To the editor:

I can’t believe I’m writing a letter to the editor over an editorial about a political cartoon (“Report card,” June 1). It’s an unfortunate example of how the vital conversation over serious matters of state has devolved to cartoonist name calling: “Obviously the cartoonist is one of the ‘Bush-haters’ : by : a media intent on trying to discredit Bush.”

Of the thousands of political cartoons generated each day, the Journal-World selected the aforementioned for publication. Discrediting media might include your own editorial page editor who chose to run this graphic opinion in the first place.

More importantly, the editor missed the point: President Bush’s performance was being rated as failing by his own Republican party, represented by the elephant/parent. I agree with those Republicans who see little evidence that President Bush has improved either my life or that of my grandchildren. He has failed his party and all Americans.

The decider-in-chief’s choices have benefited cronies and those who bought his election. He has initiated two wars, allowed special interests to write our laws, unilaterally curtailed civil liberties and due process, promoted a fatal energy non-policy, increased the number of Americans who lack basic health insurance, and crafted the “No Child’s Behind Left” Act designed to destroy free public education and doom a generation of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens.

One thing is clear: President Bush has earned an A-plus in hubris.

Steve Lopes,

Lawrence