TAMPA TRIB TO BUSH: I'M THROUGH WITH YOU!

No endorsement for you!

In a break with tradition, The Tampa Tribune, a Republican standard-bearer for decades, refused Sunday to endorse anyone for president for the first time since 1964.

The newspaper has solidly supported every Republican presidential nominee since 1952, except for Barry Goldwater, but withheld its endorsement this year, calling the decision "achingly difficult" and blaming shortcomings of both candidates.

Editors instead published an unusual full-page editorial with harsh criticism of the war in Iraq and President Bush's economic policies.

"President Bush told us that he was 'a uniter, not a divider,' but shortly after taking office, his administration took a sharp right turn that has divided this country," the editorial said. The newspaper said it was "deeply disappointed" with Bush on federal spending, the budget deficit and the recession.

I'd be interested to see if there are newspapers which endorsed Gore in 2000 but endorse Bush this time around. The Chicago Trib also endorsed Bush in 2000, btw. The only possible candidate among the major papers is the Washington Post, given their Iraq war cheerleading in 02-03. We'll see.