Originally Posted by Hodgepodge

Actually, I do not think you know how I view Bush. But I'll try to tell you.
1. I deeply respect the Office of the President and do not want to see it besmearched because someone hates the President. I have felt this wat as long as I can remember. I remember when Kennedy was President so I have seen a few men in that job. All had some good traits and all had some bad ones too.

2. I did vote for President Bush. Twice. I am not pleased with many things he has done. Some of the things I am not happy about are:
- No clear exit strategy for Iraq.
- Deficit is huge. Mainly because of the war, but I think it may be huge even if there was not a war.
- Some of the points within the Patriot Act. I am a fervent Constitutionalist. Dome things that this administration, IMHO, have gone too far.
- Leadership of the agenda for Congress. He could have gotten a lot more done.
- No Child Left Behind. Great idea, but it is just another unfunded mandate.

There are five things that I do not like about the administration.

Would I vote for him again? Maybe. In my opinion, Gore and Kerry are two of the same cloth. Typical modern Democrats. Government knows better than the people how to spend their money. Large tax hikes are good. Smear successul business to make the "common man" think they are good guys.

What do I respect most about President Bush? Foremost is his strict adherance to his beliefs. Like them or not, you know where he stands and he does not change his core beliefs based on popularity or polls. I believe that he sincerely wants to cripple terrorism and the people who support it. I know where he stands. He stands for the safety of the people of America. While many people think he has gone too far (including me) in trying to bring safety to America and the world, he is sticking to the course he set. For that is is called a lap dog, a brown shirt, and worse.

The point is, I truly believe his heart is in the right place. He has made mistakes in the execution, as I have pointed out above, but I believe that he is trying his best to do what he thinks is right for this country.

What irritates me is when people who disagree with him resort to name calling and spewing forth claims that he is evil, stupid, sleeping with Sec. State Rice, deceitful, etc.

Mind you, I grew up in a serious Democrat family. My father was involved in Democrat politics for years (not as an elected official). In my first election, I voted for Barbara Jordan (a liberal black woman) for Congress. For a time, I supported Jerry Brown (from California). My father and I had many vigorous debates about politics.

If you would like to discuss the good and bad points of the last nine presidents (whose administrations I personally remember) I would be glad to. But I get very tired when people make consistently one sided claims to have proof of something bad when it is really an opinion. And for people to not recognize that Bush's performance is grey - not black and white, I am very leery.

That is my opinion. Not fact - opinion.

Originally Posted by StormanNorman

I don't see a problem with those who legally avoided or tried to avoid serving in Viet Nam.....something I believe both Bush and Clinton did via different means. I just wish those that did would be honest about it.

Originally Posted by rob

I agree with you on that. I served 20 years in the Army and I will not knock anyone that served.

Originally Posted by rob

I had a lottery number of 365 <snip>

Originally Posted by Scoody Boo

I will! Honorable service does not mean that dishonorable actions will be overlooked. John Kerry smeared all of his fellow Vietnam Vets when he LIED before the Senate. He used the fact that he had served to besmirch the service of others.

Originally Posted by RASTAMAN

There is no doubt that Bush was in the Texas Air Nat. Guard. However, what comes into question is how Bush served his time in the Guard. Did he serve on Activity Duty Honorably? or was he given preferential treatment and returned these favors by going AWOL??? Here are some questions that need to answered about Bush's Guard Duty time:


Any pages from Bush's flight log?

Records from the Flight Inquiry Board convened after Bush was suspended as a pilot.

Any evidence of Bush's reclassification into another AFSC after suspension as a pilot?

Any photos of George Bush in a military uniform after 1972?

Anything at all from any Alabama unit with Bush's name on it?
Any copies of form 44a from the Alabama National Guard certifying
attendance?

Air Force Form 142 (Aviation Service Audit Worksheet)
Anything proving service (not just receipt of pay) by Bush between May 1972 and May 1973?

The question isn't whether Bush served in the Tex. Air Nat. Guard, the question is did Bush serve Honorably and was Bush in fact AWOL???

Originally Posted by Scoody Boo

Bush did not have to show up in Alabama and was never AWOL. Under the rules in place at the time, a Guardmember accumulated points. He had more than enough points accumulated for that time.

George Bush accumulated more flight time than even some active duty pilots.