Republicans, stop trashing Clinton to build up Bush

Date published: 6/2/2003

As many Republicans do, the writer of the recent letter ["'Top Gun' Bush was right-on with his carrier landing," May 21] resorts to Clinton-bashing to defend President Bush. What possible relevance can that have?

Nationwide, letters to newspapers continue to pour in, vilifying Clinton and his many shortcomings. Such invective does nothing but further divide this nation and keep us from debating serious issues and finding consensus to move forward--not backward.

Would the writer like some Bush-bashing? He mentions Bush's so-called military service. Does he call his daddy pulling strings to get him into the Air National Guard military service? And then no one has any recollection of George Jr. even showing up. Maybe he returned instead to Yale to snort some more cocaine. Now I ask you: What purpose does that invective serve?

Instead, let's debate, for example, whether this president has a clue about this lousy, stagnant economy. And make no mistake about it, this is Bush's economy. The tax cuts of 2001 had no effect, so what makes him think the latest round of cuts will help? He also now has an outright majority in Congress, and this economy is treading water.

Sooner or later Republicans will have to come up with something better than, "Our boy may not have what it takes, but at least he isn't Bill Clinton!" That isn't going to cut it anymore.

J. Michael Condon

Spotsylvania

Read more stories about Spotsylvania
Date published: 6/2/2003