Is Boehner an alcoholic?

[tavernier]

I'm actually being serious and hopefully will get some serious answers. He often looks and sounds as if he has been drinking, and certainly much fun has been made of that, but jokes aside, does anyone know for certain?

I'm truly concerned, because if someone in his position is negotiating from a state of inebriation, can we truly expect them to put in the difficult and complex work required to reach a solution to these problems?

On full disclosure... I am possibly an alcoholic, judging on my weekly intake of alcohol, so please do not accuse me of banging the temperance drum.

[backscatter712]

1. Is the Pope Catholic? n/t

[Skittles]

2. is Obama the president?

[MrSlayer]

3. I don't know. Does he go to those stupid meetings?

If not he's probably just a drunk.

[Berserker]

21. If he don't go to meetings

then he is not a practicing alcoholic he is a professional.

[virgogal]

4. Reminds me of the Wilbur Mills rumors and we all know how that turned out.

If he is I hope he gets help.

[hrmjustin]

5. He takes a drink, that is all.

[Cleita]

6. Is God a God. Yes, he is and

as an ex-bartender I can pretty much say he is. He's almost as bad as Bush. I'm not pointing fingers at people who drink. I'm not that judgmental. However, I would rather people in power showed some temperance. I mean couldn't he remain sober while the House is in session? Can't the President limit himself to two beers or less a day and maybe a cocktail on weekends? There's plenty of time to get plattered when you aren't leading a nation.

[tavernier]

11. I'm a nurse and I never drink on the job,

but I've discovered that when I drink the evening before a work day, I'm less focused, so I now I take that into consideration. I guess I expect the same of the people who make decisions in my name... you know, little decisions like who we will be bombing in a future war, etc.

[Cleita]

15. As a bartender I could never drink even though my customers did.

Sometimes I had a beer after work, but only one. I knew I couldn't party except on nights that I had a day off after. Even as a bartender I had to be aware of everything and be on my game. You never knew when the unexpected would happen. As a nurse, I imagine you have to be even more aware. So yes, I want my leaders to be on their game because of the unexpected that might happen.

I'm not saying they shouldn't drink, but for chrissakes be moderate.

[Berserker]

23. Work

is a drinking mans curse.

[Brother Buzz]

7. For sure. I also expect him to have alcohol related health issues in the near future

[doc03]

8. He sure shows all the symptoms down to the crying. n/t

[TheKentuckian]

9. Don't have any interaction but it would appear so.

[JaneyVee]

10. Does a bear sh*t anywhere it pleases because it's a bear and no one can stop it?

[donco]

12. He's been

known to get on a crying jag upon occasion.

[rocktivity]

13. I'll just say that I wouldn't be surprised

One minute he's wild-eyed, sweaty, hysterical, and maudlin; the next minute he's stable, clean cut, and orderly. Either he's a drunk or a manic depressive.

I found this photo, and titled it, "When Boehner and Pelosi First Met":




rocktivity

[JustAnotherGen]

29. +1

[Little Star]

30. That cracks me up every time I see it!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

31. +2

[notadmblnd]

14. There are many many functional alcoholics

[Cleita]

16. I don't find him functional anymore than I did Shrub, Jr. n/t

[tavernier]

17. I only personally knew of two

One was a doctor, the other a lawyer. Both were sued for malpractice.

[notadmblnd]

25. I used to work with a guy who drank til he was drunk every night

He'd come in the next morning reeking of alcohol because it still permeated his system. But could he do his job? Yes. Was he there every day? Yes.

[DollarBillHines]

27. Every night, I drink until...

I can't get up to pour another drink. I rarely remember going to bed.

But I get to sleep 'til noon.

Still, I run a successful marketing business - I just don't have to put in many hours in a day, just a few phone calls and emails.

I suppose that defines me as a functioning alky.

Though I don't know if I am an alcoholic or just a guy who has spent the majority of his life stoned or drunk.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

32. Can you stop drinking for a while?

Can you stop and not obsess about the fact you've stopped?

[DollarBillHines]

33. I could, but I am simply not interested in doing so.

I play slide guitar and I know that I like a more drunken approach.

The only sober bottleneck player I know is Bonnie Raitt.

[notadmblnd]

34. No Derek Trucks?

he's amazing.

[DollarBillHines]

35. Derek is unique

I have known Susan since she was doing open mics in Austin.

Derek, however is much more technical than I care to play. I play more Mississippi Fred/Blind Willie/Elmore James - hybidized old trad stuff.

Have you ever heard Sonny Landreth live?

Killer.

Keep your lamp trimmed and burnin'
DBH

[notadmblnd]

36. No, never heard Sonny Landreth live

Last edited Tue Dec 4, 2012, 09:37 PM - Edit history (2)

I'll have to look him up.

you won't believe this but I found a 12 year old Derek on you tube. Check it out.

[Skittles]

38. my brother did that for years

it ended when he got a nose bleed and bled to death

[notadmblnd]

40. I don't know how people do it. I can't work drunk

drinking just makes me sick and tired. I did it once. Got tired first then got sick. There was no fun in it at all.

[Skittles]

41. I guess it depends on the genes you inherit

I did not get the alcohol gene - while I like being buzzed I detest hangovers and have always avoided them. I went to work hungover just once - when I was very young and in the military - I was doing dorm duty (cleaning) and the sergeant taunted me non-stop about booze and "chili burgers" - gawd, that taught me - I never did that again - but I had a nicotine addiction for decades

[Sekhmets Daughter]

28. You've known more than that,

you just don't realize it. One definition of an alcoholic is anyone who can't stop after the second drink. They drink to excess, but never miss a day of work, may never get a DUI, are not abusive when inebriated and frequently have an incredible tolerance for alcohol. My father was one such, as was my former husband.

[BillyJack]

18. Only Boehner knows/can decide if he is an alcoholic or not....

but imho, he should go to do a "90 in 90" (90 meetings in 90 days) and decide that for himself....

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Yes

[Bozita]

20. Before he became Speaker, I remember reading that he was the first one to the bar after the gavel.

Every day!

The article never mentioned whether he was the last one to leave.

[madokie]

22. Sure he is

My suspicions is there are many more congress critters also alcoholics.

I used to be an alcoholic myself. Seriously quit drinking when my grand daughter was born as I didn't want her to know me as an alkie. Now sober 5 years and counting.
I will say this also. Being sober is a whole lot more fun than being inebriated.

[panader0]

24. He tans to hide his red nose

[HereSince1628]

26. No, he's a serotonin junky-can't get enough exposure in UV tanning boothes

He never drinks HARD liquor after 5AM or before 6AM.

[hughee99]

37. Oh Sweet, remote medical diagnosis based on a few minutes of TV time,

and things they "heard" from someone...

Certainly a valid question to ask, but a lot of people seem sure he is. It brings me back to the old Terry Schiavo/DU days when everyone here was saying you can't diagnose someone without actually examining them. I guess Boehner must spend a pretty large part of his day being examined by DUers.

[Chan790]

39. It's basically an open secret inside the beltway, so "yes." n/t