8 Comments Add your own

• 1. swamprat  |  February 5th, 2009 at 9:53 pm

  GWB’s resume is one of those articles where you want to laugh but you know it’s not funny.
  We had guys like GWB in the military that we labeled PI’s. Political influence. They didn’t have an agenda. I don’t know why they were there except to avoid Viet Nam. The plane GWB flew (if he flew)was pretty much going obsolete at the time.
  Be careful with the AWOL reference, Pat. That’s how the right ruined Dan Rather. Even though Dan was correct. Funny that GWB’s records were all destroyed too.

• 2. Optimistic1  |  February 6th, 2009 at 8:18 am

  Lindsay Graham is the only active US Senator that is also an Iraq War Veteran, I think he is perfectly entitled to use AWOL in a sentence. I must be missing the point, but when did Clinton or Obama serve honorably like Graham or Bush?

  Swamp - Dan Rather admitted he should not have used the documents that he did for the story on GWB. Shoddy reporting and arrogance led to Rather’s forced retirment, not the Right. Maybe Sandy Berger stufffed GWB’s documents down his pants and made off with them like he did from the National Archives to clean up the Clinton Legacy?

  http://www.factcheck.org/new_evidence_supports_bush_military_service_mostly.html

• 3. swamprat  |  February 6th, 2009 at 12:20 pm

  Op. Selective Service ended in 1973. Clinton was in college until 1973. Many got college deferments during the draft, including Dick Cheney who got 5 deferments, and never served in the military. Obama was 12 when the draft ended. The obligation was for government service. Many served their obligations in offices and other support groups. The law never said they had to be in combat or hazardous duty. Clinton went on to serve his country for 8 years as president. Obama is doing the same. I’m sure either of them could have made much more money somewhere else.
  GWB never finished his 6 year obligation so he didn’t serve honorably. He even signed a document acknowleding that if he left the state he could be called to active duty. (As the law states). The evidence is overwhelming that he didn’t finish. He was AWOL. But they gave him an honorable discharge. This is typical when you have political connections.
  The Rather document in question has never been verified as a fake. Only the reporting was investigated. It was headed by a Republican and only showed flawed reporting.
  The whole episode is similar to other mis-deeds by the Bush administration. I wouldn’t be surprised if Karl Rove was involved.

• 4. hokumboy  |  February 6th, 2009 at 1:28 pm

  Considering GW’s service record, the subsequent honorable discharge he received does nothing but demean my service. It’s guys like him that have always made guys like me feel like suckers. I’ve more respect for those who went to Canada and Sweden rather than subject themselves to the draft than I do for that crowd.
  I wonder where George would have been had his NG done their obligation in the same way he had them serve during his administration

• 5. Optimistic1  |  February 6th, 2009 at 1:34 pm

  Swamp - Point being Bush put a uniform on pre-presidency, Clinton nor Obama did to my knowledge. If you served, my hat is off to you and I certainly respect your opinion on the subject. Thanks for your service to our country. I give bush the same credit I extend you for doing something I chose not to do. He did serve, and was honorably discharged, both are facts. If you know the details of this specific incident up close and personal, so be it, but I doubt that is the case. Cheney may be a different story, I am not arguing that. My real argument is Lindsay Graham is completely entitiled to use the term AWOL as he has earned it by serving.

  Why did Rather backtrack if there was no issue? Read the below link and tell me this is anything more than a ridiculously handled story by CBS in trying to sway the election. They and Rather ate major crow on this one, and rightfully so; that is much more easily proven than Karl Rove’s prints being on this issue.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rathergate

• 6. swamprat  |  February 6th, 2009 at 3:50 pm

  Op. The obligation was 4 years active duty and 2 years inactive without meetings. Those that chose National Guard were obligated to 6 years inactive duty with monthly meetings and summer camp each year. Once GWB signed up he was obligated to 6 years. He did not fulfill his obligation by leaving the state to a state that had no meetings. He thus could not stay current in his job which was flying. National Guard must stay on the ready in case they are needed. A pilot must fly 4 hours a month to stay proficient. If an emergency were to arise he could not do his duty. He was technically AWOL. for his last year or more.
  The Rather story may have been badly handled in that it was not completely proven before going on air. To this day the letter has still not been proven as a fake. Rather may have backtracked but he has a $70 million lawsuit against CBS because they made him take the fall.
  And Lindsey Graham’s use of the letters AWOL show he does not know what the letters means.
  Rove not guilty? Yep! Here, pull my other finger.

• 7. swamprat  |  February 6th, 2009 at 4:09 pm

  Op. If you think that was a rediculously handled story to sway the election of 2004 then look up the word “swiftboating”. I’m sure Karl has his fingerprints on this one too. The story was never proven true by the way.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiftboating

• 8. Craig Knauss  |  February 6th, 2009 at 6:29 pm

  Op,

  Two points: 1) Lindsay Graham is NOT the only Senate War veteran. There are a number of them. One of them, Sen Inouye of Hawaii, is a Medal of Honor winner. There are a number of Vietnam vets in Congress, as well. Lindsay Graham had little right to say what he did. 2) GWB joined the ANG to avoid the draft. I don’t care. I know people that did that. But, very few Guard units went to Vietnam, and none from Texas. So do not equate a Guardsman who sat in an Austin bar with someone who served in combat in Vietnam.

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