Posted on 09/17/2004 2:24:56 PM PDT by fidelio
BC-Bush-Guard Records, 1st Ld,340
URGENT
Newly released guard records contain letter from President Bush's father
Eds: ADDS 3 grafs
By MATT KELLEY
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - A packet of Texas Air National Guard records newly released Friday showed that the commanding officer of President Bush's basic training unit took a special interest in him as a trainee and wrote to his father to praise his son.
Bush's father, then a congressman from Texas, said in reply to the commander, "That a major general in the Air Force would take interest in a brand new Air Force trainee made a big impression on me."
Bush went on to say that his son "will be a gung ho member" of the Air Force and that Air Force instructors had "helped awaken the very best instincts in my son."
The letter and other material were the latest in a stream of documents released about Bush's service three decades ago during the Vietnam War, when Bush's critics say he got preferential treatment as the son of a congressman and U.N. ambassador. Critics have also questioned why Bush skipped a required medical examination in 1972 and failed to show up for drills during a six-month period that year.
The White House has said repeatedly that all of Bush's Guard records have been disclosed, only to be embarrassed when new documents have turned up. The long-running story took an unusual turn when CBS uncovered documents purportedly showing that Bush refused orders to take a physical examination in 1972 - but then the authenticity of the documents came under doubt.
In addition to the letter from Bush's father, the latest documents contain news releases that the Texas Air National Guard sent to Houston newspapers in 1970 about young Bush, then a second lieutenant and new pilot. "George Bush is one member of the younger generation who doesn't get his kicks from pot or hashish or speed," the news release said. "Oh, he gets high, all right, but not from narcotics."
Three decades later, a new book by Kitty Kelley has alleged that Bush used cocaine while he was a student at Yale University and later at Camp David while his father was president.
Yawn.
HAHAHAHAHA
The AP sued for more records and what did they get?
Records from the Air Guard written to George Herbert Bush telling him what a great kid he had.
Released from where. did I miss something while I was gone.
And this is news - why?
This is.....it's.....stop the.....(bonk, snore).
Can this reporter explain why the WH would be "embarrassed" whenever new documents are found and released? There has been nothing damning of the president's service in the Texas ANG, and the White House is not the keeper of these records. Personnel records are theoretically contained in one central location, but in practice they could be scattered almost anywhere, if not destroyed for some innocent reason in years past.
Rope-a-dope
The Pentagon sued to get more documents released. I think this is part of what they got:
A packet of Texas Air National Guard records newly released Friday showed that the commanding officer of President Bush's basic training unit took a special interest in him as a trainee and wrote to his father to praise his son.
Ping the hordes!
I think that it is noteworthy that the CO sends unsolicited praise about the new recuit. Also, notes in the record, waaay before kitty's book, indicating that narcotics were not part of the game at that time. If they were, perhaps they would not have been mentioned, but then, a positive letter would not have been entered into the file and local papers.
Could this be a last desparate act? I hope the Swifties' October suprise is enough to shut down everyone on the left.
Well that does it, I'm voting for Kerry.
Is this a joke? Why does the MSM think people have any interest in this Guard stuff? What's next, did Bush keep his shoes and brass shined?
When I was in ROTC, press releases were sent to everyone's local paper. It was a recruiting tool. My name was in my local paper 3-4 times. I was somewhat embarrassed, but my parents loved it!
I'm sure the AP is going try and spin this negatively but I think this is a really cool tidbit of info. I can just picture GHWB saying stuff like that, can't you?
"...took a special interest in him as a trainee and wrote to his father to praise his son."
Gosh, this seems to show the exact opposite of what's been alleged. No letter form GHWBush asking the brass to keep an eye on his son...just a letter from the brass to GHW bragging on the boy. No smoking gun...no silver bullet... not even a spitwad.
He segues from an article praising Bush as getting his high from flying, to scraping the bottom of the barrel with Kelly's scurrilous and unsourced accusations.
The AP has lost all integrity.
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