to the event. ABC also focused on the choreography.