This will sound odd coming from me, but I mean it sincerely. Given the reality of the Vietnam War, I'm not at all shocked that a young George Bush thought he shouldn't go over there. I know a lot of people who would have given their mothers to have the same kind of influence that got young George into the Guard. I remember having very serious discussions with folks back then about what options they had besides simply going to Vietnam. These folks were not cowards. They saw the War as wrong, and did not want to participate in it. Some of them went to jail instead of going to Vietnam. A couple of them left the country. Too many were drafted and ended up in the War. My best friend from high school volunteered, and died over there. I guess what I'm getting at is that in the context of the period itself, I did not see the desire to avoid going to Vietnam as in any way dishonorable. On the contrary.<br><br>I understand that there are other ways of seeing what the young George did, or had done for him, and certainly there are all sorts of ethical questions that he needs to ask himself. But on the main issue, of avoiding going to fight a war that many people understood to be wrong and immoral, I do not fault him at all.<br><br>

I agree to a point. In 1972 I worked in a hospital (while I was in high school) along with three conscientious objectors. They thought the war was insane and got out of it by saying so and swabbing hospital floors. I knew people who were drafted and went. one came back and had "Crazy" added to has name. As in, "oh, that's OK Crazy harold you can sleep on the beach." I also knew people who went and did not come back. No one I knew was gung ho about the war and I don't think George was either. It is fine with me that he took advantage of his Dad's connections to get into the Guard. <br><br>But it does get somewhat dicier when he reneges on his commitment. He is given the silver spoon route and he doesn't even show for the last few months because he has something better to do. Him not taking the physical because it would show cocaine in his system is not a big deal to me. But was he so connected that he knew he could snort coke and then blow off his commitment? I don't have a big problem with that but his core constituency which is very conservative hawks should have a problem with that. It really isn't great credentials for a hawkish conservative.<br><br>This is a person who was the presiding governor of a state which sent thousands of people to prison for drug infractions. That I do have a problem with.<br><br><br><br><br><br>luciferase is a four nineteener

Timeline of Bush and Kerry lives<br><br><br><br>

Independent Media TV? OK independent, but more pro Kerry then moveon.org and CBS put together <br><br>

Michael, please post your FreeRepublic/FoxNews/Limbaugh version of their comparative timelines and I'll consider that too.<br><br><br><br>

Don't disagree at all, poly. He does have some serious ethical questions to ask himself (including using connections to get into the Guard, I think). But on the issue of whether he should or should not have gone to Vietnam . . . <br><br>

I can handle that for you.<br>Here's a more truthful version, adapted by the Blind Followers of the People for a New American Century.<br><br>1943<br>John Forbes Kerry born in Denver, Colorado to God-hating degenerates.<br><br>1946<br>The skies part and through a brilliant shaft of light, the boy king, George Walker Bush is born in New Haven, Connecticut. Wealthy white gentry from the farthest reaches of the world come to shower him in praise and gifts.<br><br>February 18, 1966 <br>While a senior at Yale, Kerry enlists in the Navy and volunteers for combat service in Vietnam where he sustained two paper cuts, three hangovers, and one turned ankle. He is wrongfully rewarded a bronze star, Nobel Peace Prize, golden sombrero, and Stanely Cup. His deception and craven ambition was recently noted by the Casual But Politically Connected Texas Oil Business Enthusiasts For Truth in their expose, Unfit For a Leadin'.<br><br>May 27, 1968 <br>By virtue of his amazing charisma and 'go-getter' attitude Bush jumps over 150 qualified applicants to enlist in the Texas Air National Guard. On his application Bush declares that his background qualifications are "none" and that he does not wish to serve overseas in a brilliant strategy to protect the Texas homeland from 'Charlie.'<br><br>April 23, 1971 <br>Kerry testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the official policies in Vietnam. While many people who have read the transcript in its entirety have found nothing objectionable, playing the testimony backwards reveals several satanic passages, proving once and for all that John Kerry is a satanist.<br><br>April 16, 1972<br>Once Bush declared "Mission Accomplished" and the placid plains of Texas exterminated of all communist scum, he moved to Alabama to defend the United States Senate from its second most dangerous enemy, Democrats.<br><br>1970s - 1990s<br>A self-made man and business visionary, George W. Bush's businesses all sustain heavy attacks from the vast communist conspiracy.<br>John Kerry continues dishonoring America<br><br>I think it would go something like that.<br><br>-- Charlie Alpha Roger Yankee Whiskey<br>

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>Him not taking the physical because it would show cocaine in his system is not a big deal to me.<p><hr></blockquote><p>Even though it's not a big deal to you the theory is incorrect anyways. In 72 and 73 there wasn't any drug screening for pilots unless the commanding officer ordered it. So Bush wouldn't have had any fear of some drug showing up in the medical exam.<br><br>Dean Davis<br><br>-----<br>"I think it was the right decision to disarm Saddam Hussein. And when the president made the decision, I supported him, and I support the fact that we did disarm him." -- John Kerry (D) - May 3, 2003

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p> The Texas Air National Guard begins testing for drugs during physicals <p><hr></blockquote><p> It seems to be common knowledge that the Texas Air National Guard started testing for drugs in 1971.<br><br>But I am an invalid source of information. <br><br>But if what you say is true, maybe Bush freaked out when his commanding officer got the ability to test him in 1971. Since the only times he was seen by his commanding officer he always had the sniffles and there was a crust of white powder around his nose and he was getting his first two of a total of three DUI's.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>luciferase is a four nineteener

newkojak, you're just sucking up because your guys got Sosa.<br><br>