# Just another example of Bush family values **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 27, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751 "2003-05-27T13:09:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751/61 "2003-05-28T17:01:46Z")
My parents didn’t go around preaching morality at others. Obviously, W’s family values aren’t worth much if his kids are still going to break laws, get drunk and party naked. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751/62 "2003-05-28T18:11:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > I prefer to focus on W and his administration. I don’t have to resort to using his family to trash him. Then why have you done just that? [sub]And why are you making me speak out in favor of W and his family? Gaaah!;)[/sub] > [@](#): > > W’s daughters are a different matter. He sells himself on a platform of self-righteous “family values.” His daughters’ legal problems and alcohol abuse reflect on him as a parent. Alcohol _abuse_? WTF? It’s not like someone found them naked, covered in their own vomit in a public park. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751/63 "2003-05-28T19:15:59Z")
> [@](#): > > My parents didn’t go around preaching morality at others. Cite? :wally ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751/64 "2003-05-28T19:51:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Airman Doors, USAF \* > How is it that his daughters’ alcohol problems reflect upon him? Well, Pappa Bush _could_ teach them moeration and/or abstenance, can’t he? > [@](#): > > Did you not party when you went to college? Did you not get piss ass drunk? Nope, because _my_ parents taught me moderation and restraint. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751/65 "2003-05-28T20:15:27Z")
:rolleyes: Should I nominate you for sainthood now? Nah, I’ll wait until you do something stupid and remind you of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751/66 "2003-05-28T21:07:09Z")
The point is not so much that we can trash the Bush daughters but that the Pubbies have a lot of damn nerve criticizing anyone for doing so, after their conduct re: Chelsea Clinton. For yea, verily, the Pubbies are pond scum, and have proven themselves so. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751/67 "2003-05-28T21:08:52Z")
I also know that a lot of Pubbies will see a refusal by Dems to attack Bush’s daughters’ conduct as simple weakness – an unwillingness to do what’s needed to win. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751/68 "2003-05-28T21:38:48Z")
[‘‘Dry Drunk’’ Syndrome and George W. Bush by KATHERINE van WORMER](http://www.chronwatch.com/editorial/contentDisplay.asp?aid=2870) > [@](#): > > …when I started noticing the extreme language that colored President Bush’s speeches that I began to wonder. First there were the terms-- ‘‘crusade’’ and ‘‘infinite justice’’ that were later withdrawn. Next came ‘‘evil doers,’’ ‘‘axis of evil,’’ and ‘‘regime change,’’ terms that have almost become clichés in the mass media. Something about the polarized thinking and the obsessive repetition reminded me of many of the recovering alcoholics/addicts I had treated. (A point worth noting is that because of the connection between addiction and ‘‘stinking thinking,’’ relapse prevention usually consists of work in the cognitive area). Having worked with recovering alcoholics for years, I flinched at the single-mindedness and ego- and ethnocentricity in the President’s speeches. (My husband likened his phraseology to the gardener character played by Peter Sellers in the movie, ‘‘Being There’’). Since words are the tools, the representations, of thought, I wondered what Bush’s choice of words said about where he was coming from. Or where we would be going…’‘Dry drunk’’ traits consist of: [ul][li]Exaggerated self-importance and pomposity[_]Grandiose behavior[_]A rigid, judgmental outlook [/li][li]Impatience [/li][li]Childish behavior [/li][li]Irresponsible behavior [/li][li]Irrational rationalization [/li][li]Projection [/li][li]Overreaction[/ul] [/li]Clearly, George W. Bush has all these traits except exaggerated self importance. He may be pompous, especially with regard to international dealings, but his actual importance hardly can be exaggerated…That there might be a tendency toward addiction in Bush’s family is indicated in the recent arrests or criticism of his daughters for underage drinking and his niece for cocaine possession. Bush, of course, deserves credit for his realization that he can’t drink moderately, and his decision today to abstain. The fact that he doesn’t drink moderately, may be suggestive of an inability to handle alcohol. In any case, Bush has clearly gotten his life in order and is in good physical condition, careful to exercise and rest when he needs to do so. The fact that some residual effects from his earlier substance abuse, however slight, might cloud the U.S. President’s thinking and judgment is frightening, however, in the context of the current global crisis… Talk about over-_anal_ysis. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751/69 "2003-05-28T21:48:54Z")
I think Van Wormer is right on the money. I mean, seriously, what’s wrong with her thesis? GWB _is_ a recovering alcoholic and he _does_ have the dry drunk characteristics. Why is that so crazy? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751/70 "2003-05-28T21:51:54Z")
“Pubbie” checking in here. I don’t recall ever electing Rush Limbaugh as my spokesperson. Why is it that people think that every Republican is a loud-mouthed offensive buffoon? That’s like me coming into a post and quoting Alan Dershowitz to prove that every democrat is a caustic hypocritical whiner. FTR, I was outraged when people attacked Chelsea Clinton, just as I was outraged that people attacked Amy Carter back when her father was president. People who attack kids are assholes, no matter which party they subscribe to. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751/71 "2003-05-28T22:18:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Airman Doors, USAF \* > Should I nominate you for sainthood now? > > Nah, I’ll wait until you do something stupid and remind you of this thread. Shouldn’t be a long wait; I average five stupid things per hour (six on weekends). But at least I didn’t booze my way though college – as you implied you did. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751/72 "2003-05-28T22:49:40Z")
Nope. I didn’t booze my way through college. I did fail out, however. My family didn’t teach me any values, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751/73 "2003-05-29T00:26:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PunditLisa \* > \*\*“Pubbie” checking in here. I don’t recall ever electing Rush Limbaugh as my spokesperson. Why is it that people think that every Republican is a loud-mouthed offensive buffoon? That’s like me coming into a post and quoting Alan Dershowitz to prove that every democrat is a caustic hypocritical whiner. > > FTR, I was outraged when people attacked Chelsea Clinton, just as I was outraged that people attacked Amy Carter back when her father was president. People who attack kids are assholes, no matter which party they subscribe to. \*\* Not EVERY Pubbie is a loud-mouthed offensive baboon, but a lot of them are. The ones who dominate talk radio DEFINITELY are. And there was definitely a lot of vicious attacks on Chelsea Clinton, and Amy Carter, and nothing on even a remotely similar scale happened to Reagan’s kids or is happening to Bush’s kids, even though Bush’s kids are arguably Asking For It. I mean, can you imagine the furor if Chelsea had been a hard-partying drinker? Frankly, LisaPundit, you are NOT on the side of the angels here. Au contraire. If this is a big issue for you, you should think hard about your party affiliation. And if you decide to stick with the Pubbies, by all means try to drag them out of the sewer, but don’t be surprised if people wrinkle their noses from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751/74 "2003-05-29T01:21:45Z")
Nothing Dubya’s brother does is relevant to Dubya himself. Given the soap opera I grew up in, I wouldn’t want to be judged by the actions of certain family members. I don’t care for the Bushes politically, but as much as I dislike Dubya on his own account, I wouldn’t attack him based on the behavior of any other person, related or not. He’d be vulnerable enough if he had no relatives. ---
**Author:** ![pantom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/34f0e0/32.png) [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751/75 "2003-05-29T02:08:26Z")
Speaking as someone who drank enough to a) see purple pulsating trees while walking through a park, to b) walk half naked and barefoot in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Ave in broad daylight because I was looking for something (for the life of me I can’t remember what), c) and who smoked weed until I was well into my twenties, giving it up only when the Paraquat scare about weed originating from Mexico made me realize that, given the illegality, there could be just about anything in that whacky weed I was smoking, I have nothing to say about Bush’s daughters, except to say that I dearly hope someone will be civilized enough to post a link if that video ever does make it to the Internet. I despise Dubya, but his daughters are entitled to be young & foolish. Besides, reality is for those who can’t deal with drugs. Neil shoulda been jailed, though. In a truly just world, he would’ve been tarred & feathered first. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-example-of-bush-family-values/177751.md?page=3)