Edior,

On July 19, 2006, President Bush signed his first veto. It must've been exceptionally important. Folks suffering maladies ranging from paralysis to Parkinson's thought so, too. Wielding his terrible, swift pen, Bush Almighty slashed their hopes.

Bush thinks American taxpayers don't want to fund embryonic stem cell research. What Americans don't want to fund is his Iraq debacle: several hundred billion dollars buying nothing but death and mutilation, depleting our treasury for generations, overextending our military and recruiting terrorists. Excuse me, but I'd rather do some good with our money.

Utilizing microscopic embryonic cells destined for destruction isn't a moral dilemma for anyone with half a brain.

Bush's dysfunctional brain surely qualifies him as a consummate candidate to benefit from this research.

Although 63 of 100 senators approved the bill, supported by 70 percent of Americans, four more votes were required to make it veto-proof. Unsurprisingly, Conrad Burns voted against helping folks. May this be among Burns' final bootlicking boondoggles.

Parkinson's disease killed my dad. It would be unkind to wish similar tragedies on the Bush or Burns families but I can't help wondering if they'd see it differently if they, or someone they loved, were afflicted with cancer as Republican Senator Arlen Specter was. Specter voted for the bill proclaiming that more important than speculation of when life begins is the reality of when life ends.

Wanda LaCroix

Arlee