George Washington Bush is the 43rd president of the United States Of America. He is 55 years old and was elected in a strange election in which the Supreme Court had to become involved because of alleged improprieties in the state results of Florida, where his brother is governor. On Sunday, January 14, 2002 it was reported in the various news media that Pres. Bush had fallen off a couch when he fainted from choking on a pretzel.
According to the Belfast Telegraph President Bush, "fainted briefly in the White House residence after choking on a pretzel while watching an American football game on television, White House physician Dr Richard Tubb revealed today. The doctor, an Air Force colonel, said Mr Bush quickly recovered after the incident yesterday and is doing well." The Belfast Telegraph
MSNBC, a news megasite founded by Microsoft and NBC, had by Tuesday begun to incorporate the story into coverage of his economic stimulus promoting trip.
"POST-PRETZEL TRIP
Bush embarked on the two-day trip after cutting open his cheek and lip Sunday night when he fainted briefly after choking on a pretzel. Bush on Monday pronounced himself fully recovered with the exception of an bruise on his left cheek and said the incident had driven home a piece of maternal advice. My mother always said, ‘When you’re eating pretzels, chew before you swallow,’ he said with a smile. Always listen to your mother. Dr. Orin Devinsky, a neurologist at New York University Hospital, said Bush’s fainting is not cause for concern if it happens just once." MSNBCReutersAsia actually seemed to have the most information (or speculation) about the incident. "The incident occurred at 5:35 p.m. EST (2235 GMT) as Bush watched the NFL playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins, which Baltimore won 20-3. His wife, Laura, was on the telephone in the next room." This is factual. "Tubb said his already slow heart rate, combined with a pretzel that did not go down properly, plus the fact that he had felt he was coming down with a head cold, caused his heart rate to drop further and he fainted. He diagnosed Bush as having a "neurally mediated syncope," which is basically a common fainting spell. "He was sitting on the couch, swallowed a pretzel. The next thing you knew he's on the floor," said Tubb. "
Although most if not all of his symptoms are also associated with strokes, it is interesting that in none of the articles above was that one of the conjectures as to what actually went on in the President's lost-consciousness episode. Maybe they don't want to worry the public, and so came up with a very plausible scenario and proclaimed it fact. They could have been more honest and said that even though the cause of his passing out on the couch is unknown, no need to worry because he has passed out many times on the couch in his halcyon frat days and is no worse for wear!