Avoiding a physical? Why would anyone avoid a physical? …nevermind.
For all I know, the statements about Bush may be 100% accurate, but I have no way of knowing, from the article itself, whether that is the case. “**y one account”; “by some estimates” – what account? Whose estimates? “Here’s the story as generally agreed upon” – well, urban legends are often “generally agreed upon,” but that doesn’t make them true. “[S]trings were pulled” – citation, please? If you’re going to accuse somebody of something, it’s generally considered polite to back it up with evidence.