Bush Says Steroids ‘Sullied’ Baseball, Forgets His Blind Eye Helped Nurture ‘Steroid Era’
Bush Says Steroids ‘Sullied’ Baseball, Forgets His Blind Eye Helped Nurture ‘Steroid Era’
Earlier this week, former senator George Mitchell released a damning report on steroids in baseball, noting that “for more than a decade, there has been widespread anabolic steroid use.”
President Bush — an avid baseball fan who sometimes watches games in the Oval Office — addressed the report today, saying he is “troubled” by the steroid allegations. Bush “hopes that this report marks the beginning of the end of steroid abuse,” said Press Secretary Dana Perino. Bush added:
I think it’s best that all of us not jump to any conclusions on individual players named, but we can jump to this conclusion: that steroids have sullied the game. … And my hope is that this report is a part of putting the steroid era of baseball behind us.
Watch it:
“[P]ayers and the owners must take the Mitchell report seriously,” Bush ordered today. But from 1988 to 1994, when Bush was managing general partner of the Texas Rangers, he turned a blind eye to steroid abuse.
Several former Rangers — Ivan Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmiero, and Jose Canseco — were all alleged to have used, or have admitted to using, steroids while playing for Bush. Gonzales, Palmiero, and Canseco were identified in Mitchell’s report.
Jose Canseco authored a book about steroids in baseball during the early 1990s and argued that Bush must have known about the drug use. In July, sports columnist Skip Bayless — previously a sports journalist in Dallas — said Bush “looked the other way” when working for the Rangers:
I knew the President when he was owner of the Rangers. And I heard all the whispers around the locker room and the clubhouse. … I think he looked the other way.
Ironically, Bush wants to put “behind us” a steroid culture that his negligent management helped foster.
Transcript:
QUESTION: Mr. President, on the Mitchell report, sir, do you think that the baseball players actually mentioned in the report should be punished?
BUSH: A couple of reactions to the Mitchell reports.
As you know, I’m a baseball fan. I love the sport. I love the game. Like many fans, I’ve been troubled by the steroid allegations.
I think it’s best that all of us not jump to any conclusions on individual players named, but we can jump to this conclusion: that steroids have sullied the game. And players and the owners must take the Mitchell report seriously. I’m confident they will.
And my hope is that this report is a part of putting the steroid era of baseball behind us.
You know, I — in the State of the Union a couple of years ago, I addressed the issue of steroids. And the reason I did so is because I understand the impact that professional athletes can have on our nation’s youth.
And I just urge our — those in the public spotlight, particularly athletes, to understand that when they violate their bodies, they’re sending a terrible signal to America’s young.
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Poor Bushie, complicit up to his neck, and hypocritical to the end…
December 14th, 2007 at 3:52 pmAdd ‘destroying our national pasttime’ to his bloodsucking resumé.
December 14th, 2007 at 3:56 pmMy God….could there be a less important issue?
I heard Jimmy Carter used extra high grade fertilizers on his peanuts.
May this thread garner under 30 posts.
December 14th, 2007 at 3:56 pmNot fault, complicity. Different words, look them up.
December 14th, 2007 at 3:58 pmMaybe Bush has a multiple personality.. Perhaps its the “bad” Bush who does the dirty deeds.. and its the “good” Bush who’s lips are moving.. Maybe there’s a wiring problem somewhere deep in his brain.. I don’t know, short & long term memory loss??
December 14th, 2007 at 4:01 pmRUCerious: “Not fault, complicity. Different words, look them up.”
I’m sure you’re not the only person who has noticed that the English language and critical thinking are not Frank’s strong points.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:01 pmGDumbya has “sullied” the White House. That is serious.
Steroids? Baseball? It’s a game. Who cares?
December 14th, 2007 at 4:02 pmWell, I find it interesting he has no thoughts or knowledge of CIA tapes being destroyed, but he has an opinion on steroids in baseball… (though flawed..)
December 14th, 2007 at 4:04 pmColonel, sir, it appears that Frank’s grasp of the English language is seriously deficient.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:04 pmHe has a baseball in his hand and he is talking about roids.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:06 pmget it?
he feels sorry for anyone so afflicted.
(”that would hurt like hell, he, he he”)
Bush cast the lone dissenting vote in the 27-1 owner’s decision to expand the wildcard system. Fifteen years later even baseball purists grudgingly admit that the new system works. Bush’s claim at the time: “History will prove me right” (sound familiar?).
December 14th, 2007 at 4:06 pmHow on earth does this miscreant screw up EVERYTHING he manages, owns, runs, does???
December 14th, 2007 at 4:08 pmAnother thing he touched and turned to crap. He really has a “gift” for that
December 14th, 2007 at 4:10 pmRUCerious, read “Bush On The Couch” by Justin A. Frank. It explains a LOT.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:11 pmSteroids? Baseball? It’s a game. Who cares?
Comment by tom
It says a lot of about Western culture. It says: Do everything you have to do in order to win. WIN, WIN, WIN or you are a nobody. Losers don´t exist, don´t get laid and don´t drive fast cars.
It says: Waterboard if you need to get info. It doesn’t matter if it’s wrong. We have to WIN. We are WINNERS, no SURRENDER. If we have to carpet bomb entire Iraqi villages, we will do it, cause we can and because we can´t show weakness.
It says: I need steroids because my sponsors told me that I would get such a load of money if I break that record…and I love money, cause money makes me somebody. Therefore, I will do everything I can in order to be SOMEBODY.
And pum! the actual state of sports.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:11 pmComment by nwmuse — December 14, 2007 @ 4:11 pm
December 14th, 2007 at 4:12 pmRead lots of excerpts, should add it to my list of things to do 08!
“….And I just urge our — those in the public spotlight, particularly athletes, to understand that when they violate their bodies, they’re sending a terrible signal to America’s young.”
But when the govt. violates their bodies, it’s all in the name of freedom.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:17 pmPoor Frankie junior always played with kids younger and smaller during his childhood, so he could always beat them up if they won any competition.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:18 pmWhy is that clown President getting paid everyday if he can’t recalling any of the recent scandals? Me thinks he makes paper airplanes all day while someone is minding the store at the White House or has 16 personalites like Cybil.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:18 pmFrank, are you that guy at kid’s baseball games that gets into a fight with the ump, the coaches or other parents. It’s the way of the world in your view. I’m the guy that laughs at guys like you.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:19 pmI can just hear Francine is a friendly game of three on three Basketball, any one even as much as brushes up against her, she cries:
Foul, you fouled me!!!
December 14th, 2007 at 4:23 pm.
Comment by hellinabucket — December 14, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
Wrong.
He’s the pervert who stalks the young boys from beyond the outfeild fence.
.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:28 pm.
I just want to know, will “Apple Pie” be next?
BushCo already corrupted America, and now baseball…
.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:30 pmDo everything you have to do in order to win. WIN, WIN, WIN or you are a nobody
That’s the way of the world.
Comment by Frank M — December 14, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
Based on the chronic smackdowns you end up suffering around here I guess we all can tell the nobodies
December 14th, 2007 at 4:30 pmThat’s the way of the world.
Comment by Frank M
Sadly, in some parts. However, only real losers need to win constantly cause their whole self-esteem is based on spurious victories.
Ask any terminal patient in any hospital, what they regret not doing or having before they go sick. Nobody will tell you: A bigger house, a new car, more money or the Heisman trophy. They will tell you: be more time with my kids, tell my brother that I loved him, talk to my father more often, and stuff like that. That, buddy, is called peace of mind, you don’t get that being the number one in any sport.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:33 pmBTW, I rock at Soccer.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:40 pmAnswer: Bush press secretary Scott McClellan “If there was [rampant steroid use on the Rangers], he was not aware of it at the time,”
Question: What will Perino say next?
December 14th, 2007 at 4:41 pmThe IEA said Iraqi crude production is now running at 2.3 million barrels per day, compared with 1.9 million barrels at the start of this year.
Say it isn’t so!!
Comment by John Kerry
Nice try, johnnie boy! The last time I checked, gas was $3.35 a gallon here in SoCal. The iraqis can pump all day long, but it doesn’t matter if the oil cannot cause their puppet government to function or my gas expense to go down.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:43 pmBREAKING NEWS! George Bush Is Found At Fault For Everything That HAPPENS In The World -JK
That conservative poster,JK, has Bush derangement syndrome.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:44 pmJohn K., that’s not breaking news. That’s what’s expected. Are you excited that it only took 4 years instead of the 6 months Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld tried to push down our throats.
Quit being an apologist for Bush. It will only make your fall that much harder.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:45 pmhe IEA said Iraqi crude production is now running at 2.3 million barrels per day, compared with 1.9 million barrels at the start of this year. -JK
I guess you missed where a Baghdad refinery was on fire after a rocket attack this week?
December 14th, 2007 at 4:45 pmComment by StratRat — December 14, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
Good point.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:46 pmShortly after its failed 1990 invasion of Kuwait and imposition of resulting trade embargos, Iraq’s oil production fell from 3.5 million barrels per day to around 300,000 barrels per day. By February 2002, Iraqi oil production had recovered to about 2.5 million barrels per day.
Nice Try JK in 2002 BEFORE the invasion production was 2.5 million BPD which is more than 2.3 million BPD
December 14th, 2007 at 4:50 pmSo, all in all, JK, Iraq is still more than a million BPD LESS than it was in 1990.
Lower the bar JK!
December 14th, 2007 at 4:53 pmI see the trolls are accusing us of picking on poor Dubya unnecessarily, without offering any real defense for him. They have instead turned this thread into one about Iraqi oil production as a distraction. Hey, at least they aren’t saying “Clinton did it too!”
Is “looking the other way” while his players were bulking up the worst thing that Bush has ever done? Of course not. It’s just typical.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:56 pmMy God….could there be a less important issue?
Comment by Keltoi
I’m actually going to have to agree with Keltoi here. These are men hitting a ball with a stick. World keeps on turning. The gladiators performed and the masses were entertained. Lord knows that Bush is guilty of enough real crimes.
December 14th, 2007 at 5:00 pmWhile I don’t condone the steroid use – and for that matter don’t even like baseball – I feel it should be noted that the difference in earnings potential for an athlete at the top is so enormous in comparison with one that is almost at the top that athletes bending the rules is almost inevitable.
In my opinion, the athletes are culpable for their own behaviour. However, for things to change, the country is going to have to get off the insane level of hero worship for athletes.
December 14th, 2007 at 5:01 pm“Do everything you have to do in order to win. WIN, WIN, WIN or you are a nobody”
That’s the way of the world.
Comment by Frank M — December 14, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
It’s a pathetic point of view, and anyone who has that kind of mindset is a pathetic person as well.
December 14th, 2007 at 5:02 pmThe gladiators performed and the masses were entertained. Lord knows that Bush is guilty of enough real crimes.
Comment by Menehune
I agree also. With the rewards being so great, it would surprise me that the ball players wouldn’t do whatever they thought they needed to to stay competitive. It’s a sad fact, but a fact none the less.
December 14th, 2007 at 5:03 pmhttp://manifestlyso.wordpress.com/2007/12/14/silly-trolltrix-are-for-kids/
Congrats JK, you made the blog.
December 14th, 2007 at 5:17 pmDo everything you have to do in order to win. WIN, WIN, WIN or you are a nobodyâ€
That’s the way of the world.
Comment by Frank M — December 14, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
I dont recall Jesus saying that. Besides steroids are a form of cheating and cheating is not winning.
December 14th, 2007 at 5:18 pmBush a hypocrite and a liar….That’s Unpossible
December 14th, 2007 at 5:39 pmLeading off is Corporate Greed, batting second is Real Estate Greed, batting third is Bush Crime Family Greed and Batting cleanup is Steroids Cheater Greed…
December 14th, 2007 at 5:51 pmFor more background, see:
December 14th, 2007 at 6:40 pm“Bush Plays Dumb on Mitchell Report, Own MLB Steroid Role.”
WHAT’S LEFT to blame him for? Cancer??? Heartburn? AIDS? The common cold??
December 14th, 2007 at 6:47 pmHeartburn-For sure heartburn!
Ah, I knew you’d come up with something! Nice job Mr friday! Any other suggestions?
Comment by John Kerry — December 14, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
Well, the destruction of freedom and democracy in the USA, the downwards slide of the dollar, the downward slide of world respect, the general immorality of the rich of late, the selection of the traitor Cheney as veep, the selection of the loser Rumsfeld, the selection of the incompetent Rice, the dropping of Barney, the poor behavior of his daughters, making his Daddy cry (twice!), the destruction of the English language, the destruction of the system of laws in this country, the rise of fascism, the rise of corporate media, inflation, the deaths of 4000 American troops, the deaths of one million Iraqi innocents, the illegal immigration problem, TSA, the Germanizing of the USA with such Nazi epithets as Homeland Security and “catapulting hte propaganda”, the missed opportunity of haveing a great president in Al Gore, homosexual perversion in the republican congress, the rise of racism and bigotry in the USA, the rise of gasoline prices, and, just because he’s done less than nothing about it, global climate change.
December 14th, 2007 at 7:51 pmHey Dana, the movie “Thirteen Days” is on tv tonight. You can find out what people mean by “The Cuban Missile Crisis” —-and it won’t even require any reading on your part!
December 14th, 2007 at 8:03 pmComment by nwmuse — December 14, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
Maybe there’s a wiring problem somewhere deep in his brain.. I don’t know, short & long term memory loss??
I hope this one still works! This is really funny and answers your question as well! Don’t miss this one!
December 14th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
I still don’t know how to do links. Here is the URL to my #53 above
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3934788900154749704
December 14th, 2007 at 8:31 pm“I’m actually going to have to agree with Keltoi here. These are men hitting a ball with a stick. World keeps on turning. The gladiators performed and the masses were entertained. Lord knows that Bush is guilty of enough real crimes.”
Sorry, no. Sports are a big part of American life. Do you know how many more people care about those “men hitting a ball with a stick” than those that care about Bush trashing the Constitution? I don’t but I would guess the gap is pretty wide. So, no, this is a small to nonexistent issue to you but not to a lot of people. If you are so disinterested you can always…not read it or not post.
December 14th, 2007 at 10:07 pm“Former” cocaine and alcohol abuser Dumbya criticizes players for violating their bodies?
December 15th, 2007 at 6:18 amDid he say something stupid, like they should waterboard Barry Bonds?
December 15th, 2007 at 10:51 amThere were at most three potential future Hall-Of-Famers on the list: Bond, Clemens, and Palmiero.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:13 pmIt will be interesting to see whether or not the ‘purifiers’ of the game will lobby to strip Clemens–who is aggressively “White”–of his (record) 7 Cy Young Awards, like they want to strip Bonds–who isn’t “White”–of his home-run record.
I’m guessing: Mmmmm, not so much
That just about sums it up, jk. Seeing this dark shell of a human opine on ANY matter of morals or ethics is joke.
December 16th, 2007 at 3:23 pmWell…yeah. You can vote for him, just don’t hunt with him. Later.
December 16th, 2007 at 4:16 pmLook folks. Just because Shrub was there doesn’t mean that he was responsible.
Even as president of the US, he’s not responsible for the results of his actions.
December 16th, 2007 at 6:42 pm