should Dean bring up Bush going AWOL ?

[JI7]

i think now is a good time to bring it up. especially if reporters ask dean about his being excused from the draft based on medical reasons. what do you all think ? john kerry attacked bush for it but it didn't make big news. but i think dean should do it. the best would be to do it do it on fox news. in fact i think it would be good for most if not all democrats to bring up bush going awol anytime they are asked about the issue.

[xray s]

1. Yes

Over and over and over and over and over....

Maybe it will finally sink into the sheeples skulls.

[pruner]

2. I'd like to see it…

I think all the Dems are pretty much immune from any Viet Nam-related smearing due to Bush's AWOL status… which is far worse than legally "dodging the draft".

[NewJeffCT]

33. I don't know

Clinton dodging the draft in '92 was a big issue... and if Gore had done it, I'm sure it would have been in 2000.

I can only imagine if a wealthy son of a political family (like Bush) had been running on the Democratic ticket in 2000 and had a record like Bush*... every night, Faux would have led off their nightly news with, "and now it is X days since we put out the request for anybody that actually saw the democratic nominee serve in the military, like he claimed..."

[Silverhair]

3. That was done in 2000. It's old old news now. Joe & Jane Average

have already internalized that fact.

[pruner]

5. back in 2000 Bush hadn't sent over 100,000 troops to Iraq…

to be sniped at on a daily basis.

[JI7]

8. not really

while there have been some who have brought up bush going awol, the whore media has pretty much protected the chimp from the charges. and they will continue to, but that doesn't mean we should stop bringing it up. joe & jane average have no idea of his going awol and refusing to take a drug test.

[NewJeffCT]

31. I agree

It was brought up in 2000, but barely registered due to the Rep control of the media.

[Lindacooks]

47. I don't think so

just go around asking others if they know about chimp's desertion. I'll bet the vast majority haven't heard of it, or if they have heard of it, they think it's a ploy by the 'liberal media' to discredit the chimp.

[salin]

49. actually, most haven't. Bring it up to five random people

see how many noticed it in the last campaign. It got very little coverage and never penetrated the public psyche. Most people know about Quayle - and might equate bush to Quayle. But most do not know that he just didn't show up for a year and then (after NO SHOW) gets a year early discharge to go to Harvard Business School (after being rejected from UT Law School).

[Silverhair]

55. I have changed my mind. Bring it up. It won't hurt us...

and every bit helps. I still don't think it will do that much, but anything is better than nothing.

[scipan]

4. Dean should take the high road...

No reason why WE can't bring it up though.

[slinkerwink]

7. wtf? we need to go in with guns blasting at Bush!

[NewJeffCT]

32. but...

Can we get the message out through the corporate media?

[FredScuttle]

57. (chuckle)...get a liberal message out through the corporate media?

Sure, as soon as insHANNITY and El Pigbo french-kiss on Faux News prime time. Maybe thrown in O'Really for a freaky threesome

[calimary]

54. I'd agree about taking the high road ONLY IF the rethugs played fair.

They don't. So EVERYTHING'S on the table.

I'd say meet 'em in the mud pit and either stare 'em down or throw a good LEFT CROSS! Either would throw them off their guard long enough for the hit to start stinging, because they're just not used to people fighting back. When somebody even gets close, they start mewling like sick cats. They can dish it out but they can't take it - witness the recent spate of Charles Krauthammers and others who are bemoaning the bush-hatred they're hearing more and more. Golly gee whiz, they just can't understand what this is about.

Like they don't know - after AT LEAST eight years of persecuting and hounding Clinton!

They're just assholes.

Folks, I tell my kids this all the time and it made an impression on them: IF YOU ACT LIKE A JERK, YOU'RE GOING TO BE TREATED LIKE A JERK.
I think those should be our marching orders in ALL dealings with the republi-CON party.

And yes, we should start calling them republi-CONS. Or republi-CON ARTISTS. Or when speaking of a male rethug - a republi-CON-MAN.

C'mon brothers and sisters! Playing nice does NOT work with these miserable people!

[maggrwaggr]

6. yes, yes, and yes

most people have no freakin' idea.

[Dan]

9. People, people., what is it you don't understand

when you are dealing with the GOP,
you are in a knife fight...

what part of that don't you understand,...

You have two choices, fight or die.

If Dean's lack of military service is an issue...
then, accordingly Bush military career should also be an issue...

Dean or whomever the Democratic candidate is,...
has two choices, fight or die.

[farmbo]

29. Dan has it right...either We bring up AWOL...or Bush slides

We all know why Bush went AWOL... if he had to pee in a bottle in 1972 (as was required by the USAF Flight Surgeon) the cocaine readings would have lit up the Eastern seaboard. That's why he was grounded.

He totally dodged the bullit on this issue in 2000 and, let's face it, unless we bring it up in 2004...he'll tar the Dem. nomininee as a terrorist- coddling fruit ball.

This HAS to be a central issue in the campaign.

[leesa]

59. As should Cheney's and DeLay's and all the other Chickenhawks.

Pound them with it!!!

[caledesi]

10. Of course. The accusations against Dean are so transparent.

Just bring up Mr. AWOL. Just where were you Mr. Bush*?

[roughsatori]

11. Dean MUST clearly reference AWOL-Chimp in a high-profile interview

Do it early and let them know that it will be his standard answer if the media whores continue to bring it up.

[shance]

12. If people realized that Vietnam was also a war for OIL

then perhaps they would understand that Vietnam was yet one more war for profit.

I can understand of course anyone who did what they could to not serve. I also feel incredible sadness and anger for those who had to serve for a war that had no just reason. I have no idea what Deans choice was or anyone elses, except to say Vietnam was WRONG and why should people be wrong for not enabling a war that was unjust and profit driven. Why should individuals be WRONG for escaping a war that was WRONG. Someone help me out with that? Would we all not take the same opportunity if granted to us? I know I would.

I have no problem with anyone who did not make it to Vietnam, except perhaps those who supported the war, like Dick Cheney Tom Delay, and others, and yet didnt happen to make it over there. Its interesting how few individuals realize that Vietnam was another war to hijack resources from another continent for our own gain. We have alot to learn.

I actually learned more about the Vietnam situation from a 2nd Admiral who worked under Kissenger during the whole fiasco. It was about oil bottom line. Many innocent kids like right now, are being used for profit. An unimaginable sin, and yet what else can be said? The truth is obvious.

[_Jumper_]

13. If he wins the nomination, yes

He should not do it right now because he should not draw attention to his draft dodging, especially given the fact his biggest rivals are war heroes.

[JaneQPublic]

39. Dean showed up at his draft board. That's not "draft dodging"

Dean could have been drafted on that day, but the Army didn't want him.

[girl gone mad]

14. ABSOLUTELY. n/t

[Kool Kitty]

15. Absolutely! n/t

[Guaranteed]

16. Some of the best advice I have ever received:

"When in a fight, hit FIRST, and hit HARD." You can damn well bet Bush is going to throw everything, including the kitchen sink, at Dean. Dean needs to anticipate that, and make those issues wherein Bush is going to try to hit him his own issues. You do that by hitting first.

Look at how Rove used that stupid Dem memo on the Iraq War intelligence. There was even some embarassing stuff in there for the REPUBLICANS, but since Rove took the initiative, he had the advantage. Of course, it didn't work out as well as he would have wanted, but, he, at the very least, got a draw.

[Robin Hood]

17. Wesley Clark needs to bring up this subject.

And when it's a Clark/Dean ticket. They need to bring it up again and again.

[TreasonousBastard]

21. In the Dartmouth speech...

Clark talked about "...the chickenhawks in Washington..."

Really! I heard it with my own two ears on the radio and damn near drove off the Turnpike.

Pound it in till it sticks! Dean and the rest of 'em are on the side of the angels on this one with Shrub and his poodle calling for more action after Istanbul-- "We're going to hang tough."

"What you mean 'we' Kemosabe?"
--Tonto

[dfong63]

18. they all should bring it up - Dean, Kerry, Clark, Gephardt, et al

... all of them should be hammering Bush on this. and his insider-trading at Harken. and why isn't Ken Lay in jail right now?

[jumptheshadow]

30. Finally, we agree

All the Democrats should bludgeon Bush with this, although the words from the veterans will justiably carry more weight. They should also probably target Enron. However, they'll have to check their list of campaign contributors first.

[Skwmom]

40. Why should the other candidates step in

and try to cover Dean's *ss?

[Hep]

41. I'll paypal you a dollar

If you can make five posts in a row and not mention Dean.

[_NorCal_D_]

53. Think about it.

If Dean brings this up, he'll look like a moron.

Please bring this up Dean! B-) :bounce:

[TacticalPeek]

19. EVERYbody should bring it up whenever appropriate.

But with a carefully gamed-out line of attack. Lean and logical.

MoveOn or somebody ought to start bidding up that reward offered to any Alabama Guardsman who saw him show up for duty (haha). If it gets big enough, spam the news factories and talk lines with it.

If Shrub ever had to answer live questions about it, his stock would sink among many of his dead-enders.





http://awolbush.com/

:evilgrin:

[w4rma]

20. sure, but there are way more substantial things to slam * over. (n/t)

[PaDUer]

22. Of course...

they ALL should...it's fair game...why hide the truth...let it roll for each and every candidate..

[neuvocat]

23. Yes.

Its entirely possible the pukes know the weakness of Bush and want to mount an offensive, BTW.

[imax2268]

24. naaaa...

I think he should leave it alone...people are getting tired of hearing about BushCo...we know he's a screw-up...stick to issues that face this country...start talking about how to fix this country...!!!

[drfemoe]

25. It depends ..

You think *now* is a good time and I'm glad you are not on the Dean campaign staff.

No. Dean should NOT compare his medical deferrment to AWOL. A deferrment is legitimate. AWOL is .. well you know.

What WOULD be appropriate is to compare the aircraft landing with AWOL. There's the story.

Do you have any record of Kerry "attacking" *u*h for it? We might be able to find a way to make that big news.

edit: However, Dean did publish this:
..."HIV/AIDS poses an imminent threat to the lives of millions of Americans, particularly in minority communities. Yet, instead of waging war against this disease, President Bush has gone AWOL. " ...

[morningglory]

26. You betchum, Little Beaver. eom

[drfemoe]

27. Sorry but I want to repeat this

During viet nam, draft dodgers either went to Canada or went to prison. They didn't go skiing.

Do we remember that President Ford pardoned the draft dodgers so that they could legally return to the US? (and to heal our nation)
IOW, the real dodgers have been pardoned, if not *forgiven*, by those who use this tag in an attempt to slander someone they don't like to start with.

.... I sense another flag flap may be coming on. gawd I hope I'm wrong.

[shance]

28. Who really cares what the reason was for not going

if you didnt support the war you werent willing to fight for?

Vietnam was apparently about oil as well.

Would you have fought for it yourself?

This is irrelevant of Dean or anyone else who may have questioned the war. It was a questionable war AT BEST, and I think at best the issue of serving has pretty much become irrelevant, other than the reality of unjustly calling innocent Americans to serve.

[Skwmom]

35. A lot of rich people got out of Vietnam leaving poor

people to take their place, and they didn't have to go to Canada or prison.

[JI7]

45. yup

certain people were able to get out of it without having to go to prison or canada like gwbush. he got into a gaurd unit that they knew would never go to vietnam and he STILL WENT AWOL. how pathetic is that ? of course it's probably because of his cocaine use.

[dbt]

34. Hell YES, bring it up!

Along with the facts that it occurred during "wartime" and that if one remains AWOL for, what, longer than 30 days, one is considered a deserter.

Bring it on!

:evilgrin:
dbt

[Stuckinthebush]

36. Nope...they'll just bring up his deferment

Let them shoot first.

[Speed8098]

37. Personally

I'd rather hear his plan for fixing this mess * has gotten us into.

It seems to me that the * lovers and those on the fence will only poo poo negative statements made by our candidates.

I do think *'s military record shoud be brought out during the Presidential debates. That way he will have to address the issue in a public forum. He won't have rove there to coach him, he will have to either agree with our nominee or lie about it. Either way, he loses.

If it is brought up now, the media and the rove machine will charactarize it as Democrats clutching at straws. Don't underestimate the power of propaganda.

Wes Clark vs *, what a great debate that would be. I'll bet that * is quivering like a bowl of jello before it's over.

[xultar]

38. NO!!! only if SHRUB brings it up first. n/t

[Woodstock]

46. but he has brought it up first, by the attacks on Dean

do you think they came out of nowhere?

[mainer]

42. Only if asked about his own draft experience

Every time a journalist asks him about the "draft-dodging" charge, he should bring up Bush's AWOL.

The mediawhore journalists won't dare ask him the question, then, because they know there'll be blowback against bush.

[Norbert]

43. I'm so sick of hearing the neocons say Robert KKKByrd.

I say if the neocons can bring up an event that happened in the 1940s I say HELL YES! The AWOL issue and shrubs alcohol and druggie issue is fair game.

And if shrub/Rove thinks he can make a case out of Dean's draft status, they are sadly mistaken. They are pretty much living in a glass house on that one.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

44. no he should simply ask Bush* Michael Moore's 7 questions

1. Is it true that the bin Ladens have had business relations with you and your family for over the past 25 years?

2. What is the "special relationship" between the Bushes and the Saudi royal family?

3. Who attacked the United States on September 11 - a guy on dialysis from a cave in Afghanistan, or your friends, Saudi Arabia?

4. Why did you allow a private Saudi jet to fly around America just 2 days after September 11 and pick upmembers of the bin Laden family and then fly them out of the country without a proper investigation by the FBI?

5. Why are you protecting the "Second Ammendment rights" of potential terrorists?

6. Were you aware that while you were governor of Texas, the Taliban traveled to Texas to meet your oil and gas company friends?

7. What exactly was that look on your face in the Florida classroom on the morning of September 11 when your chief of staff told you, "America is under attack"?

[Scott Lee]

48. Sadly I think AWOL has grown teflon on this issue

I saw him pummelled with it last "election", but amazingly it glanced off him. If that same situation had been hung around the neck of a liberal democrat, he wouldn't have made it past the primaries.

Here's a nasty bit of political reality these days - take a potentially devistating issue to a candidate, and when applying it to a conservative republican, reduce it's impact by two thirds. When applying it to a liberal democrat, multiply it's impact exponentially.

[TacticalPeek]

63. Last "election" the AWOL news came out only in the final few days.

And there was no "pummelling", rather, hardly any coverage at all.

And few citizens knew who UBL was, much less cared if his family bankrolled Shrub or not.


:shrug:

[_NorCal_D_]

50. No

Since Dean never served, he would probably look like a hypocrite. Only Clark and Kerry could confront him on this issue and not get hurt in the polls by doing so.

[Cocoa]

51. none of them should

the farthest they should go back is election 2000.

There's just too many ways Bush has sucked in the last few years, the big challenge will be having enough time to list them all.

This means no drunk Bush either. Just bad president Bush, and lying candidate Bush.

[Classical_Liberal]

52. If Bush makes a campaign commercial with his flight suit

Dean or whomever is the nominee should make an awol commericial.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

56. CL i agree with you on that point

[leesa]

58. Of course he should, over and over again. Going AWOL in a time of war

is a big deal in the military, right???

[AmericanDem]

60. Dean bringing up Bush going AWOL, would almost be like...

the pot calling the kettle black.

[Classical_Liberal]

62. Dean didn't go awol

nor did he do the flight suite stunt.

[AlinPA]

61. All of our candidates should; America needs to hear it loud & clear

Then let the rPIGs be on the defensive. We need to learn how to fight harder.