One of These Things Is Not Like the Other

Here’s President Bush out speaking at a recent event.  The message isn’t exactly subtle.

Now here’s the Washington Post this morning on how the administration is handling the ongonig S-CHIP brouhaha:

Bush administration officials yesterday voiced conciliation, suggesting the president could accept legislation that would expand the program by about $20 billion over five years, far bigger than the $5 billion expansion that Bush initially proposed.

And here, again, is White House counselor Ed Gillespie on NPR saying that Bush’s opposition to S-CHIP is "not about spending."

And yet somehow the GOP is still trying to "re-brand" itself as fiscally responsible.  That’s like telling people you’re on a diet while scarfing down triple-decker cheeseburgers every meal–and then talking up how good they are.

There’s still a chance for Republicans to turn things around, and I certainly hope they do. But when this is what passes for principle in a party that’s supposed to be built on the stuff, it’s not surprising that much of the public is looking for another option.