Hi kendall,

Pleased to oblige:

"Drunk driving the most common crime in America.
   
OUI
The third most common acronym for drunk driving is OUI. This stands for operating under the influence. The word "operating" is actually more encompassing (and more accurate) than "driving" because almost all states make it illegal to "operate or be in actual physical control" of a motor vehicle. This means that you can be sitting in your car, off the side of the road, with the engine running and the car in park, and asleep, yet still be charged with OUI (or DUI or DWI, for that matter, in most states). The states that have OUI as their acronym are Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island."

The above text is an explanitory paragraph for a layman facing such a charge today. The today is important.

Now let's put this in context, kendall forgot to tell us when this happened - 1976. Now according to "Title 29-A of the Maine laws", an OUI offense was not considered a crime, but a traffic offense in 1976. The laws on OUI offenses on the books today are tougher than the laws were in the 1970s but even under the law passed in 1993 the incident was NOT a "criminal" offense since Bush was:

- Not under 21;
- Was not resisting arrest;
- Did not refuse to take a sobriety test;
- Did not have a blood-alcohol level higher than .15;
- Was not speeding.

Has this any bearing on Bush being?

From Mr. B. Kennedy:

A coward - Certainly not. In fact quite the reverse. This revelation came to light just four days before the 2000 election. When confronted with the report GWB did exactly the same as he did on the night in question. He admitted the offence and stated that he fully realised that he was in the wrong. In 1976 he said that to a Police Officer, in the latter instance that was in front of the media four days before election - not the action of a coward.

A half-wit - Definitely, anyone who drinks and drives is at best a half wit, I could call them more. But he admitted it paid his fine and has subsequently never repeated the offence, so perhaps he has learnt his lesson - giving up drinking seems to indicate this

A thief - Nope

A cheat - Nope

A liar - Nope

Additional from Bobert:

A crook - No bearing whatsoever according to Maine Law in force at the time.