LoneStarMike From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 3637 posts, RR: 38 Posted (12 years 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 924 times:
This was mentioned on our ABC and NBC affiliates here in Austin on their 5 and 6 pm newscasts. Apparently the Austin Police Department was checking ID's at several Sixth Street bars last night and President Bushes daughter, Jenna, who is 19 was issued a citation for underage drinking.
I know this is something that a lot of teens do and personally, I think if you're old enough to vote and old enough to serve in the armed forces, you should be able to drink, but then again, I don't make the laws.
Before the Republicans start foaming at the mouth, I don't really mean this to be a Bush-bashing post, but it brings up an interesting question. The news reports mentioned that, as the Preident's daughter, she has Secret Service protection and I think the report said they accompanied her to the bar last night.
So is the Secret Service's only job function to protect the President's family members, and if they (President's family members) break the law, the Secret Service looks the other way? Or do they look the other way up to a certain point, ie ok, we'll look the other way if you drink when you're not old enough, but if you want to rob a convenience store, forget it? (The news report also mentioned that when laws are broken, the Secret Service does not interfere with the local police.)
Bush was in town today to dedicate the new Bob Bullock State History Museum, but there wasn't mention of any comment by him about his daughter's citation. (I didn't see him today, but I did see the 3 military helicopters flying him back to his ranch in Crawford from the old closed Mueller Airport this afternoon about 3:00.)
Anyway, it just seems odd to me that our tax dollars would pay for the Secret Service to accompany a president's family member (any president, not just Bush) to break the law. Also is it mandatory for every family member to have Secret Service Protection, or can they say "No - forget it - we don't want Secret Service Protection"?
Cfalk From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (12 years 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 768 times:
She ought to get the book thrown at her. The head of her secret service detachment should get reassigned to norther Alaska for having let it happen.
It's illegal, and the family of the President, ans well as all Legislators that get a priviledged lifestyle from the taxpayer's pocket should hold themselves to a higher standard in return.
Cfalk From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (12 years 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 758 times:
Of course, I'll qualify that a little. She's just being a teenager. Who here did NOT drink underage (at least in the states, with that stupid 21-age limit.)
But her SS detachment should be watching out for this kind of thing, knowing that she is in the spotlight, and this kind of thing is bad for the interests of the leadership of the USA, something they are sworn to protect.
XFSUgimpLB41X From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 3952 posts, RR: 36 Reply 10, posted (12 years 3 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 699 times:
Thanks LOT... I am a complete loser eh? So im not the one stumbling around, not knowing where i am and puking all over the place because i had too much to drink. That makes me a loser? Screw that...then i am proud to be a loser. Drinking/getting drunk is stupid.
LOT767-300ER From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (12 years 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 694 times:
Do you really think your body reacts diffrently if you are 20 then when you are 21? For gods sake The US is one of the few countries where you can start drinking at the age of 21!
XFSUgimpLB41X From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 3952 posts, RR: 36 Reply 12, posted (12 years 3 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 680 times:
Does it react different when you are 17 than when you are 18? I dont drink regardless... people make too much of an ass of themself when they are drunk and i just dont do it. Woo hoo... i can barely walk because i drank too much of a nasty tasting liquid... now i am going to wake up the next day with the ugliest chick ive ever seen. Yay.
Matt D From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9502 posts, RR: 51 Reply 13, posted (12 years 3 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 679 times:
Bush's daughter or not, she should be punished to the full extent that the law allows. What makes her think that she should be above the law?
BTW, any of you guys know the difference between "coyote ugly" and "double coyote ugly" in reference to getting drunk and waking up next to some skrag?
As most of you know, farmers set traps out to catch wild coyotes. many of them free themselves by gnawing one of their legs or paws off.
A similar principle works here when getting drunk, and ending up taking a roll in the hay with someone you would NEVER even look at when sober. If you find yourself waking up to someone who qualifies as being "coyote ugly", more often than not, you have your arm wrapped around her. Rather than risk waking her up by moving your arm, you simply gnaw it off, leaving it there and making your escape.
Double coyote ugly is the same thing, only the girl is so ugly that once you are free, and have made your escape, you turn around and gnaw your OTHER arm off as well.
That way she can't pick you out of a crowd looking for a one-armed guy.
Canada Mike From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 149 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (12 years 2 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 656 times:
BNE,
In response to your question, the legal drinking age in Canada changes from province to province.
Three provinces (Alberta, Quebec, and Manitoba) have the legal drinking age as 18. All others have their legal drinking age set at 19. However, like everywhere else, it really doesn't stop kids from doing pretty much whatever. In my city (in Alberta), the police mostly even look the other way as long as you are at least 16 and not destroying something or passed out naked on the road.
Canada Mike From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 149 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (12 years 2 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 646 times:
I should mention, by the way, that Canada's legal voting and smoking ages are 18. Though I believe there was a bill in the Alberta Legislature to actually have the police issue $100 tickets to persons under the age of 18 seen smoking in any public area. Not sure of the status of that bill, though it seems a good idea.
Again, a lot of kids drink underage (guilty here); I don't think you're a loser for not doing it, it's just whatever your choice is--It really doesn't affect me one way from the next anyway.
Bet Bush probably doesn't care too much anyway. He seems as if he's had some good times of his own.
Mx5_boy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (12 years 2 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 647 times:
I agree with MattD on this. Bush's daughter should be punished for this behavious.
Also I beleive that an example should be made of her, considering her families public profile.
Does anyone think this will be brushed under the carpet?
XFSUgimp,
If you choose not to drink, and don't even like the taste of it, then stick to it! There is nothing glamorous or exciting about getting so drunk you puke on yourself and / or end up doing something you regret, such as MattD's Coyote Egly or making an ass of yourself.
And never let peer pressure push you into it either! I first got drunk when I was 13 yrs (innocently by a girl on the school bus who made a concoction of her parents liquor cabinate and bought it to school for us all..) and will never forget the trouble my friends and I got into.
Although my mother at the time was angry, we always had wine with dinner anyhow, so I have never had the image that you drink alcohol to get rotten drunk.
Mls515 From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 3069 posts, RR: 9 Reply 22, posted (12 years 2 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 625 times:
Ahh finally!! I'm so glad something like this happened. I hope this helps people realize how STUPID the USA's 21 drinking age is.
And for all the people who are hoping for the book to be thrown right at G.W.'s daughter, yea, that's ok, make her pay the fine. Geez, it's not like they throw people in jail for this sort of thing. Is that what you were hoping for?
Cfalk From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (12 years 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 627 times:
mls515,
No we're not hoping for that. We are hoping that the law will be applied to her the same as any other 19 year-old caught drinking. Fine, drunk tank, whatever that is.
Just because you live in the White House should not mean you are above the law, which is a message that desperately needs reiterating after Clinton's perjury scandals. He should have gone to jail, just as anyone else would have.
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