"Mintz, who at one time was a registered Republican and in recent years has cast votes in presidential elections for independent Ross Perot and Democrat Al Gore, confesses to “a negative reaction” to what he sees as out-and-out dissembling on President Bush’s part."
From Memphis Flyer, February 13, 2004
"It bothered me that he wouldn't 'fess up and say, 'Okay, guys, I cut out when the rest of you did your time.' He shouldn't have tried to dance around the subject. I take great exception to that. I spent 39 years defending my country."
Like his old comrade Mintz, Bishop, now 65, was a pilot for Eastern Airlines during their reserve service in 1972 at Dannelly. Mintz then lived in Montgomery; Bishop commuted from Atlanta, a two-hour drive away. Mintz and Bishop retired from the Guard with the ranks of lieutenant colonel and colonel, respectively.
Bishop, especially, is bitter about the fate of Eastern, which went bankrupt during the administration of President George H.W. Bush, the current incumbent's father. "I watched my company dissolve under his policies." Both Bushes were "children of privilege," unlike himself and Mintz.
"Our fathers were poor dirt farmers. We would not have been given the same considerations he and his father were," says Bishop, who maintains that, just as the junior Bush used family and political influence to jump himself ahead of 500 other flight training applicants, the senior Bush "apparently" did, too, when he became a naval aviator during World War II. "I applaud him for volunteering, but he should have waited his turn like everybody else."
But, says Bishop, "At least I can give him credit for serving his country." That is more, he suggested, than can be granted the younger Bush.
Would he consider voting for the president's reelection? "Naw, this goes to an integrity issue. I like either [John] Kerry or [John] Edwards better." And who would Mintz be voting for? "Not for any Texas politicians," was the Memphian's sardonic answer.