Bush's Guard service: What the record shows

The Boston Globe ^ | 2/5/04 | Walter V. Robinson, Globe Staff

[SpinyNorman]

Michael Moore, the documentary filmmaker, started it, labeling President Bush a military "deserter" during an appearance last month with Democratic presidential candidate Wesley K. Clark.

Less incendiary was Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe, who charged Sunday that Bush had been AWOL, absent without leave, while a fighter pilot in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War.

[muawiyah]

There were no Army National Guard units that went. On the other hand many Army NG guys who missed enough meetings "went"!

[pabianice]

As usual, the Globe is either lying or stupid. You decide.

A "bad year" in the Reserves simply means getting less than 50 drill points and can be the result of any number of factors. Such a year does not qualify as a retirement year; you need at least 20 "good" years to earn Reserve retirement upon reaching age 60. I had several "bad years" because of moving and job conflicts, but still earned over 20 "good years" with which to have earned retirement.

But The Boston Globe -- stupid, biased, and utterly corrupt -- either chose not to learn these basics or else simply decided to lie to hurt Bush. Calling The Globe "garbage" simply slanders real garbage. And the Internet is shining a light on every lie they tell, now...

[stuartcr]

OK

[estpeter]

While you are at it, just how did Max Cleland receive his war wounds. also like to know the extent of Kerry's. Just curious

[SpinyNorman]

If a newspaper produced four tons of material there are some folks who will dismiss it all as a Democratic plot. I'm always amazed at how belonging to a party means you MUST be a true believe and put aside anything damaging to your own case or candidate and put aside anything positive that applies to the other. People are FLAWED. It looks as if he, like many in that era, wanted to get out of Vietnam and got enrolled in the Guard with his Dad's help. He was not the only one who would have done that. But dimissing it all as a big Democratic plot is not the whole story: there are some real questions about his military service. I don't think it precludes him from re-election. But if we were so absolutely tough on Clinton why shouldn't we apply the same standards to President Bush...unless we only apply certain standards to the other side.

Point taken. But there are no "four tons" of material. A more apt comparison would be a loaf of stale bread. I don't see anyone on this site being disinclined to complain about the President when they think he is wrong, or flawed as you prefer. I personally find the illegal immigrant issue particularly vexing, and don't hesitate to harp about it. It isn't the story that is the "Democratic plot" but the fact that the Dems are pulling it out of their hindquarters again, trying to breathe life into an essentially dead story.

Since you insist on bringing in Slick, the difference between Bush and Clinton is that Bush took an honorable and legitimate avenue of avoiding going to Vietnam, if that was his intention (it would have been mine!). Clinton did not. Add to that the fact that he actively demonstrated against the US (between women) on foreign soil. At lease Kerry had the sense to do his dirty work on American soil.

Frankly, I am appalled (and Kerry used to be) that the roles of people in a war that is over 30 years old is even an issue. Kerry, McAuliffe, and Clark's resuscitation of the tired story simply shows the shallowness of their campaigns, and the fact that Kerry has to say the word Vietnam in every other sentence. As Hannity is fond of saying, the Dems have no new ideas. Attack the US, the President etc., all for political gain, with little concern for the direct and indirect aid and comfort their criticisms give the likes of bin Laden.

[WHBates]

Well I joined the Navy in 69 and was in boot camp with lots of folks avoiding the draft by joining the Navy? It was a choice they made but they also served. While I didn't joint for that reason I guess if I were running for office today I would be questioned about why I chose not to carry a gun in a rice paddy.

I did volunteer for PBR's but was rejected but was rejected because I was already in sub school. I am a little confused about Kerry serving on swift and/or PBR's. I was under the impression that most all that served and captained on PBR's were enlisted. Was he in the SPF (i.e. seals) or something?

[pabianice]

My letter to The Boston Fishwrap:

Mr. Robinson:

You need to have a clue about the military to avoid again sounding like a doofus when reporting on military matters.

* "Points" are simply the number of drills completed. You make it sound like some sort of quiz show prize. That is just plain wrong.

* A "bad year" means having earned less than 50 retirement points in a year. It does not refer in any way to quality or quantity of service, only that that year will not count toward the 20 year minumum needed for Reserve retirement upon reaching age 60. Misusing "bad year" simply makes you look ignorant.

* "Cramming drills" into any particular year is simply rescheduling them, often for the convenience of both the service and the reservist. In my 21 "good years" in the Naval Reserve, most years were completed with rescheduled drills so my crew could fly together. Misusing a history of rescheds to show some sort of shortcoming where none may exists makes you look biased and unprofessional.

* That Kerry has publicly disparaged Guard or Reserve duty tells volumes about his character, and none of it is good. We Naval Reservists completed multiple tours in Vietnam. Mr. Kerry twists history to best suit him. In the Internet Age, that tactic is toast.

* Calling The Students for a Democratic Society an "antiwar group" is like calling The Arian Nation a "men's club." Similarly, Michael Moore is a "documentary film maker" like Leni Riefenstahl was a "documentary film maker."

Sincerely,

[petercooper]

I just hope Kerry keeps repeating it over and over and over how he was in Vietnam. Rational people in the center will get sick of it like us.

[Destructor]

"The two officers, one of them a friend of Bush and both now dead, wrote that they believed Bush had been fulfilling his commitment at the Alabama unit."

Next, the Dimocrats will be screaming that "W" had them both killed in an effort to cover up his service record.

[WHBates]

Great post

[BunnySlippers]

*

[SpinyNorman]

That was beautiful!! Just the kind of letter that will NEVER get posted in the Letters to the Editors section.

[stuartcr]

I'm not very familiar with Mr. Kerry at all.

[Indy Pendance]

Useful Fools: Bush Haters Slander My Dead Comrades

[FreedomPoster]

A must-read "pre-buttal" to this screed from the Boston Globe:

Bush Haters Slander My Dead Comrades
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1072161/posts?page=1

[muawiyah]

All of your questions have answers in the public record. But, to be quite blunt about it, "they were there" and "others weren't". You don't have to be a Kerry or Cleland fan to respect the difference.

War is war and those who were in-country could get hurt at any time for any number of reasons. Some died.

[Cacique]

btt

[FreedomPoster]

Do either of you have any published accounts of Turnipseed backpedaling?

And Himyar, you and/or your husband should get on Rush Limbaugh with that story!

Also, see the link to the "pre-buttal" article I posted, a few posts above.

[GrandEagle]

You don't have to be a Kerry or Cleland fan to respect the difference.
ABSOLUTELY!

[jstolarczyk]

Agree to all you said, however in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) travel distance based numbers of days off no longer apply. It did when I first came in long long ago, it has since been eliminated. How long ago was this, if recent he needs to review the JTR.