Bush Says Religion Mended His Ways President Alludes To Past Drinking

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A38007-2003Oct29?language=printer

President Bush, speaking Wednesday night at a Christian youth center in Dallas, gave an unusually candid assessment of religion's role in leading him from his wayward youth.

"You've got to understand that sometimes, and a lot of times, the best way to help the addict, a person who is stuck on drugs and alcohol, is to change their heart," Bush said to a cheering audience at the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. "See, if you change their heart, then they change their behavior. I know."

Though Bush often speaks of the importance of religion in his life, aides said it was the first time he tied his discovery of God so directly to his recovery from the heavy drinking and rowdiness that characterized his young adulthood.

Bush received a boisterous and enthusiastic welcome from hundreds of students, most of whom were black. Introduced by his friend Tony Evans, the senior pastor, Bush spoke with banners of the cross over each shoulder, one saying "King of Kings" and the other "Lord of Lords."

And the WH disavowed ordering the banners.

[pinkpops]

1. It didn't seem to affect the joy he gets

out of killing people.
"Let's put it this way: they are no longer a problem to the United States and our friends and allies" (smirk smirk)

[emad]

2. Use to think his life mission was to be a self-apointed

goodwill ambassador for Jack Daniels

Obviously it's Beelzebub...

[City Lights]

3. Didn't his mommy tell Larry King

that * wasn't addicted to alcohol, or that he didn't have a drinking problem?

[emad]

4. Yep, it was the drink that had the problem with Junior

....

[Mikimouse]

5. He did not have a drinking problem-

never missed his mouth.

[Ilsa]

6. The parents are the last to know

or, next to the user, the last to accept the ugly truth about addiction.

[CO Liberal]

12. Babs Is In Denial .....

....about how truly bad her entire family is. Especially her husband and her three moronic sons.

[City Lights]

16. I think she's in denial publicly.

In public, she puts a cheery, happy face on her miserable family. I bet things are much different in private though. She's probably beaten the crap out of * more times than she can count. She's probably done the same to big *, too. She's one scary woman.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

32. Mom abused him. Read this psych profile based on family+friend's info.

Read 'So George, How Do You Feel About Your Mom and Dad?'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1033904,00.html

This was written by a psychologist who researched W's emotional background through friends and family members. It was on the Guardian's (UK paper) website.

Extremely sad. I'll bet Caligula's mom was nasty, too.

[City Lights]

35. It is very sad.

But, I have no pity for him. It does explain why * turned out the way he did though.

Article states:

"Bush's deep hatred, as well as love, for both his parents explains how he became a reckless rebel with a death wish. He hated his father for putting his whole life in the shade and for emotionally blackmailing him. He hated his mother for physically and mentally badgering him to fulfil her wishes. But the hatred also explains his radical transformation into an authoritarian fundamentalist. By totally identifying with an extreme version of their strict, religion-fuelled beliefs, he jailed his rebellious self. From now on, his unconscious hatred for them was channelled into a fanatical moral crusade to rid the world of evil."

[MaineDem]

7. He simply replaced one addiction with another

He's still hooked.

[Benhurst]

8. "drinking and rowdiness that characterized his young adulthood"

"Young adulthood"? What does that mean? He was FORTY-YEARS-OLD when he claims to have discovered the Prince of Peace, and he doesn't seem to have taken much with him from the encounter other than a facile way to cover his ass for indiscretions of his "youth."

And what does "rowdiness" mean? Fighting in bars? Chasing other women while married to Laura and the father of twins?

And now he tells us God is commanding him to wage his criminal (as defined by the pope and most other religious leaders) war.

Maybe he needs to be born again. They say three is a charm.

[ablbodyed]

9. Some people are better off drunk.....

Like all the rest of us (and the world) would be if he had kept on drinking, cuz then he would never have been pResident. By the way, is alcohol now banned at White house functions? Addicts are supposed to avoid temptation.

[Serial Mom]

10. gave up one addiction for another . . lying

:eyes:

[cybildisobedience]

17. actually...

I think he gave the drinking addiction up for killing. He seems to be a bit compulsive in that area.

[Rose Siding]

11. He must be sending Rush a message

:shrug:

btw, consider the hubris: "...if you change their heart"

[soleft]

13. Bush spoke with banners of the cross over each shoulder

But he did not okay the banners

[Media_Lies_Daily]

14. Wasn't he the guy that blamed his black eye on a rogue pretzel? Hmmm.

[ProfessorGAC]

15. Religion Hasn't Helped Him To Stop Lying

In his campaign, in his administration, in his public appearances, he has no problem with lying if that will get him what he wants.

Does religion teach that lying is ok as long as you've stopped drinking and doing coke? Didn't think so.
The Professor

[underpants]

18. WARNING Photos

[soup]

33. Sorry I doubted you.

Those pics?

no way.

Then I found them in a slideshow (or the more appropriately termed sideshow) on Yahoo.

way.

:barfinginabucket:

[leetrisck]

19. "Ole Hag" bush (Mommy)

said he never had a drinking problem. Also, Slimy Shrub referred to "in his youth." Hardly - 45 seems to be youth for Repukes. If one of us did it, we would be in jail and probably a lot are.

[gratuitous]

20. And Jesus said to the rich young man

"Sell everything you have and give the money to the poor, and then you will have treasure in heaven." When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

______________

Tell us again, George, about how your heart has changed, and yet you disobey and flout scripture so openly?

[KoKo]

21. Good Post, gratuitous. Reminding us of what a hypocrit he is. And,

standing with those banners on each side is a defiance. We will have to wait to see what comes of that! What happens to "prideful persons, who worship idols." Hmmmm he's really starting to unhinge.

[TacticalPeek]

28. Know them by their fruits.

Iraq Body Count

[JohnOneillsMemory]

37. Most cogent post I've ever seen. Thank you.

[WindRavenX]

22. "past" drinking problem?

You can't be sure with the way he's running things...:think:

[thebigidea]

24. exactly

[smirkymonkey]

23. He's even more malignant

without the drink than with it - Now the whole world needs Al-Anon!

[Minstrel Boy]

29. I wish he WOULD start drinking

Maybe then I could stop.

:beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

[JohnOneillsMemory]

38. Exactly. America needs a 12-step program as does W.

Unfortunately what W needs to mend his ways is love, not scorn. Scorn is how he got this way and came to do these horrible things.

I wrote this in response to a post suggesting that National Pride in Patriotism could consist of "level-headed self-esteem." It seems pertinent to W's mental health and so appropriate here:

Level-headed self-esteem? That's called Humility.
Humility and reparation is desperately needed.

Alcoholics in recovery are taught to
1) Learn why they were so unhappy that they took up self-destructive behaviour.
2) Forgive themselves for the wretched condition they are in.
3) Work hard to fearlessly make reparations to people their actions have harmed.

Beginning this process is as painful as kicking an addiction. Once begun, the salvation of self-respect comes faster and faster, along with the spirit to share love and nurture others.

But understanding why and how they suffer is key to healing. And History brings that understanding.

It is said that war is how Americans learn geography.
And that Americans have no historical memory.

The more you know about the history of this country the harder it is to be proud of the people and the government which is supposed to represent them.

The more you know about the ignorance, irresponsibility and disengagement from the 'family of man' of the American people whose lifestyle's are destroying the planet, and allowing mass murder and widespread suffering, the harder it is to be proud.
But we have all been lied to from the time we were tiny helpless children and have been born into a lifestyle that is the result of thousands of years of dysfunction to lead destructive lives that profit a power structure that feeds on our patriotic emotions.

So I do not villify American nationalistic pride, I wish for a better life for us as well as the victims of our spiritual illness.

It seems to me this is a time for contrition and repentance fueled by humility and compassion, not pride. Self-esteem from justice and responsible engagement is desperately needed, not 'big-foam-finger-ism' when considering our effect on other people's lives.

[The Stranger]

25. Bush the Dry Drunk

http://www.counterpunch.org/mccarthy1019.html

Another core mental characteristic of both the practicing alcoholic and the dry drunk is denial. Alcoholism is the only disease that continually tells the victim that he/she does not have it while it is trying to kill him/her. For the dry drunk to maintain a rational appearance requires that he/she proclaim that they are not alcoholic. Or as Bush said, he was not "clinically alcoholic."

Katherine van Wormer states in her Counterpunch article that "dry drunk" traits consist of: Exaggerated self-importance and pomposity. Grandiose behavior. A rigid, judgmental outlook. Impatience. Childish behavior. Irresponsible behavior. Irrational rationalization. Projection. Overreaction.

All of these mirror the character of the practicing or unrecovered alcoholic.

These behaviors are recognized as commonplace by all familiar with alcoholics and the disease of alcoholism. They are tolerable only to those who have a vested interest in seeing that those behaviors continue, either out of a personal need for attachment and dependency, or, because those behaviors enable others to manipulate the results to their own ends. In the domestic environment it creates co-dependents. In the political environment the enablers are the political minions or manipulators of the ill alcoholic.

In persons with external power/control over their domain, such as police and military officers over their jurisdictions and chain of command, business and corporate bosses over their employees and the direction of the company, husbands and wives over each other and their children, these people become dangerous to the well being of those around them.

To a state ruler, depending upon the weaponry at command, they become dangerous to an entire universe.

[0007]

26. Are these folks on dope are what?

To the tune of "Beautiful Dreamer" they should be singing:

Born in a whore hourse
raised like a slave
fuckin' and fightin'
are all that I crave
knocking out windows
knocking down doors
calling old junior
a chicken shit whore

[Malva Zebrina]

27. I am so weary

of reading of blood and violence, killing, wars, attacks, lies and dirty deals, greed and absolute barbarism followed by claims of piety and religion. I am so weary of it--from all three of the monotheistic religions.

[cliss]

30. Very nice post, The Stranger

It pretty much sums up what The Bush is about. And yes, it does have everything to do with substance abuse and its corresponding behaviors.

My comment about Bush is, how can he possibly expect to be the leader of the Free World (a debatable point) if he can't even control himself? I've seen him in bursts of anger. Look at how he treated the French and the Germans. Sobriety asks you to take care of these things, or you will surely go back to the bottle.

He has not chosen sobriety. No way. He wouldn't last one evening at an AA meeting.

[smiley_glad_hands]

31. Bush gives Rush Advice

So Bush is saying Rush needs a change of heart? Rush will never change his hypocritical ways, even if he wanted to. The conservative machine will keep Rush and Bush as repugnant as possible. What everyday drug addicts need is more education and jobs--a glimmer of hope for a better life so they don't have the desire to opt out of reality, not more sermons and bible thumping--they had access to that before they became drug addicts.

[mumon]

34. On a related note, ... anybody see South Park last night?

Bush is merely doing a Cartman imitation.

[smiley_glad_hands]

36. South Park rulz

That was one of the funniest South Parks ever, but I think the Simpson did a take on Christian music before though.

[SammyWinstonJack]

39. 40 is young adulthood?

What a load of crap. :puke: I seem to remember reading that Bush* was "Born again" to pick up votes prior to running for Texas Gov. So now banners are being used to imply that Bush* is "King of King" and "Lord of Lords?" And the WH had nothing to do with those banners either, right? :eyes: