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Prez is Past His Partying
The Dallas Morning News | September 18, 2002 | Alan Peppard

Posted on 09/18/2002 4:50:06 PM PDT by 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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bush; partying
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To: ohioWfan
Thanks for the ping. This is just so pathetic. The poor Washington "society" folks don't get to party on the taxpayer's dime because the president prefers his family and his real friends! Awwwww...what a crying shame.

Sally Quinn can certainly have her own parties - I imagine there are plenty of places in DC to host big parties. Don't expect the President to do it though. That's hardly the reason why people elect a president. Personally, I find it absolutely refreshing that W doesn't cozy up to Hollywood celebs et al. Who needs them? Just a bunch of yada, yada, blah, blah, blah.

Geez...these people need to get a real life. Maybe they could follow the President's example. Ya think?

61 posted on 09/18/2002 6:46:44 PM PDT by Wphile
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To: Wild Irish Rogue
I have one glaring exception to my cone of silence-should clinton be arrested, I expect everyone to call me ASAP!!!

Well, I won't be calling you ...... I'll be out in the street dancing .... or on my computer here at FR. Can you just imagine what this place would be like if that were ever to happen ........ can you say MELTDOWN!

62 posted on 09/18/2002 6:48:06 PM PDT by kayak
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To: SBeck
There is a big difference between being alone and being lonely. I love being alone and never feel lonely.
63 posted on 09/18/2002 6:50:29 PM PDT by RJayneJ
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To: ohioWfan
Thanks for the ping. I don't see anything wrong with the president. After running the country and meeting with so many people, he needs to relax with his wife. My husband and I prefer to stay home and go out with close friends or have them over. Sounds like he is a very normal man. I am glad he is not a party animal.
64 posted on 09/18/2002 6:50:51 PM PDT by olliemb
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To: Wait4Truth
Spot & Barney any day! They are better looking, better mannered and much more friendly.
65 posted on 09/18/2002 6:51:16 PM PDT by CARepubGal
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To: Miss Marple
LOL! I would say that if someone spends their time on public forums critiquing other people's marriages they have too much time on your hands.
66 posted on 09/18/2002 6:54:05 PM PDT by McLynnan
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To: olliemb
BZZZT! According to post #41, you are guilty of the same transgression as I! Obviously, according to IAROP, you have an unhappy marriage, otherwise you wouldn't tell us how happy you are!

Please report for mandatory counseling!

67 posted on 09/18/2002 6:58:19 PM PDT by Miss Marple
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To: ohioWfan
Thanks for pinging the "Babes."

I had to leave right after I posted the article, but I thought it was good, and you can't believe how surprising from a guy who just loves the party crowd and Ann Richards, etc.
68 posted on 09/18/2002 7:00:54 PM PDT by altura
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To: Miss Marple
Thanks for the helpful hint, Miss Marple!

I sure hate to think about what his reaction would be to some of my posts about my marriage! He'd have me committed!

btw, I love football, so we sit alone, together watching the Super Bowl, munching on junk food (not pretzels, however!), while the kids are off at their parties.

69 posted on 09/18/2002 7:02:17 PM PDT by ohioWfan
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To: Caligirl for Bush
I watch tv with my dog cause my husband refuses to watch the "trash" I watch. LOL.

The dog likes it though.
70 posted on 09/18/2002 7:02:25 PM PDT by altura
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To: McLynnan
Clinton has no soul...no conscience. That is truly frightening when you think about the fact that he was the leader of the free world for 8 long years. I don't think we're aware of 1/3 of the damage he has done to this country. Everybody, even his friends, know the truth about him. They stick with him because he has what they consider star-power and charisma and he makes things happen. The saddest part to me is that if the sheeple were informed enough to see the truth about him, he would slip into the dust bin of history overnight.
71 posted on 09/18/2002 7:03:33 PM PDT by Wait4Truth
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To: altura
Doesn't Hillary have a nice mansion where they can party?
72 posted on 09/18/2002 7:03:38 PM PDT by Cooter
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To: kayak
" Well, I won't be calling you ...... I'll be out in the street dancing .... "

I also have this other rule-I travel a fair amount and I hate to find that I have trivial messages, when I return to the hotel room-my Irish heritage makes me always think the worst ( one time the dog sitter left an emergency message,my heart was in my throat when I called her back-she wanted to know where we kept the tin foil ). But, I have a standing order to wake me or page me, any hour of the day, for the kind of clinton news, that would make one rush out and buy the most expensive bottle of champagne!! Should that day every come-the drinks are on me!! I think we would see a nationwide block party,the likes of which our country has never experienced!
73 posted on 09/18/2002 7:07:53 PM PDT by Wild Irish Rogue
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To: Gumption
If you remember, even on September 20th when he gave his speech to the joint session of Congress, he refused to have "Hail To The Chief" played. I read that he himself refused it. He is a very sincere, modest man. But I still miss hearing "Hail To The Chief" because he richly deserves it!
74 posted on 09/18/2002 7:08:16 PM PDT by Wait4Truth
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To: Brett66
Guess I'm just an Okie hick that doesn't understand all of this high-falutin Washington social-life garbage.

The chickens in D.C. are thrown into confusion by this. Without comparing their invitations to, and seating order at, Whitehouse social dos, they can't establish the pecking order.

75 posted on 09/18/2002 7:09:12 PM PDT by Stultis
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To: ohioWfan
Hey ohio it was too funny then you start asking where is everybody??? LOL


:O)
76 posted on 09/18/2002 7:09:28 PM PDT by Soaring Feather
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To: Wild Irish Rogue
Wouldn't it be great!

But, pessimist that I am, I don't think you'll be goin' broke anytime soon.
77 posted on 09/18/2002 7:09:36 PM PDT by altura
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To: bentfeather
I have an inferiority complex.......I was afraid that I had been abandoned! :o)
78 posted on 09/18/2002 7:12:59 PM PDT by ohioWfan
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To: ohioWfan
Have you been pinged for the Daily Dose of W yet?
79 posted on 09/18/2002 7:14:41 PM PDT by Soaring Feather
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To: Wait4Truth
He does, and it is a great sound when it heralds a great president. Unfortunately, the worst ones love it the most.

Re: the article. I particularly liked the part about Prez being sure to go home and say goodnight to his daughters.

Because of Dubya and Laura I think those girls will turn out to be fine people, even if they have a few teenage bumps along the way.
80 posted on 09/18/2002 7:14:43 PM PDT by altura
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