So AAR shows like Randi spent their time on the Enquirer/Booze story,

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

and not covering the Basra British soldier incident?

I'm sorry but without other independent sources why should we give this any more credence than some Enquirer story about Clinton having a African American love child?

Without having read through the various 500 post threads on this topic, it does strike me as a quintessential Rovian move to get such a story into a source like the Enquirer, both to "diffuse" the credibility of any real story about Bush drinking that might come out, and even more, to draw attention away from the procurement guy getting arrested, Basra, and any number of other legit stories.

[clbuck]

1. Malloy mentioned it last night.

n/t

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

2. Personally I think it's embarassing for Dem or left shows to spend any

substantial amount of time on this except maybe to point it ought and have a quick laugh.

There are so many known, legit, verified reasons for Bush to be considered an unfit leader that I really feel it does people opposed to the Bush administration a disservice to dwell on this prior to any more reputable sources coming out on it.

I think we would feel the same way if RW radio or freepers spent a lot of time covering a National Enquirer article with some unverified sensational story about a prominent Democrat like Wes Clark or John Edwards or Hilary Clinton.

[longship]

3. I think this may be a very important story.

I'm worried though. You debunk the NE story for lack of reliable sources when the NE has stated that they stand by their story and that they have good sources. But then you trot out a Rovian conspiracy as explanation which has not one shred of support other than idle conjecture. But let's let that little hypocrisy go and get to the meat of the issue.

During the last summer of the Nixon administration a story came out that Nixon was close to breaking down. He was apparently drinking heavily and doing weird things, or so it was reported. The question on everybody's lips was, "What do we do with a President who has gone off the ranch?" Furthermore, there was a real concern that Nixon might have to go sooner than impeachment and trial could accomplish it. How would one accomplish that if he refused to resign? What kind of adventures would prospective enemies inflict on the USA while the Executive Branch was in chaos due to an incapacitated executive?

There is real danger here with Chimpster possibly incapacitated by alcoholism. We don't know the answers here, but we need to find them out. The safety of our nation may hold in the balance. We need to start asking questions about this. This is a very grave matter.

[EFerrari]

7. I'm no student of Presidential history but

just about every president in my lifetime has had serious health problems that could or did affect decision making. In a sense, Bush is just proof of how empty the suit has become. Sad, really.

[longship]

8. Are you saying that this is nothing important then?

I'm not very comfortable with that response. I think that Congress ought to gear up for an inquiry as to the President's competence. If the NE story is substantiated by another media source I think Congress has a duty to launch an inquiry as to whether the President should be removed from office immediately due to being incapacitated by alcoholism.

[EFerrari]

11. I don't know that I'm comfortable with it either.

What I meant was, this won't be the first time we've dealt with an executive whose faculties aren't intact. How can Congress approach such a problem in this rarefied atmosphere? At least during the Nixon problem, there were leaders in both houses. As I recall, the Republican leadership forced Nixon to resign.

Maybe I'm having outrage burnout but, just the thought of Congress needing to "inquire" into this man's competence - well, it's the stuff of black humor. He's never had a competent day in his life.

It's as serious as possible but, looking back, not unusual in an American Presidency.

[longship]

13. In principle you are correct.

History has not always moved so quickly. Chimp has our country in a particularly precarious situation. He seems to revel in tickling the dragon. His international affairs are dangerous. If somebody who does not particularly like USA very much picks up on what I'm picking up (i.e., Chimp incapacitated) there may be much worse than a hurricane to pay. We may all reap Chimpy's whirlwind. (no pun intended)

I suppose we could sit back and wait for things to happen naturally. After 2006 impeachment may very well be a great option. In the meantime we have the Congressional Black Caucus to carry our water for us....

BZZZZZZZZZT! I'm sorry. I'm not happy with that.

I think it's time to be much more proactive. I'm contacting my Congressmen about this as soon as there's confirmation from the traditional press.

[Garbo 2004]

4. Randi's speculated about Bush's hobbies before. But good pt about other

stories. Send her an email perhaps about these stories that are getting overlooked.

And I don't think Rove would want such a story in the NE for any reason. It reduces *'s stature to that of a mere commoner to even have such a story appear in the NE. It simply ain't presidential. Not the "leader" Rove Inc have spent a lot of effort and years making him out to be. Nope not Rovian.

Someone's crafting the story for the NE and the point of the story IMO isn't so much his drinking but that Bush is unstable and on the verge of cracking up. Maybe the old guard of the PTB is rattling the cage. Bush is the object of disdain and ridicule now. He's a liability.

And right now the story is Rita, Rita, Rita so no need to diffuse from other stories that aren't being and won't be covered anyway by the corporate media.

[greenbriar]

5. seems it has legs

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.

[Maccagirl]

6. I'm reading "Worse Than Watergate"

by John Dean and this story has a core of truth to it-ignore the stupid, cheesy "quotes". The Enquirer always pads their stories with unnecessary garbage. I don't think the Rovester is behind this-I think his SOP is being used AGAINST his guy this time.

[Just Me]

9. Excellent read. You MUST read: "Confessions of an Economic Hitman".

Dean presents a legal analysis. Perkins reveals the business (corporatocracy) aspect.

Setting aside the emotional/intuitive/feeling facet of humanity, you read these two books,...and KNOW the leadership of this country is simply devoid of fundamental and basic human values: life, liberty, justice. They viciously violate the lives and liberties of humanity in such unjust ways, reinventing or ignoring or violating the "rule of law".

[msmcghee]

10. Longship, I think you are . .

. . absolutely right in your take on this.

For any other president I can imagine the press would be all over this if there was any truth to it. But with Bush and his level of cluelessness, his incompetence, perhaps having him partially
incapacitated might even be a benefit overall.

In any case the press hardly notices these things any more. There are so many outrages piling up that I'm getting a feeling of unreality about the whole thing.

It's amazing that we've come to this in America.

[phusion]

12. Nominated.

You raise a great point...