Chicago Tribune Feeling Heat Over Bush Endorsement

The Chicago Tribune has apparently received over 2400 letters and emails from people who are furious over their recent endorsement for President.  The Tribune insisted that, though they have endorsed every Republican candidate for President since 1872, they are not strictly partisan.  Instead, they said that

The Tribune believes in the traditional principles of limited government; maximum individual responsibility; and minimum restriction of personal liberty, opportunity and enterprise. It believes in free markets, free will and freedom of expression.

This makes one wonder just what criteria the Tribune uses to consider these factors.  Has Bush shown any inclination towards limited government?  Have they shown any restraint when it comes to spending?  Have they read the recent civil rights report on this administration?  Have they seen the 1st Amendment zones set up outside Bush's speeches?  The questions could continue ad infinitum.

I have to say that I wasn't surprised when the Tribune endorsed Bush, but this is one of the weakest explanations I have ever read.  Though additional pressure is unlikely to get the Tribune to change their endorsement, perhaps it might give them pause before they reflexively endorse the Republican candidate in 2008.

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