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Newly released guard records contain letter from President Bush's father
Associated Press | 09-17-04 | AP

Posted on 09/17/2004 2:24:56 PM PDT by fidelio

BC-Bush-Guard Records, 1st Ld,340
URGENT
Newly released guard records contain letter from President Bush's father
Eds: ADDS 3 grafs
By MATT KELLEY
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - A packet of Texas Air National Guard records newly released Friday showed that the commanding officer of President Bush's basic training unit took a special interest in him as a trainee and wrote to his father to praise his son.

Bush's father, then a congressman from Texas, said in reply to the commander, "That a major general in the Air Force would take interest in a brand new Air Force trainee made a big impression on me."

Bush went on to say that his son "will be a gung ho member" of the Air Force and that Air Force instructors had "helped awaken the very best instincts in my son."

The letter and other material were the latest in a stream of documents released about Bush's service three decades ago during the Vietnam War, when Bush's critics say he got preferential treatment as the son of a congressman and U.N. ambassador. Critics have also questioned why Bush skipped a required medical examination in 1972 and failed to show up for drills during a six-month period that year.

The White House has said repeatedly that all of Bush's Guard records have been disclosed, only to be embarrassed when new documents have turned up. The long-running story took an unusual turn when CBS uncovered documents purportedly showing that Bush refused orders to take a physical examination in 1972 - but then the authenticity of the documents came under doubt.

In addition to the letter from Bush's father, the latest documents contain news releases that the Texas Air National Guard sent to Houston newspapers in 1970 about young Bush, then a second lieutenant and new pilot. "George Bush is one member of the younger generation who doesn't get his kicks from pot or hashish or speed," the news release said. "Oh, he gets high, all right, but not from narcotics."

Three decades later, a new book by Kitty Kelley has alleged that Bush used cocaine while he was a student at Yale University and later at Camp David while his father was president.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: bush; tang
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1 posted on 09/17/2004 2:24:56 PM PDT by fidelio
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To: fidelio

Yawn.


2 posted on 09/17/2004 2:26:55 PM PDT by TheGeezer
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To: fidelio; Howlin; cyncooper

HAHAHAHAHA

The AP sued for more records and what did they get?

Records from the Air Guard written to George Herbert Bush telling him what a great kid he had.


3 posted on 09/17/2004 2:27:24 PM PDT by Peach (The Clinton's pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: fidelio

Released from where. did I miss something while I was gone.


4 posted on 09/17/2004 2:28:37 PM PDT by marty60
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To: fidelio

And this is news - why?


5 posted on 09/17/2004 2:28:42 PM PDT by xcullen (DC Conservative)
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To: fidelio

This is.....it's.....stop the.....(bonk, snore).


6 posted on 09/17/2004 2:29:09 PM PDT by Shryke (Never retreat. Never explain. Get it done and let them howl.)
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To: fidelio
The White House has said repeatedly that all of Bush's Guard records have been disclosed, only to be embarrassed when new documents have turned up.

Can this reporter explain why the WH would be "embarrassed" whenever new documents are found and released? There has been nothing damning of the president's service in the Texas ANG, and the White House is not the keeper of these records. Personnel records are theoretically contained in one central location, but in practice they could be scattered almost anywhere, if not destroyed for some innocent reason in years past.

7 posted on 09/17/2004 2:29:49 PM PDT by HenryLeeII (sultan88, R.I.P.)
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To: fidelio

Rope-a-dope


8 posted on 09/17/2004 2:29:49 PM PDT by Truth Table
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To: xcullen

The Pentagon sued to get more documents released. I think this is part of what they got:

A packet of Texas Air National Guard records newly released Friday showed that the commanding officer of President Bush's basic training unit took a special interest in him as a trainee and wrote to his father to praise his son.


9 posted on 09/17/2004 2:30:00 PM PDT by Peach (The Clinton's pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: Howlin

Ping the hordes!


10 posted on 09/17/2004 2:30:43 PM PDT by EllaMinnow (Dan would RATHER lie.)
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To: fidelio
In addition to the letter from Bush's father, the latest documents contain news releases that the Texas Air National Guard sent to Houston newspapers in 1970 about young Bush, then a second lieutenant and new pilot. "George Bush is one member of the younger generation who doesn't get his kicks from pot or hashish or speed," the news release said. "Oh, he gets high, all right, but not from narcotics."

These guys are desperate. These documents are certainly peripheral to GW's record at best. What's next, a review W's letters to Santa written during the 1950s???????
11 posted on 09/17/2004 2:30:46 PM PDT by ARCADIA (Abuse of power comes as no surprise)
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To: fidelio

I think that it is noteworthy that the CO sends unsolicited praise about the new recuit. Also, notes in the record, waaay before kitty's book, indicating that narcotics were not part of the game at that time. If they were, perhaps they would not have been mentioned, but then, a positive letter would not have been entered into the file and local papers.


12 posted on 09/17/2004 2:31:40 PM PDT by going hot (Happiness is a momma deuce)
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To: TheGeezer

Could this be a last desparate act? I hope the Swifties' October suprise is enough to shut down everyone on the left.


13 posted on 09/17/2004 2:31:51 PM PDT by Lancer_N3502A
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To: Peach
A packet of Texas Air National Guard records newly released Friday showed that the commanding officer of President Bush's basic training unit took a special interest in him as a trainee and wrote to his father to praise his son.

Well that does it, I'm voting for Kerry.

14 posted on 09/17/2004 2:33:32 PM PDT by dfwgator (It's sad that the news media treats Michael Jackson better than our military.)
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To: fidelio

Is this a joke? Why does the MSM think people have any interest in this Guard stuff? What's next, did Bush keep his shoes and brass shined?


15 posted on 09/17/2004 2:33:47 PM PDT by colorado tanker ("medals, ribbons, we threw away the symbols of what our country gave us and I'm proud of that")
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To: fidelio

When I was in ROTC, press releases were sent to everyone's local paper. It was a recruiting tool. My name was in my local paper 3-4 times. I was somewhat embarrassed, but my parents loved it!


16 posted on 09/17/2004 2:34:02 PM PDT by Screaming Eagle Red Leg
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To: fidelio

I'm sure the AP is going try and spin this negatively but I think this is a really cool tidbit of info. I can just picture GHWB saying stuff like that, can't you?


17 posted on 09/17/2004 2:34:21 PM PDT by mcg1969
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To: fidelio
Why would Bush 41 be surprised that Bush 43's superior took a special interest in his son? I was lead to believe they all were supposed to be watching out for young Bush with all this special treatment. CBiaS said it so it must be true. /S/
18 posted on 09/17/2004 2:34:43 PM PDT by BallyBill (Proud Lt. JG Evil Rove Corps V.R.W.C.)
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To: fidelio

"...took a special interest in him as a trainee and wrote to his father to praise his son."

Gosh, this seems to show the exact opposite of what's been alleged. No letter form GHWBush asking the brass to keep an eye on his son...just a letter from the brass to GHW bragging on the boy. No smoking gun...no silver bullet... not even a spitwad.


19 posted on 09/17/2004 2:34:52 PM PDT by WestTexasWend
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To: Peach
Notice how Matt Kelly has to drag that gossip-monger, Kitty Kelly, into this story.

He segues from an article praising Bush as getting his high from flying, to scraping the bottom of the barrel with Kelly's scurrilous and unsourced accusations.

The AP has lost all integrity.

20 posted on 09/17/2004 2:35:15 PM PDT by sinkspur ("I heard that the traditionalists have taken over the FR religion forum"--Cardinal Fanfani)
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