Read my lips. No new taxes.

By Vivek Krishnamurthy

As part of his increasingly desperate attempts to shore up Republican support ahead of Tuesday's elections, President Bush has taken to threatening that Congress under the control of the Democrats would raise taxes. Ignoring the fact for a moment that the Republican profligacy of the last six years in running up record budget deficits constitutes a tax on future generations, this statement coming from the President who has done more than any other to increase the powers of the Executive Branch is without any credibility. Last time I checked, Article II of the U.S. Constitution gives the President the power to veto Congressional legislation. If preventing tax increases is really that important, let Bush put his money where his mouth is and use his veto. Otherwise, the President bears as much responsibility as Congress for any tax increase.