Bush met military obligation [Bush Was At Alabama Base, Says Ex-Guardsman ]

The Birmingham News ^ | 02/11/04 | MARY ORNDORFF and BRETT J. BLACKLEDGE

[Monkey King]

I met Red Blount many years ago - during his funding splurge for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (quick side note: he not only provided funds to build the complex, he donated his back yard to build it in!) He struck me as an extraordinarily intelligent man - not one who would abide an idiot or shirker working on any project he headed up.

This "story" is as it has always been: pure garbage.

[RottiBiz]

Thanks, Hon!

You've done a fantastic job tying up the loose ends.

[Dog]

The Rats don't realize what they have done.......they have energized Bush's base and given us a cause...there are hundreds of Freepers searching archives and using search engines to find old Kerry quotes and photos.

This is called blowback and Kerry is about to get hit with a whole shitload.

[Miss Marple]

No, kidding, Dog! You are exactly right!

I am also looking.

[bamabaseballmom]

"Interesting how they bury the eyewitness account."
But not surprising. The Birmingham News is a pathetic NYT wannabe.

[GailA]

Unit members were no longer in the active military and did not earn pay for their work.

Brig Gen Turnipseed needs to go on Hannity's radio show or FNC and maybe write an op ed piece for the Wash Times to get this crap cleared up once and for all.

[rintense]

Well, McAwful's strategy failed. He dared to try and compare Kerry's service to Bush's. In doing that, McAwful knew he needed to bring up the guard service AT THE SAME TIME Kerry touted his service in Vietnam. Unfortunately, the 'war hero versus weekend warrior' strategy failed, just like it did in 2000. Even better, Kerry began to back away from his bombastic claims this week because he knew his own protesting effort after his tour would come back to haunt him.

In the end, Bush wins- again.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

"You know, probably, rules were a little looser back then than they are now. If you go in the Guard now, you are going to end up in Iraq," Turnipseed said.

. . . because the military was downsized so dramatically in the previous maladminstration.

As the regulars units spun off people who had taken on military obligations, the National Guard obviously should have expanded . But I guess it actually didn't? That would have cost money, and treated military people better in the process.

Does it strike anyone else that Bush would have made a more memorable imprint on National Guardsmen if he had gone around bragging about GHW Bush's connections??

It strikes me that Bush wasn't trying to make a splash there.
Then again, Republican politicians in the South back then had even more to be humble about than Democrats in the South do now! Democrats now at least have memories of getting elected . . .

[Fury]

Good post.

I noted this in the original article:

The 9921st squadron met every Tuesday night to review military materials, including things like first aid manuals. Unit members were no longer in the active military and did not earn pay for their work.

*Sort* of sounds like what we had in the Army Reserve called "admin drills". Happened on 2 Tuesday nights per months (our paid drill was usually 1 Sunday per month and 2 Tuesdays per month).

The admin drills were unpaid drill time (8-10 hours per month - sometimes more). You did not have to technically attend, but officers and Senior NCO folks stated if they did not, it could hurt them at review and promotion time.

Then the Army National Guard unit in the same town had a good idea by encouraging folks to transfer to the Guard, and making a point of no admin drills. Several folks left the reserve unit.

Of course, that was in the late 80's, and as you state, it's a whole different thing now...

[Hon]

"But let me get this straight, they asked for a live witness for days now, here you find a live witness who saw him there, and it ends up in the last paragraph."

I didn't find him. But maybe you mean I found it in this story.

If that's what you mean, I agree. It is amazing that what should be the top news story of the day has been buried in this story without hardly any reference.

But reporters aren't too bright as a rule.

[Hon]

Yes, you have said what others have said, including Turnipseed. He touched on some of it in this article, too.

BTW, could you answer a question on this? When they say the current records show nine days, do they mean nine pay days? Were the drills nine days or nine periods--which could be longer?

Just curious.

[MizSterious]

Unfortunately, I'm still hearing the same old "no one remembers him" mantra on network news, both television and radio. Something needs to be done to make sure the truth is reported.

[alnick]

I don't see what the significance of a five-month gap is since Lt. Bush was required to earn 50 points and he earned 56. Requirements surpassed, case closed.

[Just mythoughts]

Finally, after 4 years of lies and smears the truth gets out.

Maybe you can get Mr. Rassmann to forward you his military records. He says he is a "NEWS" junkie and he did make himself part of this campaign. He claims Kerry is honest.

[Hon]

"Finally, after 4 years of lies and smears the truth gets out."

The truly sad thing is that this story is being buried in the media--look where it is in the article.

And it is being buried here. Drudge might be posting something! Did you see the (fake) photo Newsmax lifted?

It's really pathetic.

[OldFriend]

Honest about slandering all our troops in Viet Nam? Did Rassman too commit atrocities against innocent civilians?

[Just mythoughts]

No, I am not interested in "fake" stuff from either side.

I believe only "TRUTH" sets one free. I have been hesitant about questioning the veracity of Rassmann. That is the reason why I read through only "published" articles telling the "JFKERRY" story. I sat in disbelief of his own words as I saw him interviewed and his appearance on stage.

It was only after President Bush was called a "deserter" being AWOL and demanding his records, and JFKERRY to demand "BRING-IT-ON", did I start to see where in the "public" record of the time for Mr. Rassmann story and/or name.

The whole drama and the way it unfolded did not add up. JFKerry knows what is in the public domain, he also knows what is not there.

I have no issue with the "truth" just have not satisfied myself that what we have been told is "truth". I find it interesting how little has been written, or investigated about the Rassmann event by the media. Yes they have interview him but demanded no records to verify what he said.

[Hon]

"I find it interesting how little has been written, or investigated about the Rassmann event by the media. Yes they have interview him but demanded no records to verify what he said."

I'm with you. And it's not like Kerry hasn't been prominent for the last thirty years. Heck, why didn't Rassmann get in touch with him after he was on Meet The Press or Dick Cavett or after his Senate Testimoney--all done back in 1971?

Kerry ran for the Presidency four years ago. Where was Rassmann then?

I think it's a bit fishy too.

[Puddleglum]

I think this low-blow attack is going to backfire on the Dims big time. I think everyday Americans see it for what it is - gutter politics. Heck, I disagree with Bush on some issues but this raises my hackles and makes me jump to his defense. I'm sure a lot of average joes feel the same way too.

[Just mythoughts]

I won't be buying the Brinkley book, but will make a trip out to see if he tells where he got his information.

That seems to be the first recorded description of this event.

Thank for your well searched information. You have done an honorable job.