Letter: It’s time the GOP breaks with Bush

Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007 | 7:13 a.m.

For years now, Republicans have given President Bush absolutely everything he's asked for. Republicans have expanded the power of the executive branch while diminishing not only that of the judiciary but also of their own legislative branch as well.

Republicans have stood by his side as he spent us into the greatest debtor nation the world has ever known, weakening the dollar and increasing the deficit, the debt and the interest on it - while paying no attention to gaining the revenue needed to pay it.

His fiscal formula is based on passing the problem to our kids. This is "fiscally conservative"? Republicans have rubber-stamped his failed "stay the course" strategy for this very unpopular war. His formula for getting us out is to pass the problem to his successor.

Republicans have failed to override his stem cell research veto despite knowing that the public agrees with scientists that such research has great promise. Now he vetoes spending money on American children's health care because he needs it for his war in Iraq. That's "compassionate conservatism"?

Certainly, by now, the Republicans have figured out that this president is not only a fake conservative, but that he also doesn't care one whit for his party or for his people in Congress who have given him their trust and unyielding support. He's out of a job after next year and simply doesn't care.

My advice for Republican members of Congress: It's time for some political pragmatism and self-interest. Persuade the president to rescind his veto of funding for child health care or, failing that, override his veto unanimously. And don't stop there.

This country will not be well served if the 2008 elections produce a government where the executive and the legislative branches are dominated by a single party. As Republicans know from firsthand experience, that didn't work out so well. Don't go down with his sinking SCHIP.

Stanley R. Goldfarb, Las Vegas