Prez is Past His Partying

The Dallas Morning News | September 18, 2002 | Alan Peppard

[altura]

Over a year and a half into the Bush II administration, W magazine has blown the lid off the deep secret about the social whir at the White House under President George W. Bush – there isn't a whir.

In its October issue, the New York-based fashion and style periodical features a story called "The Big Chill," about the lack of social buzz in Washington. Of course, most anybody in Dallas, Austin or Midland could have told them this before George W. ever put his hand on the Bible. If you expected George W. Bush the party animal to show up in Washington, you're 20 years too late.

Before the inauguration, media outlets from D.C. phoned me frantically wanting to know what the Bush social scene would look like. Like a mantra, I would repeat to each one, "He doesn't dance, he doesn't drink, and he goes to bed early." That is all ye know on Earth and all ye need to know.

"You hear a lot of people complaining, especially among Bush's biggest supporters," one Republican stalwart tells W of the lack of social life around the Bush White House. "This crowd is just very insulated. They were isolated in Texas, and they still are. It's a very tight clan, much tighter than their parents'. They had their wagons circled before they ever left Austin."

People, please ... you're reading too much into this. Let's go back a step: "He doesn't dance, he doesn't drink, and he goes to bed early." When he was governor, you had to catch him before dinner and not wait until after or he'd be out the door faster than Superman ducking a pass from Lois Lane. Wherever he was, the governor made a point to leave early to fly back to Austin so he could say good night to his daughters, Jenna and Barbara.

Fort Worth-reared Clay Johnson, Bush's pal from Andover and Yale and former COO of the Dallas Museum of Art, is on the short list with his wife, Ann, for private dinners in the family quarters. He is now White House personnel director, and she is director of the State Department's Art in Embassies program. Ann reports that Bush usually makes invites for these get-togethers at the last minute. "He calls direct, without a switchboard operator," Ann tells W.

Perhaps when he's whipped Osama and Saddam he'll be able to worry about the more important things in life, like making cocktail chat on the Beltway social circuit.

[Paul Atreides]

Another irony is that the press considered Ronald Reagan an actor (said with a tone of derision). Now, any blather, as long as it is liberal, coming from the mouth of an actor is treated as a dispensation from Heaven. I think, from now on, I will refer to the press as The Ministry of Truth. Fans of George Orwell will know what I mean.

[Brett66]

Doesn't have a social life? Doesn't he have cookouts with his friends, etc? Sounds sociable to me. Maybe they mean acting like you're still in college going to parties is only considered sociable. Guess I'm just an Okie hick that doesn't understand all of this high-falutin Washington social-life garbage.

[Paul Atreides]

Maybe they consider rape as having a social life.

[Wait4Truth]

Cute article! Takes a slap at the hand-wringing going on in society circles. I suppose the President could throw them a bone once in awhile but don't they realize he's been a little busy lately? Just imagine if he was at a cocktail party when the next terrorist attack occured - can you imagine what the press would do with that???

[Wait4Truth]

W watches football with Spot and Barney. At least that's what I read somewhere. Who would you rather be with? Spot or Sally Quinn, high society queen?

[Miss Marple]

I pick Spotty in a heartbeat!

[Wait4Truth]

You know, it is totally impossible to even picture W doing the things clinton did in the Oval Office. I think he'd rather be struck by lightening! The guy won't even take his suit coat for Pete's sake!

[Wait4Truth]

Thanks for the ping, lawgirl! I really like this article for some reason. I guess it's because it really shows that W is the "un-clinton".

[mombonn]

Yeah, yeah, I know he needs his "me time" but it seems that he's a very lonely guy.

I couldn't disagree more. Only a very self-confident person likes to be alone with himself. For a man who is surrounded by people morning til evening, I would imagine he RELISHES time alone.

Don't forget, Laura was in the other room while the superbowl was going on.

[ladyinred]

How would it look after Sept 11th for the President to be hosting parties and living it up in the White House while we are at war? Bush has integrity, something W magazine must not be accustomed to in a President of the United States.
Want to bet that if he was partying they would be bashing him for doing so considering what is going on? You betcha!

[Wait4Truth]

I read that President Bush doesn't trust aides that constantly praise him. Like aides that tell him how wonderful he is and what a beautiful tie he has on and that kind of stuff. He likes straight-talkers like he is. One of most remarkable things I have seen him do is stop playing "Hail To The Chief" every time he enters a room. I actually miss that but he thinks it's phony to treat him like some King or something. Gotta love him.

[Wait4Truth]

Somehow I knew you'd choose the cute little doggie, MM! LOL!

[ohioWfan]

He isn't lonely; he just likes his wife's company.

Let's see.....who is more lonely?

A man with a loving wife and great marriage, a family who loves him, loyal friends from years and years of developing meaningful relationships, and a personal relationship with his God...... OR a pre-pubescent 'President' with a non-marriage to a non-wife, who hasn't got a single meaningful relationship in the world because he uses all the people he meets.....especially weak and gullible young females.....but parties hearty?

Tough choice, eh?

[Wait4Truth]

I agree. Our President would laugh if someone told him he was lonely. He probably loves the few hours he has to be alone with himself. His days are so full and busy - I'm sure a football game with the dogs is like Heaven.

[Burkeman1]

It is unthinkable for even Kennedy to do what Clinton did and JFK was a pig- but not a sociopath.

[Let's Roll]

Not only that, but this football fan finally put an end to hosting or attending Super Bowl parties. Too many yakkers distracting from the game.

[justshe]

Good article. Thanks for the *ping* ohioWfan. Now are you SURE your aren't double pinging us? (wink wink)

[Pippin]

Yeah! real tough! LOL!!

I pick a man who knows his duty and doesn't have tiome to party or chase interns!

'nuff said!

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Mabye he likes to be alone because he is surrounded by people almost all day long. I certainly enjoy time alone and I'm not lonely...

[terilyn]

Fun article ohioWfan, thanks for the ping!