For those who can't understand why the Bush AWOL issue is so important now

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0212/p01s01-uspo.html

Flap over Bush military service: why it's back

By Linda Feldmann | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

WASHINGTON – It's entirely possible that the full story of President Bush's service in the National Guard more than 30 years ago - again the subject of intense scrutiny - will never be told. snip

But 2004 is vastly different from 2000. Four years ago, the nation was at peace and Bush's opponent had not seen combat in Vietnam, either. Now, national security is a central issue and Bush is likely to face a decorated Vietnam War hero in the general election.

Perhaps most important, the flap over Bush's National Guard service raises questions about the president's credibility at a time when his most valuable asset - a reputation for integrity and candor - is under siege. Questions about whether he took the nation to war under false claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and about a spraling budget deficit top the list.

"One of Bush's strengths is he seems to be a straight shooter, and his ratings on integrity and honesty are still pretty good," says John Mueller, a political scientist at Ohio State University. "If you can chip away at that, that's obviously good for the Democrats. If he's been lying or Clintonizing, that would be the ultimate coup de grace. He might even lose some Republican votes that way."

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[Eccho]

1. It's the flight suit, stupid

I'm not calling you stupid by the way. It's just something I find myself yelling at the talking heads lately.

It's a combo of the flight suit, and sending troops to a war that didn't need to be fought.

[Lindacooks]

2. 'Clintonizing'???????????

What an unbelievably stupid phrase. A lie is a lie is a lie, and the chimp has told thousands of them. Not only that, but those lies have resulted in DEATHS.

How many died when Clinton lied?

[Sapphocrat]

4. Oh, but don't you understand?

Every single sperm cell is a LIFE!

So the answer is: Millions and MILLIONS!

(That's what God told me Jerry Falwell told him, anyway.)

[bobbieinok]

3. ??? wasn't Gore under fire in VN as a photographer ???????

awol story was not followed because media reported only positive spin about W and negative spin about Gore

Cokie Roberts said just before or just after the selection that the media had 2 stories - W as a nice guy, maybe not so super smart and Gore as a teacher's pet that no one liked

anything - any info that didn't fit the stories - wasn't reported

AND she wasn't embarrassed about this - 'just the way journalism works'

[revcarol]

5. "IF, IF, IF he's been lying..."

and this guy claims to be a political scientist???

He must be the one Bush wants us to visit on Mars.