No Golf for Bush

This is hardly the only preposterous aspect of President Bush's notion of giving up golf because he's sad about Iraq, but it does seem worth pointing out that he hasn't given up recreational boating and fishing at his family's enormous summer estate in Kennebunkport, Maine during the same period. If, as Bush says, "playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal" then what's the difference between that and his other leisure pursuits?

Meanwhile, it seems he actually gave up golf because of knee trouble a bit after the time he claims to have given it up to respect the troops.

Comments

He still rides his bicycle, so his knee trouble can't be that bad.

Posted by Gabriel | May 14, 2008 12:29 PM

If he's so sad about Iraq, maybe he should give up sending soldiers there to die for his lost cause.

Once again, Bush proves what a disgrace he is to thinking people everywhere and why he's earning his spot as the USA's worst president ever.

Posted by mbtogut | May 14, 2008 12:31 PM

Why in God's name would he ever say something so obviously stupid?

I don't get it. This guy got to go to Yale and I didn't get in? Makes me want to cut myself.

Posted by Andy | May 14, 2008 12:32 PM

Bush is not, I think, the worst president, but he certainly is the shallowest. He makes Warren Harding look like Einstein. So, that he has zip appreciation for the Americans dying in Iraq, or the Americans wounded, or the 100 times more Iraqis killed or wounded, is all part of the general narcissism. It is a trait that makes him extremely popular with his deadender supporters, who share similar personality traits: lack of curiosity, lack of empathy, wishful thinking about their own importance and capacities, blind rage when their delusions are shattered by reality.

He's a poster boy of upper class white male dysfunction in these here states.

And Matt, to gain some quick and dirty blog links, maybe you should dig up a copy of Fred Barnes sycophantic account of Bush and excerpted bits of it, for fun and evisceration. There's nothing like quotes from the personality cult of Bush for a good laugh.

Posted by roger | May 14, 2008 12:33 PM

Probably gave it up when he realized the course didn't give a damn that his last name was Bush. And the added visibility of being President made it harder to cheat.

Posted by demisod | May 14, 2008 12:37 PM

Except he hasn't given up golf either, or hadn't when he said that, as it's been documented on other blogs. He's lying about his motivations for giving up something he hasn't even given up.

Posted by phil | May 14, 2008 12:39 PM

I imagine his break from golf was extended after the "Now watch this drive!" moment from Fahrenheit 9/11.

Posted by KCinDC | May 14, 2008 12:40 PM

what's the difference between that and his other leisure pursuits?

The easy answer is the associations emanating from Kennedy's notorious Bay of Pigs golf game. But the REAL answer is Michael Jordan playing golf while the Wizards picked Kwame Brown #1 overall. At least that's the way I remember it--I'm probably exaggerating the story.

I guess, objectively, starting a war is worse than drafting Kwame Brown. Sort of.

Posted by Jake H. | May 14, 2008 12:42 PM

By giving up golf, Bush makes a small sacrifice just to show our men and women in uniform that we appreciate everything they do. In the past, Americans at home had to make sacrifices in the way of ordinary consumer goods they would otherwise enjoy. As consumer spending is the lifeblood of our economy, it would be unwise and unpatriotic to sacrifice that way, so we all must find different wayss to send a message of appreciation to our troops.

Now watch this drive.

Posted by Shochu John | May 14, 2008 12:43 PM

Didn't Bush senior get a lot of shit for playing golf in the early days of Gulf War I?

Could this be an Oedipal shot at his dad?

Posted by Tom | May 14, 2008 12:48 PM

He's just trying to prudently recreate, like his Dad.

Posted by El Cid | May 14, 2008 12:48 PM

"Why in God's name would he ever say something so obviously stupid?"

Why in God's name would a reporter ask something so obviously stupid?

Posted by BonghitForJesus | May 14, 2008 12:49 PM

Re Gabriel

Actually, Dubya took up cycling when his doctors told him to stop jogging which was causing serious deterioration in his knees. Contrary to popular opinion, cycling is quite easy on the knees, provided that the seat is not set too low.

Posted by SLC | May 14, 2008 12:49 PM

Bicycling is actually easy on the knees, and Bush started bicycling when his knees were unable to handle the strain of running.

I imagine that this statement from Bush created one of those moments when his handlers smacked their heads over the problem of allowing him to speak unscripted. No one ever told Bush to his face that he's acting like an idiot, so he's never had to worrying about measuring his words carefully before speaking.

Posted by Tyro | May 14, 2008 12:49 PM

It is not cheating if the President makes a determination that not counting those three other shots before he finally got out of the bunker would be in the interests of the United States. Trust me, I have a memo right here which says so--I just can't show it to you.

Posted by DTM | May 14, 2008 12:50 PM

"I don't get it. This guy got to go to Yale and I didn't get in? Makes me want to cut myself.

Posted by Andy | May 14, 2008 12:32 PM"

If you want to feel even worse, Jaime Kirchick (sp?) also went to Yale (this makes me feel rather stupid also). Hell, our host went to Harvard and he can't even spell.

Posted by Reality Man | May 14, 2008 12:54 PM

I'm an avid golfer, and I'll admit, for me, this would definitely be a major sacrifice. So much so that if forced to choose, I probably would have decided against starting an unnecessary preemptive war that has left thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead.

Posted by Seitz | May 14, 2008 12:55 PM

Contrary to popular opinion, cycling is quite easy on the knees, provided that the seat is not set too low.

Golf is not so friendly on the knees, especially if you walk (which I'm guessing he doesn't). Lots of torque on the swing, hitting off of uneven surfaces etc. It's not as bad as basketball or tennis but I'd guess it's up there with jogging.

Oh, and he's a douchebag for saying that.

Posted by BFR | May 14, 2008 1:00 PM

He also lied about stopping after he heard the news about the bomb that struck the UN building in Iraq. Per Samantha Power's book on Sergio Viera de Mello, "initially he kept playing, but after an hour he returned to his ranch."

Posted by Lies | May 14, 2008 1:01 PM

Here's a bad thought-- if this is his version of an acceptable public statement, just imagine the stupid shit he says in private.

Posted by MattF | May 14, 2008 1:09 PM

I've seen (from a distance) the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport. You wouldn't give that up for anything.

Posted by aleks | May 14, 2008 1:22 PM

But you'll never see Dick Cheney give up his collection of lesbian snuff films.

Ever.

Posted by MoeLarryAndJesus | May 14, 2008 1:48 PM

To be fair, I really don't think a knee injury is keeping him from golfing. I think the people who espouse that theory lack the appreciation for how little physical effort is needed to play golf.

Posted by LorenzoStDuBois | May 14, 2008 1:56 PM

Yeah, he gave up golf because of his knee injury, and he kept playing it until October too! And that knee injury in 2003 explains why he isn't golfing today!

And then they make fun of Bush for being stupid. Jaysus. I mean, really, WTF is wrong with folks?

Posted by Thomas | May 14, 2008 2:36 PM

George W Bush is a walking argument in favor of the Inheritance Tax.

Posted by Scott Ferguson | May 14, 2008 2:49 PM

During World War II, the Japanese Emperor gave up his marine biology hobby to show support for the troops, so there is a precedent.

Posted by Ed | May 14, 2008 3:27 PM

During World War II, the Japanese Emperor gave up his marine biology hobby to show support for the troops, so there is a precedent.

Posted by Ed | May 14, 2008 3:33 PM

Didn't Bush senior get a lot of shit for playing golf in the early days of Gulf War I?

Could this be an Oedipal shot at his dad?

Posted by Tom | May 14, 2008 12:48 PM

No, the Bush I thing was about speed boating at Kennebunkport in summer during Gulf War I (don't remember if it was during the actual war or during build up to it) burning tons of gas on recreational pursuits while with the threat of Kuwaiti oil et. al. becoming unavailable.

Bush I answered the reporter who asked the question that there's nothing wrong with people "prudently recreating" while all of it was going on.

That was classic Bush speak, especially the addition of "prudently" (Dana Carvey on SNL often did Bush saying "it wouldn't be prudent.") The comedians picked up on it and that's why he got a lot of grief on it.

But it was mainly about using oil/gas on recreation, not about respect for troops. Actually, now that I think on it, Bush I had a very good reputation with the public on that front--this is why Clinton had such a problem with the draft-dodger charge.

Posted by artappraiser | May 14, 2008 7:57 PM

Stories like this are awesome, because they reinforce the notion that George W. Bush is basically a modern-day American version of Bertie Wooster. In that same article there is a hilarious bit where the President gets misty-eyed at the thought of being able to email all of his "pals" after his term is over. Just replace Gussie Fink-Nottle with, say, former FEMA director Michael Brown and you're on your way...

Posted by David Morris | May 14, 2008 8:26 PM

But here's the thing - the interviewer didn't just ask him generally about any 'sacrifices' or changes to his routine he'd made due to the war, he specifically asked him about GOLFING in relation to the war.

I don't think this was just Bush being his clueless self, I think it was a planted softball question dreamed up and vetted by his handlers, to 'humanize' Bush and show his 'caring' side. Seriously. I think some WH flunky took Allen aside and told him to be sure to ask Bush about giving up golf for the war. How else would he have known to ask the question?

It's not just Bush with Marie Antoinette Syndrome, it's the whole sorry lot of them.

Posted by JoyceH | May 14, 2008 10:39 PM

Holy shit, he is such a santimonius moronic asshole. You couldn't script better comedic farce. If only it was fiction.

Posted by Anne | May 14, 2008 11:07 PM

If only the last eight years were a bad dream. We deserve this punishment...

Posted by kd | May 15, 2008 1:14 AM

If only the last eight years were a bad dream. We deserve this punishment...

Posted by kd | May 15, 2008 1:15 AM

Bush plays golf? I wonder which hole gives him the most trouble - the clown's head or that damn windmill?

Posted by Jeff | May 15, 2008 10:37 AM