As a conservative Republican, I regret to say President Bush is uniting the country. Unfortunately, it’s Democrats and Republicans going together to critique his policies.

Republicans are supposed to believe in a balanced budget, small government and strong defense. Under Bush we did what no other country in world history has done and that is cut taxes after going into a major war.

Our national debt is enormous, as is our trade deficit. You may not see it today, but eventually our currency is going to be debased. It is we retirees who will suffer.

President Bush promised in his 2000 campaign he would never be a part of nation building, yet look at Iraq. It seems clear to me he has surrounded himself with corporate profiteers. We could have pulled out at the end of Sadam and not stayed for the insurrection. All we had to do is say “don’t make us come back.” Whatever happened would have been better than what we have now.

I have voted Republican ever since Nixon. I believe Republican ideology has been discarded by President Bush as he stole our party.

If it means cleaning out the leadership of the Republican Party to get back to its roots, I for one can unite with the Democrats.

See — he is a uniter.

John Fisher

Port Neches