By PAUL KRUGMAN
There have been a number of articles recently that portray President Bush as someone who strayed from the path of true conservatism. Republicans, these articles say, need to return to their roots. Well, I don’t know what true conservatism is, but while doing research for my forthcoming book I spent a lot of time studying the history of the American political movement that calls itself conservatism — and Mr. Bush hasn’t strayed from the path at all. On the contrary, he’s the very model of a modern movement conservative.
People claim to be shocked by the Bush administration’s general incompetence. But . . .
People claim to be shocked at the Bush administration’s efforts to disenfranchise minority groups, under the pretense of combating voting fraud. But . . .
People claim to be shocked at the Bush administration’s attempts to equate dissent with treason. But . . .
Above all, people claim to be shocked by the Bush administration’s authoritarianism, its disdain for the rule of law. But . . .
Mr. Bush is movement conservatism’s true, loyal heir.
. . . Same Old Party
Cartoon seen at GW Bush's Record
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