Bulletin on Bush Booze story

[kstewart33]

Ed Schultz just interviewed an editor with the National Enquirer. The editor said the paper stands by its story "150%" and would go to court over it if they had to. He said that they have 2 different sources for the story, and that the sources had been informing the National Enquirer about this story for about the last month or so.

Notably, the editor said that a "highly respected" newspaper has also been working on the story and could well publish something on it in the next week or two.

On edit: He also said to expect Laura to be traveling alot more with Bush so she can keep a close watch on him.

[Liberty Belle]

1. Kick!

[katty]

109. NEnq have expensive law firms-they wouldn't mess w/TX if

they did not have b/up on this story.

[jillan]

2. Well it does explain why he can't button a shirt properly!

[sabra]

8. also explains the "may I pee" note

lots of beer = many trips to loo

[calico1]

28. Maybe beer as a chaser but he is

probably drinking the hard stuff--Jim Bean or something like that.

[DoYouEverWonder]

56. I read a reference once to gin for martinis

I saw it in a local Ft Myers newspaper when the Bush family went down there for a vacation right after the selection. A reporter asked 'what did Bush do today?' and he was told, that Bush had played golf, gone fishing and then went to the store for a bottle of gin for his evening martini.

If anyone has Lexus Nexis, that story is out there somewhere.

[RagingInMiami]

186. I have Nexis

But it was Daddy Bush who had his evening martini.

It came out in Orlando Sentinel on Dec. 26, 2000. This is the paragraph.


"Employees at the Gasparilla Inn, where many of the Bush party will check in, refused to talk about their presidential guest. The phone lines at The Temptation, a local bar, went unanswered. Former President Bush on his trip to the island last year dropped into the bar, chatted with some locals, and bought a bottle of gin for his evening martini, Dutery said."

[SweetLeftFoot]

187. Lexis

My Lexis don't have any Ft Myers paper.

[Carla in Ca]

58. Here is what he SHOULD be drinking!

Hurricane Drink Recipe

2 ounces amber rum
1/4 cup passion fruit juice, or 1 tablespoon passion fruit syrup
1 teaspoon superfine sugar
1/2 teaspoon grenadine
Juice of 1/2 lime
Cherries and orange slice to garnish
Ice cubes

In a cocktail shaker mix the rum, passion fruit juice and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add the grenadine, and lemon juice and stir to combine. Add the ice cubes and shake. Strain Hurricane into a cocktail glass. Garnish with orange and cherries. Yield: 1 serving

Guess where it originated. Yup, New Orleans.

[Radio_Lady]

81. Calico1, not Jim BEAN? Is he related to Mr. BEAN of England?

Also known as comedian Rowan Atkinson.

http://www.rowanatkinson.org/

I think the liquor is spelled JIM BEAM... just a slight correction.

No, I don't know if Rowan Atkinson is similarly afflicted by alcoholism, but he may have played a dry drunk in the movies.

See also:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118689/combined

[calico1]

202. Yes, thanks. That's what I meant. nt

[Mabus]

Gives a new meaning to "Bush fell off his bike"

it also explains his numerous bike accidents - including the one where he ran over a British Bobby.

[DrZeeLit]

86. Don't forget the Pretzel... um... I mean Poland... nope... Pretzel...

Yeah. Right.
Choked on a pretzel.

Chasing that pretzel with Jim Beam, eh?

What a goober.

[kath]

165. Wha?? "ran over a British bobby"? I missed that one.

[Mabus]

171. You can't make this stuff up

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/07/06/bush.bike/

Bush collides with police officer during bike ride
Scraped hands, arms bandaged

Thursday, July 7, 2005 Posted: 0747 GMT (1547 HKT)

AUCHTERARDER, Scotland (CNN) -- President Bush collided with a British police officer during a bike ride Wednesday evening, suffering scrapes on his hands and arms that required bandaging, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

The officer, from the Strethclyde Police Department in Scotland, was taken to a local hospital as a precaution. He was treated and released, after an evaluation revealed no fractures, McClellan said.

Bush "visited" with the police officer for some time after the accident and asked White House physician Dr. Richard Tubb to monitor his situation at the hospital, McClellan said. The president was expected to call the officer later, McClellan said.

more at link

[DLnyc]

113. Also, the bathroom is a good place to sneak a quick drink from the flask.

[Maraya1969]

224. "May I Pee" OMG

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

[nadinbrzezinski]

That actually was a non tailored shirt (for Kevlar)

not an ill buttoned shirt... anybody that knows what to look for can see the vest outline

[daninthemoon]

149. Don't think so. There is a picture of him getting back on the plane,

and the back of his shirt is plainly sweated through. No kevlar, unless it's now water permeable.

[0007]

121. I think the button problem was due to an electronic equipment

that was attached to his body. I've tried buttoning my shirt the way he did and no way can I get the collar that far out of place, to the side of my neck. But then again I don't buy $200 shirts and could be wrong.

It sure as hell looked strange.

[PurpleChez]

225. Where are these Rogue Shirt pictures?

I'm intrigued.

[0007]

229. Do a google, I'm sure you can find them from his speech

There was much discussion here on the DU boards.

[Alizaryn]

3. Huh? What Bush Booze story?

[peekaloo]

18. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4839199

[AspenRose]

19. This one

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4839199

[Alizaryn]

54. Ahhh, thanks for the links.

[sabra]

4. juicy stuff :-)

[Chimichurri]

5. interesting. Bush lies about everything else. Why should this

be any different?

[nadinbrzezinski]

and CHB had it

looks like Rush redux

Are they tryng to get rid of bush via 25th ammendment?

[hvn_nbr_2]

74. Who or what is CHB?

All I got from Google was computer, math, and medical stuff.

[Angry Girl]

98. CapitolHillBlue.com - good stuff there sometimes

Edit to add link:

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_7267.shtml

[hvn_nbr_2]

114. Thanks. n/t

[bahrbearian]

6. Another shot Barkeep

wheres Mr. Scorpio

[Me.]

140. What I Want To Know Is

if this is true, who is his supplier? It's not like he's slipping down to the corner...

[bahrbearian]

142. He slips down too the Honor Bar.

"Honor" is something he likes to steal.

[PATRICK]

215. Ah, there's the rub

If they couldn't watch Clinton and vet every female in a hundred miles what about the Bush boys plethora of connections Daddy would disapprove of? Rich guys seeking favors. Maybe an oddball appointee like Kerik, a frequent visitor like Guckert/Gannon. Maybe Saudi pals and connections. The list is endless, the oversight of a guy who they let go out unzippered, feckless and buttoned wrong, the opportunities "on vacation" or the secret lockdown atmosphere in the West Wing literally endless, the entitlement to privacy more supreme than ever.

In this case it would be extremely easy even for a foreign government to get some little gifts in, or the mobs. Remember JFK's flings at the height of the Cold War surrounded by internal enemies? The days of impunity are back, the subject an undisciplined hypocrite trying too hard to convince people he is a hard exercising born again who has cycled past that phase of his life no one can talk about.

It only takes the will and it is small wonder he caves so badly when disturbed from his planned retreats.

He only has to want to.

[Brundle_Fly]

7. ahAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

AHAHAAHAAH HAAHAHAHA

they are going to try to Swift Boat the inquirer....that's rich.

[mtnester]

199. Yeah, that will fail...no offense to the Enquirer

by trying to swifboat them is like trying to slime an earthworm. Just how bad will it hurt them? It won't..in fact, it may prompt them to be a little more aggresive in catching him boozing it up.

What is that saying? Something like what you throw at me will bounce back to you and stick like glue?

That battle should be fun to watch.

[William769]

9. Next Laura will give birth to a alien baby.

I'm not saying I don't believe it, but it's got to come from a more credible source.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. CHB has had the story for over nine months

and read Newsweek last week, between the lines, this reminds me of ... Rush Oxi story

[mestup]

17. Well, BARBARA Bush gave birth to an alien baby...

[Radio_Lady]

89. Yeah, that's my take on it too.

I have it from reputable sources, mostly simian, that Barbara Bush got raped by King Kong, and so the Chimpster was ill)conceived. Isn't he cute? George HW Bush decided to raise him as his own...

Just supposin'...

Here's the NEW "King Kong" (no photos yet, but the part will be played by Andy Serkis in the new 2005 release).

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118689/combined

[sellitman]

136. You beat me to the punch!

[alfredo]

161. Jenna does look

a lot like Neil.

[John Q. Citizen]

26. Like what, The New York (curveball) Times? N/T

[William769]

30. So your telling me you use this taboloid to get your news?

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. This tabloid has gotten a couple good stories

right, including Rush's little problem wthi Oxycontin... I say pay attention to this story.. there is way too much noise out there pointing to bush drinking, and doing such heavily

[CBGLuthier]

42. The Bush Twin photos

Remember those? They sure looked real to me. And then they got sent anthrax.

I think may people are confusing the Enquirer (no, I do not read it) with the other magazines.

They haven't lost a lawsuit in years. They would NEVER print anything this potentially libelous if they did not have very good sources.

[yurbud]

104. yep, it's more the KIND of stories they go after rather

than their "journalistic" integrity that makes people hold them in low regard.

[Cha]

43. buzzflash had it on their top

page this morning now they have it #7 down on the far left side..

They gave it cred..

http://www.buzzflash.com

[Sparkman]

96. Tommy Lee Jones & Will Smith believe Natl Inquire is the best! MenInBlack!

[SweetLeftFoot]

188. Enquirer

has been stacking up on Brit tabloid reporters who really know their stuff. These are the people who sneak into Buckingham palace and so on.

[LostinVA]

193. "Tabloid" doesn't equal lying

Definition of tabloid:

"A newspaper with relatively small pages (approximately 12 ′ 16in, 30 ′ 40cm), especially one written in an informal and often sensationalist style and with many photographs. Often as adj."

Sensationalist doesn't mean lying. I've been charting the NE for several years... they are eerily right most of the time, far more than MSM.

[Shakespeare]

77. The National Enquirer is NOT like the Weekly World News

They also broke the Limbaugh story. Do they sensationalize the stories they run? Of course. But that doesn't mean their stories are untrue.

[Nothing Without Hope]

85. She already did - TWO of them. n/t

[bostonbabs]

91. think.......

they broke Monica/blue dress...O.J. and the Brono Magli shoes and Jesse Jackson's Love child...They are credible ...American Media the owner of the Enquirer is run by one of Bill Clinton's old friends Roger Altman....school ties....he is talked about in Bill Book.....ahhhh a place called hope.....middle America will not like this one bit....it smacks of weakness and lies....and cover ups.....I'm in heaven....

[mtnester]

200. Even though I chuckle when my hubby reads them second hand

I have to admit, they also broke the Jen & Brad story WEEKS before what is considered MSM broke it. (I hated to admit that to my hubby...he reads them for comic relief and to annoy me in that passive aggressive way of his I find so endearing some times, and other times I want to smack him..ahhhh long term marriage...its a fun trip)

Yes, a bunch of their stories are cockamamie weird and out there, but the bulk of their main headliners have proven to be true, or true to a point, or close enough to be true in another direction.

[rambler_american]

132. NE has been out in front on other stories and

actually drove MSM to follow their lead for a while.
And I cannot imagine their attorneys would let them run a story that libels the POTUS without some very serious fact checking.

[LostinVA]

192. The NE is very credible, although many on DU refuse to admit it

They vet their stories way better than the MSM, and have only been successfully sued once, man years ago, but even then they didn't technically libel Carol Burnett. This isn't the Weekly World News. The NE has a company full of excellent Brit and American journalists (oh yes, they do), who know how to get a story.

Sometimes their headlines are misleading, but the actual stories aren't.

I used to scoff, too, until I noticed what they wrote was right the vast majority of the time. Plus, they've broken some incredible stories that the MSM and cops have missed.

[spooky3]

230. I believe they did libel Carol Burnett. However, they seem to have

tightened up their act considerably since then. Getting caught in a mistake like that can lead to greater-than-the-average-newspaper accuracy.

[AspenRose]

10. Oh, my

Wow....just, wow

Stay tuned, folks!

(were any of us really surprised by this? I mean, after the hospital visit in San Diego, I was thinking 'hmmmmm.')

[txindy]

157. The only thing that surprises me is the alcohol not being narcotics

Esp. with that whole jaw grinding thing of Junior's. However, it wouldn't surprise me to learn that he does both and the NE knows it, but that the NE can't get anyone to go on record saying that so won't print it. Alcohol, obviously, is legal. They are safe writing about that since they apparently have the means to prove the veracity of their article.

[Dave Reynolds]

11. Folks here are making a good argument

that the National Enquirer, after many lawsuits, has changed their ways.

I will hold my opinion about them until we see how this pans out.

It seems sad to me that NE and the corporate media seemingly have exchanged credibility standings.

[peekaloo]

34. a lil anthrax will straighten 'em out.

:o

[Theduckno2]

44. Yes it does bear watching.

The statement that a "highly respected newspaper" may be going to press with the same story is encouraging. Nice avatar by the way.

[Missy Vixen]

107. The National Enquirer

hired many of the investigative reporters laid off by other publications over the past 10 years or so. As a result, they have had the resources and ca$h to break the aforementioned stories. (OJ, blue dress, Oxyrush.) The editor-in-chief, David Pecker, is a big right winger; they wouldn't have printed this without impeccable (and unimpeachable,) sourcing.

>the National Enquirer, after many lawsuits, has changed their ways.<

Like it or not, the Enquirer is read by millions weekly. I believe they scooped the MSM on this story; I think they're spinning it to be sympathetic towards *.

It'll be interesting to see what happens next.

Julie

[Dave Reynolds]

124. The wording of the story

made it totally sympathetic towards Georgie, even mentioning that he may have human feelings. :D

I will be keeping an eye on this one, for sure.

[goclark]

130. I don't think they were sympathetic to him~

I think they were trying to cover their butts when the suit comes up.

But I don't think ROVE will touch the story, if he did they would get more publicity and they would have to really investigate the Chimp more.


I don't think that many people really believe that the Chimp ever stopped hitting the bottle.

The Repubs know it and don't care cause they have the power.

The Democrats know that it is true but we are powerless to do anything about it.

:toast:

[Jim Sagle]

138. As well as too yellow to mention it.

[Laurab]

172. Yeah, that part is right out there with alien babies

but I don't think bushit will sue them for writing that he has human feelings. I mean, "takes each death personally" is WAY out there, even more farfetched than alien babies, but he's not gonna sue them for that. I'm betting he's not going to sue them for ANYTHING because I believe he's a drunk who's been drinking. If it's making the Enquirer, then he's been drinking a lot more than I suspected, and people either want it out there, or are very concerned about it.

[LostinVA]

194. Only ONE lawsuit

Decades ago, and that was lost because of a sympathetic jury. The NE did not legally libel Carol Burnett, just sensationalized an incident. However, because of that lawsuit, they made their vetting protocol AIRTIGHT. If they print it, odds on it's true.

After I read Ian Calder's book, I started watching the NE, and it's a heck of a newspaper. Some incredible investigative reporting.

[peekaloo]

12. hahahahahahahaha.....Bu$h is hitting the Jesus Juice!

explains all that sweating.

When does the cocaine use story break....that jaw of his has been grinding for over a month now.

[kstewart33]

25. The sweating is normal for New Orleans

Believe me, in the summer, when humidity is at 99%, people's shirt backs look like that.

[peekaloo]

31. I understand. Grew up in Florida and live in Texas.

It's just that whenever I see him I think "drunk water" (what a friend of mine calls sweat off a boozer).

:-)

[Fla Dem]

13. Is that 150% or 150 proof? n/t

[marmar]

20. LOL...

:rofl:

I actually respect him more if he is drinking - maybe he can blame some of his many fuckups on the bottle.

[ClintonTyree]

105. It really doesn't bother me if he's hitting the sauce.........

but if he's going to be a hypocrite about it, that's another story. Don't kiss all the fundies asses with this holy, holy, holy bullshit, "I found jeebus and quit drinking" stuff. If you're having a snort, so what. But be honest about it, I'd actually think better of him if he was honest. I suppose that'll never happen though. :eyes:

[Blue Shark]

127. Damn Straight...

...I hope he goes into an ancoholic stupor and spends the next thousand days on vacation.

...One down...all the rest to go!

[Jackpine Radical]

24. Well, 150 proof would only be 75%. I don't think they'd run

with that.

[Fla Dem]

62. Well, being the Nat'l Enq. they might....LOL n/t

[Jackpine Radical]

64. Actually not.

Ever since they got sued for libel 20 years ago by Carol Burnett, they've been very accurate with this kind of story. Right now they have a better track record for journalistic integrity than the New York Times or Washington Post.

[Fla Dem]

72. Thanks, I stand corrected. What about the alien stories? LOL....n/t

[lolly]

84. Alien Stories are NOT actionable

What, are the aliens going to sue?

No, we didn't land! Pay us damages or we call a lawyer.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

87. Wha'?

Hmmmm?

Did someone say "damages"?

[FlaGranny]

170. Besides the fact that

the alien stories are in World Weekly News (not the Enquirer) at least on the covers. I haven't read any of the tabloids for years, so I don't know what's inside.

[AverageJoe]

95. That's not the Enquirer

You're thinking of The Weekly World News. The Weekly World News makes The National Enquirer look like the Washington Post circa 1972.

And here's an eye opener for you: As far out as The Weekly World News is, many of their very freaky stories are actually Associated Press stories that they have jazzed up with goofy language. I know this because I used to teach journalism and one of the activities we did in class was to comb The Weekly World News and find legitimate stories there that seemed outlandish. There were a lot of them. I'm not saying that everything in TWWN is true--there is, alas, no "Batboy"--but that some things you would probably assume to be completely fabricated are not.

That long explanation is meant simply to underscore the fact that stories appearing in The National Enquirer should not be dismissed simply because of their appearance in that publication. They print sleazy stuff that the MSM feels is beneath them.What a lot of posters have been pointing out, however is true: The Enquirer checks facts like mad so they won't lose big lawsuits.

There is a very good chance that this story is the real deal.

[Sparkman]

100. tell the truth aveJoe, you read those to this day for the fun! just joking

[AverageJoe]

143. Actually I do

No kidding--I love the WWN. It's funny stuff. I do wish Batboy were real, though... :-)

[ClintonTyree]

191. Batboy IS TO REAL......

he's as real as you or me! And I read that he's not particularly fond of bush either. The WWW has been quite hard on bush in the past few years. Why, even "Ed Anger" has had his beefs with bush and he's an angry American patriot, just like Bob Boudelang. When you lose the "angry American patriot" crowd, you KNOW you're losing control. ;)

[bostonbabs]

101. a stab in the dark......

who are the sources?...Lance Armstrong spent the day with him at Crawford. Lance is an outsider and I felt that his invitation came right at Cindy's height.....they used him for some good press. But the story was that after the bike ride....Georgie said:" let's go swimming"...he was having F-U-N....did Lance sense or see anything?......it had to be an "outsider" posing as an insider.

[markbark]

137. I think the Weekly World News is Satire.

They're just not as clever or up front about it as The Onion is.

--MAB

[jmowreader]

228. Well, no shit

That was the guy's intention when he started it--give the people something to laugh about.

[FreedomAngel82]

167. I think it's also important

to make sure this story is for real because it's Bush. Think of his families record....

[WoodrowFan]

197. no bat boy?

bat boy isn't real?? :cry:

[Jackpine Radical]

133. What alien stories? There are lots of other tabloids

that carry stuff like that, but I don't remember any from the Enquirer. Anyway, even if there were some stories like that, it would be kinda irrelevant because the aliens aren't likely to sue for libel, no matter what you print about them.

I don't read the Enquirer because I don't even know who all those celebrities are, and have no interest in the kind of stories they typically carry, but I would be willing to bet that they have their ducks in a row on a story like this one. It would be too risky to print it otherwise. It's even risky to print when they have it documented. Think Hatfield. Think anthrax.

And find me an alien story in the Enquirer. Find me a Batboy story or anything like that.

[LostinVA]

195. They can't, because they don't print that stuff

That's the Weekly World News, etc. The NE is a tabloid in the British sense, which means a newspaper. It is not an entertainment magazine.

[Fla Dem]

206. The alien comment was supposed to be funny. Geez lighten up folks.

I wouldn't know one tabloid from the other.

:shrug:

[jim3775]

14. Please please please let this turn into a big scandal

As many illegal/unethical/evil things as this admin does, dumb frivolous scandals (like blowjobs) are what the media thrives on.

[npincus]

47. please please please please please please

[ikojo]

69. It wont be scandalous...if it is true, he'll go on the 700 Club or

some other Christian media outlet, say TBN, and say some mea culpas. He'll publicly ask Jesus to forgive him and say we are all sinners. Pat Robertson and his ilk will say all have come short of the glory of god, blah, blah, blah.

The pugs will then say that Bush is under tremendous stress with the war on Iraq, war on terra and now two hurricanes. The Dems will cave because they will not want to be seen as heaping more stress on an already stressed and broken man.

Bush is more teflon than Ronald Reagan and it's all because he is seen as a Christian by his fundie base. There is nothing a fundie Christian can do that will not be forgiven by other fundies (well maybe pedophilia, but I bet Bush could get by with that even) as long as they believe one's prayer of contrition is genuine.

[jim3775]

83. Sadly, I agree completley

Nothing can touch bush, not with the cult of personality he has now.

[deminks]

16. I wonder if Laura knows who Bianca is? nt

:rofl:

[NYCGirl]

32. She's Bianca Davie of Bloomberg News.

http://www.wonkette.com/politics/pool-reports/wh-pool-report-biancas-identity-revealed-127060.php

[Cha]

50. Made him look like the Idiot son

he is instead of the kidder he thinks he is..asshole.

[pecwae]

21. Laura to watch Dubya?

Who will watch Laura and the level of her Xanax bottle?

[dhinojosa]

49. Jenna will

but who will watch Jenna and her booze consumption?

[Drewskie]

22. Jay Marvin did the interview... Schultz has the day off (nt)

[kstewart33]

27. Sounded more like Schultz to me nt

[Pacifist Patriot]

71. I've never heard Schultz before but I was listening this afternoon

and he clearly said he was filling in and his name was Jay. I have no idea if they sound alike and have similar styles.

Whatever, I was pleased to hear a conversation about Bush's alcoholism.

[MODemocrat]

40. Where is Jay Marvin now?

I'd like to hear him. The last time I heard him, he was still in
Chicago. He seems to get around a lot. Didn't he used to be on KOA Denver, Colorado? He's very good, but hard to keep up with. :shrug:

[Drewskie]

48. Boulder Colorado... Here's a link:

http://www.760thezone.com/main.html

[MODemocrat]

55. Thanks for the information, Drewskie

I've really been wanting to hear him again.

:thumbsup: :dem:

[Wilms]

23. .

:wow: :beer:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

29. Binaca mouthwash is mainly alcohol - maybe that's what Bush meant

when he asked for Bianca.

Binaca ingredients:

SD Alcohol 38-B, Isobutane, Glycerin, Flavor, Water, Sodium Saccharin

[mestup]

106. Thanks for the great laugh!

:rofl:

[wakemewhenitsover]

33. Anyone know which "highly respected" newspaper?

[Ksec]

35. and to think hes got his finger on that button of world destruction

scary stuff.

A reformed alcoholic falls back into the booze and hes got control of weaponry and bombs which could destroy the earth many times over.

This story is important, it really is.

[Drewskie]

36. hehe George Bush the next Boris Yeltsin (nt)

[wakeme2008]

37. But as Lisa from AllHatNoCattle does point out.

http://www.allhatnocattle.net/9-22-05_house_saud.htm

MEMO to Enquirer Staff: Get your Cipro shots!

Remember what happened when they published this:



Results: One dead photographer due to anthrax.

[Cha]

52. I didn't realize that the

photogopher of this was the one who died of anthrax?

But, they surely do.

[Ksec]

60. Is that true?

Wow, if so I didnt know that either...

[Cha]

67. Got to ask wakeme..

I was trying to get verification myself.

[Helga Scow Stern]

39. Poor Bush. Not to say he doesn't still belong in prison.

Sometimes prison is the best course for someone so incorrigible.

[political_invader]

65. I say send all his cronies here

No better time then the present to re-open Alcatraz. Every last one of them can rot.

[hvn_nbr_2]

78. Great idea!

But keep it open as a tourist attraction too. They could make up a nice part of the deficit by charging for a chance to spit on these thugs.

[mermaid]

144. Excellent! But I Would Pay Extra

to PISS on them!!

Fuckin' assholes! I hate every one of them!

[TNOE]

41. Well this is going to blow the Christofacists heads

wide up - you know drinkers are sinners - but they will probably rally around him once again and get him into an Evangelical 12 step program.

[GreenPartyVoter]

45. Hmmm Just in time for Plame to be resolved. The guy is going down. Hard

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

51. I think you're on to something there

[Algorem]

53. i thought this story was a joke at first,it's looking bigger and

BIGGER...!

[npincus]

46. I'll drink to that!

where's my twist?

[political_invader]

57. The Twist you say?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[WilliamPitt]

59. What if the source is Batboy?

"I saw him drinking!"

[VelmaD]

68. Will, I am shocked and appalled...

that you don't know the difference between the Enquirer and the Weekly World News. *snort*

[Bucky]

110. The "Washington Insider" could also be Capitol Hill Blue

This story doesn't rise above the level of gossip. I mean "where dere's smoke, dere's usually fiah." But it's not fit to print yet.

But it's still damn funny.

[WilliamPitt]

178. Funny

I thought exactly the same thing.

[koopie57]

61. I realize it is the National Enquirer

but on the other hand does anyone think it is not true that * has been drinking? Maybe the story is going to be Rathered, but I do think he has been drinking at the very minimum.

[Algorem]

63. Jay Marvin said National Enquirer broke the Limbaugh Oxycontin story

[tavalon]

76. Around the time of the last fraudulent election

I started saying that our little dry drunk was getting liquored up again. I haven't seen any sign that he dried it up again.

[lolly]

90. He Was Drunk

Or on lots of drugs the evening he went on national tv to accept the presidency after Gore threw in the towel.

I was watching and the minute he opened his mouth, I knew. I grew up with an alcoholic, and I could always tell when she'd had any booze at all.

Georgie Boy was drunk then; I'm quite sure he's drunk or "medicated" pretty much every day. I don't even think he's a "dry drunk," as some have said.

[fighttheevilempire]

111. Sort of like the Novak CNN...

infamous "bullshit" comment. Novak was drunk as a skunk that day on air. I've been around enough drunks and had enough of my own (college student) to know when someones had one or a six pack too many. You just know.

[corkhead]

66. "National Enquirer, your most trusted news source!"

isn't that sad?

[hvn_nbr_2]

82. Sad, but true.

Both Enquirer and corp-whore media are mostly bullcrap. But it seems like something important but bad news for Pukes is more likely to be carried by Enquirer.

[Kurovski]

70. Well, the editor put his money where his mouth is,

so I'm going to now believe the story.

[lolly]

92. Wish he would sue

That would be fun, seeing them try to prove that Georgie Boy has been sober. Kinda like watching O'Reilly trying to sue Franken. Bring It On, morons.

Of course, Rove knows better than that. But I'm sure he will go after these guys somehow.

[Pacifist Patriot]

73. There's Baptist Tea in that there cup folks.

Sorry, but I'm reminded of my cousin's wedding a few years back.

I was initially astounded to learn the reception would be held at a country club instead of the basement of the Baptist church like the rest of the family weddings (except mine).

Then I was blown away to learn there would be wine (okay, cheap crap that a true oenophile wouldn't touch but what can you expect?) served at the reception.

Imagine the explosion in my brain when I found out my grandpa...deacon of his church...representative of all that is holy and christ-like...was drinking Baptist Tea! That would be white zinfandel in a tea cub for the uninitiated.

Sadly he did not get good and sauced or I would have had one hell of a conversation with him.

...but I digress. Thank you for letting me share this memory. It really has nothing to do with Bush but I enjoyed sharing it. God rest Grandpa's soul.

[Kurovski]

97. Hehe! Amen.--n/t

[Ikonoklast]

164. Why should you always take two Baptists with you

when you go fishing?







Because if you only take one he'll drink all your beer.:beer:

[pelagius]

203. What's the difference between an Episcopalian and a Baptist?

An Episcopalian will say "hello" to you in the liquor store.

And, not germane to the topic, but one of my favorites:

Q. Why are Baptists so down on sex?
A. Because it could lead to dancing.

[PegDAC]

207. Great Religious Truths

1. Jews do not recognize Jeebus as the messiah

2. Protestants do not recognize the pope as the head of the church.

3. Baptists do not recognize each other at the loquor store or at Hooters.

;) :toast: :beer:

[B3Nut]

196. Hahahahaha!

The pastor of one church I used to attend back in the day was rabidly anti-alcohol. I later learned that the idea that Christians should never touch alcohol was an American deviation, and that European Christians never touched teetotalism at all. American fundies are so blasted loopy. :D All worked up about someone having a beer, but no concern for social justice at all. Oopsie-daisy. And they love to insist that the wine Jesus made was grape juice.....uh huh. Next! (B3Nut pulls lever, buzzer sounds, loopy fundie falls through trap door in the floor) . o O (I really need to lay off the Austin Powers flicks...)

That Zinfandel is cheap wine though...that's for heathens. :D Sanctified people drink at least Yellow Tail, yanno. :D hehehehehe Their Shiraz is actually really really good...I love it. Yum! :D

But Bush falling off the wagon would certainly explain quite a bit. He seems like the type that can't control his use of alcohol...some people do indeed need to stay away from it. And the thought of a man in his condition, if this is true, being in the position of deadly power he occupies scares the shit out of me.

Todd in Beerbratistan

[BuyingThyme]

75. Just in...

[DeepModem Mom]

79. COME ON, "highly respected" newspaper! Get busy!

And if possible, let's see an Enquirer-worthy story about Karl Rove -- with pictures!

[Kurovski]

99. Picture? Accompanied by an appropriate warning, one hopes.

[bostonbabs]

102. with Gannon?Guckert n/t

[DeepModem Mom]

158. Something like that.... nt

[demo dutch]

80. A real problem in the Bush Family, look at Jeb's kids!

[chookie]

156. Poppy and Cheney too

Poppy had a DUI in Sarasota Florida some years ago, and Cheney had a couple of DUIs, rather a longer time ago.

[demo dutch]

219. Not just the DUI's, kids are also involved in all kinds of drugs etc.

[neuvocat]

88. Hmmm...

you can already see how the freeper/enablers will spin this one:

"Heh, uh, you uh...you try to see how well uh...you...can...do when you're dealing with a hurricane and stuff...you moran."

And we're supposed to have sympathy for a man because he's human. Bullshit. We'll have sympathy for someone who has a drinking problem, not someone who has bloodlust (more like "bloodlush" in his case).

[Paintedlady]

93. The story is in Sweden!!!!!!

I don't have time to translate, but the headline reads "Katrina made bush start to drink again"
The article quotes the Enquirer.

http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/nyheter/story/0,2789,702906,00.html

[cwydro]

94. I'm thinking there is something to this

and the Enquirer, though a tabloid, is not an alien invader kind of tabloid. They look for dirt, yeah, but since OJ...they've been getting it right....

Wonder what Rove has got planned for them...

[yurbud]

103. One problem with story--empathy would NOT drive him to

drink.

"When the levees broke in New Orleans, it apparently made him reach for a shot," said one insider. "He poured himself a Texas-sized shot of straight whiskey and tossed it back. The First Lady was shocked and shouted: "Stop George!"

"The war in Iraq, the loss of American lives, has deeply affected him. He takes every soldier's life personally. It has left him emotionally drained.

Also,

A. I doubt that he heard about the levee breaking, and if he did, he probably didn't know what it was or care.

B. Given Cindy Sheehan's description of meeting with him at the White House, he sounds like he can't even fake caring about dead soldiers. If he had any compassion for others at all, he couldn't have started a war whose sole purpose was to enrich his friends.

[Pacifist Patriot]

112. I have the same instinct.

Well first of all I think he resumed his drinking habit well before Katrina. And if he did resume drinking after Katrina I don't attribute it to compassion. Political stress yes, compassion no. At any rate, I think he is definitely drinking.

But I've been a cold-hearted bitch in relation to Bush lately so my opinion is rather biased. I admit that unreservedly.

[FighttheFuture]

123. Exactly... a sociopath does not have empathy. It is simply his...

self destructive personality sill at work, on him, and us!

An amusing thing on Thom Hartmann today is a person he was speaking to (not sure of name) suspect Bush is on alcohol or drugs, and has that look, the vacant stare, the pointy ears and head, eyes, of a fetal alcohol baby! Given Babs and Sr., I would not doubt it!

Almost makes me have pity for Bushie, almost, but no. Too late in the game for that.

[Polemicist]

182. They have concerns, but only for themselves...

A concept like, "I can't believe all these horrible things happen to me. I just don't deserve it. I can't believe this disaster in New Orleans and the insurgents in Iraq. Why is this happening to me?"

Rather than, "Those poor people in New Orleans and the terrible deaths of Iraqis and our soldiers".

Sociopaths and their close cousins, those with narcissistic personality disorder (which is likely Bush's affliction), disconnect with the afflictions of others in see everything only in how it effects them.

You are correct, they lack empathy for others. But they have plenty of concern for themselves.

[FreedomAngel82]

173. Maybe not empathy but instead

stress? My aunt and uncle used to drink and my uncle/aunt used to claim nerves not long after my cousin (their youngest daughter) died. :shrug:

[mantis49]

218. I don't think empathy would make him drink, either.

More likely self-pity because the world saw him for what he really is.

As a recovering alcoholic myself, I know that self-pity is the deadliest "emotion" the alcoholic can have and one of the most likely to make one pick up that drink.

[yurbud]

231. good point--like the murderer who cries because he was caught

[Bucky]

108. Here's why I have trouble believing "Bush fell off the wagon" stories

Dude's been acting drunk all along. I could see maybe, maybe, his substance abuse catching up to him and the stories of aberrant behavior coming to surface right about now. But for him to suddenly just fall off the wagon is not how typical alky stories run. NE is saying:

Faced with the biggest crisis of his political life, President Bush has hit the bottle again, The National Enquirer can reveal.

Bush, who said he quit drinking the morning after his 40th birthday, has started boozing amid the Katrina catastrophe.

Family sources have told how the 59-year-old president was caught by First Lady Laura downing a shot of booze at their family ranch in Crawford, Texas, when he learned of the hurricane disaster.

His worried wife yelled at him: "Stop, George."

Following the shocking incident, disclosed here for the first time, Laura privately warned her husband against "falling off the wagon" and vowed to travel with him more often so that she can keep an eye on Dubya, the sources add.

"When the levees broke in New Orleans, it apparently made him reach for a shot," said one insider. "He poured himself a Texas-sized shot of straight whiskey and tossed it back. The First Lady was shocked and shouted: "Stop George!"

Folks, this is melodrama, not real life.

The story reads like Laura Bush is the source. To be clear: Laura is not the source. For Bush to be drinking now, he would have to sneak up to it--the pretzel incident, the "stony" press conferences, the tantrums at the ranch, the bike accidents. Laura would have to have been covering up for him all along. Plus the overwhelming likelihood is that he'd have switched to a different drug of choice by now anyway, with all the muscle relaxers and antidepressents they've been feeding him to get him thru the press conferences.

The soap opera farce the Enquirer is presenting has no relation to how these events might unfold in the real world.

The other problem with this story is that its so far only coming from the National Enquirer and corroborated somewhat by Capitol Hill Blue. Not what you'd call reliable journals. But more to the point, believing this story requires us to believe that NE could crack the White House security bubble. That's a pretty hard sell.

The White House has been in a paranoiac information lock down since day one. After five years of practice, why would we think they've suddenly lost their discipline. Drunks become increasingly sloppy in their cover up routines. Enablers don't. They get better with time.

I don't doubt George W Bush is off some kind of wagon. I completely doubt that it's from a recent fall.

[justgamma]

118. That's why I believe the story.

I think that some MSM was or is about to go public. They had to be desperate to spin it. They had to pull a preemptive strike. Rove has the spin in (see how much Shrub cares about people?) Next in will be the big old mean democrats that pushed him into it. They can spin that ii broke in the enquirer, so you know it's not legit.

Meanwhile the MSM that had the story will just slink away from it.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

125. Well, then, the NE can just keep the story going themselves...

Every week...a new revelation, a new pic (or several) showcasing the ongoing intoxicated behavior.

Maybe even some pics from the "old" days...we at DU have an extensive record here.

The genie can't be put back in the bottle. MKJ

[FreedomAngel82]

174. It is all strange

It seems as though everything is falling down hill at once for him. Carter talking about Gore and now this story. I wonder what is going on....

[checks-n-balances]

151. *B*I*N*G*O*! You hit it on the head as far as I'm concerned

Just what I've been thinking, although before you posted this I thought maybe I could just be trying on the tinfoil hat. Just look at all the posts laughing this off because it came from The Enquirer...thereby playing right into Rove's hands (I should say claws). Yep, this way they can spin the story their own way and yet discredit and kill it at the same time.

[Garbo 2004]

145. Perhaps the PTB consider * a liability and are giving him a helpful little

push. Someone (probably several someones) has been talking to the NE and giving them a nice crafted story that poor Georgie is so stressed and compassion ridden. But the point of the story is, he's cracking up. Maybe to edge him out in some fashion...or he can have a little health crisis.

I don't think the NE is doing this simply for the sales and juicy gossip value.

For example, the FEC just went after Bush I's buddies' group for violations. (The story's around here in a few threads within the last couple days or so.) It's strange, why would Bush's FEC go after a group that has been supporting him all these years? Maybe there's some internecine war going on behind the scenes. If so, frankly I wouldn't be surprised if old Babs had been spilling...or someone with their approval. With these guys in power its all been stranger than fiction. :shrug:

[chookie]

159. Agreed

The only thing that is "fishy" about this story is the notion that His Chimperial Highness only just recently fell off the wagon.

More evidence: jeez -- just look at the guy's face! That is NOT normal aging, even for someone stupid enough to court sun damage to their skin. The blotchiness makes me wonder -- along with all of the other details you mention.

The other bit of fishyness is the notion that Laura is going to set him straight, somehow. I personally believe Laura's booze consumption has decreased considerably in the last year - she has lost a significant amount of weight and is no longer as bloated as we used to know her (although I think she also had a bit of nip tuck), but that may be because she's upped her trankie intake.

George is a bully, and he will bully his wife in order to keep drinking, and if Laura doesn't like it, she will be in trouble, because she's not a Bush and they are.

[Joyce]

183. "More time away from DC" now makes sense.

Perhaps this is why Bush likes getting away from The White House and spending so much time down at his Crawford estate (it is not a ranch). He can probably have more privacy there where it would be much easier to drink. Ya think?

[peace_on_earth]

115. Wayne Madsen weighed in on this and said it's likely...

September 22, 2005 -- Note on Bush drinking. Much is being made of a recent National Enquirer report regarding George W. Bush's hitting the bottle. It should be noted that the Enquirer has historically hired legitimate journalist stringers who use pen names to mask their true identities, particularly on political stories.

The Bush boozing story is not a new one. The editor has heard of and written about Bush's drinking bouts since 2001. The "choking pretzel" incident had nothing to do with a pretzel but was a carefully contrived story used to cover up a Bush drinking spree that resulted in his passing out on a coffee table in the White House second floor residence and injuring his face. Ditto the numerous cases of Bush falling off a bike somewhere to explain further wounds on his face. Back in college, we used to call that getting "s**t-faced drunk." Apparently, Mr. Bush still thinks he's in college.



Frat boy George: Still getting "s**t-faced"

The White House press corps has been whispering about Bush's drinking over the past few years. None dare write or speak about it lest their credentials are lifted and further access cut off by the most vindictive White House in American history.

http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/

I realize some people question some of Madsen's reports (I take them with a little grain of salt myself), but what better way for mainstream reporters to get their news out under cover?? Especially to Repugs?

[Betsy Ross]

116. Why is this just coming out now?

If he has been driking again, someone, SOMEONE would have noticed before. I don't know of any way to cover up the smell of a drunk. Vodka is not exempt from the odor.

[Verve]

150. This is good timing. Bush's ratings are low, making this more a

believable story than if they had try to publish this months ago.

[FreedomAngel82]

177. That could be a reason, the raitings

Nobody is liking Bush anymore and maybe this will put pressure on the republicans as well to do something about Bush. Maybe now that Bush and Rove and the other republicans don't have much power now days like they used to publications aren't afraid to talk out about stories they know about.

[FreedomAngel82]

176. Maybe the "powers that be"?

Who knows. I think everything is strange now and the whole country is fucked up and we're all going to lose. Eventually so will the corporations. I really don't know what to think myself.

[nankerphelge]

117. How big do you think a "Texas sized shot" is?

A fifth? A half gallon?

[tinrobot]

119. Bottom line question - if true, what's the effect?

So, let's say the story is 150% accurate and verified by the MSM that he's drinking again.

What happens then?

Will it actually change people's opinions of him?

Does he lose his grip on power?

How does it affect the country?

[mopaul]

120. bush boozing again, i dunno, it's hard to believe

[npincus]

205. that's funny!

are you a PhotoShop wiz?

[FighttheFuture]

122. What does this mean? Hmmm... job broke Bu$h... Cheney will now...

step in for Jr.

Then he will appoint Jeb as VP. Then Dick will retire for health reasons and Jeb will be prez... with the opportunity to run again! Bu$hitCo dynasty forever!! Or, at least until the country collapses, which should be about 2012-2015.

Well... I suspect they will use it as an excuse to ease Jr. out, at least.

[mermaid]

146. Jesus Fucking Christ!!!

don't give them IDEAS!!

Hell, the scenario you are painting scares the FUCK out of me!

Didn't we fight a war about 225 years atgo to be rid of a ruling elite family?

NO MORE FUCKING BUSHES!!

[Flying Dream Blues]

155. Scares the f*** out of me, too! nt

[nothometoday]

126. Am I missing an initial

thread here??? Bush was caught drunk?

[joytomme]

128. Bush on the bottle again

I'm of the opinion that nothing gets out about Bush that Rove doesn't want to get out.

So I'm trying to figure out why Rove would let the Bush-back-to-boozing story get out?

And the only thing I can come up with is that hitting the bottle goes a long way to explain Bush's erratic and insane behavior and it's better for the country to believe he's so human that he fell off the wagon rather than for the country to believe he's got mental problems.

Of course he's drinking again, and probably abusing drugs and maybe using cocaine again...but he's also had a stroke(s) or seizures or may have a brain tumor too.

The caption to a cartoon in the New Yorker this week is: The mark of true leadership is knowing when to resign in disgrace.

We may yet see that happen.

Joy Tomme
http://ratbangdiary.blogspot.com

[Verve]

152. So you think Rove is using this as an excuse for screwing up Katrina?

That people will have sympathy for Shrub for letting hundreds of people needlessly die in NO because he was shi* faced?

Do people have sympathy for Drunk Drivers? Not usually.

I think your theory is creative but screwy. (However, I wouldn't put it past Rove to try to use it. He's come up with worse B.S.)

Edit: Excuse my rudeness,I forgot to say Welcome Joytomme! A toast to you and to bush drinking again!:toast:

[Beelzebud]

129. Don't be so gullible.

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/celebrity/57227

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/politics/22339

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/politics/9959

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/politics/62736

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/politics/58218

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/politics/62118

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/celebrity/59211

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/mikewalker/61869

Still willing to go to the mat for the N.E.?

[PurpleChez]

131. Calloh! Callay!

What a riot! Ya know, the asshole DOES have a reason to drink. By rights, he should be having Lovecraftian nightmares filled with mangled soldiers and drowned corpses. A little drink now and then to ease the pain over the 100s of 1000s of lives he's destroyed. But that would mean that he actually feels remorse, and that flies in the face of my previous notions of our psychotic president and his brown-shirted administration. They can all rot.

[tularetom]

134. I don't care if he's constantly drunk

I DO care that he's constantly fuckin incompetent and if its the booze that's making him incompetent then he better get some help or get the hell out. Remember what Lincoln said when he was told about Grant's drinking? Find out what he drinks and send a case of it to all my other generals.

However it is fun to think about the reaction of all the dumbasses to this story. They'll turn on the asswipe in a second once they sense weakness.

[wallwriter]

147. I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot about Grant.

That was my first thought.

[Verve]

153. Didn't Grant help WIN the war?

So far Bush is losing in Iraq, losing the war on terror (no Osama), and losing to Mother Nature. There is no comparison!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

135. They can expect

some anthrax in the mail.

[sweetheart]

139. if drunk driving is a heinous offense

Drunk aggressive war making; civilian murdering and looting should be
crimes as well.... but only in a country with a rule of law.

[gasperc]

141. that was Jay Marvin sitting in for Ed

I Leno and letterman joke about it, it could pose a political problem and if people really start watching him, or trips getting out of a helicoptor or something, all hell will break lose on this story

[Calliope]

190. Letterman joked about it last night

[wallwriter]

148. What other unsavory habits has he started again?

Has he been spotted with kate Moss?

[Arlington]

154. If no one has pointed it out yet, a public official...

has a lot tougher time pursuing a libel case.

The plaintiff (in this case, *) would have to prove actual malice, and that means getting out there, engaging, and fanning the flames even higher.

That's one reason few public officials ever pursue legal action in this sort of thing -- which is why outfits like the NE generally can say whatever they want with near impunity.

And there is another reason pols ignore this stuff. Ever wonder why Hillary just ignores all the shit they say about her? (And she likely COULD prove actual malice in a lot of cases.) It's because this crap comes with the territory. It's a lot easier to defuse this stuff by simply ignoring a story until it dries up and blows away. If you address it, you pour gas on a fire. But 95 percent of the time, if you don't give legs to the story by addressing it, it will go away.

Movie stars love any publicity -- bad or good -- so they sue. Politicians (and business leaders) dread negative personal publicity, so they refuse to comment and often hire someone to make sure allegations go away as quietly as possible.

So -- much as I'd love to believe the bonehead is a drunk, I don't see that the Enquirer in reality has gone out on a limb to publish the story.

[buddysmellgood]

160. What the hell kind of difference could his boozing or not possibly make?

[Carolab]

168. Makes him a liar and weak-willed, that's how.

Turns the RW fundie "God" into a common cheat and a drunk.

[malaise]

189. I hope it's true

the hypocrite will be further exposed.

[buddysmellgood]

204. You must mean in the eyes of Republicans. That certainly makes sense.

[FreedomAngel82]

162. Interesting

I'll be looking out for Laura traveling more. Maybe she won't now since the story is out though. I personally think he never stopped.

[Beausoir]

163. Who Cares? Seriously.

This is embarassing. The National Enquirer????!!!

There are so many other issues to deal with.

[dwightspencer]

166. RE:"Bulletin on Bush Booze story"

It is a shame that this man has been used by the machinery of the RNC who will have little use for him once his second term has expired. George Bush is not a very articulate man and once the truths about his policies start sticking he will no longer be the great fundraiser he once was. I feel sorry for him, because I think all his wealthy friends will abandon him when he is most in need.

As if we had any doubts, this story's surfacing confirms that family has serious issues. Something to think about... There are probably a lot worse things going on behind their closed doors we will never hear about.

[Laurab]

175. I would never feel sorry for him, NEVER

and I think of myself as a very kind person. I've been told I'm a very kind person. This man (and his wealthy "friends") have done so much damage to this country, and caused the deaths of so many people that he deserves everything you said and more - so much more.

I don't give a damn WHAT issues his family has - all families have issues. All families have things going on behind closed doors. Mine certainly does, I come from an alcoholic family, I'm an alcoholic (albeit recovering 20 years now), but would that forgive me for any crimes I committed? The fact that I had family issues? Come ON.

If indeed he was used, he allowed himself to be used. He is the one who makes the final decisions, HE started the illegal war, he is responsible for every single thing he's done, whether he's been "used" or not. I somehow can't believe that a man who puts his fist into the air and says "feels GOOD" when he has started a war, has been "used". I don't believe anyone else puts the smirk or the smug look on his face, either.

I feel sorry for a lot of people - in particular, for the people whose lives have been lost or ruined because of him. I will NEVER feel sorry for him.

[nicktom]

169. I heard the national editor of NE on the Larry Elder show today,

for those of you who don't know who Larry Elder is, picture the Sean Hannity from south central Los Angeles (Watts). He proudly calls himself a NeoCon. It so happens that this editor also has a radio show on KABC here in L.A. the home station of Elder, thus they know each other professionally.

All Elder could end up doing was shout over any facts he was presented concerning the Bush booze story, the NE guy threatened to hang up if he was not allowed to respond to Elder's crap. The National Enquirer stands by the story and was willing to go to court if they had to.

The best part of the interview was when Elder asked if this editor had ever seen any evidence that Bush as commander in chief had shown any signs of being under the influence in making the decisions he had made. I thought the editor was going to fall out his chair laughing, (the guy must be paying attention to what is going on in this country)

By the end of the interview it wasn't whether or not Bush drank, but how much he drinks.

[expatriot]

179. Who would go to the Nat'l Enquirer with a story? this is stupid imho

i am not saying he isnt drinking, he probably is and has been for awhile but the whole premise of that story is made up, it says he cares about the dead in iraq and katrina. if he had any lick of compassion he would at least TRY and do the right thing.

[bostonbabs]

220. they only said that he said

he was concerned.....so what do we care what he says... he's a liar and he may have just used that as an excuse....because to admit that he is a worthless human and the worst president that this country has ever had....would be the real reason he started drinking and that would take the courage of a hero to admit and he will never be that like I said he just lies.....the worst lies are the ones that we tell ourselves...as Nancy Pelosi said he is "DELUSIONAL AND DANGEROUS"....thw American public will not put up with this obvious bullshit

[madrchsod]

180. is that why he stumbled off the plane in san diego

and cut short his photo op several weeks ago...to drunk to function in the day time? that`s some serious shit!

[Binka]

184. The Reason He Could Not Comment On Katrina

Remember that was a Tuesday morning he landed in SD. The DAY AFTER KATRINA HIT. He was too bombed to deal with it and basically told his handlers to fuck off. They had to leave him alone for the next few days while he binged...by the time they sobered him up all the shit had hit the fan in NOLA and the gulf coast and he was FUCKED.

That is why this story is coming out now. I'm suspecting somebody lost some family or friends etc and this has become personal. You would have thought that the war, the economy, 9-11, etc etc would have motivated people to tell the truth about this murderer before...but I guess whatever it took.

Bush is royally fucked in my book. He will NEVER get over 39% approval. And that is going to be a high point when all is said and done.

[Historic NY]

181. Perhaps its a combo of both booze & the meds he is know to be taking

some mixed cocktail. Maybe both account for his known wild mood swings.

[spuddonna]

185. lol You know, this reminds me of something from Conspiracy Theory...

Was Mel Gibson's character always reading the Enquirer for the 'true' stories?!

This will be a delicious irony if a follow-up does make a major 'respected' newspaper...

[WoodrowFan]

198. and in Men in Black (nt)

[HoosierClarkie]

201. He really does have some creepy tick that he does with his chin.

Is this related?

[hogwyld]

208. Still..

Can this country cope with 3 more years of this drunken, cocaine filled idiocy? What happens if he passes out in a drunken stupor and his forehead hits "The Button" The alternative of him resigning and passing all power to Darth Cheney is even scarier. What to do...

[SupplySideLiberal]

209. The National Enquirer is Credible

The Enquirer is surprisingly credible on political stories. They nail it down before going to print on something like this.

It's scary.

[roseBudd]

227. People confuse the NE with Weekly World News when they mention wacky

stories. NE specializes in gossip on real people, mostly celebrities but sometimes politicos and they are often the first when it is something embarrasssing.

[FighttheFuture]

210. Nothing of this magnitude leaks in Bu$hitCo, nothing, without a plan...

so what is it? Is it a hail mary to try to appeal to Bush's drunk, delusional, dysfunctional base of dumbfucks; to engender sympathy? Perhaps, but would it really do any good? Most people, including conservatives, will not take kindly to the leader of our country cracking under the pressure and running to Jim Beam rather than Jesus!

I really think, and I mentioned it earlier, that I think they are laying the groundwork to ease Bushie on out or he dies in office somehow; Bush is a '00 President, after all and Tecumseh can be useful for them. With Jr. out of the way, they can attempt to mitigate and repair the damage to their movement.

I suspect they will hand the Presidency back to the Dems in '08 so they can let the adults fix it up a bit and also blame them for the disasters coming. Keep in mind the sheeples' memory isn't really much above a slug and A the MSM will still be their handy mouthpiece do no help there! I don't think they will let the House or Senate be lost in '06. Even if it was, they have so many of their cancers in the political bureaucracy, that they will still control and blackmail as they wish with abandon.

In 2012, '16 at the latest, they will take it back and seal the deal on this country's transformation to Brazil.

That's my prediction. Any bets?

[DirtyDawg]

212. You've been watching The Daily Show...

...this is pretty much the scenario that Rob Corddry laid out last night on TDS...eight years of repigs effin' the place up only to turn it over to the dems just in time to do the heavy lifting, introduce corrective measures, raise taxes and basically right the ship of state...only to have a new repig candidate come along to tell the 'Merican people that everything is bright and sunny and that they don't have to be adult about it any longer...and, by the way, corporations and the 'wellist to dos' ought to get those tax increases they had to endure under those bad demos overturned...

[FighttheFuture]

214. Actually no, but I will take that has a real confirmation!

I usually watch the Daily show, but it is backlogged this week on my ReplayTV, so this was what I, and no doubt many others are thinking!

[Autonomy]

213. I agree they want to remove Bush now that he's a liability

but it's so they can keep power in 2006 and beyond.

[vogonity]

211. Trial Balloon

Think about the usefulness of where the story was published. If the general reaction of the public is sympathetic, then... well the story is out there and maybe he'll get a similar reaction as Rush Limbaugh did. If the general reaction of the public is strongly negative, then the story can be trashed by all the usual suspects. "Oh here those wacky liberals go again, quoting the Weekly Worl... oh I mean that Paragon of honesty and accuracy the National Enquirer.

I am thinking its a trial balloon. And true.

But then I started thinking, why? Why would they leak this on purpose? It's very risky. My thoughts are that this is probably rumored to be coming out in a more reputable publication and they are trying to innoculate against it.

Whitehouse spin: "We are not going to comment on a story that <insert reputable media publication> obviously based on a story in a sleazy supermarket tabloid."

My opinion: He has probably been on prescription meds for most of his life. Think Xanax, Ambien, and probably some stimulant like AdderaL Does anyone know if Adderal causes the jaw tic? I would be very, very surprised if he was using cocaine.

[Algorem]

216. Ed Schultz today saying he doesn't consider National Enquirer a credible

source.He probably doesn't even know it was the National Enquirer that first put out the Limbaugh-is-a-drug-addict-criminal story.

RUSH LIMBAUGH CAUGHT IN DRUG RING!

Cops' probe nails him

Top-rated radio host Rush Limbaugh has been secretly battling addiction to narcotics -- and he's embroiled in a high-priority drug-ring investigation, The ENQUIRER reveals in a blockbuster exclusive.

His former housekeeper Wilma Cline has told prosecutors that she illegally supplied Rush with thousands of painkillers - including highly dangerous OxyContin -- over four years.

The issue that goes on sale today features a world-exclusive interview with Wilma, shows e-mails Rush sent her seeking more and more OxyContin, discloses that Rush has gone through drug detox twice ... and much, much more.

Published on: 10/02/2003



http://www.nationalenquirer.com/crime/59485

[Drewskie]

217. Like everyone else he's waiting for a more credible

source. And he did, in fact, acknowledge that Rush was busted by the National Enquirer, but that does'nt make all of NE's stories true...

[mattjc1983]

221. wait though

seriously we're not saying that we actually hope that bush is truly an alcoholic while soldiers are dying in iraq and people are drowning on the gulf coast? no matter how much i dislike the guy, for the sake of our country i would hope it wouldn't be true. btw, enjoy the site so far.

[hogwyld]

222. Hey!

Welcome to DU!

[petesboro]

223. jaw snapp[ing caught my eye....

When I see the chimp snapping that jaw, I think blow, not booze.
Between that, and lying thru his teeth, and some blow to get him thru the photo ops who shld be suprised? he looks like shit.
ugh

[Skittles]

226. he has always looked bad but he's looking especially bad lately

does it surprise us the corporate media has not addressed that extremely noticible jaw tic?