Did * stiff the pub owner??

[grasswire]

We know from the accounts of former girlfriends that Bush is a cheap date and would let others pay for his meals. But did he totally stiff the poor pub owner who served him fish and chips??

"Landlord Geoff Rayner and his wife Mishy served, having ordered all their staff not to drink for 24 hours prior to the guests' arrival to avoid unnecessary mistakes.

"I am not sure the President had ever had mushy peas before but they all ate very well. There was not much to clear away," Mr Rayner said.

Mr Rayner said it had not been decided who would pay for the £11.45 ($27) meal, but he didn't begrudge the President his visit.

"But with all the security costs, perhaps this really was the most expensive pub lunch in history."

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/11/22/1069027391752.html

[pippin]

1. see price of lunch and the tacky lager choice

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=757644

""a famously God-fearing President it led to the most expensive alcohol-free lager in history . . .At a secluded table decorated with white linen and white hyacinths, the group ate cream of leek soup, fish and chips and mushy peas. After Mr Bush's alcohol-free Bitburger lager had been added, the bill came to £13.22. Critics said that, expressed as a share of the policing costs, the soup was £247,000, with £670,000 more for the fish and chips and £83,000 for the beer. The peas, not normally on the Dun Cow menu, came free, and, a witness said, were duly left on at least one of the plates in the presidential party."

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/story.jsp?story=466153

[Military Brat]

2. He misses his alcohol, doesn't he?

bush still drinking faux beer and watching faux news and telling faux stories and ... well, you get the picture.

[jbm]

3. I used to wait tables..

at a restaurant that Ashcroft frequented regularly when he was in Missouri. I can tell you first hand that he's a rude guy and a lousy tipper.

[Skittles]

4. why don't I find that surprising, jbm?

I think the way a person treats wait staff says SO MUCH about them.