ANG Colonel Denies Bush Got Preferential Treatment (Col. Staudt-CBS Memos are fakes) [must read]

ABC News ^ | 9/17/04

[Cableguy]

The man cited in media reports as having allegedly pressured others in the Texas Air National Guard to help George W. Bush is speaking out, telling ABC News in an exclusive interview that he never sought special treatment for Bush.

Retired Col. Walter Staudt, who was brigadier general of Bush's unit in Texas, interviewed Bush for the Guard position and retired in March 1972. He was mentioned in one of the memos allegedly written by Lt. Col. Jerry Killian as having pressured Killian to assist Bush, though Bush supposedly was not meeting Guard standards.

"I never pressured anybody about George Bush because I had no reason to," Staudt told ABC News in his first interview since the documents were made public.

The memo stated that "Staudt is pushing to sugar coat" a review of Bush's performance.

Staudt said he decided to come forward because he saw erroneous reports on television. CBS News first reported on the memos, which have come under scrutiny by document experts who question whether they are authentic. Killian, the purported author of the documents, died in 1984.

[Tempest]

Awwwhhhh come on that producer gal is supposed to be heraled as one of the best in the news business. . . Oh wait that doens't say a lot for the news business does it. =^D

[Rakkasan1]

like Kopel's hair:fake,but accurate.

[SeaBiscuit]

Excellent, love it!! That's the Death Knell for Blather, SeeBS

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

A Brigadier General is a one-star general (like Commodore is a one-star admiral). It is considered a temporary rank. If a flag officer doesn't make two stars before retirement, then they revert to their last permanent rank (Colonel for the army and airforce, Captain for the Navy and Coast Guard).

As an aside, I understand that they've done away with the Brigadier General and Commodore ranks recently. Now, they skip immediately to the two star flag rank.

[vrwinger]

Staudt said he continues to support Bush now that he is president. "My politics now are that I'm an American, and that's about all I can tell you," he said. "And I'm going to vote for George Bush."

Obviously a "partisan political operative" and cannot add to the debate... Can't we find out more about the feelings of a 87 year old Bush-hater? Or her feelings about someone else's thoughts? Or her feelings about thoughts that contradict the record? Real, substantive stuff like that??

[TruthWillWin]

Dan/Mapes/CBS have no interest in interviewing the good general. He said he was voting for Bush and that makes him not eligible for an interview in their way of thinking.

[Cicero]

There are complex rules on what permanent grade you can retire to. This has been the case for a long time, I believe. When I was in the military you had an acting grade and a permanent grade.

[fortheDeclaration]

"Staudt said he continues to support Bush now that he is president. "My politics now are that I'm an American, and that's about all I can tell you," he said. "And I'm going to vote for George Bush."

Boy, CBS will never air this guy!
Rather will state, 'due to the importance of the story, we cannot interview anyone who may discredit it'

[xzins]

I agree with the permanent rank for pay & retirement purposes, but I thought you got to keep the title of the highest rank attained. Am I wrong on that?

[ThomasPaine2000]

It's called a "Brevet promotion". Quite common in the Guard. Even General Custer was a Brevet General. His headstone at West Point has him as Lt Col.

[AlaskaErik]

The article says he is Colonel Staudt but that he was brigadier general of the unit. Anyone know how this works?

Colonel is his federally recognized grade and is what would be on his ID Card. BG is his state rank. More like an honorarium.

[nesnah]

ROTFLMAO!!!!!

Hehe, thanks for bringing a smile to my face on the Friday of a very long week.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Good point!

(For "CBS rebuttal fails" section of summary.)

[federal]

Retired Col. Walter Staudt, who was brigadier general of Bush's unit in Texas

Does anyone else think that if the news organizations had any knowledge at all of the military they would know that the mans title is Brigadier General Staudt.

Not Col. Staudt

You know the media doesn't understand why people think GWB missing some months with the ANG is no big deal. Well the truth is most Americans have either served or have had family members serve in the reserve and those Americans know that occassionally missing drills is the reason the reserve exists.

The reserve is designed to allow military personel to pursue a civilian life yet still serve. The media people having never served in the military themselves just can't fathom something so simple.

[xzins]

Thanks to both of you.

See #29

[N. Theknow]

Excellent, love it!! That's the Death Knell for Blather, SeeBSWhenever I hear Death Knell, I always picture Inspector Fenwick's daughter Nell from Dudley Do-Right in a Darth Vader helmet.

[AlaskaErik]

A Brigadier General is a one-star general (like Commodore is a one-star admiral). It is considered a temporary rank. If a flag officer doesn't make two stars before retirement, then they revert to their last permanent rank (Colonel for the army and airforce, Captain for the Navy and Coast Guard).

Negative. BG is a permanent grade. Commodore is a war time rank.

[Question_Assumptions]

Can the Chewbacca Defense be far away now?

[Nam Vet]

Great article. This should tweak Blather's beak a bit!! LOL

Nam Vet

[OhMike]

Staudt did what in Texas they might call opening up a big can of whoopass on Rather.