"The second way to get Bush is the “Dukakis question”. “If one of Bush’s kids came down with a disease that embryonic stem cell research had a solid and proven treatment that would cure her—would Bush refuse treatment for her on religious grounds.”"

I’m not sure I understand how this will “get” Bush, nor do I think the question correctly states what his position is on the stem cell issue. My anticipation and hope is that he would hold to principles which he believes, regardless of how they would affect his family. He believes that it is wrong to kill embryos to do research that may save lives. Consistent with this, he has said Federal money cannot be used for this research. Now, since it is not against the law to kill embryos for research, the research can continue—just not with Federal support. That is my understanding on his position; I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong. The research continues--with Federal funding for everything except killing more embryos.

I always applaud a principled stand taken by someone when it appears to be against their best interests. An example is the son of a 911 victim who appeared on the O’Reilly Factor and said he was against our going into Afghanistan and against the war on terror. This was O’Reilly’s worst moment when he told the man to “shut up”—twice! While I disagree with the man’s conclusion, his stand is impressive because it appears to be against what an outsider would think his best interest: revenge on those who killed his father.

In the same way, I would hope Bush would say, “My child is precious to me, and I want everything medically possible done for her. But I will not compromise an ethical stand I have taken because you think it is in my best interest.”

What a terrible world this would be if everyone in positions of power made such decisions based on what was in their best interest, rather than on principles. Should I propose that the government give all engineers who have stupidly assumed the debt of a deadbeat kid tax relief, just because it would result in thousands of dollars in my pocket? Shame on me if I do.

But actually, Dick, I think you make a gross miscalculation by thinking that getting Bush will sink the Republicans next election. The Republicans will rise, maintain, or fall based on their performance in Congress and how it compares to what a majority of the voting public wants done, not based on a single person. You might want to concentrate on revealing what you believe to be Republican lapses there, or on changing public opinion from what it seems to be.

Best Regards,
DAT