Reply #4: posted earlier [View All]

[Zodiak]

After watching this video from an October 4th * news conference, I am convinced that the "swivel jaw" that so many of my fellow DUers have been pointing out is real as well as obvious. What bothers me, though, is the fact that so many say that it is a sure sign that he is using cocaine again.

video link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/video/bush-miers.mov

I am not completely convinced that cocaine is the only possible reason we see Bush waving his jaw around like aliens from Sesame Street (yepyepyepyep)



What Bush has is called orofacial dyskinesia (diag code 338.2), which, yes, can be caused by all sorts of amphetamine usage. Other references I have seen refer to such movements as "tics", which have a similar set of causes. Here they are:



I think we can all agree that none of these possible reasons could be good. If Bush is snorting coke, popping ephedrine, or otherwise taking tons of stimulants, then he could develop the "coke jaw" that he is undoubtedly displaying. However, if he is displaying this odd behavior becuase he is under extensive neoleptic medication due to psychosis or had a stroke, don't we all agree that we have a right to know? Can we remove him from office because he is medically unable to make decisions? Is there a WH "surgeon" who can make those decisions, and is he beholden to the Republicans, or is he more like the WH chef?

Regardless, if we are to take Bush's newly-developed facial tic beyond the "internets" and into the public sphere, we need to consider the entire suite of reasons for the stereotypical movements. There are plenty of juicy reasons that are more benign that cocaine addiction, but severe enough to further damage the People's faith in his ability to do his job, especially in a time of crisis. It will at least get people asking questions, and may even slow down Bush's appearances in the corporate news.

And finally, if cocaine is the reason Bush is flapping his jaw, it is ironic in the extreme that all he has to do is smoke a joint and no one would notice.

check out this Behavioral Pharmacology article (Sept 2005 vol 16 (1)):

S97
B99 CANNABINOIDS PREVENT COCAINE-INDUCED PSYCHOMOTOR STIMULATION.
S. Vlachou; F. Stamatopoulou; G. Nomikos; G. Panagis