Bush Calls Prodi; Berlusconi Flips Out

Upon hearing the Italian Supreme Court's validation of Prodi's victory, Bush -- a good friend of Berlusconi -- calls Prodi from Air Force One, and congratulates him on winning the election.

Berlusconi, however, is still hanging in there, refusing to admit defeat, and comes out swinging: "I did not call Prodi and I will not. Why should I should congratulate him; it would be against the interests of the country... ...We are the moral winners of the election... ...I do not believe that these signori will be able to govern. They will only be a parenthesis. They will not be able to ruin our reforms. We will defend our liberty."

Mr. Bush and Sig. Prodi's first tête-à-tête will be in July at the G8 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.