The Fringe Politics Of George Bush

As the job approval of George Bush continues to fall, it is clear to more and more Americans that George Bush does not represent their values. In fact Mr. Bush does not even represent the values of many republicans.

The latest poll from CBS finds the job approval of Bush down to a mere 37%. And support for the war in Iraq down to a mere 32%. And 59% of Americans now want American soldiers out of Iraq as soon as possible, however supposedly as support for the October 15, vote on the constitution in Iraq, there are now 152,000 American soldiers in Iraq, a new increase of 14,000.

Republican senator, John McCain of Arizona brought a bill to the floor of the U.S. Senate, that was overwelming supported that banned torture of detainees in response to the outrageous abuses justified as "interrogation" techniques at the infamous Abu Ghraib prison. Mr. Bush now threatens to veto this bill. For someone who claimed to be some sort of a "compassionate conservative", this calls into question the values system of George Bush.

John McCain faced years of harsh and abusive treatment as a prisoner at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" in North Vietnam, after a SAM missile damaged his Navy jet and he was forced to bail out over Vietnam. With so many years of harsh treatment, McCain is very sensitive to the fact that American prisoners of war may face harsh treatment from enemy armies in future years unless America sets a standard that prisoner abuse is not morally acceptable. Allowing prisoner abuse is to weaken the accepted international standards of the Geneva Convention for humane treatment of POWs. And the argument of some, such as those of the Bush Administration, that detainees from Iraq or Afghanistan do not qualify for Geneva Convention protection is an outrageous denial of humane treatment for a captured enemy fighter that we expect to be extended to any American military or civilian man, woman or child captured as well. My own grandfather, Captain John Einarson was a merchant marine captain during WWII. He was born in Norway, and spoke with a British accent. He was a very worldly and handsome gentleman. But while transporting arms to American, British and Australian soldiers in the Pacific, his ship was captured by the Japanese Navy, and he faced abusive torture including flogging to try to force information from him about allied troop positions in the Pacific. Desipte the Geneva Conference rules, even civilians like this faced terrible abuses. Many Japanese involved were later brought to trial for war crimes against both civilians and allied soldiers as well. The values of George Bush are far from the mainstream if he believes that torture and abuse should be allowed as an option for America to practice. All POWs are entitled to humane treatment.

And in another area, conservative republican senator Charles Grassley wants to extend Medicaid funds to the Katrina disaster victims who currently do not have any medical benefits. This involves some emergency help to 6,000 persons in Louisiana and maybe 10,000 more displaced in other states. And again the values of the Bush Administration are brought into question, as Bush opposes the use of temporary medical benefits to those in Louisiana who lost their homes and are still homeless and in a world of economic hurt.

Legendary entertainer, and liberal republican, Paul Newman has contributed more than $150 million to charity through the sale of his Newman's Own products. Not only are these foods top quality, but all profits help provide important funds to worthy projects. Rev. Pat Robertson, a very conservative, but also very compassionate republican, donated $22.5 million in medical supplies and 2.5 million pounds of food to the recent Katrina hurricane disaster victims, and the food was prepared as free meals that was served by members of Menonite faith. Yet Bush draws the line at certain aid to the disaster victims, playing the a role of befitting of "Scrooge".

Mr. Bush attempted to promote his "compassionate conservatism" as some sort of conservative answer to the long tradition of kindness towards others inherent in American liberalism. But as time goes on, and the curtain is opened just like the curtain of the man in the Wizard Of Oz, it appears that man behind the curtain hardly has as much heart as he claims. The man behind the curtain of "compassionate conservatism " is little more than a fraud.