The WP's AWOL story translated from mediawhore-speak into English.

[John_H]

“White House officials have said there was no reason for Bush to take the annual physical required of fighter pilots because there were no suitable planes for him to fly in Alabama…”

Translation: Didn’t you know that members of the Bush family are allowed to disobey direct orders if they determine which planes are suitable to fly? Washington Post reporters accept this fact without skepticism.


“In releasing Bush's flight records, White House spokesmen yesterday expressed frustration over what they depicted as the Pentagon's failure to produce a full and complete record of the president's military service.”

Translation: Blame someone else, even though the article makes it clear that the release of records is being directed straight out of the White House press office. Washington Post reporters see no inconsistenct with this paragraph and the next paragraph.


"Officers responsible for implementing the Freedom of Information Act for the National Guard and the Pentagon declined to respond to queries from The Post last week on the completeness of the president's records, referring a reporter to the...White House press office"

Translation: "Look pal, I'm a career officer sworn to do my job--Of course there are more records but I'll be damned if I'm going to jeopardize my career to save some politician's ass. You go ask the white house to lie."

“Steve Schmidt…charged that Texans for Truth "is a front group for MoveOn.org that has spent tens of millions of dollars attacking the president. . . . This is a smear group launching baseless attacks on behalf of John Kerry's campaign…”

Translation: I concede that the SBLs were connected with the Bush campaign, and I’m going to try to link this group with the Kerry campaign even though there is no evidence of this.

"McAuliffe has a long history of false and reckless statements."

Translation: McAuliffe often tells the truth.

[merbex]

1. Isn't being ordered to take a physical a lawful order?

“White House officials have said there was no reason for Bush to take the annual physical required of fighter pilots because there were no suitable planes for him to fly in Alabama…”

Translation: Didn’t you know that members of the Bush family are allowed to disobey direct orders if they determine which planes are suitable to fly? Washington Post reporters accept this fact without skepticism.

BEING ORDERED TO TAKE A PHYSICAL IS A LAWFUL ORDER.

Does B* want to dispute that?

[wurzel]

3. If there were no planes to fly why was Bush in Alabama in the first place?

Isn't if a bit like sending a submarine officer to Nebraska?

[maine_raptor]

2. I Actually think this was a good article for Kerry, John H.

Most of the quotes that I see you have post are from the Republican response.

I think if look at the gist of the article, it was VERY supportive of the notion that His Shrubness did not HONORABLELY serve is country.

<Snip>


President Bush failed to carry out a direct order from his superior in the Texas Air National Guard in May 1972 to undertake a medical examination that was necessary for him to remain a qualified pilot, according to documents made public yesterday.

<end snip>

THAT is the lead. Kinda doesn't sound too mediawhorish to me.

[John_H]

4. I agree that it helps kerry because of the facts. I was amused by

the way Howie and friends took Team Chimp's lies at face value, without any journalistic skepticism.