What difference does it make if Bush is back on the juice?

[dolo amber]

He's over 21, and alcohol is legal for adults to consume in this country. Doesn't really matter if he's drunk or sober...he's still a shit president. Roosevelt and Churchill were notorious booze hounds, and they won WWII.

I just don't see the issue here. It's not like having a lush president is a first, nor does it in any way effect his job performance. If it's not been made painfully clear thus far, he really ain't the one steering this ship... :eyes:

[NorCalDem]

1. If he were drunk and doing a good job, I wouldn't mind!

But he's drunk and fucking our country up, so I mind a lot! I don't care that he's drunk, just that he's a fuck-up!

[HEyHEY]

2. Cause then it's less for Ted Kennedy

[pointblank]

3. Its not so much the booze I have the problem with...

Its the blow. Have you seen that monkey grind his teeth? :rofl:

[madokie]

9. It's the combination that worries me

[MADem]

26. So that would be

:beer: :popcorn: :toast: :puke: :puke: :hangover:

[madokie]

57. Jack Daniels and blow.

:rofl:

[MADem]

60. I shoulda put plus signs between those smilies

And they had no pretzels, so I made do with popcorn!

[madokie]

74. Nay, I'm just dense like that sometimes.

[WI_DEM]

4. FDR wasn't an alcoholic

he liked to have a couple of cocktails at the cocktail hour, but he wasn't a falling down drunk like Bush was or is. But other than that, I guess it doesn't matter--except that it's part of Bush's biography pushed by his supporters that he gave up booze and has been sober for twenty years or whatever. If that is not the case it should be exposed.

[DS1]

5. It's called scraping, dear

:toast:

[dolo amber]

35. Indeed

:D :toast:

[Imagevision]

63. At Times you need to either get off booze, OR get back on the booze

from what I've seen with Bush off the sauce? -- maybe he does need to get back on something... straight, he can't handle shit..!

[mike_c]

6. I agree-- his boozing is NOT the problem....

He's a shit president drunk or sober. Other presidents have done a fine job while boozing it up.

[Mutley]

7. Alcoholism permeates one's entire life.

Personal, professional, spiritual, etc. If it hasn't already, *'s boozing will have an effect, likely a negative one, on his job performance.

[dolo amber]

10. Is that even possible?

You mean he could be *more* stupid?

[Mutley]

21. LMAO!

I happen to believe that a good portion of his stupidity is due to his alcoholism. Maybe you've seen this but check out this video documenting the difference in his ability to speak in public while he was Governor and today. http://www.adbuzz.com/bushbuzz.htm It's pretty amazing stuff.

[FreedomAngel82]

36. Yep

It is amazing.

[MADem]

8. It ain't JUST the booze, it is the HYPOCRISY

Remember, the LORD 'hepped' him to put down the bottle. He found JEEEBUS, and now he has the grit and strength...and if you were half as good as he is, he implies, YOU could be Mr. Macho In Control All The Time, too!!!

The issue is not the pretzledunce taking a shot every now and again, it is a guy who has an addictive personality who LIES about it, like he lies about everything.

[Angry Girl]

17. Well put! n/t

[woofless]

23. dolo asks, "what difference does it make......?"

We have had countless examples of Bush's hypocrisy so the fact that he boozes and lies about it really makes no difference.

Woof

[MADem]

34. One can forgive a single error in judgment, even two

...but when you get to three, four, five, ten--at that point what you are looking at is a PATTERN. And when he continues to operate according to his pattern, it signals ever increasing danger to us, the citizens of this nation, who are led by a fucked up substance abuser.

It always can get WORSE. WAY WORSE.

I'd just as soon it didn't, it is bad enough as it is.

[FreedomAngel82]

38. And he's the person who gets to press the button....

[dolo amber]

40. Yes. And I'm sure

there are zero stop-gap measures in place to keep an insane drunken person from rushing right in and doing that.

:patriot:

[Debi]

54. As long as there is someone willing to step in and stop the crazy bastard

His subordinates were all so scared to tell him a hurricane hit Louisiana that they held a pre-meeting to decide who would have to go in and advise him that he'd have to cut his vacation two days short.

Who in that group would step in and tell him, "No, sir, you cannot Nuke Canada!"?

[CBGLuthier]

65. One man

The officer who carries the nuclear football is the only "safeguard". There is nothing in place to stop the orders if the device is used.

So all he would have to do is call that officer in, incapacitate him, and then bye-bye world.

There is no "rushing in" that device is supposed to be with the POTUS at all times.

Any safeguards would eliminate the usefulness of the device.

Of course, to be fair, this is only based upon what we know about the device and maybe there are more safeguards but I am not really sure that anyone ever thought of a lunatic in the WH.

[dolo amber]

67. I find it HIGHLY unlikely that there aren't more

safeguards than that in place...that said, I don't know what they are either so I shan't speculate. But surely many many different scenarios have been contemplated and having only ONE person left between who knows what and world destruction seems a bit far-fetched.

[CBGLuthier]

70. I know, I hope so too

But if there are too many safeguards, like having to double check the orders with someone else in authority then the device would have less value.

Honestly, I don't think any of us want to contemplate how easy it would be for a POTUS to drob "the bomb". Nixon was quite insane towards the end, doped up and drunk. I sure hope they didn't take their eyes off him.

And Reagan had the early stages of Alzheimers. I hope they were careful with him too.

It isn't probably as easy as just pushing a button. In the movie Deterrence, the president had to look through special glasses and read code letters. It may not be that "cool" but I would hope it is at least slightly complicated.

[smirkymonkey]

73. That's the crux of it right there!

If Jesus saved him from the demon hooch and he's a man of the lord, then what does that say about the power of Jesus (or perhaps more accurately, Bush's devotion) to the faithful?

The whole lie falls apart and he is exposed as a fraud and a hypocrite. Besides, he's not a functional alcoholic like Churchill or Roosevelt. No, Bush is the falling down, wet-brained, abusive, paranoid, completely useless type of alcoholic. He has no capacity to function under the influence, and certainly no business being the leader of the "free" world.

[terrya]

11. I don't see the problem.

You're right...it's pretty obvious by now that Bush isn't a micro manager kind of President. What...is there some fear that he might get completely soused one night, pick up the phone and order a nuclear strike? Give me a break.

Hell, it's also obvious that Reagan was showing the signs of Alzheimers during his Presidency. What difference is that compared to someone hitting the bottle?

Nixon also reputedly was a big old drunk, also.

[jwirr]

27. One possible difference is that there is a difference

between an alcoholic and a person who has a few drinks on occasion. The other large difference is the president's ability to lead. Our constitution makes clear provisions for replacing a president that has become incapacitated. At what point does Alzheimer's or alcoholism reach that point. If reagan was not able to make decisions on his own anymore then he needed to be replaced by his vp. Neither his cabinet nor his wife had any business taking over. The constitution does not allow it.

[CitrusLib]

12. I think it makes a difference because of his relationship with Jesus.

He credits Jesus with helping him see the light, sobering up and keeping him sober. He has said he doesn't need AA or anything else but Jesus. If he's drinking again, it's a loud and clear message his relationship with the Lord has hit the skids. His right wing fundies need to know this.

[longship]

13. Let's start with these facts

1. He is controlled by insane ideologues.
2. He is batshit crazy.
3. He is an alcoholic.
4. His judgement is clouded even on a good day.
5. Being on the bottle again only exasperates #2 and #4.
6. He has access to the "nuclear football".

So, there's really no worry about him drinking again...

On second thought. Maybe * on the bottle is not a good idea.
:scared: :scared: :scared:

[BringEmOn]

14. ...just as long as he's not having sex in the Oval Orifice

:sarcasm:

[DrZeeLit]

15. I know... it's almost scarey if he's "caught" and has to go to rehab...cuz

WE"D BE STUCK WITH BLACK HEART CHENEY, Mr. Aneurysm.

YECCCCCCK.

[enid602]

16. Bush

No wonder he hears from God so often. He's hallucinating!

[waiting for hope]

18. Hope he is hitting the bottle!

Along with the remaining Bush family drug addicts/drunks and thieves, it would be a good thing in order to show the sheeple that his message on the moral right is a bill of goods his preaching from his tent......let's see how many fundies gather round.

[LiberalEsto]

19. It's the hypocrisy

B*sh goes around saying he's born-again and he hears the voice of God and he's been sober since his 40th birthday. His religious-wacko followers revere him and try to shove their bigoted beliefs down the throats of everybody.

I wouldn't care if he drank, if he had been honest about it from the beginning. But this is another symptom of the culture of lies he and his Misadministration spin to us.

The rethugs took over in 1994 on a platform of getting rid of Democratic corruption in Washington. But their own hands are far from clean, as the news of the past 24 hours proves.

Secondly, if B*sh has serious alcohol/substance abuse problems, how can we be sure he is mentally compentent to hold office? Do we want a drunk with his hands on the nuclear codes?

[John Q. Citizen]

24. Yep, Hypocrisy. And the obvious combination of drugs.

Simple drunks don't jaw grind

[BlueJac]

20. None.....because Dem Leadership is cowing down to the King!

[mattclearing]

25. These thoughtless one-liners get really old after awhile.

Knock Dems at any opportunity, perceived or real. FYI, this is in the former category.

[BlueJac]

62. One liner or not I'm right......

We need a focused agenda and this Dem leadership it totally adrift with split views on almost every issue. Cowing down to BushCo. and the republican party is not how to put this country back on a positive course. They should be ashamed of themselves for not forming a cohesive agenda that can get the job done. They should try someone liners like Dean, he gets some liberal attention anyway, and pissed off the neo-cons.

[charlie]

22. Because he's a born-again teetotaler

That was how he was sold. It makes a difference to his supporters.

[savemefromdumbya]

28. Cheney steers nt

W is just a playboy pretending to be President!

[fishnfla]

29. The psalm-singing pew jockies are gonna love it!

Their poor fallen saviour! If he's back on the sauce they are gonna so fall over over themselves to forgive him.

Personally, I dont care if he takes a belt or 3, I wish he'd start smoking pot or taking X, a little self introspection might be good for Captain Bligh

[Neocondriac]

30. 75% greater chance

He'll wind up with his dick in someones mouth . Namely Norah O'Donnel or Andrea Mitchell. ewwwhh!

[Rambis]

31. Because he is a lying sack of schite!

His entire "persona" is a lie- "I haven't had a drink in 12 years"
1998
But you have him shit faced drunk in a video at the friends wedding 8-29-1992

He "found Jesus" and was born again and poeple believe him as he continues to drink cheat and lie his way through life. It pisses a lot of people off that he is never accountable for anything.

[FreedomAngel82]

43. I'm wondering about a video

In the F911 film Moore shows a video of Bush and he's playing horse shoes and shows him drinking a bottle of beer it looks like. Does anybody know how old he is in this video?

[FreedomAngel82]

32. His whole little Jesus story

It makes him out to be a hypocrite and if he is back to drinking the fundies should know what a hypocrite he is. He claims he stopped drinking because of Jesus. I think Bill Maher, I think it was him, who said it was Laura stating her or the booze and of course Bush had to choose her to continue the family crime job.

[johnnie]

33. Then we can use "drunkard bush" for the next 20 years

Kind of like how the pukes won't stop talking about the clenis.

[Stephanie]

37. because it's one more LIE

and a big one

[dolo amber]

50. Which probably explains why it puzzles me

Bush lies. Water is wet. These are things we know.

[Stephanie]

58. you know it - the sheeple still don't know it

as you know

[nonconformist]

39. It's the hypocrisy, the lying, the holier-than-thou preaching shit

Not really the drinking. I don't think anyone gives two shits if an adult has a drink from time to time, save people like Bush and his fundie followers. See how ridiculous it is?

Besides, the American people deserve to have a lucid, coherent leader. Two words: Nuclear Football.

If he was a drinker and still doing a bang-up job, we wouldn't have any reason to question it. Clearly that's not the case here.

[Debi]

41. I agree

It's not about whether or not he's on the sauce.

For me it's about whether or not he's lying about it.

Alcoholics bust their asses to cover their tracks (work and home wise) and still be able to use. Look at all the people protecting his ineptness just to keep him president. Now add keeping under wraps his alleged alcohol use.

I agree that the republican party is spending too much of it's time focusing on it's personal and legal problems to govern this country - let's put morally and ethically superior Democrats in their place and see how we do!

[ProfessorGAC]

42. Hypocrisy Is The Issue

He ran as the holder of the key to morality and right. If he's a booze hound, he's actually a liar because he told the people that he was off the sauce.

The lying and duplicity are the issues.
The Professor

[Zen Democrat]

44. There's a big difference in drinking -- and being a drunk.

Bush was a drunk, and probably still is.

The importance of this is his BASE -- those millions of evangelicals who believe he's "God's man". Would God's man be a drunk who can't stay on a bicycle?

[FreedomAngel82]

45. Exactly

Bush has done so much harm to this country and claiming to be a Christian. He has rallied his little base and has perverted the religion I hold dear to my heart. *sigh*

[dolo amber]

46. That is not going to matter one iota to them

Please...evangelicals love nothing more than "redemption"...if he is boozing this will just get them all in a lather when he "repents" ala Swaggert on nat'l television...:eyes:

Come to think of it, I hope he does do that. That would be freakin' hilarious. :D

[kerry-is-my-prez]

47. Most alcoholics aren't capable of functioning while drinking....

You have to be very talented and capable to be able to handle it.

[Debi]

52. I don't quite agree

And I don't want to get into a "my alcoholic is better than yours" agrument, but I think most alcoholics are incredibly able to adapt to being intoxicated and carrying on with all the necessities of daily life. That's how they are able to go so long without hitting bottom. Between their ability to lie, hide their drinking and get people to cover for them.

That's what makes Bush so scary - If he's drunk all the time - who's REALLY our president?

[dolo amber]

53. Drunk or not, he *IS* stupid all the time

So, I guess the same question could apply. :hi:

[Debi]

55. Ooooohhh, so Dick has been in charge from Day One?!

I get it :think:

[mike_c]

76. late to the game but I was married to an alcoholic who functioned...

...quite well for years. Some crash and burn fast. Many perfect survival skills.

[lapislzi]

48. It's not the boozing, it's the sanctimony

To paraphrase my hubby, "there's only one thing worse than a reformed smoker, and that's a reformed drunk who's found religion."

[tavalon]

49. What's the problem?

Well, alcohol lowers inhibitions, especially when taken in large, unrestricted quantities and that man has his finger on the nuclear trigger.

Does that help?

[dolo amber]

51. No

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4925160&mesg_id=4925460

[Batgirl]

56. seems like the dangers of a drunk head of state

would be obvious. I wouldn't want him driving a school bus either.

Bush is the figurehead of a rightwing cult of personality, much of it based on a created myth, that whole redemption theme that scores so many points with his base. They are such suckers for a good "I was lost but now I'm found" story. We are supposed to admire and trust Bush in part because after a lifetime of booze-related fuck-ups, he beat the bottle and became a man of godliness and virtue. One of the reasons he's gotten away with being such an incompetent president is that so many of his faithful followers have continued to be caught up in this myth. Since his fake image is a large part of what has held him up all this time, I think it's very important to take note when a major crack appears.

[MountainLaurel]

59. Remember Yeltsin

Did he nearly start a nuclear war one night when blitzed off his ass?

[Cha]

68. Thank you, well

stated.

[RagingInMiami]

61. The only thing worse than a sociopath with a low IQ

Is a drunk sociopath with a low IQ

[nini]

64. Because HE fucking made it an issue!

Sorry, his drinking is an issue because he fucking made it when he claimed he found God and stopped drinking on his 40th birthday. He has used this as some fucking sign of innner strength and the morans fell for it and made him some kind of second coming of Christ.

Hell yes, it makes a difference - A BIG DIFFERENCE!

[Cha]

66. I see it as a big

fucking issue. The little monkey toad has boasted of his not taking another damn drink after the age of 40 and he's reported to be back on the sauce. I sure as hell don't know if this is true or not but if looks could tell, he's sneaking belts.

SO, if it's true.. in one more instance bush is a double damn LIAR.

If he's not then something else is causing his nose to turn bright RED and BAGS under his eyes and his face to have a ghostly white Pasty pallor and his demeanor to be that of a hungover derelict.

[MadHound]

69. Let's see, perhaps the idea of a drunk in charge of that nuke football

Is a might bit unsettling to some? I know that is sure as hell is for me. I don't give a damn about whether or not he drinks. I don't even give a shit about the hypocrisy of his drinking. But dammit, it is flat out irresponsible and negligent to have an obviously belligerent, faux macho man with a serious drinking problem only a push button away from launching a nuclear aarmagedeon. It is like giving a bully who is drunk a gun, only infinetly far more worse in scale.

[cynatnite]

71. Idea of a drunken bush with the ability to push the big button...

should scare the hell out of anyone.

[shanti]

72. it's a credibility issue

he says he's not. :shrug:

[Demonaut]

75. I for one hope he's drinking again, his speeches are funny now

how will it be when he's on a bender:rofl: