Playing 'Top Gun' for the cameras (Bush=Draft Dodger, Hurl Level Orange)

Boston Globe ^ | 5/6/2003 | Joan Vennochi

[Lance Romance]

ROM THE TEXAS Air National Guard during the Vietnam era to Top Gun.

The president recently jumped aboard a Navy S-3B Viking jet to land dramatically on an aircraft carrier at sea. Wearing a green flight suit and carrying a helmet, George W. Bush emerged from the jet and declared major combat over in Iraq. In a political world driven by image and pictures, he has much to gain from that perfect media moment. Perception is reality, right?

[Lance Romance]

The Bush-Cheney team, after all, was following Bill Clinton, who avoided service during the Vietnam War and still took the White House away from the first President Bush, a World War II Navy pilot.

I don't remember George W. dodging the draft. The comaprison in ludicrous.

Even so, he may yet come to regret that flamboyant, self-indulgent flyboy moment. There was an arrogance to using genuine military men and women as extras for a future campaign ad - and a dishonesty, too.

Get the mop.

[wideawake]

I didn't know that volunteering for the Air National Guard was equivalent to hiding in Canada or taking a deferment to study abroad.

[HELLRAISER II]

Yes Kerry is a Vietnam Vet and from what I have heard he was a good soldier, but i've also seen that Kerry is a dumbass! While G.W. does need to watch his P's & Q's in this next election, the Democrats are still going down AGAIN. It amazes me that they compare what George Bush did to what Clinton did, just goes to show you the Slant in the Lefts agendas.

[backhoe]

Our, ahem! "friends" on the Left are busily ( some would say "maniacally...") recycling old worn-out talking points from the past. The local Clinton Kool-Aid drinker who calls talk radio all the time has used the "chickenhawk" TP, the "if they don't find WMD's, Bush'll plant them" TP, and quite a few others in the last few weeks.

It's kind of humorous in a twisted way...

[randita]

Liberals loathe the military so much, one would think they would heap effusive praise on those whom they believe shirked military duty.

(I'm not implying that GWB shirked military duty, only saying that liberals show inconsistency on this issue.)

[Kenton]

Got some news for ya Joan. The troops loved it. They love HIM. They LOATH the Clinton legacy. After supporting Clinton, the Democrats have lost the issue of a candidates military record as a talking point.

[The G Man]

Maybe the Texas Air National Guard shoulda kept better attendance records.

[ClearCase_guy]

Bill Clinton was (is) a deceitful, verified, draft dodger. Which, from the the Left's perspective, means that he is not a draft dodger.

George W Bush volunteered for the Air National Guard, served honorably and was honorably discharged. Which, from the Left's perspective, means that he is a draft dodger.

Gotta use a decoder ring.

[Ralph the Hun]

After supporting Clinton, the Democrats have lost the issue of a candidates military record as a talking point.

I agree 110%. No matter how many times Kerry tells us that he "proudly" served in Vietnam, the 'rats will never be able to convience the country that they would be able to fight terrorism like GW has.

[trebb]

was following Bill Clinton, who avoided service during the Vietnam War and...

...and was over in Russia, badmouthing the USA at the time...

[Kangaroo Court]

Strange, the only quotes and "facts" in this article are their own words from a three or four year old article. Yet, many will not catch on to their propaganda and realize this.

[Kewlhand`tek]

is there a website that has good quality pics of Bush getting out of the navy plane?

[Bringbackthedraft]

"Why the eagerness to look like a real soldier in 2004? This Bush won't be running against Bill Clinton. And he could be running against a real veteran: Massachusetts Senator John F. Kerry, a decorated Vietnam hero." Errrr, I hear it should be John F "Calley"? The difference is that the Military knows "real" leadership and can better judge it than some desk ranger at a newspaper who's exposure is nil. They tried to make Gore a war hero too, 11 months to E-5 as a Bn newspaper reporter? He served a little more than a year of his 24 month obligation to go to divinity school? This doesn't sound fishy? But Bush getting off a year from the ANG after their obligation was cut short by Nixon (1971) makes it look like he was avoiding service? If not he is on record as performing Equivilent Training at another unit. Typical leftist slanted Bravo Sierra propaganda.

[rocky88]

Wasn't it reported that John Kerry tossed his war medals away in protest? Can't wait til the GOP uses THAT in a campaign spot!

[Let's Roll]

"No matter how many times Kerry tells us that he "proudly" served in Vietnam, ..."

If he was so "proud" of his service, why did he throw his medals away? (I know, he only pretended to throw them away for show)

[pfflier]

Bill Clinton, who avoided service during the Vietnam War

Correction:

Bill Clinton took an ROTC scholarship deferment then when it was time to commit, he wrote that he "loathed the military".

In typical Clintonsleaze, he got all he could out of it before he trashed the ROTC and the military.

[usnret99]

The troops loved it. They love HIM. They LOATH the Clinton legacy. After supporting Clinton, the Democrats have lost the issue of a candidates military record as a talking point.

Being in the Navy for 20 plus years I don't believe I have ever saw more pride in the President. I just wish I could have been there in person. (Of course I would have wanted to leave when the President did) I remember Mr. Clintoon comming down to Norfolk to visit one of the carriers yet again and the Virginian Pilot ran a story that this was "President Clintons" third visit to this carrier and has yet to get a warm reception. I do believe that is how the military felt about clinton "Draft Dodger". But Bush is Loved.....

[RooRoobird14]

The rumors alleging dastardly behavior by President Bush while in the Air National Guard have been circulated by Bush-haters since he ran for governor. They are rumors, period. Each time a shrieking leftist brings this stuff up, they just demonstrate what irrationally bitter sore losers they are.

Bush's overall popularity and magnificence as Commander-in-Chief is just killing leftist shrews like this woman. Nasty Joan plays well to the leftist lunatic fringe of the DNC, but no one else.

[painter]

"I agree 110%. No matter how many times Kerry tells us that he "proudly" served in Vietnam,"

Huh??

I was listening to Neel Boortz the other day and it seems that he has been doing some research on Kerry.It just so happens that after Kerry was discharged he was involved in a Vietnam war protest in which he threw his medals and ribbons over the White House fence. When asked about it later he said he threw someone else's medals and his own ribbons.

[dbehsman]

"There was an arrogance to using genuine military men and women as extras for a future campaign ad - and a dishonesty, too."

Gosh, I wonder where this little twit Joan was when Mike "Dukakis" was riding around in the Army tank back in the 1988 election.

"Like many rich, privileged, or otherwise politically well-connected young American men, he avoided real war. Like many young men - Republicans and Democrats - he refused and still refuses to acknowledge his effort to avoid combat."

What exactly is this twit saying now? Is she suggesting that people who serve in the National Guard are a bunch of chicken s--ts? I wonder if she would be gutsy enough to come right out and say it?

"No one knows what will happen in Iraq. Major combat may be over there, but the rebuilding of that country holds major challenges for the Bush administration."

And here is little Joan and jerks like her that are trying to tear him down ANY way possible.

"The photos from the president's day on the USS Abraham Lincoln feed a certain perception. But when perception becomes disconnected from truth, there is also political risk."

Hey Joan, why don't you spare us the garbage and save that line for the bartender when your crying in your beer after next years election!