Posted on 09/11/2004 8:54:20 AM PDT by nypokerface
The new Kitty Kelley book that has the Bush campaign's underwear in a bunch is more catty than explosive. It does claim that President Bush snorted cocaine at Camp David. It does repeat rumors that he arranged an illegal abortion for an ex-girlfriend. And it does accuse First Lady Laura Bush of once being a pothead.
But the sourcing for these accusations is thin and there are no other big surprises in Kelley's much anticipated "The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty."
Instead, the 705-page tome obtained by the Daily News chronicles the rise of the GOP's First Family and likens them to a WASP-y Mafia clan.
"Like the hotheaded Sonny Corleone in 'The Godfather,' he became savage about avenging his father's honor and preserving the family's political fortunes," Kelley writes of Dubya after Newsweek suggested his dad was a "wimp."
The Bush family soldiers are retired CIA men loyal to the first President George Bush, who "worked to silence pesky girlfriends, talkative associates and grudge-bearing enemies."
"In Texas especially, the Bushes ruled," Kelley writes. "Even people who disliked them did not want to run afoul of them socially."
A worried White House has denounced the book as "garbage" and Bush's people have attacked the credibility of Kelley, best known for her gossipy tell-alls about Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra and Nancy Reagan. But all the buzz has made Kelley's new book a best seller even before it hits store shelves on Tuesday.
Most of the tawdry tales in Kelley's book have appeared in print before, but in retelling them she adds more kindling to the controversy that erupted when the ex-wife of Dubya's brother, Neil, claimed Bush and another brother snorted coke at Camp David during their father's term as President.
"Not once," Neil's ex-wife Sharon says in the book, "but many times."
After that sensational snippet was leaked, Sharon Bush denied telling Kelley the story, but former Daily News editor Lou Colasuonno says he was there when she said it.
Kelley's source about the First Lady's alleged pot smoking is a Texas public relations man named Robert Nash who says, "She not only smoked dope, but she sold dope."
Kelley also claims that the First Couple went to pot parties on the British Virgin Islands with Laura Bush's college roommate Jane Clark and her pal, Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax.
To back up the much-rumored story of the younger George Bush getting an abortion for a girlfriend, Kelley cites Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt.
Kelley offers no new insights into Bush's controversial stint in the Texas Air National Guard. But the Bush that appears in her book is a mean ex-drunk who mistreats his wife, believes Jews can't go to heaven and is terrified of "looking wimpish."
MEOW.
So why did Doubleday's legal department sign off on this? Inquiring minds want to know...
Repeat is the operative word; she accused Ronald Reagan of the same thing in an earlier tome. Another oldie but goodie.
Sounds more like Bill Clinton
I am having a hard time understanding why this little snippet was included. Some people seem to be obsessed with the NG.
It sure does. Maybe Kitty did so many drugs she got the stories confused. It was more likely Clinton and his brother.
It's as simple as this, whenever ANYONE snipes about W. for purported coke use, just reminded them that AT LEAST he wasn't the Arkansas State Attorney or Guv. at the time (and locking others away for the same crime).
WHY didn't the media ever confront Slick about inhaling that other substance?
Money. It is not the first time a book containing gossip about prominent people has been published. Miss Kitty has done this before.
I'd like to produce a memo, to the file, signed by Couric's late husband, saying that he was told by friends that Katie got so excited after goin to an game at Madison Square Garden, that she had sex with 4 members of the Knicks..he wants to file for divorce..and is going to call Raoul Felder after he finishes his physical exam..
When you do that, contact Dan Rather for some experts to confirm your memo's authenticity.
I thought the same thing when reading this article. Is this Clinton? Her book is a classic example of liberal projection. Accuse the Right of doing exactly what the Left is secretly doing.
She must be a big smack addict to write crap such as this, or she may have confused the Bush family with the disfunctional Clintons.
My copy of Poison: the Unauthorized Biography of Kitty Kelly is supposed to arrive in my mailbox this coming week. The review promised a lot of dirt on HER. Can't wait. LOL
Good gracious. The 80's have returned. Be afraid.
It makes the opposition look like the creeps they are, and that's GOOD for the President.
I thought the standard liberal line (as per Maureen Dowd) regarding Bushes and Godfather references was that W is Fredo, not Sonny. Sheesh, Kitty can't even get that straight!
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