An ad unveiled Sept. 8 by the Democratic-leaning group "Texans for Truth" features a former officer in the Alabama Air National Guard saying neither he nor his friends saw George W. Bush at their unit The TV spot adds little to what was already known. Bush's pay records -- released nearly in 1972, when Bush was temporarily assigned there. seven months earlier -- reflect a six-month gap in paid attendance during a time when he was working on an Alabama Senate campaign.

There were these other developments:

A Boston Globe report Sept. 8 concluded that Bush "fell well short of meeting his military obligation" because of irregular attendance at Guard drills. The Globe said Bush's superiors "could have disciplined him or ordered him to active duty in 1972, 1973 or 1974. But they did neither."
The Associated Press reported Sept. 8 that newly obtained records show Bush's Texas unit continued operating the type of airplane that Bush was trained to fly until 1974, long after Bush's last flight in April 1972. Bush aides once suggested that a reason he stopped flying and later skipped a flight physical, leading to his official grounding, was that his services weren't needed because the F-102 Delta Dagger planes were being phased out.
The CBS program 60 Minutes aired an interview Sept. 8 with former Texas Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes, who said he used his political influence to get Bush into the Texas Air National Guard in 1968, when the Vietnam war was raging. "I would describe it as preferential treatment," said Barnes, a Democrat who is supporting Kerry. "We had a lot of young men that left and went to Canada in the '60s and fled this country. But those that could get in the Reserves, or those that could get in the National Guard -- chances are they would not have to go to Vietnam."


I'd say he knows what they, and everybody else knows...That Bush served, and saying he did not, and comparing him to War criminals & Hitler makes anybody who says Bush didn't serve a modern-day Chambliss...just as relying on an organization like factcheck.org is reflective of right-wing bias.

Has there ever been any evidence that Bush's father was called on to pull strings or is this more supposition?

ps: has anyone looked into alGore's father pulling strings for him?



Just wondering

Personally, to me, both men served and, as best as I can tell, honorably. Bush flew jets. Not too shabby for an idiot. Kerry was a leader of men.

We can agree or disagree with what they've both done since but I have never had a bad word to say about either of their service.

You do know that quote was about Bush and not about those that serve in the military?  I doubt his comment was directed to those who do military service considering he went to Yale and then joined the military.  The reason it was spun to insult the military was due to the election.  Please ensure you use the quotes in correct context before attempting to use them to discredit someone who isn't even trying to run in 2008.

Not enough people see things this way. Personally, I think both of them were poor choices for presidential candidates, but there's no reason to go bashing people's service. I myself have doubts as to how faithfully Bush Served his duty, as well as to whether ALL of Kerry's presented record is accurate. To assert that these doubts themselves amount to facts would be a mistake though.

IMO, the best course of action would be to assess their potential for leadership of the country. I voted for Nader.

Factchecking and dragging new facts into light is one thing, frivolous accusations are another.

Your quote i think explains the entire "Rush hates the military, so Republicans hate the military" attack, and the "Bush didn't serve" attack quite nicley.


You do know that quote was about Bush and not about those that serve in the military?

You do know that Bush, as CINC, serves in the military?
Bush, who just happens to serve in the United states military, is stupid....Now do I have the correct context?

This is why I compared the Kerry Remarks to being on of those "poor saps" who went to Vietnam. It's more of a stretch when put INTO "context"
It doesn't really matter at this point, as Bush (as CINC) has already recieved his personal apology.

I asked earlier about evidence that Bush 'pulled strings.' Do you have any or will just keep repeating that?

Nice effort Freethinker (referring to your post, immediately above). However, I doubt you'll ever find a source acceptable to neue regal. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I doubt it. If he's resisted knowing all this time, I doubt he'll be persuaded by mere articles in the "left wing media."