President Bush to Undergo Colonoscopy
EmailABC News’ Jon Garcia and Ann Compton Report: President George W. Bush will undergo a ‘routine’ colonoscopy while at Camp David Saturday to check for colorectal cancer, White House spokesperson Tony Snow told reporters Friday.
Because the procedure will put Bush under a type of anesthesia, he will transfer power to Vice President Dick Cheney for as long as Bush is affected by the anesthesia, Snow said.
"The Vice President will serve as acting president … the exact time and duration will be dictated by the findings of the exam," Snow said.
The Vice President will be at his home on the Eastern Shore of Maryland on Saturday. Asked if it would be better to have Cheney in Washington for that time, Snow responded, "He has full capability to respond to anything from the Eastern Shore."
The procedure will be supervised by the President’s doctor, Dr. Richard Tubb, and conducted by a team of doctors from the Naval Medical Center.
Bush last had a colonoscopy in June 2002 and White House officials expect this to be similar to what was done then. That procedure lasted for about 20 minutes but the president didn’t resume his duties until more than 2 hours after the procudure started, Snow said. No colon polyps were found during the 2002 procedure, however Bush had polyps removed from his colon before he became President.
"The President (currently) has had no symptoms," Snow said, but his doctors recommended another check five years after his last colonoscopy.
During his last colonoscopy (also performed at Camp David in June 2002) the President opted for the ultra short-acting intravenous anesthesia propofol so that we could be awake and up to speed within a couple of hours, rather than groggy for several hours more under anesthesia usually used for such procedures. The President said later the country was at war and he wanted to be cautious.
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Just hope that those 30 minutes with Cheney as Commander and Chief won’t put us in a war with North Korea or Iran. Another war for Cheney could give him another billion dollars in revenue from contractors before his VP term is up.
Posted by: Nancy T. | July 20, 2007, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm
Ooops, passing presidential power to another idiot. Now he can claim executive privilege for not abiding by National Archives rules of turning classified materials.
Posted by: marc | July 20, 2007, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
“He will transfer power to Vice President Dick Cheny”. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse!
Posted by: L. G. | July 20, 2007, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
Isn’t anything personal anymore? Why is Tony Snow reporting on a routine procedure. Everyone should get these starting at age 50. What’s the big deal, just because Pres. Bush is due for another one.
Posted by: Vicki | July 20, 2007, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm
My family and I will continue to keep President Bush in prayer. I pray all is well. I thank God that we have a President that holds such high moral standards in a world that doesn’t. I pray for the peace of Israel and pray that the President will continue to support Israel for the sake of our nation. God Bless.
Melinda
Posted by: Melinda | July 20, 2007, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm
We’re screwed.
Posted by: Ryan Lavery | July 20, 2007, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm
The rest of the world should undergo a Colonoscopy, because George the Terrible has been a pain far too long!!!
Posted by: Ray | July 20, 2007, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm
Hey Melinda, Would you please give me some examples of those high moral standards cauz I’m not seeing them?
Posted by: Sandra | July 20, 2007, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm
Here I was wondering why the “transfer” of power was deemed necessary.
Posted by: Emmett | July 20, 2007, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm
Scary
Posted by: Chris | July 20, 2007, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
So Cheney will be acting President for 20 mins.?? BIG DEAL..just don’t give him a gun!
Posted by: rglines | July 20, 2007, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
Aahhh! Run for the hills!!
Posted by: John | July 20, 2007, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
Do you left hate mongers really think that your relentless nastiness will win over middle america? Keep dreaming.
Posted by: Scott Royer | July 20, 2007, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm
Hey David,
Maybe while they’re up there they’ll find the Bill of Rights and the Constitution as well.
Posted by: elmerg | July 20, 2007, 1:32 pm 1:32 pm
Good luck President Bush. Hope all goes well. VP Cheney will serve you excellent like always. Some of us believe in you and your policies.
God Bless America and our commander and chief. I will be praying for your speedy return.
Posted by: disabledvet45 | July 20, 2007, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
“The Vice President will serve as acting president…”
All that means is that for a few hours Cheney’s presidential role will be “official” instead of “de facto”.
Posted by: ALEX H. | July 20, 2007, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
Elmer G: They may find them, now all we need to do is to get the Administration to follow them.
Posted by: David | July 20, 2007, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
Really doesn’t matter which criminal is in charge, they are about equally corrupt!
Posted by: AM | July 20, 2007, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
god bless….god bless
Posted by: rglines | July 20, 2007, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm
List of Bush Moral Standards:
• If you don’t like a law, simply put out a signing statement to rescind it.
• If things go wrong, blame your opponents.
• Torture works!
• Claim you speak to God, that keeps the 28% happy.
• Pardon all cronies, no matter what their crime.
• Use American soldier as props at any opportunity.
• If folks don’t believe your lies, tell better lies.
• Listen to the generals on the ground, unless they disagree with you.
• Wave thy bloody flag of 911 whenever you need to distract from an issue.
• Don’t get your hands dirty, let your minions do all the dirty work.
• Label all opponents as traitors.
• Ignore the Constitution, it’s just an old piece of paper anyway, heh, heh..
Posted by: elmerg | July 20, 2007, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
I pray for peace..now is the time to get serrious.
Posted by: peacelover | July 20, 2007, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
One would think the doctors would use a heavier sedative for such a serious operation such as brain surgery.
Hey Doc, should we do a CT sacn while he is there?
Posted by: NElls007 | July 20, 2007, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm
Maybe they’ll find his brain.
Posted by: peacethinker | July 20, 2007, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
Maybe they should ad some common sense to the president while their in there? Then maybe we could clean this nation out of illegals and let our GI’s fight this war to win.
Posted by: tony | July 20, 2007, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
To: “Ray” Probably short for Raymond. As in everybody loves……
Don’t you remember all the examples of President Bush’s predecessor?
Posted by: J. Pritchard | July 20, 2007, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
I sure hope he’s OK. Everyone’s life is precious whether you are an Iraqi, Israeli, Iranian, Palestinian, North Korean, the President, or anyone else on this Earth.
Posted by: TSnow27604 | July 20, 2007, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
I pray for the speedy return of President Bush to his Executive duties… Because for those few hours, we’ll actually have a far worse president.
Now tell me that doesn’t scare the hell out of you.
Posted by: Chris | July 20, 2007, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
Hey John – you don’t get much more anti-Bush than me, but even I think your comments go too far. Besides, if you got your wish, we’d have Cheney as President for 17 months. Do you really want that?
Posted by: Bill | July 20, 2007, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
Melinda High moral standards?? Do Tell
Posted by: AM | July 20, 2007, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
Hope all going well Mr. President !!!
Posted by: David | July 20, 2007, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
God help us!!
Posted by: Emily | July 20, 2007, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
Isn’t that like putting the fox in charge of the hen house?
Posted by: Karen | July 20, 2007, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm
…and the search for Weapons of Mass Destruction continues…
Posted by: KT | July 20, 2007, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
Scott Royer said, “Do you left hate mongers really think that your relentless nastiness will win over middle america?”
Uh, Scott, in case you haven’t been paying attention, Middle america, lower America, AND upper America voted the conservatives out in a landslide in ’06. ’08 is going to be even better. The 7-year neo-conservative TRAIN WRECK is over. You must learn how to deal with that.
Posted by: Eric | July 20, 2007, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm
The late night shows are going to have an absolute field day with this story!
Posted by: John | July 20, 2007, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm
I wonder if he will ask his dad to watch Dick Cheney and make sure he doesn’t cause trouble while he is in the hospital? The elder Bush should be in charge. I couldn’t imagine Bush’s face if he came out after the procedure and someone told him “Mr. President, the vice president has taken us to war.” Then Bush asks “Well, what country??” and the response is “actually it is COUNTRIES!”
Posted by: Brent | July 20, 2007, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
That’s like the house falling on the Wicked Witch of the East
Posted by: Peter | July 20, 2007, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm
What could happen with these guys in power?
Posted by: Bob Smithson | July 20, 2007, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm
Great for Bush! i guess he will get what he has been trying to do to our country since he took office..
Posted by: Hector | July 20, 2007, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
My family and I will continue to keep President Bush in prayer. I pray all is well. I thank God that we have a President that holds such high moral standards in a world that doesn’t. I pray for the peace of Israel and pray that the President will continue to support Israel for the sake of our nation. God Bless.
Posted by: rick | July 20, 2007, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
Oh good Gawd!! Keep him away from Iran ——-
Posted by: paulet | July 20, 2007, 3:08 pm 3:08 pm
Let’s send John Ashcroft to his Bush’s beside to ask for his resignation while he’s under sedation.
Posted by: miss jane 2 | July 20, 2007, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm
Hey Tony, I know he acts like he is sitting on his brains but afraid that’s not the place for common sense
Posted by: paulet | July 20, 2007, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
I’m still laughing – High Moral Standards??
Maybe the brain surgeons will find the trampled constitution up there??
Posted by: AM | July 20, 2007, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm
All they will find is a bunch of democrats.
Posted by: Jim Aten | July 20, 2007, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
Oh, as for high moral ground, I believe someone misspoke and mean to say “morass.” Besides, I doubt brain surgeons will find much of value in Bush’s ol’ noggin.
Posted by: sunlionheart | July 20, 2007, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm
Do chance finding the constitution or the bill of right up there. Or in Cheney’s. All the Administrative support staff has been so far up there, they would have said something if they saw it.
Posted by: Roy | July 20, 2007, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
Well what constitutional crisis will we have this weekend. Who’s rights will be abused
Posted by: Scott | July 20, 2007, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
Melinda wrote:
“I thank God that we have a President that holds such high moral standards in a world that doesn’t.”
Fascinating. Do we coexist in the same universe, Melinda?
Posted by: John | July 20, 2007, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
So glad I voted for BUSH.
Posted by: Stoic Patriot | July 20, 2007, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
May God be with our President and Vice President.
Posted by: Bill | July 20, 2007, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
God bless you too Melinda. I also pray for President Bush and am thankful he was the one in power following 9/11. He should receive full credit for the fact there have been no attacks within our borders since that date. Some of these comments are clear evidence of the moral decay that continues to pervade our great land. President Bush has done a fine job in so many areas and I am proud to call him my President. It is our loss that he will not be running in 2008. Looking at the slate of candidate, I believe he would be re-elected easily but for those pesky term limits.
Posted by: Alex Mullins | July 20, 2007, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
Melinda wrote:
“I thank God that we have a President that holds such high moral standards in a world that doesn’t.”
EARTH TO MELINDA, EARTH TO MELINDA!
Posted by: artist22 | July 20, 2007, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
true patriots don’t support Bush – they support the constitution and the wisdom of our forefathers, whom Bush trespasses daily in his incompetence and ignorance. may his procedure go as planned, may he return to office, and in 08 get out (if he isn’t impeached first).
Posted by: jro | July 20, 2007, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm
Bush cannot, and should not, take credit for the security of this country. That credit goes fully to the the people on the ground level…police officers, border patrols, FBI, NSA, all four branches of the full military, the National Guard, the Coast Guard, security personnel at airports, trains, and boats and yes, even your everyday Joes and Janes. As for Alex’s comment on Bush’s “good job,” I’d like to know what exactly did Bush do right? Must be a short list…
Posted by: sunlionheart | July 20, 2007, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm
Ignorance may truly be bliss. While I do not wish the president any harm, I do not feel that he or his cronies in power are godly, good or moral in any manner. I think that most of the conscious people in this country agree with that statement. We are just waiting in agony until this administration finally leaves office. We’ll have to hire an exorcist to cleanse the white house once he leaves.
Posted by: gregB | July 20, 2007, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
Bush and his cronies are THE MOST CORRUPT in history. That is PROVEN DAILY.
Posted by: artist22 | July 20, 2007, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
High Moral Standards?? – I’m still laughing. Please Melinda Do Tell??
Posted by: AM | July 20, 2007, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
Oh Zelda, such clever wit
but, but, Clinton!
Posted by: elmerg | July 20, 2007, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
We didn’t have any attacks on US soil when Bill Clinton was president. Bush was the one who let one slip by…But it’s still Clinton’s fault. Explain the logic, someone…….
Posted by: unshrub | July 20, 2007, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
C’mon unshrub, you are asking Bush supporters to explain the logic? Logic has no place in Bushland, only fear and prayers.
Posted by: elmerg | July 20, 2007, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
Bush and his cronies are THE MOST CORRUPT in history. That is PROVEN DAILY.
Posted by: artist22 | July 20, 2007, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
If Clinton was such a good President, then exactly what good thing for the people did he do? I’ll admit he is very charismatic. He signed NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) which has taken many jobs out of NC and sent them to south america; but he didn’t stop the illegals from coming in either. This just was not as hot an issue back when he was in office. While I admit we need a change in office, I do not think that Bush is evil and I do think that Clinton sucked.
Posted by: Deb | July 20, 2007, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm
How would electing another Clinton bring moral standards to the Executive Office? I would like to hear from all the folks making jokes at GWB’s expense answer that for me. Hilary is worse than Bill!
Posted by: Crystal | July 20, 2007, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
I’m half afraid to see how much more damage can be done with Cheney behind the wheel. He’s always called the shots, but now he’s in place to make his own judgments. Oh, The humanity!
Posted by: newzjunky | July 20, 2007, 5:02 pm 5:02 pm
President Cheney makes it official!
Posted by: TomBob | July 20, 2007, 5:30 pm 5:30 pm
I hope he recovers quick!! Poor thing! :(
Posted by: LovethePres | July 20, 2007, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm
Oh my God! Dick Cheney is insane!
Posted by: DaveM | July 20, 2007, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm
Melinda – still waiting for that list of all his high moral standards. Note to Alex. Simply sitting around knocking a president in no way implies we have low moral standards – or you guys had them a ton when you ate Clinton up on a daily basis. They kind of want you to think the problem is your fellow citizen that differs from you, because that way you won’t examine what they’re up to. It’s a trick.
Posted by: Sandra | July 20, 2007, 6:06 pm 6:06 pm
Bush/Cheney is a joke.
A sick joke.
Posted by: George Vreeland Hill | July 20, 2007, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm
Wouldn’t it be crazy if Cheney died or something during those 20 minutes!?!?
Then Nancy Pelosi would become acting president, and Hillary Clinton would be SOOOOOOOOOOO TICKED!
Posted by: Hahaha! | July 20, 2007, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm
Think they’ll find his brain up there?
Posted by: L | July 20, 2007, 7:10 pm 7:10 pm
Bush on drugs, Cheney in charge.
So what else is new?
Posted by: Cat | July 20, 2007, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
Maybe they should do brain surgery on Bush if they find his head up there.
Posted by: Roger M | July 20, 2007, 7:54 pm 7:54 pm
i been wanting to put my foot there since he got elected but this will do i just hope the doctor starts the test before the drugs kick in
Posted by: dark fall | July 20, 2007, 8:03 pm 8:03 pm
melidas high morals list will be posted tomarrow.right after the procedure.I hope that all goes well.cause if it does’nt look at whats gonna be in office.”chills!”
Posted by: John Scott | July 20, 2007, 8:36 pm 8:36 pm
notice how the only defenders of Bush are christian fundamentalists? … the most hypocritical group of people ever…
Posted by: earthnotflat | July 20, 2007, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm
deb you got it wrong clinton didn’t suck it was the other way around. at least he didn’t go against the constitution. any body remember iran contra thank you mister reagon or bush beating up the bill of rights. the founding fathers would have put clinton in stocks the other two against a wall with a blindfold
Posted by: dar fall | July 20, 2007, 9:52 pm 9:52 pm
How is this possible?… considering that Dick Cheney is not part of the executive branch…?
Posted by: sew | July 20, 2007, 10:32 pm 10:32 pm
…for those of you who don’t get it, Cheney said that he was not part of the executive branch, which meant that the rules don’t apply to him! Ha!
Posted by: steph | July 20, 2007, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm
I have noticed that the people praying for Bush are also the ones that are putting their digs in about the others who don’t agree with them. What scares me is if you don’t agree with Bush and those who support him, you are labled any number of negative things. The even scarier thing is they do it from their high pedestal(closer to heaven I presume)and they sit in judgement.Do they have that right? If so where did they get it? And why didn’t the rest of us get it too? They don’t even pretend to see any other side. That is really strange because I thought in the United States we are allowed to disagree without being labled, or am I wrong? By the way I am sure that I am one of many who have a moral compass and a brain and a right to voice my opinion…
Posted by: karen k | July 20, 2007, 10:49 pm 10:49 pm
Yeah, you are all in trouble, whoever made jokes about Bush’s colon. Watch out, BIG Brother is watchin you. And don’t forget Cheney is in charge… he’s very creative when it comes to zapping your fingers on your keyboard…
Posted by: Xiaer | July 20, 2007, 10:54 pm 10:54 pm
Hopefully the person doing the procedure will find his brains…
Posted by: Lisa | July 20, 2007, 11:09 pm 11:09 pm
Why are the taxpayers spending money for a colonoscopy? I mean his head is up there anyway, why not have him open his eyes and take a look see.
Posted by: jim | July 20, 2007, 11:35 pm 11:35 pm
bush better hope the doctor is a republican if not the dr. might tell him that he’ll take the scope out when he pulls our troops out of iraq. that would be great i think thats the only thing he understands a threat.
Posted by: dark fall | July 20, 2007, 11:38 pm 11:38 pm
we’ll nixon had a tape recorder
Posted by: dark fall | July 21, 2007, 12:26 am 12:26 am
isn’t it funny every time this country turns to #### there’s a republican in office
Posted by: dark fall | July 21, 2007, 12:34 am 12:34 am
I find it funny that all these libs keep talking about the constition when they fail to follow some of them. Freedom of speech is in there but yet there all for the “fairness doctrine”, Where in the constition does it say a women has a right to kill her baby? Right to bear arms, if liberals could they would take away any and all guns.
Posted by: Bill | July 21, 2007, 1:27 am 1:27 am
Cheney already IS the president…duh!
Posted by: Karen Love | July 21, 2007, 2:35 am 2:35 am
WAIT A MINUTE, CHENEY SAID HE’S NOT A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH….
SO BUSH NEEDS TO SIGN THOSE PAPERS OVER TO NANCY PELOSIT!!!
Posted by: Karen Love | July 21, 2007, 2:39 am 2:39 am
Maybe a Colonoscopy will uncover the reason for the Presidents asinine decisions. Like his really great idea that invading Iraq was a patriotic duty …. or his grandstanding on an Aircraft Carrier claiming “Mission Accomplished”. And all this bravado to save Americans from the Al Qaeda and Taliban located and, until then, only openly operating in Afghanistan.
Posted by: tars campbell | July 21, 2007, 3:07 am 3:07 am
Nothing new here. It’s not even a news. Cheney’s been in-charge all the time.
Posted by: marc | July 21, 2007, 9:40 am 9:40 am
Nothing new here. It’s not even a news. Cheney’s been in-charge all the time.
The architect of the Iraq war and the oil fields in Iraq with Haliburton’s as his partner.
Now he will announce little progress in September, extend the surge until the Iraqui’s agrees to their oil deal with Cheney’s company as Partners, develop it and profits are set for life.
Posted by: marc | July 21, 2007, 9:44 am 9:44 am
PRES BUSH counts on jesus . what do the rest of you BASE people count on??????????????? plosie reed kennedy sharpon jessie hilliwry bill gore any democrat may not spell every name RIGHT but you know who or what i am talking about i will pray for all of these peoleBUT IT WILL BE HARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: travis smith | July 21, 2007, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
Maybe while the doctors are there they will do an optorectomy. You know cut the nerve that runs from there to his eyes and gives him such a rosy or is it brown out look on life.
Posted by: claude westervelt | July 21, 2007, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm
Bush is the worst president ever!!!
Posted by: liv | July 21, 2007, 7:11 pm 7:11 pm
Bush is the best president.but now he is a former president of U.S
———-
Deepalakshmi
Posted by: Deepalakshmi | February 23, 2009, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm