Mr Bu$h has vetoed the expanded SCHIP insurance program that would have continued the program which presently insures about 6 million children and opened it up to many of the 9 million who presently have no health coverage.

Naturally, Mr Bu$h has tried to justify this cruel and heartless kick in the face of helpless children by explaining that he must – just must, mind you, keep an eye on the nation’s burgeoning national deficit. He wants to help the poor, most certainly, but he also has to defend the nation against those evil liberals. And the money that would be spent on poor children, whose parents probably aren’t Republicans, would just be wasted. It’s better spent supporting Big Oil‘s campaign to steal the resources in the Middle East.

By the way, in the past, Mr Bu$h's other vetoes were signed off with a big smile and a flourish of the pen in front of cameras. This time he signed off to hurt children in secret, barricaded in our Oval Office. He's probably ashamed of what he did, although a cynical man might think he had a bit of a thrill coursing along his nerve system, knowing he was denying healthcare to children.

Bush on Wednesday cast the issue in terms of those who want to help the poor and those who want to increase the size and cost of government.

"The policies of the government ought to be to help poor children and to focus on poor children, and the policies of the government ought to be to help people find private insurance, not federal coverage," he told a crowd of business leaders in Lancaster, Pa. "And that's where the philosophical divide comes in."

Vince, one of my neighbors, has four children. A year ago his company suddenly decided they were going to stop providing health insurance to employees. He used to get his insurance at a pretty nice price, and by not insignificant additional premium he got some coverage for his wife, Brenda, and their kids. We were talking a while back and he was wondering where to send the bill for his private insurance for his family. It seems for the six of them it comes to about $1,150 per month, with a surprisingly steep deductible. I guess now he can mail that bill on into Big George, who’s ready “to help people find private insurance.”

The congressional bill would spend $60 billion over five years to expand the program to cover 9 million to 10 million children, and pay for it with higher tobacco taxes. Bush has offered $30 billion, a 20% increase over current levels but not enough maintain the existing enrollment, budget analysts say.

Last weekend Brenda asked me, “How can this guy sleep at night, refusing to insure kids?”

Like a baby, Brenda, like a baby. And he smiles as he thinks of those sick kids with no insurance.

Vince, send him the policy proposal with the $100 deductible. It’s a better deal, since Big George is helping out.