Back on the Sauce?

Me thinks Dubya has been hitting the bottle again. This should come as a surprise to no one. Many of us have suspected for years that his public line about being an ex-drinker who found religion was just a bit too simplistic to be believable. In the last year in particular, there have been far too many public incidences to even count where he has looked to be under the influence of alcohol. He has been more glassy-eyed than usual and in recent months, he has been noticeably slurring his words. Back in December, at a meeting with the press in which the findings of the Iraq Study Group were being discussed, he seemed (to me, at least) visibly impaired. On her Air America program, Randi Rhodes made the same observation.
.
His malapropisms have also become more frequent and absurd. After six and a half years as president of the United States, one would assume that he'd be getting better at this. In fact, his very public, verbal gaffes are as numerous today as they were at any time during the campaign or 2000. Many people have been wondering aloud, why can't this knucklehead get it right? The cat was let out of the bag last week when he was photographed in Germany drinking what appeared to be a glass of beer (Have a look at the photographs above).
.
Anyone who knows me might view this as a case of the pot calling the kettle black. (Full disclosure: In my day, I was not unknown for tippling a few, myself. I was also a major pot smoker in my teens and early twenties). The simple fact of the matter is that I spent many a year in serious, scholarly pursuit of this very subject (in a matter of speaking): I can spot another drunk a mile away. Labeling any criticism of mine as "hypocritical" is entirely missing the point: I am not the commander-in-chief of the most powerful nation in the solar system. If and when that ever happens, you'll have every reason in the world to be scared to death. Until then...
.
Is it unfair to make such a bold claim, that we have a raving, out-of-control drunk sitting in the oval office? Ask your self this question: Would any sane, rational and sober human being have made the decision to invade Iraq four years ago? Aye, there's the rub! The benefit of four years historical hindsight has shown us that by March of 2003, Saddam's weapons of mass destruction program (a program which - by the way - was financed by Ronald Reagan and George Bush the elder) was deader than Saddam is now. The Bush Mob knew that the Butcher of Baghdad was a threat to no one but himself - and yet they were determined to commit the stupidest foreign policy blunder in American history by invading! Why? Was the First Fool shitfaced? In truth, there is a very tangible case to be made to support that allegation. What proof do I have? Here's my proof:
.
EIGHTY PROOF!
.
On the night of the invasion, I got about as drunk as I've ever gotten in my life (I was that unnerved by the whole turn of events). But even in that uber inebriated state, I at least had the good sense to say to myself, "Hey! This whole Iraq thing? Not a good idea"! As tipsy as I admittedly was, Bush must have been fucking hammered!
.
Back in his day, President Eisenhower was roundly poked fun at for his "mangled syntax". True, Ike may not have been the greatest extemporaneous speaker who ever lived, but at least he was quite capable of getting his point across. With this president it's hard to figure out just what the hell he's talking about half the time! Here are just a few tasty examples:
.
"Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country".
.
"Border relations between Canada and Mexico have never been better".
.
"I just want you to know, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace".
.
"Saddam would still be in power if he [John Kerry] were president of the United States and the world would be a lot better off".
.
"In my judgement, when the United States says there will be serious consequences, and if there isn't serious consequences, it creates adverse consequences".
.
Here's my personal favorite:
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we".
.
Priceless.
.
Now ask yourself the following question: Are these not the words of a man who is twelve and a half sheets to the wind? People in the know have claimed that careful examination of the photo in question has shown that the label on the bottle in front of Bush is Buckster, a non-alcoholic "blond" beer which is manufactured by Heineken. That may be the case. But it bears noting that the president failed to show up the following morning for an important gathering of world leaders, his press people citing a "stomach virus" as the reason for his absence. Stomach virus? Or was the hideous little thug just too hung over to show his face? Eventually, history will reveal all.
.
At the very least, George W. Bush is a "dry drunk". That is to say, while he may not be an active drinker, he still possesses all of the negative traits and personality patterns that are all too characteristic of most serious alcoholics: a failure to admit even serious errors of judgement or an unwillingness to examine one's own motives and moral failings, for instance.
.
"I'm also not very analytical. You know I don't spend a lot of time thinking about myself, about why I do things".
.
Indeed.
.
I myself would prefer to believe that Bush has been under the influence all these years. It would be a little less disturbing to know that his actions since the day he took the oath of office were the result of blurred, alcohol induced judgement. One would hope that a sober, clear-headed human being - in full control of his senses - couldn't possibly be so reckless and stupid.
.
Eventually, the books will be written exposing what (if anything) this disgusting president was thinking when he charted the ultimately disastrous course he set his once-great nation on four and a half years ago by invading Iraq. As has been noted on this site before: generations from now, presidents not even born yet will be dealing with the damage that was done in so short a time by this mediocre, unenlightened man. George W. Bush's days in office are numbered, no question about it. But of this you may be absolutely certain: we'll be living with the consequences of his corruption and incompetence for the rest of our lives.
.
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
tomdegan@frontiernet.net
.
SUGGESTED READING:
Bush on the Couch
by Dr. Justin Frank