London Times: long excerpt from Kitty Kelley book

[DeepModem Mom]

This excerpt includes charges of drug use by both George and Laura, but also includes flattering and/or sympathetic anecdotes about both.


September 12, 2004

How team Bush took an airbrush to the Chosen One’s misdeeds

The public swallowed a story of the wayward president’s son who cleaned up his act to take his place in the White House. Kitty Kelley exposes what really lurks in George W Bush’s past


....The family was looking towards its restoration to power through the presidential candidacy of George W. His mother, Barbara Bush, referred to him as “the Chosen One”. There was a problem, however. After eight years of Clinton, the American public “want to elect a statue”, as Oklahoma’s Republican governor Frank Keating put it. “They want a hero, an unblemished and untarnished guy in the White House.”

Karl Rove, the political adviser with the task of shaping W’s image, knew he had to present his candidate as the anti-Clinton: fresh (no drugs, no alcoholism), religious (acceptable to evangelicals) and faithful to his wife (majority of voters: women).

Fanning out across the country, Rove and the Bush team began to tidy up the governor’s past. Rove wanted no potentially devastating revelations to emerge that might portray W and Laura, his wife, as anything but an ideal and idealised couple. But to present W as pure and pristine was hypocritical and untrue....

***

THE first hurdle facing the tidy-up team was to deal with W’s past drug use. As governor of Texas, he took a hard line on drugs. He supported increased penalties for possession and signed legislation mandating jail time for people caught with less than a single gram of cocaine.

Yet, as the claims of Sharon Bush, his sister-in-law, show, he could have been subject to jail time himself had he been caught “doing coke” with his brother Marvin at Camp David during his father’s presidency....

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,2766-1256973,00.html

[girl gone mad]

1. I always wondered if..

Bush's born again Christianity wasn't just a political ploy to neutralize his shady past. It's clear that he had big political ambitions before he was 'born again'. The comment from Dean's book also makes me wonder.

[nightperson]

2. "Hard lines" Bush?

"As governor of Texas, he took a hard line on drugs. He supported increased penalties for possession and signed legislation mandating jail time for people caught with less than a single gram of cocaine."

:eyes:

[Professor_Moriarty]

3. Not to mention the record number of people he ordered executed

without even bothering to read reports of mitigating circumstances that might have justified clemency.His mocking of a young woman who pleaded for her life still rankles in my mind.

There is no question that he believes that laws are meant for us lowly people, that he and his family are above the law.His contempt for ordinary people is laid bare in his words and deeds.

[ClintonTyree]

4. All of those hoping................

that this book is going to blow Bush out of the water are in for a big let down. The Bush faithful aren't going to believe a word of it and the 24 hour "news" networks are going to dismiss it as Tabloid Journalism. They'll say it's another re-hashed attempt to discredit our glorious leader with his youthful indiscretions and ask for proof of any of these accusations.

I'm afraid many here are going to be sorely disapointed, again, by the press's coverage of this book. I'd hope not, but NOTHING seems to stick to the little dictator. He's such a likable guy, you know? :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[DeepModem Mom]

5. I think you're right -- nt

[GOPAgainstGW]

7. Wrong-It Increases the number of Dems that will vote! AND

the Democratic registered base is substantially larger than the Republican base, but tends to get lazy about voting, unless charged up!

------------------------------
Beltway and Texas Republicans
Against Bush-Cheney ’04, Inc.
------------------------------
"Insider’s News”, Vol 1 - Kerry-Edwards Campaign Doing Well
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x748458
“Insider’s News” Vol 1.1 - Great Anti-Bush Sites
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x756409

[LisaL]

8. Maybe so,

but it's still better than nothing, don't you think?

[DeepModem Mom]

6. kick for later