Even Bush 41 Cabinet Members Have Lost Confidence in the Dubya Administration

I never thought I'd be nostalgic for the George Herbert Walker Administration, but I am. Apparently, many of Bush I's former cabinet members and advisors feel the same.

Indeed, one of the worst-kept secrets in Bush World is the dismay, in some cases disdain, harbored by many senior aides of the former President toward the administration of his son - 41 and 43, as many call them, political shorthand that refers to their numerical places in American presidential history.

For five years, the 41s have bit their collective tongues as, they complain, the 43s ignored their counsel. But as the war in Iraq has worsened and public support for the current administration has tanked, loyalists of the elder Bush have found it impossible to suppress their disillusionment - particularly their belief that many of 43's policies are a stick in the eye of his father.

"Forty-three has now repudiated everything 41 stands for, and still he won't say a word," a key member of the elder Bush alumni said. "Personally, I think he's dying inside."

To 41 loyalists, the bill of indictment is voluminous. Some alleged 43 has betrayed his father's middle-of-the-road philosophy by governing as a divider, not the uniter he promised in the 2000 campaign. Others, like former 41 speechwriter Curt Smith, argue 43 isn't conservative enough.

Pennsylvania's sensible, moderate Republicans seem to be in agreement with a lot of these sentiments, if polling in the more hotly-contested races is any indication. It would be nice if some of that would spill over into our US House race and benefit Democratic Candidate Lois Herr, who is a pragmatic centrist where all key policy interests are concerned.

Joe Pitts votes in lockstep with the Bush 43 administration, and can no longer be classed as a "moderate".

--Karen L.

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