No, I wouldn't like my every little mistake to be plastered all over the news but I would expect that it would happen. As unfair as it may seem, anything they do , good or bad, is going to be in the news because they are the president's daughters. When Jenna's appendix burst on Christmas Day and she had to have an emergency appendectomy, it was all over the news and Pres.- Elect Bush was also on the news saying how much he appreciated the public's concern and support. I just don't think you can have it both ways - being a public figure, you will receive public interest, concern AND criticism.

I'm amazed that it wasn't the Secret Service who busted her--'cuz isn't the SS suppose to watch over the President's family???

And, isn't the legal drinking age on a military installation 18? I could be wrong. But, if your on "base" and you "fight" a war, you should be able to drink...

And it's really sad 'cuz maybe the girl has a problem...

To Juniorgrrl: If they lower the drinking age, yes, there would be less arrests of 18,19, 20 year olds, BUT then there would be 16 & 17 year olds getting busted instead and there would be a huge rise in the number of high school kids getting in alcohol related accidents.

To AKA_Monet: Yes, you would think that the Secret Service would tell Jenna not to be a moron, but they are bodyguards not babysitters. They are there to see that she doesn't get shot, not act as her conscience.

Leslie,
I disagree that there would be a rise in 17 and 16 year olds breaking the law if the drinking age was lowered to 18. I guess it's just an opinion, but I don't think more 16 and 17 year olds would drink underage, just because they were only 2 years or so from the legal age. They already do it a lot now. And if you change the law, at least you free up law enforcement officers to concentrate more on those age groups, since they don't have to chase down 18-20 yr olds. So, yeah, there might be a rise in arrests, but not because of a rise in committing the crime.

I always thought it was stupid that when you turn 18, you have the right to do anything except drink. You can smoke, you can live on your own, get a job, have credit cards, even die for your country... but can you have a beer? No.

That's a good point.

Also, yes, it is confirmed that a 911 call was placed from Chuy's.

I didn't see it myself although I pass by this restaurant every morning... there is a rival restaurant that has a marquee in front that typically has a kind of "thought of the day" every morning. Usually they are poking fun of someone or playing off headlines. For example, after a UT winning streak and during Pres W. Bush's campaign the sign read, "Mack Brown for Governor" (Brown is the UT Football coach).... anyway, last week, the sign read something like, Austin's #1 Snitch, Chuy's Management. (Anyone else out there in Austin see this marquee at El Arroyo?)

Another thought about the "is it news?" question: Someone mentioned Jenna's appendectomy earlier... I guess I can actually see that being in the news MORE than this alcohol thing simply because I'm sure when the media heard that a 911 call for an ambulance was placed to the Governor's Mansion there could be an assumption that something was wrong with the Governor/President Elect - that seems like more of a public interest kind of thing.

It's just a thought.


[This message has been edited by AlphaXiGirl (edited June 04, 2001).]

Never once did we hear about Chelsea Clinton gettting in trouble for anything. She appeared to be the wholesome girl next door. I think it is kind of interesting that the Bush girls have been in trouble for under age drinking. Coincendently, she (Chelsea) is about the same age as the Bush girls.

"Originally posted by juniorgrrl:
*sigh*
If the drinking age were 18, we wouldn't be having all this trouble. Has raising the age done anything more than criminalize a large group of people, as well as cost taxpayers more for the added burden of all the arrests for all the 18, 19 and 20 year olds who can vote, buy pornography, go to war, but can't buy a beer?

*stepping off soapbox*"


There was a valid reason for changing the minimum drinking age. For that very reason, many European countries are considering an increase as well. European nations have the highest rate of drinking related deaths (alcohol poisoning, drunk driving, etc.). And most of those that die as a results are those within that same young age bracket. I can't remember the paper that carried this article (very likely to be NY times) but I think the numbers had become so absurdly high that it was on the same level as a more common disease like throat cancer or heart disease (can't remember the small little details - sorry). I'll try and find the article.

But then again, which college kid didn't make an attempt at drinking before they turned 21? http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Chelsea is actually about 2-3 years older than the Bush girls, and she lived in the White House with her folks until the last 2.5 or so years of her dads presidency. I guess what I'm saying is she was practically raised in the spotlight as the presidents daughter, and the Bush girls just kind of got thrown into it at an age where almost everyone does this kind of stuff, at least to some extent.


------------------
Steve Corbin
Lambda Chi Alpha
Theta Kappa Chapter
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech.

Let's face Chelsea had more brains, so did the rest of the Clintons, on the other hand, the Bushes........well..you guys (republicans) elected him.

yeah, we all know bill was good at not getting caught with other women... http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif


------------------
Steve Corbin
Lambda Chi Alpha
Theta Kappa Chapter
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech.

the SAME goes for ALL other politicians, Democrat, Republican, or Independent! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

Just don't put Bill in the "class" by himself.

Well, if I'm doing the math correctly, Bush was elected to his first term as Governor in 1994 so I believe the girls would have been 12. But honestly, I can't remember ever seeing them in the public eye during W. Bush's terms here in Texas. You'll notice that the twins were not used during the campaign. George and Laura, in my opinion, have done a great job of sheltering them from the public eye. Unfortunately, this sheltering also means that they didn't have the experience of dealing with these sorts of issues.

As far as the Bush legacy, did any of you know that George Bush Sr. had twin grand daughters when he was in office? I bet most did not. I'm sure that I will be corrected if I'm wrong, but the first time that I can remember seeing them on TV was at the National Convention. Yes, the family may have a lot of experience dealing with the public spotlight but the twins haven't.

This was taken from CNN.com (Jan 19, 2000), in an article about the NH primary:

Family members who definitely won't be campaigning here are twin daughters Jenna and Barbara, both 18.

"They weren't real thrilled" with their father running for president, Bush said during an interview. "They kind of like privacy."

Bush recalled last summer attending an Austin High School baseball game where a boyfriend of Jenna's was pitching.

"I did an interview on television and mentioned that the two were friends," Bush said.

"Boy, did I hear about that the next morning. It's the last personal story I told about them, I'll tell you that."

Again, I'll say it, Jenna did show a lack of good judgment. I still don't agree with the publicity that this thing has gotten. Oh, and, please don't confuse intelligence with lack of good judgment - I have no idea how smart either of the girls are but I do know some really smart people that have done some really dumb things.

SuperXO - it seems like we are going to keep having a difference of opinion on this topic. Please don't take any of my comments or rebuttals personally. I know from past posts (on different topics) that you and I agree on much more than we disagree.

Chelsea Clinton and I are very close in age and some of my friends from my neighborhood went to Sidwell Friends (where she grad from) so I knew of her on a personal level. I don't believe that you can compare the first daughters getting into trouble from a standpoint of their upbringing. From what I know of Chelsea she has a much more reserved personality, where Barbara and Jenna seem much more lively and outgoing. Just my 2 cents

AlphaXi, of course I would not take any comments personally! I enjoy a good debate and offering of different views.

That said, I still feel like being in a family like that, people leanr about social prominence, propriety and role models. I hear this especially from Southern people, thouhg I know other geographic areas have strict social hierarchies too. Even if the family is not "famous" or political, they have to be careful because the neighborhood knows or the political circle will find out or any number of other groups. Even "small-scale" families can be "anal" about that. LIke remember in American Beauty, wasn't there something about the mom being mad at the husband for his behavior and how he got the job at mcdonald's and all hat. And she was only trying to protect her small town realtor's rep. Even if you try to protect your child from scrutiny, the Bushes are certainly on the higher end of scrutiny and I think if they refused to be realistic with their daughters about the scrutiny they would face, they were somewhat irresponsible.

Maybe I, in Califnornia, didn't know till about 2 years ago about Bush's twin daughters, but that circle of knowledge didn't just appear one day. It begins small. And with the Bushes, small is still a big social circle. And it grows as certain people enter the limelight more. So, I feel confident that even when the girls were young, proactical people would know that other people were wathcing. Whether it was just the people in their town where the ranch was or, like now, the whole country, the Bushes have always been news.