Santorum (Again) Distances Himself From Bush

Americans "deserve better" than President Bush's "trust me" approach to the Supreme Court nomination of Harriet Miers, Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) said Friday on a Philadelphia radio show.

"It is what I term the president's second faith-based initiative, which is `trust me,'" Santorum said, mimicking a line used previously by conservative pundit Pat Buchanan on NBC's Meet the Press. "I think, candidly, we deserve better than that."

Santorum added, however, that he had not decided to oppose Miers and hoped to learn more about her views during confirmation hearings.

It's the latest example of Santorum trying to distance himself from Bush -- not so much on policy, per se, but on policy presentation. Last month, Santorum took issue with how Bush had tried to rally Americans behind his Social Security privatization plan.

And let's face it, when a party loyalist like Rick Santorum distances himself from the president, that doesn't bode well for the strength of the president. To steal a line from former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-WY), this is a guy who has carried more water for Bush than Gunga Din, leading him to say some outrageous things about Democrats, such as May 19 on the Senate floor, when he used a reference to Adolf Hitler to describe Democratic complaints about the "nuclear option" to ban judicial filibusters.

Why is Santorum distancing himself from Bush?

Two reasons. One Santorum substantially trails state treasurer Robert Casey in recent polls in his bid for re-election next year. With Bush's own popularity tanking to new lows, it has been very easy for Casey to lump together failed presidential policies with a senator who has led the fight for those policies.

At the same time, conservatives far and wide have come out against Bush's nomination of Miers, who lacks a judicial record. Conservatives like Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Trent Lott (R-MS) have suggested they will not endorse her nomination. Conservative pundits like Bill Kristol and Buchanan have suggested Bush withdraw her nomination to replace Sandra Day O'Connor.

These are strange days indeed for the conservative wing of the GOP.

***

This item first appeared at Journalists Against Bush's B.S.

Daay yum - We do indeed deserve better than the Republicans are giving us.

Much better.

Talk like your with the people you represent only to vote as your masters tell you to. Right wing puppet nothing more.....nothing less.

deserve each other.

He's his own worst enemy. He doesn't need Shrub to lose. He can do it well enough on his own.

when are you coming out of damn closet, you hypocritical freak?

They will all run from Bush like the devil from holy water in '06.

available when * comes to CA. (ALERT! Stay indoors until the toxic fumes have lifted). And Kilgore nixed Rove yesterday at a breakfast fund raiser. Gotta love it!

Even worse than he looked. Not only is he opposed to virtually everything that makes for a free, well informed society, but he hasn't even the redeeming virtue of loyalty to his own extremists. Well done, dipsh*t Santorum.

Keep him away from Virginia's hills. We don't claim him either.

than Senator Santorum.

Seriously, what is it in Pennsylvania, is there something in the water?

<>
Read more on

it's clear that he's in trouble. I don't take much comfort in it, though, because I know that Santorum only has his own interests at heart ... and that if he had his way with our country, it would be unrecognizable.

This guy is so far out there I dont see how any state could elect him.

Santorum is set for a terrible senate loss. Bush will soon be the dictionary picture for lame duck.

to run.