BUSH BEHAVES LIKE 'DRY DRUNK'

Those of us who have experienced the horrible affliction of alcoholism or
drug addiction among family, friends or co-workers should pay heed to the
authors who claim George W. Bush exhibits the symptoms of the "Dry Drunk
Syndrome."

During his campaign for governor of Texas, following questions about his
past use of illegal drugs, Bush issued the statement that he had been "drug
free" since 1974. Before and during his presidency, Bush openly has
admitted "drinking heavily" in the past and that he quit drinking at the
age of 40. Bush denies he was ever an alcoholic and, in more recent
statements, admits only that he made some "mistakes twenty or thirty years
ago."

Many people use the term "dry drunks" to describe "dry alcoholics" who have
not done considerable work and used numerous approaches to overcome the
many underlying causes contributing to the problem. The alcohol or drugs
may be gone, but the "personality defects" remain.

Symptoms of the "dry drunk syndrome" include, but are not limited to, the
inability to think clearly, irritability, unpredictable mood swings,
arrogance, the inability to admit mistakes or apologize, lying,
exaggerating and explosive outbursts.

Addictive behavior can't survive without enablers who deny or help cover up
the problem: family, friends, co-workers, etc., or in this case Congress,
the Senate, the press and about 50 percent of Americans are afraid or
unable to take an objective look at President Bush's personality defects.
Heaven help us.

Mary Ellen Nelson
Stevens Point