[Emmett McCarthy]

Absolutely right. The essence of the AA program is step 3 wherein a person makes a decision to let God be in charge. The other 11 steps are basically nothing more than ideas about why one needs to make that decision and how to go about it. The AA program as it's outlined in the book is great and effective. Sadly, much of what some of these folks spout off in meetings is dangerously misleading nonsense. A person is better off without that.

Now, let's imagine that Bush had gone to AA meetings. How many "anonymous" reports would we have heard about crazy things he'd allegedly said and done in the meetings? Yeah, yeah, I know no one is supposed to talk about it, but that "protection" wouldn't apply to Bush.

[Syberyenta]

The President could go to an online AA meeting and be anonymous.

[bigdog]

This may be a distinction without a difference, but I believe the most important step is Step 1.:

Step 1 - I admit that I am powerless over alcohol and that my life has become unmanageable.

Without this humbling admission, nothing else works.

By the by, I never recall GWB or anyone else refer to his problem as alcoholism. Only an alcoholic can self proclaim his addiction.