Nothing conservative about these guys

Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008 | 2:04 a.m.

It is laughable to hear — and watch campaign ads of — conservative Republicans denigrating liberals and comparing liberalism to socialism, or employing the long overused and well-worn refrain “tax and spend liberals.”

The political conservatives would claim with a straight face that they want limited government, fiscal responsibility, free markets, and the rule and neutrality of law. In the past seven years of the Bush administration, we have witnessed:

• Government spending increase 50 percent since the Clinton administration.

• A projected deficit of $398 billion for fiscal year 2009. By Jan. 21, 2009, the national debt owed to foreign nations will be $9.6 trillion, or $47,000 per adult in the United States and climbing. Fiscal responsibility!

• Recent massive bailouts and government takeover of private financial institutions that would bring a big smile to the face of the self-proclaimed socialist Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

• The shameful politicization of the Justice Department.

• The so-called independent maverick’s pathetic attempt to enhance his bona fides with the extreme Christian right by selecting as his vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin, who has very limited knowledge and experience in governance but has a desire to expand the role of government in women’s most private decisions.

There is nothing conservative in today’s Republican Party and a McCain administration would just give us more of the same failed big government.