Bush credited for Guard drills (Kapow!)

The Boston Globe ^ | 2/10/04 | Walter V. Robinson

[The G Man]

President Bush received credit for attending Air National Guard drills in the fall of 1972 and spring of 1973 -- a period when his commanders have said he did not appear for duty at bases in Montgomery, Ala., and Houston -- according to two new documents obtained by the Globe.

[CMClay]

On May 15, 1972, without leave to do so, Bush “cleared the base” to work on a Senate campaign in Montgomery, Alabama. On May 24, nine days after "clearing out," Bush retroactively requested permission for his absence without leave. Although the Alabama commanding officer approved Bush's request, national headquarters turned him down on May 31, 1972, saying Bush had an obligation to remain until May 1974, and since Bush had been trained to fly, he was “ineligible for assignment” to a non-flying unit in Alabama.

Bush ignored the refusal of the National Guard to let him transfer. And Bush absented himself without leave. “He cleared his base on May 15, 1972” and “has not been observed at this unit during the period of report" from May 1972 to May 1973. One of the authors of the report showing his absence for the year, Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Killian, was a good friend of George W. Bush and would surely have remembered if Bush had returned to base. The Texas National Guard was apparently under the (false) impression that Bush was serving in Alabama. Further documentary proof of Bush's absence from Texas without leave is contained in Bush's blank annual evaluation report for entire period from May 1972 to May 1973 and his Chronological Listing of Service.

Not only was Bush absent from Texas during this year, there is no record of Bush showing up in Alabama either. When this controversy broke in 2000, Bush referred reporters to Albert Lloyd Jr., a retired colonel who was the Texas Air Guard personnel director at the time. According to Lloyd, if Bush performed duty in Alabama, “his drill attendance should have been certified and sent to [Texas] and there would have been a record. We cannot find the records to show he fulfilled the requirements in Alabama.”

Meanwhile, on his birthday July 6, 1972, Bush was required to take an annual military physical. In April 1972, the National Guard first implemented random drug testing, and this would have been the first physical of Bush’s service where he might undergo such testing. But Bush did not “accomplish” his annual medical examination. This means Bush either flunked the physical or refused to submit to one. If Bush flunked the physical for drug use, that would be in the health records Bush refuses to disclose to this day. Recall Bush will not say whether he used cocaine prior to 1974.

Failing to have a drug-free physical required the military to convene a Flight Inquiry Board to give George W. Bush discipline. Although Bush still refuses to disclose his disciplinary records, the final result was clear: Bush was suspended, grounded from flying, and placed on probation in the Army Reserve Force.

On September 5, 1972, after being suspended from the Texas National Guard and grounded from flying, Bush again requested transfer to the Alabama National Guard. This time, having been grounded from flying and useless to his commanders in Texas because Bush could not "satisfy flight requirements" on the ground, his request was granted, and Bush was ordered to report on four specific days in October and November (having already missed September) to General Turnipseed of the Alabama National Guard. Bush never showed up and violated this direct order. Bush spokesman Dan Bartless conceded to The New York Times that "Bush did not serve on those dates because he was involved in the Senate campaign" and argued Bush made up the time later. (But Bush could not have made the time later as a pilot because he had already been grounded and suspended for refusing to have a medical examination that included a drug test.

http://www.radioinsidescoop.com/wst_page12.html

[Just mythoughts]

Guess "WE" will have to get that drum beat going.

"BRING OUT YOUR RECORDS" JFKERRY "PUT UP OR SHUT-UP".

[antiRepublicrat]

I lost my flight status because I was in the hospital with strep throat when the physical came up.

You obviously had a good reason. Bush said he didn't take the physical because he was in Alabama at the time, and the family doctor was in Houston. I'm sure you can tell what was wrong with that story.

No one ever questioned you, or put in your record the reason for your failure to complete your physical?

[Howlin]

That's just MY assumption, cyn. I'm sure Russert (D-NBC) can milk it for a lot longer.

[MJY1288]

Why do you post this leftist garbage?

[MJY1288]

Troll Alert

[ex 98C MI Dude]

We need a ZOT kitty!

STAT!

[CMClay]

Why don't you refute the charges instead?
...if you can't atack the message, atack the messenger?

[Ciexyz]

I agree, case closed. Stop the spin!

[Poohbah]

SKYBIRD SKYBIRD DO NOT ANSWER

SKYBIRD SKYBIRD DO NOT ANSWER

EMERGENCY ACTION MESSAGE FOLLOWS

COMMAND WORD: COTTONMOUTH
DESIGNATOR: JERICHO
DAY WORD: TRINITY

ZOT PER SIOP OPTION TWO ONE ZEBRA "GRAND TOUR"

AUTHENTICATOR: VIKING KITTENS ARE OUR OVERLORDS

EMERGENCY ACTION MESSAGE ENDS

BT



NNNN

[MJY1288]

LOL, Nothing like a juicy story to draw the lefty's out of hiding :-)

[MJY1288]

Because it's some leftist screed, with baseless accusations of Drug use and other nonsense. Go post that garbage over at DU, they'll love it

[Stallone]

BTTT

[The G Man]

With all due respect, you're a new poster and I am not about to click on your link.

[Hon]

"Why do you post this leftist garbage?"

$oro$!

$75 million dollars buys you a lot of monkeys pounding on typwriters.

We are witnessing "big lie" politics in action. Put out a lie--any lie--and repeat until it sticks.

It only costs money and $oro$ has loads of it from his criminal activities.

[ken5050]

Thanks for your comments..have a question, if I might...one of the things not stated in the President's case is the high degree or risk involved in pilot training...where are the accident statistics for this plane?. I believe the F-102 was especially dangerous, though I may be wrong in this..

[hchutch]

ZOTHAWK One, release on my command.

Drop now-now-now.