WASHINGTON, July 22, 2008

Bush: Wall Street Has "Hangover"

President Makes Unguarded Comment At Houston Fundraiser; Says Economy Must "Sober Up"

  • President Bush speaks about the economy during a press conference at the White House, July 15, 2008.

    President Bush speaks about the economy during a press conference at the White House, July 15, 2008.  (CBS)

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(AP)  President Bush, in an unguarded moment, said Wall Street "got drunk and now it's got a hangover."

He made the comment at a political fundraiser in Houston last Friday after asking members of the audience to turn off their video cameras. Someone obviously ignored his request and a snippet wound up on a blog Tuesday by Miya Shay of ABC affiliate KTRK in Houston.

Bush clearly was in a good mood as he addressed a crowd in a private home. Members of the media were barred from the appearance.

"There is no question about it. Wall Street got drunk," the president said. "That's one reason I asked you to turn off your TV cameras."

"The question is, How long will it (take to) sober up and not try to do all these fancy financial instruments?"

He segued to problems in the housing market but said they weren't an issue in Houston. "Evidently not in Dallas because Laura's over there trying to buy a house today." Bush has six months left in office and is expected to return to Texas.

Bush expressed his fondness for Crawford, where he owns a ranch. "Unfortunately, after eight years of asking her to sacrifice I am no longer the decision-maker," he said, amid laughter from the crowd. "She'll be deciding - thanks for the suggestion."

He said he reminded her, "Honey, we've been on government pay now for 14 years. Go slow."

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said Bush simply was describing the stock market the way many observers have.

"The president has made this point before," Fratto said. "Markets were dealing with very complex financial instruments, and it's clear to everyone that the markets didn't fully understand the risk those instruments posed."



© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 87 Comments
by shawski-2009 July 24, 2008 11:34 AM EDT
Wall Street may be hungover, but Bush was too drunk to fix it.
Reply to this comment
by jimfinster July 24, 2008 2:38 AM EDT
He said with blurred eyes and a slur.



Reply to this comment
by ubrew12 July 24, 2008 1:43 AM EDT
hypnotoad72 said: "Wall Street HAS been as drunk as a Mastercard-carrying sailor in a brothel. "

Bush cut taxes to increase investment money. Bush and Greenspan loosened credit to increase mortgage money, which also increased investment money. Neither of these moves was attended by any attempt to reign in govt spending or increase the publics fiscal responsibility. Essentially, BUSH GAVE WALL STREET THE MASTERCARD IT GOT DRUNK ON! Now, the smart money is pulling out of dollars, American homes have been revealed to be worth half what they were, and Wall Street is bracing for the real possibility that SOMEONE in government is soon going to move to PAY THE REAGAN/BUSH DEBT OF $10 TRILLION, as well as the pending $20 trillion Boomer Retirement.

Bush force-fed Wall Street alcohol to get re-elected, and is now complaining that Wall Street got drunk before he left office. But, dont listen to me. I''m just a whiner.
Reply to this comment
by kansas1946 July 24, 2008 1:37 AM EDT
Speaking of Bush, if anyone ever had any doubts that he and his administration are evil, read below. January can not get here soon enough.


***********************************
Political appointees at the Department of Labor are moving with unusual speed to push through in the final months of the Bush administration a rule making it tougher to regulate workers'' on-the-job exposure to chemicals and toxins.

The agency did not disclose the proposal, as required, in public notices of regulatory plans that it filed in December and May. Instead, Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao''s intention to push for the rule first surfaced on July 7, when the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) posted on its Web site that it was reviewing the proposal, identified only by its nine-word title.

The text of the proposed rule has not been made public, but according to sources briefed on the change and to an early draft obtained by The Washington Post, it would call for reexamining the methods used to measure risks posed by workplace exposure to toxins. The change would address long-standing complaints from businesses that the government overestimates the risk posed by job exposure to chemicals
Reply to this comment
by l8c6 July 23, 2008 11:15 PM EDT
So nice to get the straight scoop.
Reply to this comment
by mcv57 July 23, 2008 10:52 PM EDT
The Bushwacker''s alcoholism has turned his reality into the only terminology he can related to: the bottle.
Reply to this comment
by July 23, 2008 8:32 PM EDT
If Wall Street''s been on a drunk, George W.''s turn at steering this nation has been D.W.I.
Reply to this comment
by labrat9999 July 23, 2008 8:27 PM EDT
Thank you Jesus!! The nutbag is going back to Texas and the rest of us can sleep sound tonight knowing he is not coming to our state!
Reply to this comment
by rwassel July 23, 2008 8:26 PM EDT
Yeah Mr. Bush - the state of the economy is absolutely hilarious. HAHA.

This from the same political party who called us a nation of whiners. Gotta love those Republicans!
Reply to this comment
by jongood65 July 23, 2008 5:10 PM EDT
Welcome home Mr. President.
Reply to this comment
by jongood65 July 23, 2008 5:06 PM EDT
An interesting metaphor given what we see happening nowadays.

After all, Sen. NObama claims he quit smoking, but his children reveal he is lying.

Given this revelation, and the fact he told us he quit doping back during his college, reckon the truth will surface when they find this HowdyDoodie looking character in black face OD''d with the needle still hanging out of his arm??
Reply to this comment
by khadilov July 23, 2008 4:23 PM EDT
LMAS, If anyone would know about being drunk and having a hangover it would be Bush. He uses metaphors that he can relate to and being a former (?) alcoholic he would definitely relate. What a joke.
Reply to this comment
by ddaryl1 July 23, 2008 4:16 PM EDT
so what the hell are you going to do to make it up to all the workers whose 401K plans just got raped.

admitting it was nice... BUT YOU OWE US A REBOUND, AND YOU OWE US LEGISLATURE THAT PUTS A LEASH AND A CHOKE COLLAR ON CORPORATIONS / WALLSTREET AND ALL THE MARKET MANIPULATORS WHO DON''T CARE ABOUT THIS NATION ONLY THEIR POKETBOOKS.

how this ****** every got elected once is beyond comprehension, the fact that more then 50% of Americans were stupid enough to vote for him twice pretty much demonstrates how moronic most Americans truly are.

you are to blame for the mess.. you voted for him.. how does that fell now, and yet there are still non wealthy people supporting the republican party, and that is even more mind boggling
Reply to this comment
by hypnotoad72 July 23, 2008 4:10 PM EDT
Peoples'' sarcasm aside, and I know it''s easy to be sarcastic, the President makes a VERY valid point. That cannot be denied.

Wall Street HAS been as drunk as a Mastercard-carrying sailor in a brothel. At what point does Government bail out. At what point does Government get blamed. Since Government talks of staying out of things, should they be blamed?

Let''s work on the future, for pity''s sake. Sarcasm does nobody any good.

Reply to this comment
by micma-2009 July 23, 2008 4:06 PM EDT



Bush has been hung over for his entire Presidency.


Reply to this comment
by smiley676 July 23, 2008 3:52 PM EDT
Bush: Wall Street has a hangover.

Obama: The U.S. has 57 States.

...only one of these men is telling the truth
Reply to this comment
by rltw175b July 23, 2008 3:04 PM EDT
maybe bush should sober up!!

Reply to this comment
by rltw175b July 23, 2008 3:03 PM EDT
sounds like bush is hitting the bottle again!!
Reply to this comment
by rltw175b July 23, 2008 3:01 PM EDT
wall street has the case of the munches!
Reply to this comment
by rltw175b July 23, 2008 2:59 PM EDT
Bush: Wall Street Has "Hangover"

bush: wall street has a little acid trip!
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