Which Democratic candidate(s) can expose Bush for his national guard duty?

[NNN0LHI]

The national guard duty in the Champagne Texas National Guard unit that Bush's daddy got for him so he could avoid the war that was raging in Vietnam at the time? Otherwise we are going to be going up against a very manly George Bush who the soldiers just love. (Peggy Noonans words) Because if we can't go after him on this we are screwed next November.

Don

[pruner]

1. Dean's already started doing it…

Here's how the Concord Monitor described Dean's comment at one of Sunday's events: "While Dean likes to listen to knowledgeable advisers, he said, the current administration waged war in Iraq on the basis of decision-makers who either never served in a foreign conflict or served in the National Guard. Meanwhile, Dean said, the one adviser 'who actually ever experienced combat abroad,' U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, was ignored."

Let's recap. A guy who has no foreign policy experience, opposed the war in Iraq, and went skiing after he escaped the Vietnam draft because of a bad back is calling a wartime president soft on defense. And despite cries of outrage from Republican pundits, luminaries, and party organs, he isn't letting up. Monday on Hardball, Dean said, "This president, I don't believe, has any idea how to fight terror. … This president has wasted 15 months or more doing nothing about the fact that North Korea is almost certainly a nuclear power, we can't tolerate North Korea as a nuclear power." On Crossfire, Dean adviser Steve McMahon reiterated that Bush had tried to cut veterans' benefits. Coming to McMahon's aid, Democratic pugilist James Carville charged that Bush has "stretched our military to the point that we're weaker today. And he's created terror."

Where did Dean and his lieutenants get this kind of gall? Maybe from the guy they're attacking. In February 2000, Bush, a governor with no foreign policy experience, faced ex-POW John McCain in the do-or-die South Carolina Republican presidential primary. What was Bush's military record? He had joined the Texas Air National Guard to escape the Vietnam draft. A former speaker of the Texas House had sworn in an affidavit that he had made phone calls, at the behest of a friend of Bush's father, to get Bush into the Guard. As the Boston Globe later discovered from interviews and government documents, Bush "was all but unaccounted for" during the latter part of his Guard service. "For a full year, there is no record that he showed up for the periodic drills required of part-time guardsmen," the Globe reported.

http://slate.msn.com/id/2091855/

[xultar]

2. Yeah HOO! I'm glad he is! n/t

[blm]

3. Where does he say anything about Bush being AWOL?

Kerry has Cleland saying it at vet organizations all over the country. It was even noted during Kerry's announcement ceremony in SC if you watched.

[Capn Sunshine]

4. ANY

whether the press listens is anopther story.

[ShaneGR]

5. I think Clark or Kerry are the only ones with legit ability

Dean will get shot down because of his deferrment.

[pruner]

6. being LEGALLY deferred is a lot worse than deserting…

:crazy:

[LiberalBushFan]

7. i'm sure bush would have had no trouble

getting a legal medical deferment.
The public sees Bush as having served at least partially.
If legal deferment looked so much better, Bush wouldn't done that.

[cyclezealot]

8. Kucinich and maybe Dean speak their minds.

As I recall Kucinich had some kind of medical deferment. So Dean did too... At least either did not just walk away from active duty. With all the chicken hawks in this Administration, any attack on a Democrat should be neutered.
As to a Democrat with the veracity to speak out and go into attack mode, Kucinich is the one...Dean maybe...If he does not sell out at least.. Thing about Kucinich when he goes into 'attack mode' if you want to call it that, just the evidence, speak to the issues.. None the less, should they attack Kucinich to the issues, I trust he will talk about chicken hawks, if required too...

[poskonig]

9. All, even Dean.

Dean should attack Bush on this, even if it hurts himself. A negative campaign will benefit the Democrats, since it will remove Bush's warm and fuzzy image bestowed upon him after 911.

[candy331]

10. A Commander in Chief

who went AWOL from his post. In the past deserters were shot weren't they? Every Dem should harp on it and continue to harp on it everytime the opportunity presents itself.