Proof of Cheney's drinking may be in his curiously poor general health.

As Cheney has put the kibosh on any release of his health info that doesn't try to explain his disappearing into the hospital, it's fair enough to put this out there.

Cheney's four and one half years older than Bush, but everyone assumes his is much, much older than his sixty four years. He looks like shit and is clearly a sickly man, even before one knows about all his troubles that have been released to the press. The guy is the only politician I've ever seen that had to sit down for public appearances, excepting Max Cleland. Despite the best health care money can buy in public and private sectors, he's a wreck.

On edit: Remember, he wasn't just so sickly that he had to be driven to the pen of tame birds for his hunt. He's so sickly he had medical personel with him for the drive. He won't take a country drive without his nurse.

Wouldn't a life of hard drinking explain how he is failing physically without having a diagnosed disease? If so, would anyone be surprised that he had a pop or two on his day off?

is likely gout and alcohol can be a precursor to that,,,,,

but isn't the definitive cause of anything we are going to see.

Therefore it's the totality of his crap health that impresses me. In my mind, he's broken down in the way a life of hard drinking will break you down.

My brother is that age, and though he's not in the best of health, he is active and looks a heck of a lot better than Cheney. And Sam Waterston is 65 and is active and vigorous-he's always serving one cause or another. Neither of the above mentioned fellows abuses alcohol. I've known recovering alcoholics, however, who look and act like Cheney. You may have something there.

that its as if they were twenty years older--that there is no acute disease appearing, just more wear and tear somehow. Cheney has the health of an eighty four year old.

So I think that is evidence of a life of hard drinking.

But everyone is shocked to find out Cheney's chronological age. I was shocked enough to remember he is close to Bush's.

Yes, the years show in his face. But he doesn't have that puffy, bloated look.

* Of course, we don't know what he looks like now.

which is not one of the alcoholism life-enders. That's basically a scourge of modern living in general.

Alcholics get liver disease, atrial fib, brain bleeds, esoph. bleeds.

But you never know. My dad drank more than Cheney could begin to get in one day and lived to 89 without any effect..except his brain was fried.

and that appears to be a reoccurring problem for him, explaining at least many of his appearances where he sits or is reluctant to walk....

It is hard to know the extent of everything else (his cardiovascular compensation) going on with him, but purportedly his circulation is reasonable given the implanted heart device and his meds... Not that heavy alcohol would be not contraindicated there as well... But, a life time of drinking is a hard habit to break, I'd imagine...No matter what his doctors tell him.

His med team drives with him to the bird pen. Drives. To the bird pen. Cheney can't take a car ride without his nurses. He's sick all the way around. He doesn't HAVE something, he IS something, namely, old before his time.

:shrug:

Yes, he has serious cardiovascular disease, but that appears to be reasonably well controlled right now. His acute attacks that cause him to wear only one dress shoe, have to use a cane are classical for gout, which is in his history.

Cheney is just one losing lightsaber battle away from the black helmet and cape.

Evil Kumquat

I'm not advocating heavy drinking but alcohol is a funny thing, does not affect everyone the same way. I could introduce you to alcoholics who are ten years older than Cheney and look younger than he does. Nondrinkers can get gout, have heart attacks, too, not to mention requiring knee surgery.

We know Bush was a heavy drinker until he was 40 and he looks pretty good for 60, has no significant health problems, would almost certainly look much better if he hadn't become pResident, a job that ages everyone.

Cheney's problems may have been exacerbated by drinking but genetics is likely the key factor. Anyone here know anything about his parents' cause of death?