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George Bush: The Unauthorized Biography - Get a Free Blog

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Another feeling state which, judging from the evidence of his statements, is meaningful<br />

for <strong>Bush</strong> is the state of being "frantic." During the 1988 campaign, <strong>Bush</strong> was asked about<br />

his tendency to assail Dukakis. <strong>Bush</strong> replied"<br />

I don't feel frantic. I don't feel under any time constraints. <strong>The</strong>re is a little bit of<br />

cholesterol rise, the frustration level going up. So I'm getting a little bit more combative.<br />

[fn 18]<br />

During 1989, <strong>Bush</strong> still faced grilling about Iran-contra from a reporter. "You're burning<br />

up time. <strong>The</strong> meter is running through the sand on you, and I am now filibustering,"<br />

taunted <strong>Bush</strong>. [fn 19]<br />

<strong>Bush</strong>'s pattern of uncontrollable rage states became worse during 1990, in the interwar<br />

period between Panama and Iraq. During February 1990, <strong>Bush</strong> came under fire for<br />

duplicity, lying to the press, and excessive secret diplomacy. After a night's sleep on Air<br />

Force One on the way to an anti-drug summit in Colombia, <strong>Bush</strong> came out of his quarters<br />

to confront the travelling press corps in a way that the Washington Post correspondent<br />

found "both testy and teasing." <strong>Bush</strong>, visibly furious, announced "a whole new<br />

relationship" with reporters. "From now on it's gonna be a little different. I think we have<br />

too many press conferences," ranted <strong>Bush</strong>. "It's not good. It's overexposure to the thing."<br />

Had he not slept well?, asked one reporter. <strong>Bush</strong> replied,<br />

I can't go into the details of that. Because someone will think it's too much sleep,<br />

someone will think it's too little. I'll give you a little insight into that. I had a very good<br />

night's sleep. And I've never-- if I felt better it'd be a frame-up. <strong>The</strong>re's something you<br />

can use.<br />

<strong>Bush</strong> was incensed because he had denied that there was about to be a four-power<br />

conference on the future of Germany, and such a conference was announced the next day.<br />

<strong>Bush</strong> had been misleading about his plans for the Malta summit with Gorbachov, and he<br />

had kept secret the mission of Scowcroft and Eagleburger to Beijing on July 4, 1989.<br />

Various press accounts had noted these discrepancies, and <strong>Bush</strong> was now having a fit.<br />

Would he be signing a joint communique at the drug summit with Colombia, Peru and<br />

Bolivia?<br />

I hate to be secretive, say nothing of deceptive. But I'm not going to tell you that.<br />

Would he discuss possible US military interdiction of drug trafficking?<br />

I'm not going to discuss what I'm gonna bring up.<br />

Would the drug summit bring any surprise proposals?<br />

I'm not gonna discuss whether there are any surprises or not. This is a new thing. A new<br />

approach. Even if I don't discuss it. I'm not going to discuss it.

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