"I think he likely got permission to be absent from drills. As I recall (from four years in the National Guard)a commanding officer has a lot of latitude when dealing with those in his command."

you think he got permission? obviously you have no way of knowing that so your opinion is based only on your partisan views and has no factual context. and if he did, why would he not simply present that when queried and put the whole issue to rest? when politicians dodge questions it is usually because there's something they don't want us to know and this is true of dems and repubs.

"how much longer are you going to go on punishing President Bush?"

bush's "punishment" is nothing compared to the punishment of the families of those who died for his wicked agenda. he will never get what he truly deserves.