George W Bush: from drunk to world leader (Stone biopic)

[chat_noir]

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

By Catherine Elsworth in Los Angeles


Oliver Stone's biopic of President George W Bush is to show him as a hot-headed, once hard-drinking man whose relationship with his father influences much of his life, including an obsession with Iraq.

According to an early screenplay obtained by ABC News, the film, entitled W, will chart the President's journey from troubled alcoholic to world leader.


George W Bush, circled, during his hard-drinking days with fraternity brothers at Andover, Massachusetts

It goes back to the President's drink-sodden misbehaviour at Yale, where at one point he loudly denies he plans to follow his father into politics.

At one point he also insults his father as "Mr Perfect, Mr War Hero, Mr F------ God Almighty", after being urged to contact Alcoholics Anonymous.





Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/03/wbush103.xml

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

1. Don't you believe people can change their behavior? I do.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. I think people CAN (but it isn't a certainty) behavior - but not fundamentally change.

So, in Bush's case, it isn't about just the drinking...it is about his total make up, personality, upbringing of such coddling that he has no concept of reality - his authoritarianism, extreme black white thinking. That he was someone who drank heavily is not the issue - what he turned into as a (mis) leader is the issue. He is clearly deeply damaged goods that should have never been allowed near a position of power. And that is the tragedy - that much of the world is now experiencing, and will for years. Such a little man to have such a huge negative impact. Go figure...

[Hieronymus]

4. Some do ... did you vote for W? Churchill ran a big part of WWII while ...

drinking heavily. W, can't run a war sober.

[hyphenate]

7. Yes, I do

But in this particular case, the alki went from bad to fucking worst.

Then again, I guess I don't expect much from a mother who played golf the day after her daughter, Robin, died, and who uttered the famous quote about not wanting corpses of soldiers affecting her "beautiful mind." I don't think it's such a beautiful mind, Babs, you rotten to the core monster. You can't say she ever loved any of her kids, and the way they all grew up shows it.

[Demobrat]

8. Yes, they can change their behavior.

People quit drinking all the time. Sometimes even successfully. Others give up drugs, or change their diets. People get older, stop going out to party every night, get jobs, buy homes and become good citizens. But basic character doesn't change. Narcicissm can't be cured. Ingrained attitudes remain.

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. Absolutely - Changed his behavior from a drunk to a mass-murderer

.
.
.

Hitler and Saddam were saints compared to George Walker Bush, his father and his grandfather Prescott.

Continuing genocide under the guise of "spreading democracy"

Spreading depleted uranium and hatred all over the Middle East

USA Nomba One !!

Nomba One for WHAT?

World is noticing

[defendandprotect]

13. We need applause, please . . . !!!

[pnwmom]

11. Not without the kind of help he has been unwilling to get.

He's what is known as a "dry drunk." He just stopped drinking, without ever dealing with his "issues." So the pathology remains, even if his brain is no longer being stewed in alcohol.

[defendandprotect]

12. Are you suggesting Bush is no longer a highschool bully and ignorant?

Cause I think that one of his fellow Repugs has just described him that way, based on recent
and past knowledge of him --- ????

[calimary]

15. Yes. Oliver Stone can start making non-controversial movies. And he could start shaving

more carefully.

[olddad56]

16. of course people can change, but where is the evidence that he has?

[ryanmuegge]

3. This dude's a lot cooler than the douche who became president.

A lot more fun that the born again Christian faker.

[boobooday]

5. It's not his past drinking

It's the fact that he is a mean, know-nothing warmonger.

That's what disturbs me about him.

[Swagman]

6. he can change his behaviour but sadly not intelligence

[fshrink]

10. As supported by the drinking position...

[defendandprotect]

14. I doubt Bush has stopped drinking; plus, we seem to have indications of a lot of ...

pill taking --- antidepressants.

No one can murder on this level --- personal or distant --- and not feel the impact.

Cheney may be a delayed case ---

But I think Bush is emotional -- in very negative ways --- and probably shows that part of himself
often.

Remember that at the point that LBJ -- who seems to have had his own personal murderer in Malcolm Wallace --- was leaving the White House his aides were describing him as "clinically psychotic" and he was trying to confess regularly and tell his sins to anyone within earshot, evidently!

Nixon was also psychotic during his days in the White House --- also fueled by murders, booze and
prescription drugs, legally given to him --- and illegally obtained by him.

What we don't know about Bush right now, we'll eventually hear about --- if the world keeps turning. And, I have strong doubts that it will be anything at all positive.

Of course, he'll also have his own "Wm. Safire" to keep the worst attacks on him at bay.

[pagandem4justice]

17. More to consider w/ a long-time alcoholic...

Namely, the physical damage done to the brain by alcoholism. I remember this from a psych class I had, and found this still pic:


The alcoholic's brain is literally "pickled," shriveled...This cannot help but affect behavior and mental fitness.

I've thought for years that * has Korsakoff's syndrome (alcohol dementia): http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/transform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/korsakoffs_syndrome.jsp&mode=print

Symptoms include apathy, forgetfulness, false memories to cover up blackouts, ataxia (balance/coordination problems), and mild psychosis.

Worth considering.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

18. Hear, hear!

:applause:

[agincourt]

19. There's really not much to analyze about bush,

Only thing to analyze is why anyone over a 60 IQ would still support him. Enough of this chump and his presidency that never should have happened. Stone should study better things than this.

[Mind_your_head]

20. This 'guy' gwb would NEVER had this much power unless the

"men behind the curtain" wanted him to be their 'front man'....and so it is.

Question: Who are the men behind the curtain? Why? What do they 'do back there anyway'?

They've got so much power now that they don't mind the question being asked. What would we all do 'about it anyways, right?'

:think:

[Trajan]

21. I'm the only R so far ....

Hey ... that rhymed !

[sutz12]

22. Drunk, I believe.....World leader? Not so much.

I'd say he has to do more than sit in the chair to be considered a 'leader.'

JMO. :shrug:

[Snarkturian Clone]

23. I like the idea of doing a movie like this but

Oliver Stone hasn't made a good movie in a loooooooooooooong time. He should be renamed Oliver Pebble.

On another note, there's plenty to shit on Bush about after college. Holding people accountable for their behavior in college is like holding an adult accountable for getting a detention in the 6th grade.

[tanyev]

24. I'm not sure who Stone thinks his audience will be.

RWers certainly won't want to see it. I might have gotten a kick from something like this several years ago, but extreme Bush fatigue has set in. Once he leaves office, the only reason I want to see him on a TV or movie screen is if he's being investigated or prosecuted.

[Massachusetts]

25. Most people can't change their behaviour

Just the color of their stripes, so drink up Georgie boy.