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Need to Know: Scotch or Bourbon? Judy Stillson | 9/22/05
With the news that President George W. Bush has been taking an occasional drink due to the pressures of the office, the curiosity of the pubic has been piqued to the point of triviality.
According to this story in the National Enquirer, Bush has been sneaking drinks, knocking back a "Texas-sized shot" when he learned of the levees breaking in New Orleans and that wife Laura has been handed the unenviable task of keeping the president in line and off the bottle.
At first blush, the Enquirer, known widely for it's explosive allegations and sensational claims, may not seem to be the most credible news organization, but an executive from the company said that the paper has multiple sources for the story and that the news is indeed true. Commenting on the Ed Schultz radio show today, assistant executive editor Barry Levine stood firmly behind the story and pointed out that the Enquirer has had the story right on a multitude of occasions, including the expose of Rush Limbaugh's oxycontin addiction and former President Clinton's dalliance with intern Monica Lewinsky.
The idea that Bush is hitting the bottle should come as no surprise. Speculation has bounced around the concept over the past few months as the President's popularity numbers have plummeted in the polls while his administration has struggled with growing criticism on issues ranging from torture of prisoners at Abu Gharib and Guantanamo Bay to the overall planning and execution of the war in Iraq to Bush's inner circle exposing CIA agent Valerie Plame. The recent mishandling of the hurricane Katrina aftermath only added to the anxiety.
Maybe we shouldn't be wondering if Bush has hit the bottle again but wonder how often he's taken a drink to ease his burden. Considering the pressure-cooker environment he's in, it would be more of a surprise if he wasn't occasionally taking a nip.
And while liberal opponents may want to crucify the President for this apparent character weakness, the proponents of sympathy and empathy might want to take a step back and give Bush a break. Alcohol is, after all, a legal intoxicant, and if anyone warranted an occasional stiff one it's our beleaguered Nitwit-in-Chief. Bush drank heavily in his early years and according to legend (by his own admission), quit drinking cold turkey the day after his 40th birthday.
Skeptics point out that Bush never sought medical or remedial treatment for his drinking, never attended an AA meeting, and that quitting outright on one's own is a difficult matter, especially if the drinking is a serious problem. On Bush's side, neither he nor anyone close to him has ever admitted that he's an alcoholic or chronic abuser, so maybe what we're really dealing with is a social drinker, and that may be less of a problem than his excitable opponents wish to make it.
Of course, drinking and binging has a history in the Bush family, from the President's own daughters to brother Jeb's recently-arrested son. Bush himself has admitted to a drunk driving charge and extensive boozing while in college and during his military years.
His drinking, if proven to be true, may have one serious blowback, however. Many of his most ardent supporters on the Christian right consider alcohol to be a devilish substance. Having their leader hitting the bottle - even if it's purely social and non-destructive - might erode their confidence to a degree.
In the larger scheme of things, Bush's boozing appears to be less an issue of national importance and more a celebrity gossip matter than anything else. If Mr. Bush wants to kick back with a few cocktails after at the end of the day, who are we to question, especially those of us who do the same or similar?
We all deal with pressure and stress in different ways. The President gets very high marks for physical fitness, so a couple of occasional shots probably aren't going to effect his job performance in any material way. He's certainly able to shake off the effects of a previous night with a bike ride or other physical exercise.
So, the next time you're invited to the White House, don't ask the President if he's been drinking. Rather, ask him whether he prefers scotch or bourbon. The answer might reveal more about the character of the man than a simple-minded "does he or doesn't he?"
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