Posted on 01/27/2006 10:21:06 AM PST by LK44-40
Diane Rehm vigorously disputed on her radio program on Friday that George Bush had ever volunteered to serve in Viet Nam.
Rehm's guest, conservative journalist Fred Barnes, mentioned the familiar assertion that at one point during his Air Guard service, the President did volunteer to go to Viet Nam, an offer that was not accepted.
Rehm responded with incredulity saying that she had never heard such a claim. Some of her callers -- typically left wing -- joined in her scornful dismissal of any such notion. The matter was left with the agreement that Barnes would research the matter and call back into the show on Monday.
The Diane Rehm Show is produced by WAMU in Washington and is widely heard on public radio stations.
bump
drshow@wamu.org
I seem to recall that the main reason he was turned down is that the aircraft he flew was a supersonic interceptor that was totally unneeded in Vietnam. But that aircraft (F102) was perfect for intercepting Soviet bombers coming in from Cuban bases, and the Texas Air National Guard was charged with covering that contingency.
In any case, Dubya's volunteering for service in Vietnam has been mentioned by a few of his contemporaries and reported in a number of sources.
Bush volunteered for Palace Guard, which was a program where reserve F102 pilots were rotated through Vietnam. But about the time he volunteered for it, the F102s were phased out of Palace Guard, so he never got an opportunity to go.
When did he deny that? Can you find a credible source?
Bush flew the F-102, an interceptor for which there was little need in Vietnam. Two volunteers were needed from Bush's squadron to fly 102s from Ton Sun Nut in Saigon. He volunteered, along with others, but two more experience, more senior officers were chosen to go.
I read your post and immediately started to do as you suggest. In fact, I was pasting the thread into the email. Then I had second thoughts. Is this a good idea, pasting in the thread?
Bush won.
Rehm has an audience ?
He volunteered, but his plane was not of the type being used in combat over there. Training on another would not have been cost effective.
I doubt she will respond, or admit on the air that Barnes was right.
Bush did volunteer but didn't get to go because they were phasing out the jet that he was qualified to fly and didn't need any more pilots. Bush was assigned to stateside duty and more or less seemed to lose interest after that.
Diane Rehm is frequently out-of-touch. Before Sandy Berger pleaded "guilty" for SockGate, on three different days I heard her say that he had been cleared of all charges. I e-mailed her all three times of her error, but it did not "take".
There is no doubt whatever that Barnes will get back to her. Although Barnes was a little wobbly in defending what he said, there is no way that he will let the battering she gave him stand unanswered once he is able to refresh himself on the particulars.
Oh wait, my bad.
Anyway Diane stfu.
Think again. Next time, remember that it is better to be silent and thought a fool, than... you know the rest. This topic was widely discussed and put to bed years ago. Then Lt. Bush did not have the qualifications at the time for the Viet Nam slot.
Probably because he has too much class. I mean seriously, only a pandering old boorish dolt, would drone on and on and on about having gone to Nam and being decorated and all.
You know, war stories are only for the drunks at the end of the bar, isolated, looking for free drinks by bragging about their medals, which were often attained at the battle of Gillette.
I think it really demonstrates what kind of a man Kerry is by having the grace to remain silent on this subject.
Last week on her show, she had a flaming liberal and a normal liberal. One caller told her that she needed to get an opposing viewpoint presented on her show. Her response was, "I thought I did have two viewpoints!"
Interesting, nice fact pull.
But, it doesn't matter unless he uses the experience for basis.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.