The Washington Post has a major front page article today telling readers that President Bush is pushing for his principles in his last year in office. Among the examples it cites are his efforts to open the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve to oil exploration and getting the Colombia trade agreement approved by Congress. Are these fundamental matters of principle for President Bush? As an alternative explanation, the opening of the wildlife refuge has long been a top goal of the oil industry, an interest group with whom President Bush has close ties. The Colombia trade agreement if being pushed by the pharmaceutical industry and other powerful groups with whom President Bush also has close ties. Presumably, these powerful lobbies appreciate President Bush's efforts to promote these policies and will be more likely to reward Republican candidates with their support as a result. Is President Bush pushing these policies because they are deeply held philosophical positions or because he is trying to promote the interests of his political backers? I don't know the answer to this question, but neither does the Post. So why does it have a major front article making assertions that it does not know to be true?
--Dean Baker
