ChiTrib: "Late night" release of memos re * service

[sfecap]

Memos say Bush pushed for move
National Guard service in question

By Mark Silva and Jeff Zeleny
Washington Bureau
Published September 9, 2004

WASHINGTON -- When President Bush was a lieutenant in the Texas Air National Guard, an official complained that Bush was "talking to someone upstairs" in his bid for transfer to duty in Alabama to work on the campaign of a family friend, documents released late Wednesday by the White House show.

The unsigned memo on May 19, 1972, outlined a "phone call from Bush," who was discussing how to "get out of coming to drill now through November." Bush, who had trained to fly fighter jets for the Guard in Texas and served stateside during the Vietnam War, insisted on seeking a transfer to Alabama any way possible, the memo writer said, because he is "working on another campaign for his dad."

The late-night release of the memos added another layer of complexity and intrigue to the renewed examination of Bush's time in the National Guard in the Vietnam era, the war from more than 30 years ago that has taken an unexpectedly prominent role in this presidential campaign. Bush's challenger, Democrat John Kerry, has been forced to defend his combat service in Vietnam, where he received several awards for heroism.

The release of the documents comes seven months after the White House disclosed what it said was an exhaustive list of the president's National Guard records. The documents were released two hours after CBS News raised new questions during a prime-time broadcast about whether Bush was awarded a coveted slot out of favoritism.

(more)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/elections/chi-0409090296sep09,1,5468228.story?coll=chi-news-hed

[Search Party]

1. Where is the outrage in the press?

"We've released all records."


"Here are some more records."

[Walt Starr]

2. I seem to recall the press all over Hillary Clinton over records that

were found later.

Double Standard in the Corporate Media.

[Gin]

3. what new documents? did I miss something after 60 minutes last night?

g

[City Lights]

4. Yes, the WH mysteriously released two of the four

document that CBS revealed on 60 Minutes, after 60 Minutes aired. The question is why didn't they comply with the law and release them earlier under the FOIA request from AP and others?

[displacedtexan]

5. Laws are for the rabble, DesertDem!

Everyone named Bush has gotten away with breaking the law for so long that obeying the law, any law, is unthinkable to them today.

[dennis4868]

10. why didn't they comply with the law?

laws? we dont have to follow any damn laws...i am keeping you all safe...now shut up and get on your knees and thank me for keeping you safe from Saddam!

[MrBenchley]

9. And remember, Hillary's documents

turned out to be exactly the same as documents already released by the Rose law firm....and contained nothing at all improper.

[Supersedeas]

6. So the idea that * would have gone had * been assigned is totally debunked

He personally pushed for his assignment with a personal phone call...

Courage, integrity, virtue...
I don't think so!!!

[LuminousX]

7. These memos must have accidentally gotten stuck to the bottom of someone's

desk and lo and behold the cleaning crew last night found them and the White House rushed them to the press in a mea culpa move. Whew! are they red faced at having said they released ALL the records only to discover this small oversight and are assuring us that this really, honestly, is all the records.

[Cocoa]

8. "talked to someone upstairs"

watch the Bush campaign spin this as proof of Bush's religious devotion.

[annabanana]

11. .shows continued lack of respect for the Military.

It sure would be NICE to have a Commander in Cheif who had some respect for the Military, wouldn't it......