What principle that he abandoned? He ran on the platform of compassionate conservatism, which resulted in No Child Left Behind. If we understand 'economic conservatism' as 'free-market' idea, having cheap labor from neighboring countries, and selling port administration power to anybody who is willing to pay the highest are not contradictary with 'conservative principles'. It is when we combine 'nationalism' with 'free-market' and call it 'conservative' that we see them differently.
Why does this lie get repeated by so-called conservatives?
The Prescription Drug Program? It might be compassionate; but it's definitely not conservative.
GWB now joins FDR and LBJ in having created yet another entitlement program that will eventully bankrupt America.