Out soon: life with the Bushes

http://www.theage.com ^ | April 17 2003 | Sarah Crichton

[CMClay]

The estranged wife of President George Bush's brother, Neil, plans a tell-all book about life within the first family.

In the midst of a divorce wrangle with her former husband of 22 years, Sharon Bush travelled to New York to lunch recently with America's queen of celebrity biography, Kitty Kelley.

At a Manhattan restaurant, the pair brainstormed ideas and discussed Mrs Bush's debut as author. Kelley, who scored hits with unauthorised biographies of Nancy Reagan, Frank Sinatra and the British royal family, is already writing a book on the Bush clan scheduled for release next year.

Mrs Bush is believed to have been stunned when her husband, 48, told her of his plans for divorce last year. She hoped for reconciliation but learned subsequently he planned to marry Mexican Maria Andrews, whom he met years ago when she worked as a volunteer for a Barbara Bush foundation.

The Bushes have three teenage children. Mr Bush met the former schoolteacher while campaigning for his father during Mr Bush snr's unsuccessful bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 1980.

Mrs Andrews, also a mother of three, including an 18-month-old, gained an uncontested divorce from her husband, Robert, the same day late last year that Mr Bush filed seeking divorce.

Included as exhibits during Mrs Andrews' deposition were love letters written by Neil, and a photograph of the pair.

"I . . . have reached the conclusion that it is irresolvable, that our marriage has been broken," Mr Bush said of his marriage in court transcripts. "It's loveless. And there's nothing left to it."

Part of his final settlement offer, so far refused by Mrs Bush, was $US1000 ($A1642) maintenance a month. In testimony, Mr Bush was questioned about his business interests, stock holdings, insurance policies and bank accounts. He made $US800,000 in 2000, but denies being a wealthy man.

This is despite having raised between $US23 million and possibly as much as $US40 million for his latest business venture, Ignite, an interactive education software company aimed at helping school students improve their standardised test scores. His efforts to market the product have been questioned in the US media because standardised testing is a Bush Administration initiative, and embraced in Florida, where another Bush brother, Jeb, is governor.

There are also claims, denied by Neil Bush, that in raising capital and selling his product internationally, he has traded off the Bush name among those keen to curry favour with his more powerful brother in the White House. Investors include Saudi Arabian and Egyptian interests.

A spokesman for Mrs Bush, Lou Colasuonno, said Mrs Bush felt isolated by the first family and had "a story to tell".

Neil Bush is no stranger to headlines. Controversy over Ignite marked his return to headlines after being embroiled in the Silverado Savings and Loan scandal in Colorado, a $US1 billion failure during his father's years in the White House. A director, Mr Bush was accused of various conflicts of interest but never charged. A civil suit against him and other Silverado executives was later settled for $US26.5 million.

[nicmarlo]

I have a goof ball brother, does this make me eligible to run for President? (actually, both my brothers are goof balls : )

[BADROTOFINGER]

My brother is way cool, so that makes me...er...nevermind...JFK

[Mears]

Most of us have goofball brothers,including me.

[Restore]

Does Every President Have A Goofball Brother?

If I were President, I'd have three.

[ladtx]

I don't have a goofball brother, but my brother does.

[MinuteGal]

Attention, brother Bush and President Bush. A woman scorned is worse than a terrorist.

The plans for this tell-all book have been announced and you better believe nothing will stop it now.

All that remains is how many garbanzos will be spilled.

Leni

[Tijeras_Slim]

Does Every President Have A Goofball Brother?

Do brother-in-laws count? If so, I'm starting an exploratory committee!

[BADROTOFINGER]

tagline test...JFK

[3AngelaD]

It was widely reported yesterday that they have agreed on a divorce settlement and she is backing off on book plans.

[nicmarlo]

lol!

[Dante3]

This is no reflection on President Busha as long as he doesn't support Neil's actions. They are two diffrent people. Neil sound like a total cad. Seems the Bushes always have had a preference for things Hispanic.

[Oystir]

But what if she already spoke to Kitty Kelly?

[Eala]

Kelley, who scored hits with unauthorised biographies

Really? I vaguely remember something about her Reagan bio, but I don't recall the title, nor did I know about the others. Some "hits"...

[Savage Beast]

The Bushes seem to have a weakness for Mexicans (not that I blame them). (I still can't get those beautiful, dark Spanish eyes out of my mind. It's best that I not go back to Mexico.)

[OldFriend]

If this woman puts her vindictive story out in public it will only harm their children. Proving she was/is a b*tch.

[beaversmom]

I probably wouldn't think too much of Neil Bush if I knew more about him, but what the ex is doing is wrong. It's going to hurt her in the long run to get this kind of revenge--it's not good for her and especially not good for her children.

[beaversmom]

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
I fell in love with a Mexican girl
Nighttime would find me in Rosa's Cantina
Music would play and Felina would whirl

Blacker than night where the eyes of Felina
Wicked and evil while casting a spell
My love was strong for this Mexican maiden
I was in love, but in vain I could tell

[BlueAngel]

That is what I heard also. There will be no book by Sharon Bush. Her children were very upset about the idea.

Thank goodness!

[Search4Truth]

I am a goof ball brother.