Here is THE name to watch for in the AWOL scandal (from Calpundit)

[Bucky]

Source: http://www.calpundit.com/archives/003243.html

Kevin "Calpundit" Drum is working on the story of a guy named "Bill Burkett" in the coming days as AWOL-scam comes trudging slowly into the light. It's still not clear if Burkett is a real whistle blower or a self deluded character.

He's basing part of his knowledge of the TANG cover up on an "overheard conversation." Not a good sign, but not totally out of the realm of possibility (or maybe even a cover for a more plausible scenario for the incriminating documents to come to life). Here's what Calpundit is reporting:

The good news is that I finally got hold of {Burkett} a little before noon and we talked for nearly two hours about his story.

Basically, he confirmed his account and answered several of my questions about it. He says he accidentally overheard the conversation in General James' office about cleaning up George Bush's National Guard record and then discussed it with a friend who subsequently led him to the building where he saw 30 or 40 Bush documents lying in a trash can. He agrees that his "clarification" in 2000 went too far and says that he got scared by all the attention and backed off more than he should have. And he's quite frank about his run-ins with Dan Bartlett and the medical problems that he blames on retaliation by Bush's staff.

Overall, then, his story hangs together reasonably well — but whether his story is true is still a judgment call and I think the only way for people to judge the whole thing is to hear it in his own words...

...However, it sounds like Burkett has talked to dozens of reporters in the past few days, so I wouldn't be surprised if his name starts popping up more frequently in news accounts. Keep your eyes peeled.

My advice to Mr. Burkett: stay off small planes, dude.

[rooboy]

1. Don't just stay off small planes...

stay away from motels and tell your friends every day that you feel great.

[Bronco69]

2. Some more advice...

don't drive alone on desolate roads. Beware!!

[Nlighten1]

6. Stay off sidewalks too.

[kskiska]

3. The Dallas Morning News story was about Burkett

He's been there all along, though.

[truthisfreedom]

4. tell everyone you know that you would never ever commit suicide, no matter

what. and yes, stay off small planes, out of parks, off lonely roads, tell someone exactly where you are going every time you leave the house, and have a friend hold a complete testamonial for you to be released to the press upon your untimely death or incapacitation.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. Hey, dude...my advice to you is not to sling crap at someone you know...

...absolutely nothing about. And here's what I'm referring to in your post:

"It's still not clear if Burkett is a real whistle blower or a self deluded character."

Why don't you conduct a Google search on "Burkett Bush" and find out for yourself?

In light of everything that's been coming out in the last few days about Herr Junior, I know what I believe.

[DoctorMyEyes]

9. ummmmm...

The poster was quoting CalPundit who actually spoke with Burkett today and relaying the same caution.

RIF

[RedEarth]

7. Well, I hope this story has legs to it....

If it does it could present some major problems for Rove and company. I did a search on Burkett this evening and he certainly it not too fond of Bush. It sounds like Bush and his thugs did everything they could to keep him from receiving medical treatment at the VA. I tell you what......Bush and Rove are ruthless bastards and Burkett does need to be careful.

By the way, Bucky, you've got a nice blog....keep up the good work.

[Gman]

8. No jogging alone in parks or remote areas

[TacticalPeek]

10. Burkett's quoted in tomorrow's WaPo article at this link:

1973 Document Puts Bush on Guard Base - WaPo

snip

"Although the White House has been unable to produce peers from Bush's service in Alabama, critics emerged from all quarters. Bill Burkett, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Texas National Guard, said in an interview with The Washington Post this week that he overheard a speakerphone call about Bush's National Guard file in 1997, when Bush was Texas governor. Burkett said he was in a National Guard office when he overheard Joseph M. Allbaugh, then Bush's chief of staff, tell an officer in reference to Bush's military file that he "needed to make sure there was nothing to embarrass the governor."

Burkett said he later witnessed some items from Bush's file in the trash. Bush officials and Allbaugh denied these allegations. Bartlett called them "outrageous."

[Moderator]

11. Not LBN

Locking.