Bush smokes weed! [credible source]

[OmNIsCiUs]

[Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aqiX6aiSN7UQ&refer=us]

Bush, in Secret Tapes, Weighed Religion, Behavior, Times Says
Feb. 20 (Bloomberg) -- George W. Bush, in secretly taped conversations in the years before his first presidential campaign, is portrayed as a candidate weighing the risks and benefits of his religious faith and determined to deflect questions about his past behavior, including allegations of drug use, the New York Times reported.

Doug Wead, author of a new book, ``The Raising of a President,'' recorded the conversations with Bush between the summer of 1998 and 2000, when he was the governor of Texas, the Times reported today. Wead, a former aide to Bush's father, George H. W. Bush, recorded the conversations because he believed Bush would be a major historical figure, Wead told the newspaper.

``Then-governor Bush was having casual conversations with someone he thought was a friend,'' White House press secretary Scott McClellan said in an e-mailed statement last night. Another spokesman, Allen Abney, declined to say whether the president felt betrayed by the secret taping.

In the tapes, Bush discusses the political implications of his Christian faith, including conversations he had with evangelical leaders, the newspaper said. Wead, a former Assemblies of God minister, was a liaison to evangelicals in the elder Bush's White House.

Marijuana Questions

Before meeting with Christian leaders in September 1998, the younger Bush told Wead that there are ``code words'' to use in addressing such groups. ``There are some proper ways to say things and some improper ways,'' Bush said, according to Wead. Bush added, ``I am going to say that I've accepted Christ into my life. And that's a true statement.''

In discussing with Wead how he handled questions about his past behavior, Bush ``appears to have acknowledged trying marijuana,'' the Times reported.

``I wouldn't answer marijuana questions,'' Bush told Wead, according to the tapes. ``You know why? Because I don't want some little kid doing what I tried.''

Bush mocked Vice President Al Gore for Gore's admission that he had used marijuana, the newspaper said. ``Baby boomers have got to grow up and say, yeah, I may have done drugs, but instead of admitting it, say to kids, don't do them,'' Bush said in the tapes.

McCain, Forbes

Bush worried that allegations he had used cocaine would come up in the campaign, the Times said. When Wead reminded Bush that in the past he had denied using cocaine, Bush replied, ``I haven't denied anything,'' according to the Times account of the of one of the taped talks.

Asked for comment on the drugs issue last night, White House spokesman Trent Duffy said, ``That's a question that's been asked and answered many times.''

Discussing political rivals, Bush predicted Senator John McCain would ``wear thin'' during the presidential primaries, and called publisher Steve Forbes a ``preppy'' and ``mean spirited,'' the Times said.

If Forbes was too critical of Bush during the campaign, neither he nor his brother Jeb, governor of Florida, would support Forbes if he won the nomination, Bush said. ``He can forget Texas. And he can forget Florida,'' Bush said, according to the Times.

Wead played about a dozen tapes, ranging from five to almost 30 minutes, for a Times reporter. Wead said he taped the talks only in states where it's legal with only one party's knowledge. The newspaper said it hired an expert, who concluded the voice on the tapes is that of George W. Bush.

Re-Election Theme

Bush understood that his religion might be an asset with Christian voters, the newspaper said. Wead warned him that ``power corrupts.'' Bush said not to worry. ``I have got a great wife. And I read the Bible daily. The Bible is pretty good about keeping your ego in check.''

In one event, as he was preparing to meet with Christian conservatives, Bush was practicing his lines with Wead. ``I'm going to tell them the five turning points in my life,'' Bush said, according to the newspaper. ``Accepting Christ. Marrying my wife. Having children. Running for governor. And listening to my mother.''

The lines about marrying his wife Laura, boasting about his twin daughters, and listening to his mother were staples of his re- election campaign in 2004.

Bush refused to criticize gays, according to the tapes. In one discussion related by Bush in the tapes, the newspaper said, Bush told James Robison, a prominent evangelical Texas minister, ``Look, James, I got to tell you two things right off the bat. One, I'm not going to kick gays, because I'm a sinner. How can I differentiate sin?'' Bush also told a conservative supporter that he ``wouldn't fire gays.''

`Wild Behavior'

As he has publicly, Bush acknowledged in the tapes that he had a drinking problem years ago, the Times reported. Bush said he could withstand scrutiny of his past because it involved nothing more than ``just, you know, wild behavior.''

Bush was described by the newspaper as ``cocky at times.'' ``It's me versus the world,'' Bush told Wead. ``The good news is, the world is on my side. Or more than half of it.''

When asked by the newspaper why he disclosed the secret recordings, ``I just felt that the historical point I was making trumped a personal relationship,'' the Times quoted Wead as saying. Wead said he wasn't motivated by a desire to generate publicity for his book, which is about the childhoods of presidents, the Times said.

In a 1990 interview with the Washington Post, the Times reported, Wead said Andrew Card, then deputy chief of staff, told him to leave his job ``sooner rather than later'' after he criticized the White House for inviting gay activists to an event.

[mauzip]

Arnie has smoked weed before too

[Nima - Dubcnn.com]

Man who hasn't smoked weed before?

[mauzip]

Man who hasn't smoked weed before?

Yash.

[Nima - Dubcnn.com]

Man who hasn't smoked weed before?

Yash.

lol, right.

[Matrix Heart]

Bush also did cocaine and was, is an alcoholic 

[Rampant]

I dont really see a point in this thread. The topic is "Bush smokes weed", however.....in the article you posted it says he used to.

Everyone has a past.

[Don Rizzle]

which republicans are always eager seek to exploit so why are dismissing this so quickly? although i do agree the title of this topic is misleading

[Machiavelli]

Who gives a flying fuck?

First of all, he doesnt smoke weed he USE to.

Second, everyone has smoke/tried weed in their lifes. Its not really a big deal

and finnally who cares about his past. Just because he smoked the shit 50 years how is it relevant to now.

[Rampant]

Who gives a flying fuck?

First of all, he doesnt smoke weed he USE to.

Second, everyone has smoke/tried weed in their lifes. Its not really a big deal

and finnally who cares about his past. Just because he smoked the shit 50 years how is it relevant to now.

dam...he started smoking pot when he was 9 years old? dam thats young

[Suffice]

yeah, if anything, smoking weed is the only good thing he's done in his life

[nibs]

can you imagine what type of bombay shit the president could get his hands on?   

[Machiavelli]

Who gives a flying fuck?

First of all, he doesnt smoke weed he USE to.

Second, everyone has smoke/tried weed in their lifes. Its not really a big deal

and finnally who cares about his past. Just because he smoked the shit 50 years ago how is it relevant to now.

dam...he started smoking pot when he was 9 years old? dam thats young

Wow. Your a real smartass...

[Ant]

I agree who really cares about the fact that he smoked weed.  I'm more concerned with his generally delinquent youth, and horrendous academic record. 

Of course the irony never ceases to amaze me.  Wasn't it the same side that now defends cocaine and weed usage complaining a decade ago about clinton takin a puff?

[rafsta]

Arnie has smoked weed before too

have you seen the tape\where he smokes weed ? hes a fuckin pimp, and he admired hitler, he says it in the body buildig tape.