The Left can't let the AWOL issue die now that the proof is out

[Q]

- The American Media wants Bush* to win in 2004...so they've done their usual job in performing a minimal amount of investigative reporting on the AWOL issue. The Media is now implying if not outright saying that the release of Bush's* guard records has now closed the case.

- But those interested in the truth are saying the opposite: that the release of the documents has actually proven that Bush* was AWOL.

- We shouldn't allow the American media to once again cover up for Bush's* horrible record and past. This is a very relevant issue because voters can't make an informed decision if the whole truth is kept from them.

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What Bush's Guard File Reveals
02/18/2004 @ 12:06am
David Corn


Okay, we were wrong--the we being those who called on Bush to honor his promise to release his entire Air National Guard records in the hope it would clarify the mysteries surrounding the last eighteen months of his service. After trying to back away from that promise, the Bush White House finally did relent. Last Friday, it handed out packets of hundreds of pages of Bush's Air National Guard file. Yet these records contained not a single sheet that that can be used to resolve the controversy. In fact, the file only reinforces the existing questions.

To recap, here are the three key issues.

* In May 1972, Bush moved from Texas to Alabama to work on the Senate campaign of a family friend. He still had two years left on his Guard obligation. He requested permission to continue his Guard training in Alabama. But did he show up?

* Sometime after the November 1972 election, he returned to Houston. But his immediate supervisors at Ellington Air Base in Houston--his home base--noted in a May 2, 1973, annual performance review that Bush "has not been observed at this unit" for the past year. After that report, he put in several intensive stints of duty. But had Bush ignored his Guard responsibilities for months once he was back in Houston?

* In September 1972, he was grounded for failing to take a flight physical. Why did he not go through this simple step to preserve his flying status?

The new records provide answers to none of this. Although they detail much of his first years in the Air National Guard--his assignments, his training, his drills--they contain no specific references to duty he might have done in Alabama or Houston in the May 1972 to May 1973 period. Let's look at the three pieces:

Alabama On May 24, 1972, Bush filed out a form requesting a transfer to the 9921st Air Reserve Squadron in Montgomery, Alabama. But according to this application, he was already in Alabama at work on that Senate campaign. On May 26, the commander of the 9921st wrote Bush to tell him that his application had been accepted. This suggests that Bush moved to Alabama before he had arranged for any Guard reassignment. Was that SOP?

Continues: http://www.thenation.com/capitalgames/

[Q]

1. Something the 'left' needs to learn...

...is to follow through with their offense against the many Bush* lies.

- Republicans impeached Clinton...not because he wasn't doing his job as president...but because they were relentless in their pursuit.

[Bandit]

5. It isn't over by a long shot

There are a few reputable Media organizations that have put some people on this one. It will take a month or so for the investigations to be completed but this will become even bigger the closer we get to election. They have no reason Bush* quit flying after tremendous expense in training him. That is the thing that will become the issue. It is very simple for all to understand and they have no defense.

[GOPisEvil]

2. The public has heard the story and they don't care, apparently.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=374655

If one can trust Gallup, that is...

[BillZBubb]

10. The people do care, even if they don't think so.

It's the same phenomenon with negative ads. People swear they aren't affected, but sub-consciously they are. I can't count the number of conversations I've had with people who claim they cannot stand negative ads, don't listen to them, and then later repeat a point from a negative ad.

AWOL has had a big impact. Look at Chimps overall poll numbers when the issue was big.

We need to keep pushing this.

[Insider]

3. we need our own karl rove

he is a student of history and so far cannot be beat for propaganda techniques. he used hatfield. he used the "news cycle".

we said enron would do it. we said 9/11 investigation would do it. we said awol would do it. but so far, we cannot counter the rove machine. the proof is in the white house.

[papau]

4. Transfer to AL postoffice NG duty was denied - so on 5/26 transfer was

approved - to be effective when - and to what unit?

[sangh0]

6. "The American Media wants Bush* to win in 2004..."

"so they've done their usual job in performing a minimal amount of investigative reporting on the AWOL issue" and you know this because you read it in The Nation, a part of the American Media?

:shrug:

[Q]

7. American media=

...the corporate media. If you don't know who they are by now...you haven't been paying attention. They're the 'patriotic free press'. Some call them the 'mainstream' media.

[grasswire]

8. check out this blog...

...it has some good ideas about the press.

http://webdems.blogspot.com

[sangh0]

9. So some of "American Media" is NOT "Corporate Media"?

How can Corporate Media prevent the non-corporate American Media from making it's message heard? Or are you saying the Nation is "American Media" because it's not "Corporate Media"? IMO, the two are not the same