Al K Hall: According to this ABC News report – The Pretzel Incident – Dubbya is quoted as saying, "My mother always said, 'When you're eating pretzels, chew before you swallow. Always listen to your mother." So the problem is, apparently, that the Bush men don't follow the advice of the Bush women. My guess is that the elder Bush was told as a boy at his mama's knee, "Now, Georgie, when you get the flu, don't you go to any banquets with leaders of other countries and throw up all over them."

The report also says that Dubbya estimates that he was unconscious for only a few seconds because his dogs had not moved from the positions they were in when he fainted. The dogs were, however, "looking at him funny." I find it highly significant that the dogs didn't try to wake him or run to get help Lassie-style. I imagine they were hoping against hope that Daddy Dubbya wouldn't get up, so that Mommy Laura would take them home to their Texas ranch before they met the same fate as Clinton's dog Buddy.

Just a theory....