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January 06, 2007

Bush Explains His Transformation to Fiscal Conservative

A lot of people have been wondering what's up with President Bush's sudden transformation into a fiscal conservative now that the Democrats control Congress. Abstract Nonsense, Berkeley Bubble, Media Girl, and others have noted the irony in Bush's call for Congress to balance the budget in five years, stop funding "pet projects," and adopt earmarks reforms in light of the incredibly out of control spending we've seen so far during his Administration.

Now the President has offered an explanation.

Bush, according to aides, feels "liberated" to insist on fiscal restraint. He was more or less obligated--or at least felt he was—to sign spending bills passed by a Republican Congress. But with a Democratic Congress, "he can be bolder than he otherwise might have been," an aide says. That means a willingness--perhaps an eagerness--to use the veto. In his first six years as president, Bush often threatened vetoes but vetoed only a single measure.

"Liberated." The very same word Rush Limbaugh used when he expressed his relief at no longer having to "carry water" for the Republicans. You see, it's not Bush or Rush who were the problem - it was those horrible Republican members of Congress. Getting rid of them was no loss - it was liberating! I smell Karl Rove.

Posted by Becky at January 6, 2007 11:53 AM