USA Today: Questions about Bush's Guard service unanswered

[reprehensor]

Previsously posted in LBN. This important article is slipping off the radar.

Questions about Bush's Guard service unanswered

By Dave Moniz and Jim Drinkard, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — At a time when Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry has come under fire from a group of retired naval officers who say he lied about his combat record in Vietnam, questions about President Bush's 1968-73 stint in the Texas Air National Guard remain unresolved:

• Why did Bush, described by some of his fellow officers as a talented and enthusiastic pilot, stop flying fighter jets in the spring of 1972 and fail to take an annual physical exam required of all pilots?

• What explains the apparent gap in the president's Guard service in 1972-73, a period when commanders in Texas and Alabama say they never saw him report for duty and records show no pay to Bush when he was supposed to be on duty in Alabama?

• Did Bush receive preferential treatment in getting into the Guard and securing a coveted pilot slot despite poor qualifying scores and arrests, but no convictions, for stealing a Christmas wreath and rowdiness at a football game during his college years?

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[Trajan]

1. This is EXACTLY what I thought would happen ...

The SBL's bogus assertions would RE-open the door for scrutiny of Bush and Cheney's awful military service records ...

The have opened a pandora's box that had been closed ....

Silly asses: ... shot themselves in the foot .... again ....

[ibegurpard]

2. The only thing I can think of

that makes sense as to why they would take that risk is that they knew the buzz was out there about his military history and that by smearing Kerry they could make these questions look like political tit-for-tat not to be taken seriously.

[A_Possum]

3. What's this?

"Since February, the White House has banned all Guard and military commanders outside the Pentagon from commenting on Bush's records or service. Requests for information must go to the Pentagon's Freedom of Information Act office."

Does this just affect active duty commanders? Or are they trying to silence all of them?

I get so annoyed at vague reporting. It's way too common now that you read a paragraph, read it again, read it a third time, and STILL don't know what they heck they said.

It's like a giant game of Telephone.

[poliguru]

4. As much as I like t see Bush squirm

I'm afraid that this controversy is taking the heat of Bush for the stuff that really resonates with most voters - economy, education, health care, Iraq, terrorism.

I actually wish this stuff would drop off the radar - let's discuss the REAL issues and see how well Bush fares.

[Stew225]

5. Bring on the mainstream press! eom

[Dick_Tuck]

6. Not to worry...

This is just the opening salvo. I think you've nailed it. This election will be about jobs, the economy, terrorism, and this years war. Kerry is playing this very smart. He's casting doubt on every dirty trick now, so if Rove tries to roll out a new smear in October, the result will be minimal.

If I were Kerry, I'd be painting Bush right now as a dirty player, who lies without regard. Kerry is also shoring up his weak spots. In March, Bush held a strong lead in polls regarding the war on terror and ability to be a commander in chief. Those leads have been cut big time.

Come labor day, expect Kerry to be going after the economic issues in a big way.

[quinnox]

7. Good to see, now let's see big media follow up this

I would love to see the only thing coming out of Bush's convention are questions about his National Guard service and the dreaded AWOL.

Time for the media to run with this just as hard as they ran with the Smear Boat trash.

[Sinistrous]

8. Anybody want to bet there will be NO follow-up article tomorrow?

My guess is that this is just a nod to "balanced reporting." Just check out the frequency, placement, and column inches given to the Swifties, and compare.