May 31 2003
Pure Fiction
The economic rationale for this tax cut is dubious, but its political impact is clear. It’s a cynical device to re-elect the president and put the country in hock. One Senate Republican dubs it “The Rangers Relief Act,” after the newly created category of Bush donors who contribute at least $200,000 to his re-election. (The Pioneers used to be the high-rollers at $100,000 plus; now the Rangers, named after the baseball team Bush owned, are the heavy hitters.) “The tax cut reimburses the donors before they’ve given,” says the Senate Republican, noting the added benefit of starving the government of resources to support the programs that Democrats typically champion, like Social Security and Medicare.
I am beginning to believe that Karl Rove knows there is no chance of George W. Bush being elected in 2004, and he is determined to do as much damage to this country as he possibly can in the time he has left.
When the Bushes moved into the White House, they accused the Clinton people of trashing the place. When the next Democrat moves in, in January 2005, he’ll have to clean up the mess that Bush & Co. have made of the country. Trashing the White House will seem trivial in comparison.
