WHAT COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATISM? Mickey Kaus has a question of his own:

A common complaint among Democrats is that Bush hasn’t governed in the bipartisan fashion they expected. Often this is phrased as, “Whatever happened to compassionate conservatism.” The latter formulation, at least, seems misleading. You disagree? Then name one significant new “compassionate conservative” policy initiative you expected Bush to launch that he didn’t.

In terms of spending, he’s been more compassionate than I would have liked.