There has been written accusations that Bush had a drinking problem to the extent of alcoholism is that true?

Answer 1

Is President Bush an alcoholic? Justin Frank, a clinical professor of psychiatry at George Washington University, thinks so and has written a book about it. One of the most interesting sentences that Julian Borger quotes from the book in the article below is: "Being on the wagon is not the same thing as having alcoholism treated."

I'm rather sceptical about psychiatry as a profession. I'm inclined to think that it occupies rather the same relationship to orthodox research psychology and neuroscience as alchemy does to chemistry. Nevertheless, there have been many brilliant minds in the field of psychiatry and, in some specific instances of brain disease, such as schizophrenia, psychiatrists have been able to happen upon drugs which are beneficial to sufferers -- even though the profession has little idea of what the drugs are actually doing to the brain cells of their patients.

But Professor Frank pinpoints one aspect of Bush's behaviour which I have always found very troublesome in the leader of what is the most powerful military nation on earth. This is the way that, under questioning, Bush never develops a reply in the form of a sentence or two that we normally expect from politicians but simply resorts to phrases. On one occasion, I remember him repeating one phrase eight times in reply to an interlocutor who was varying his questions in the hope of getting a more considered reply. It's as though Bush was briefed beforehand with a check-list of simple replies to questions on this or that aspect of his policy.

I think this is troubling a great many other people besides myself. Some allege -- I don't know whether Prof Franks suggests this in his book -- that Bush's mode of discussion -- or lack of it -- is evidence of brain damage caused by his very heavy drinking up until the age of 40.

Besides the obvious evidence of Bush's limited mental capabilities under questioning, there are three other pieces of circumstantial evidence which have registered strongly in my mind. The first is that it is obviously Cheney who take all the important decisions. Without his vice-president, Bush would be totally lost. Bush only agreed to appear (in private) before the Independent Commission of 9/11 when he was allowed to take Cheney with him.

The second piece of circumstantial evidence is that on those (rare) occasions when he meets other national leaders one never sees a film clip of him chatting in the usual way with others. Also, he always skips official dinners at which prolonged conversation normally occurs. Also, I've never read of his attending any sort of social occasion in Washington and elsewhere at which he would meet and talk with intelligent people outside his closed circle of advisors. For example, he didn't attend the university graduation ceremonies of his own daughters where, presumably, he would have been liable to be chatted up by other proud parents.

The third piece of circumstantial evidence -- this one suggesting that he might still be an alcoholic -- is that he spends most of his week-ends at his Texan ranch well away from Washington.

Bush has always been supported by a small team around him -- Cheney, Rove, Rice and Rumsfeld -- and couldn't operate without them. I think this is now widely accepted even by senior Republicans. But, having been manipulated by President Bush's father into accepting his son as a presidential candidate some years they couldn't possibly admit now that George W. Bush might still have -- just possibly -- an unfortunate tendency which wouldn't do America's reputation any good if it were more widely known.

Keith Hudson


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DEMOCRAT SHRINK TAKES UNFLATTERING LOOK INTO DEPTHS OF BUSH

Julian Borger

Washington -- "I don't spend a lot of time trying to figure me out," George Bush once said. "I'm just not into psychobabble."

The president will not need a shrink, then, to tell him he is unlikely to enjoy Bush on the Couch, a new book by a Washington psychiatrist and Democrat, who tries to explain his subject's quirks and policies by examining his personal history, and comes up with some unflattering conclusions.

Justin Frank, a clinical professor of psychiatry at George Washington University, argues that the president's inclination to see the world in black-and-white, good-versus-evil terms, and his tendency to repeat favourite words and phrases under pressure, are not simply politics as usual, but classic symptoms of untreated alcoholism.

Mr Bush was a heavy drinker from his youth but stopped at 40, becoming a born-again Christian. But Professor Frank, who has never met the president, argues he never treated the underlying cause of his alcohol dependence.

"He reminded me of my more disturbed patients," the psychiatrist said. "Being on the wagon is not the same thing as having alcoholism treated. That means taking responsibility, and making amends to the people you've damaged.

"Bush switched from alcoholism to religion. It takes responsibility out of his hands. Being born again is a way of denying the past," Prof Frank said.

The White House has not commented on Bush on the Couch. "We don't do book reviews," said the White House spokesman, Scott McLellan.

But the book has come under fire for mixing politics with analysis. A review in Salon.com, a liberal online magazine, described it as "far too partisan a work to make any claim to being a judicious examinationof Bush the man", although the book offered "some genuinely enlightening hypotheses".

A spokeswoman for the American Psychiatric Association (APA) pointed to its code, which states it is "unethical for a psychiatrist to offer a professional opinion unless they have conducted an examination and been granted proper authorisation".

However, Prof Frank, not an APA member, argued it was not necessary to meet his subject to make a judgment.

His book suggests the president's childhood trauma, the death of his little sister from leukaemia when he was seven, and his parents' decision to suppress their grief and not hold a funeral, left the young George burdened with guilt and unprepared to face the consequences of his actions.

And there was the competitive relationship with his father, which the author believes is a driving force behind an administration which has sought in many fields to distance itself from the first Bush presidency.

Prof Frank's prescription is for Mr Bush to join an Alcoholics Anonymous programme - and for him to be relieved of his high-pressure job.

Answer 2

Hillary beverages like a fish.. she kicked the drug habbit however. she and invoice have been huge on L.S.D. in the 60's. i think of we could consistently choose a lovable animal for president, like a racoon.. which would be awsome.. on his state of the union speach he might basically element his nostril around and make little squeeking sounds.. plenty extra constructive than some dried up old hag, or a turbin carrying racist, black united states of america of islam - Obama, or that activity stealing boeing hating McCain.

Answer 3

Bush used to be an alcoholic and it came to a head when his wife gave him an ultimatum either you choose booze or me. He dried out and really straightened out and became president what a story of redemption huh.

Answer 4

It's common knowledge Bush is a recovered alcoholic and born again Christian.

Answer 5

Really? Written where? I've heard so many lies about the President that I'm losing track.

And if he did then who cares? I had a cocaine addiction once and now I'm a fine upstanding man of God.

Answer 6

Most politician had or have a drinking problem. why would Bush be any different?

Answer 7

I know he used to be a crackhead. It's weird isn't it? Clinton smokes a joint in England, where it's legal to do so, everyone makes a big deal about it. Bush smokes crack and nobody minds.............

Answer 8

Yes. It was documented. He was unable to fly his plane. There were also reports of him drinking recently, but they have not been substatiated.Also cocaine in the past.

Answer 9

Possibly. What does it matter? Furthermore, what does this question have to with this section?

Answer 10

it is very true.

not only that, but he also was into cocaine.