BS: AWOL??

Subject: BS: AWOL??
From: GUEST,fiddler 43
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 06:49 PM

Can anyone smarter that I explain why there has never been much made of the fact that Bush skipped out on his National Guard service? My husband served in the National Guard and if he had decided to simply quit attending drills he would have been in seriouse trouble!! I can't help wondering how much would have been forgiven if this had been Bill Clinton. Double Standard?

Subject: RE: BS: AWOL??
From: kendall
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 07:05 PM

Bush lite had Bush 1 for a father. His record was whitewashed.

Subject: RE: BS: AWOL??
From: Gareth
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 08:30 PM

Plenty of Argument on the 'Cat - Non conclusive - Try putting Bush & President in a search engine.

However, and beyond dispute, GWB Jnr could have volunteered to serve in Viet-Nam. Hi did not do so !

His father volunteered to fly with the US Navy - TBD's in the Pacific, from carriers.

Compare !

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: AWOL??
From: freightdawg
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 09:20 PM

Guestfiddler43,

You must have a pretty short memory, because the Republicans tried mightily to make a big deal over Clinton's run over to England to avoid any service in Vietnam, and his very adamant stance that he "abhored" the US military. It got a lot of air time on conservative media, but the nation as a whole just basically yawned and said, "that was Vietnam, get over it." Maybe that is why Gore chose to ignore the issue, if indeed there is an issue in the story. He may have decided that to bring the issue up would allow the Republicans to use the apathy over Clinton's actions and words against him. To me it is very sordid but Vietnam, whether one served there or one avoided service there, has become the ugly stepchild of American politics. The short answer to your question is people just don't care about Vietnam anymore. And that is truly, truly sad.

Freightdawg

Subject: RE: BS: AWOL??
From: Deckman
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 09:23 PM

Thank you for bringing this up. I feel that it's a very sad statement as to where we are in the U.S. today ... that this story has never received it's proper attention. If there's anything I've learned in the last couple of years, I have learned just how POWERFUL the bush family is. Bob

Subject: RE: BS: AWOL??
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 09:26 PM

I suppose they don't come after you for little things like that, when your Daddy is an important politician.

Still, I'd have thought that some lowly person in the National Guard woudl probably have at least gone through the motions, and there could well be a paper trail, which could show how influence was applied to stop it going any further.

Maybe someone who knows their way round this kind of stuff will chase it up, and publish it.

Subject: RE: BS: AWOL??
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 09:42 PM

By the time Rove has placed his spin on this, Dubya will be hailed a conquering hero--implying that Bush jr. is now making up for his youthful mistakes.

Subject: RE: BS: AWOL??
From: kendall
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 10:09 PM

Hear ye, Hear ye, THE EMPEROR IS BARE ASSED

Subject: RE: BS: AWOL??
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 10:20 PM

NEWS FLASH!!!   South Portland, ME.....Noted folksinger and storyteller Kendall Morse has been found guilty of unpatriotic activity. He was found to have questioned the existence of clothing on the presidential posterior. He will never be heard from again.

Subject: RE: BS: AWOL??
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 10:29 PM

LOL, Mike!

Subject: RE: BS: AWOL??
From: Bobert
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 11:17 PM

Depends on who the Dems run as to whether or not this becomes a *real issue*. Bush did quit but says it's because his personal doctor couldn't perform his yearly physical... Joke... Personal doctors *do not*, I repeat.... do NOT do military physicals.

Yeah, Bush was AWOL and if either Kerry or Clark end up on the ticket, it will become a character issue, especially when the media gave Bush a complete pass last time around...

And I hope that happens and I hope that the *illusion* that Bush actually piloted the plane to the "Mission Accomplished" carrier dect will also be dispelled....

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: AWOL??
From: artbrooks
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 12:09 AM

There was quite a lot about it four years ago, and it will certainly come up again. Speaking personally, I went to Vietnam while he was skipping out on his required Guard service, and I know people whose names are on the Wall, so maybe I have a little more right to be angry than some here. By saying that, I don't mean to abrogate anyone's right to think what they want about Mr. Bush.

However, that was all long ago. We all probably did things 35 years ago that were wrong, whether we regret them or not. A better issue is "what has he done for or to us lately," and the response to that question is a lot more relevant. Bush has done enough in the last three years that he has to answer for without bringing up old news.

Subject: RE: BS: AWOL??
From: jaze
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 06:49 PM

I read a response to a question to Dick Cheney regarding his whereabouts during Vietnam. His smug answer? "I had better things to do at the time".

Subject: RE: BS: AWOL??
From: Sorcha
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 07:14 PM

'Better things to do'? Oh jeez. My cousin had better things to do to, and his name is on the Wall. These idiots must get voted OUT. Just hope it's not too late.