The whole thing must have scared the hell out of Laura, who was in the next room talking on the phone.

Mow, contrary to what others have said, this incident doesn't make George W look like a dumbass to me. After all, it happened in private. I get a grin out of the whole situation. He's sitting alone, watching the football game. I like that. I can see him in his underwear on the couch, feet up on the coffee table. He notices the dogs, because the damn things are like all other dogs...sitting staring intently at him, hoping he drops a piece of pretzel. He chokes on the pretzel, falls on the floor, and comes to noticing the dogs are still in the same position, staring at him! To me, the whole thing makes him look like an average guy, not a dumbass. Unless you consider the average guy a dumbass. It kind of points out one of the hazards of being a reformed alcoholic, though. Pretzels are meant to be consumed with beer! If George had an ice cold Bud, or even a Celi's, on the coffee table, none of this would have happened.