Why the National Guard story matters

[dolstein]

This story is relevant because it reinforces two things we know about the president.

First, it is further evidence that Bush has benefitted from preferential treatment. We know he got into Yale not on merit but because of special treatment. We know he got into Harvard Business School not on merit but because of special treatment. We now know he got into the National Guard not on merit but because of special treatment. And he now know he was given an honorable discharge not because he earned it, but hecause of special treatment. And while these things happened long ago, the pattern has continued up to this very day. We know that Bush's failed business attacted investors not on merit but because of special treatment. We know that Bush wasn't prosecuted for securities violations because he was innocent, but because of special treatment. We know that Bush was given the opportunity to become an owner of the Texas rangers not because of merit but because of special treatment. We know that Bush was treated with kid gloves by the press in his gubernatorial campaigns and his first presidential campaign. The double standard during the 2000 campaign was especially pronounced. And the special treatment has continued throughout his presidency. Actions that would have resulted in independent counsels and inpeachment proceedings under a Democratic president have gone uninvestigated by Congress and the press.

Second, it shows that Bush simply hasn't been honest and forthcoming with the American public. Isn't it amazing that, more than ten years after questions were first raised about his national guard service, new documents are still turning up? Unfortunately, this is par for the course as far as the Bush administraiton is concerned. The administration has a Nixonian compulsion to conver up information that could prove damaging. They have refused to turn over information on the energy task force. They threatened a Medicare actuary in order to cover up the true cost of their prescription drug program. They classified portions of a 9/11 report that revealed the ties between Saudi Arabia and terrorist groups. And they've relentlessly bullied the press into submission.

The fact is, the more people learn about Bush, the less he'll be able to rely on the phony "aw shucks" regular guy image that his backers, aided by a compliant press, have created for him.

[troublemaker]

1. Politically the story matters because of cocaine.

Everything else is a distraction. This is a drug story and that's how it will play out.

[napi21]

2. Yes, drug story if they can prove it! I say it's failure to perform

to the standards of TANG AND failure to obey a direct order! (Didn't take the physical) This is going to make more of an impact on ex-military people. They know what consequesces are, and they're not going ot like that at all!

[no name no slogan]

4. Yeah, cocaine's a hell of a drug (n/t)

[DoveTurnedHawk]

3. Great Post (eom)

DTH

[kentuck]

5. And he's sitting in the White House because of peferential treatment...

from the Supreme Court of the US.

good post!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. he isn't honest and forthcoming by his very nature

The secrecy of the Cheney energy policy talks, and the resistance to any substantive 9/11 inquiry are indicative.

[oasis]

7. Bush's mission accomplished: A lifetime of special treatment.

Wake up America.