Our cultured president

With the passing of Pope John Paul II, President George W. Bush has emphasized that he supports the late Pope's vision of a "culture of life." Interesting, seeing as the Pope had often criticized the President's humanitarian policies. Why would he do such a thing?

While serving as governor of Texas, Bush signed into law a bill that would allow the state to remove a feeding tube from a patient in a persistent vegetative state, if no one could pay the patient's hospital bill.

This year, Bush has proposed a $15 billion cut to Medicaid, the federal program that provides states with money to pay for the medical needs of the poor and disabled.

As president, George Bush signed into law a bill that makes it illegal for Americans to buy inexpensive prescription drugs from Canada. These are brand-name drugs made in the United States by American companies.

While serving as governor of Texas, Bush had 152 criminals executed, more than any governor in recent history.

During his 2004 presidential election campaign, Bush refused to advocate for the renewal of the Assault Weapons Ban. It is now legal for a regular citizen to carry firearms that can pierce a police officer's bulletproof vest.

Bush has signed and supported legislation that lowers industrial emissions regulations of chemicals known to cause brain damage, birth defects, cancers and global warming. The Clear Skies Act, for example, is inconsistent with current emissions laws and constitutes non-enforcement of the Clean Air Act. Emissions from power plants are responsible for 6,000 deaths and 140,000 new cases of asthma annually, according to a study done by the Rockefeller Family Fund.

But, throughout his political career, Bush has remained adamantly pro-fetus. I guess he supports a "culture of life" after all.