GWB: "You have children?....You like them?....Mine are a pain in the ass."

[Stephanie]

The quote is from the current issue of Vanity Fair (August 2004), from an article by Christopher Hitchens (a famous imbiber) on the subject of George W. Bush's purported alcoholism. Hitchens suggests Bush might do better to drink a little more.

Hitchens:

"Above all, I think Ms. Laura keeps him in order. The twins are now old enough to violate local drinking ordinances on their own (Bush concealed his D.U.I. conviction for so long, he says, because he didn't want to set them a bad example), but their mother still stands between the little apples and the tree. A prominent senator told me not that long ago that, while visiting the president, he had complimented him on the desk photos of his girls. "You have children?" Bush asked. "Oh yes, Mr. President." "You like them?" "Of course, Mr. President." Without pausing, Bush said, "Mine are a pain in the ass." The impressive thing, said my informant, was the Aztec-like straightness of Bush's face as he said this. Perhaps he resents them because they can cut loose and tipple, and he can't. "Every morning Bush wakes up knowing one thing for absolute certain," says one who has known him, "Today is a day on which he will not have a drink."

Spare me the "leave the twins out of it" argument. Once they hit the campaign trail, which they have, they are in it.

No link, not online. Vanity Fair is worth the cover price.

So, is this what Bush means by Family Values? Poor kids.

[JaySherman]

1. The epitome of class isn't he?

Failure as a businessman, failure as President, failure as a father, and an all-round failure as a human being.

[Cronus Protagonist]

2. She looks pretty good right now

...to her BF's - get it while you can cuz she's going to be just like Grandma in about 2 years.

Choose Kerry Lose Bush - FUCK BUSH - Drop Bush Not Bombs!
http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13

[hlthe2b]

3. How painful to read these words from your father in a magazine ....

especially, since I have little doubt they are true. These two girls have all the benefits in the world, so I can't extend them much sympathy; but, at the same time, they have quite the "proverbial cross to bear" being born into that incredibly dysfunctional family.

[Stephanie]

4. I hope their maternal grandmother is loving

I can't think of anyone else in that family who might be able to give them some unselfish attention.

[SharonAnn]

8. Maybe, but they probably think he's a "pain in the ass"

What goes around, comes around.

[NC_Nurse]

5. Heartwarming...

so where's all the Christian love?

He's showing his mean ole ass again!:eyes:

[Betty]

6. shitty parents raise shitty kids

and at least the twins haven't killed anyone yet....

[Stephanie]

13. I think the kids are fine

It's the father who's out of line. Can you imagine your father saying such a thing about you?

<edit> Or can you imagine saying such a thing about your own child? It's heartbreaking.

[jayavarman]

22. I'm 100% sure my father called me a pain in the ass frequently

It would have been the truth!

[seabeyond]

28. i know mine didnt

not even in jest. nor do i with my kids...........

[TrustingDog]

7. cute kid, almost a Hemmingwayish look.

imagine having parents like Those Things? ack.

[buycitgo]

11. she's really beefing up recently, though

compare shots of just a few months ago

serious poundage; sign of unhappiness for sure

[Stephanie]

12. Hard to say

I wouldn't comment. But if she is unhappy, who could blame her. Remember how young these poor girls are.

[ikojo]

14. They are both college graduates...they are not children

There are many working class people of their same age who have more responsibilities than they. Kid gloves are OFF as far as the Bush Twins go.

The shirt that Barbara Bush II is wearing doesn't speak well of Christian modesty now does it? I see CLEAVAGE...she's stacked that's for sure.

[TrustingDog]

16. I remember the way Chelsea was treated...

it was disgusting.
I would rather avoid being that kind of trash but you go right ahead if it's that important to you.

[ikojo]

18. Chelsea WAS a child. She was 12 and people on SNL

were making fun of her 12 year old body.

Barbara Bush II and Jenna are NOT children. People in their 20s are NOT children. They are adults. If they choose to enter the political arena by campaigning for their father then they are open to scrutiny.

Look Ron Reagan Jr has shown that he is capable of independent thought. Barbara Bush II received a Yale degree, surely she should be capable of independent thought and see that her dad is just wrong for this world.

[Stephanie]

19. It's about what HE said

It's what the POTUS said about his own daughters. At the same time that he would condemn others for not having high enough "family values."

This is not about the girls, it's about GWB's own words.

I dare you to find anything equivalent from the Clintons.

These girls are innocent of everything except being born into the wrong family. I feel for them, I really do. But if G. Bush is going to USE them to enhance his image as a family man, we have every right to call him on his words AS PRINTED.

[Guaranteed]

17. Yup, she's got the college drinker chub. nt

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

45. Man

people just HAVE to go there, don't they? I don't care if they ARE the spawn of the bush family, let's not get to the level of commenting on their weight. Remember when rush called Chelsea the White House Dog?

[Raenelle]

9. I nominate her for cannon fodder--Sign 'er up, sign 'er up.

[Mandate My Ass]

10. They're female

so he can't discuss his favorite topic of "pussy" with them like he does with Poppy. What good are they? :puke:

[Stephanie]

15. Another question: How tall are these girls?

OR

How short is the Chimp?

[Endangered Specie]

20. At least shes hot...

gotta look on the positive side.

definetly doesnt take after her mom.

[Guaranteed]

21. She's really not. She looks inbred. nt

[Endangered Specie]

23. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

[Stephanie]

25. Not the issue. The question is:

The question is, why would a loving father be so smart-ass and dismissive about his own daughters?

I feel for those poor girls. I really do.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

46. And to a reporter, no less

How incredibly stupid of him.

[bowens43]

24. I agree. She's very pretty

and rich.....

[Stephanie]

26. You don't have a chance in hell.

Dream on.

[Endangered Specie]

35. Dreams are good

:)

[Nevernose]

39. Oh Christ, not this again...

:)

[Endangered Specie]

40. boys will be boys

[dsc]

27. Hitchens is an ass

Even when he is being an ass toward Bush he is still an ass. Bush is a bad President due to being a bad person not due to confronting his alcoholism.

[Stephanie]

29. Yes, Hitchens is an ass

And the article is full of BS.

However, Hitchens claims to have this quote from a Senator. Would he make it up?

[dsc]

30. The same reason he makes other stuff up

because he can.

[Stephanie]

33. Well, if HItchens made this quote up

I'd like to see the evidence. I would hope VF has a little better standards than that! If it is an outright fabrication, they would be liable.

[dsc]

34. They publish Hitchens

How high can their standards be?

[Stephanie]

36. Really, pick up an issue

Read it in the bookstore. They are adamant Bush-critics. Hitchens is their nod to the RW.

[dsc]

37. I don't care that Hitchens is a right winger

I care that he is a liar and a fool. There are plenty of honest wingers for them to find. There is no excuse for publishing his garbage.

[Southsideirish]

31. Call me psychic but I always felt that he didn't like them. Maybe he

wanted boys - I don't know. One telling remark I read, also, about
the twins was in reference to the pool they insisted he put in on the ranch. He called it the "whining pool" as they whined to death to get him to put do it.
West Texas??? Very rich people???? Why would he give them such grief about a lousy pool - it doesn't seem wildly out of the ordinary for a family like theirs to have one yet he now always refers to it as the "whining pool" and will, apparently, never let them live it down. Spiteful old crab.

[Stephanie]

32. Yes, this seems typical of his attitude toward his girls.

Some other wealthy father might be proud to give his girls a swimming pool. Yet Bush is resentful and punishes them for wanting one. It's very telling.

[CaTeacher]

38. hey--I think his girls HAVE been a pain in the ass

(they are a little wild for the "conservative values" crowd)

So at least he can be honest once in a while.

Actually, the girls have always seemed pretty cool to me--like the kind of kids you would really like to party with in college--actually their dad probably was a cool partier too. But hey--you don't want the wild and crazy people running the country......And even Bush needs to grow up someday....

[Stephanie]

41. Seriously! How tall is he?

You know he is just the insecure type to demand that those girls wear flats.

[Stephanie]

42. Kick for the morning crowd

:kick:

[ikojo]

43. Thinking about Bush and his kids...I get the feeling he

has kids only because as a "family values" politician on the conservative side, it is EXPECTED that he be a "family" man. The only way to do that is to marry and procreate. He got lucky, his two kids came all at once. The kids completed an image at a time when he needed them.

I think the problems came when they were no longer cute little girls who could be told what to do, and I think this is common in many American families, rich and poor. I truly think people prefer little kids to teenagers and grown children. They are cute when small but a pain once they assert themselves and start having their own personalities.

Grown Bush children are a testament to his parenting. Considering their bouts with underage drinking and other acts of rowdiness, Georgie W doesn't look too good to the family values crowd.

[bobbieinok]

44. don't forget how after he 'won' he went golfing and 1 girl was in

the hospital ...... that was so bizarre