Torture, Continued

Michael McAuliff writes in the New York Daily News: "Critics of every stripe jumped all over President Bush's veto of a children's health insurance plan Wednesday, slamming it as heartless and ideologically driven."

Zachary Coile writes in the San Francisco Chronicle that "the president's critics say he chose the wrong place to draw the line on spending and a federal role in health care. And some of his most vocal critics are fellow Republicans."

David Jackson and Kathy Kiely write in USA Today: "Minutes after President Bush issued his fourth veto Wednesday, members of Congress from both parties began searching for the votes they need to override him and expand a children's health insurance program."

SCHIP Opinion Watch

The Charlotte Observer editorial board writes: "Facts didn't matter enough to President Bush as he stood resolute and vetoed a bipartisan bill to increase funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program. But facts should matter to members of Congress who have the power to override his veto."

The Philadelphia Daily News editorial board writes: "Bush was in Lancaster, Pa., yesterday, discussing his reasoning for the veto. It's not clear from his remarks that he actually understands how SCHIP works . . . or, more likely, how poverty works."

Timothy Noah writes in Slate: "In vetoing reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, George W. Bush has fired the first shot in the battle over health-care reform. The likely result will be to help mobilize support for further government intervention in the health-care market, which would be a very good thing. Thank you, Mr. President!"

Open Mic

Deb Riechmann writes for the Associated Press: "Give the man a microphone and he'll talk about anything. For 76 minutes, President Bush prowled the stage Wednesday in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, giving a speech and answering questions about everything from his opposition to tax increases to his veto of a bill to expand children's health insurance. . . .

"Bush, known for his impatience when fellow leaders rattle on, acknowledged he was doing the same himself in his opening remarks.

"'I'll be glad to answer some questions from you if you got any,' he said. 'If not, I can keep on blowing hot air until the time runs out.'"

Here's the meandering transcript. I'm not sure what's more incredible: That he said so little or that no one was listening. None of the news networks carried him live, even though Bush insisted at one point that "we're talking national TV here."

The Deciderer

Bush talked a lot about decisions, and how he makes them.

"I really appreciate the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce for giving me an opportunity to explain why I have made some of the decisions I have made. My job is a decision-making job. And as a result, I make a lot of decisions. And it's important for me to have an opportunity to speak to you and others who would be listening about the basis on which I have made decisions, to explain the philosophy behind some of the decisions I have made. . . .