Bush To Hand Over Power During Colon Examination

Ananova ^ | 6-28-2002

[blam]

Bush to hand over power during colon examination

George W Bush says he'll temporarily transfer his powers to Dick Cheney while he's sedated for a colon examination.

Doctors have recommended him to have a colonoscopy because they've found benign polyps during previous examinations.

A senior White House official says the procedure could take an hour or so.

The president says he's decided to transfer his powers to the vice president because the nation is at war.

He said Mr Cheney will be "standing by - realising he's not going to be president that long."

The procedure will be conducted at the Camp David presidential retreat.

President Bush said: "I'm going to be sedated for a period of time and we'll transfer power to the vice president during that time and I look forward to exercising tomorrow afternoon after the procedure takes place."

He added: "I'm the first president to have done so under this type of procedure of physical examination. I did so because we're at war and just want to be super cautious."

According to records released by Bush's presidential campaign, two benign polyps were surgically removed from his colon in July 1998.

"The doctors recommend that I have another one because the last time they found some benign polyps so this is a routine physical examination," the president said.

Story filed: 21:29 Friday 28th June 2002

[steve-b]

I was wondering why he'd need to be sedated for this, but it occurred to me that the problem isn't so much the probe as the Secret Service agents who have to accompany it.