Republicans Are 'Addicted to Bush'

Given his approval ratings, Republicans had no choice but to distance themselves from George W. Bush in 2008. But make no mistake, writes Paul Krugman: They still loved him and his policies, so much so that GOP leaders have now "come out for a complete return to the Bush agenda, including tax breaks for the rich and financial deregulation."

And what about the pesky reality that his policies were "abject failures?" Simple—just rewrite history, as Republicans are doing now on the economy (claim it was "vibrant" under Bush), the deficit (wrongly blame Obama) and the war (just ask Karl Rove). "Again, Republicans aren’t trying to rescue George W. Bush’s reputation for sentimental reasons; they’re trying to clear the way for a return to Bush policies," Krugman writes in the New York Times. "You might as well face it: they’re addicted to Bush." (More George W. Bush stories.)