Swedishoo wrote on 7/8/2004 10:49:35 PM:

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I think there should be a checkbox to vote for "Neither" and if "Neither" wins, then they have to find all new canidates. Hmmm, I'd love to see Ron Paul too. Hmmm, what if there was a huge (and it would have to be huge) national "write-in" campaign for Ron Paul. That would be something! Christy

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gar fla wrote on 7/9/2004 9:32:20 AM:

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Christy, that idea for a "write in" would be great. I'm willing to bet even most Republicans no longer agree with Bush and company but have no choice but to go along with their policy for fear of looking bad in the eyes of the public. Ron Paul is probably the [b\]only one who speaks his mind and doesn't care what others think. Anyone with doubts about him should read this speech..... http://www.ldps.ws/Entry/RonPaulSpeech.htm

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“President Bush’s payroll records for those two quarters were among the records destroyed,” wrote C.Y. Talbott, of the Pentagon’s Freedom of Information and Security Review section. “Searches for back-up paper copies of the missing records were unsuccessful.”

In February, the White House released some payroll and medical records from Bush’s Vietnam-era service to counter Democrats’ suggestions that he shirked his duty in the Texas Air National Guard.

Bush was in the Texas Air National Guard from 1968 to 1973, much of the time as a pilot, but never went to Vietnam or flew in combat. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the Democratic presidential candidate, is a decorated Vietnam veteran, and some Democrats have questioned whether Bush showed up for temporary Guard duty in Alabama while working on a political campaign during a one-year period from May 1972 to May 1973.

Bush had asked to be able to transfer temporarily from the Texas Guard to an Alabama base during that time so he could work on the Senate campaign of a family friend. Reports differ on how long he was actually in Alabama, but it’s generally believed that he returned to his Texas unit after the November 1972 election. The White House says Bush went back to Alabama again after that.

The Pentagon letter said that in 1996 and 1997, the Pentagon “engaged with limited success in a project to salvage deteriorating microfilm.” During the process, “the microfilm payroll records of numerous service members were damaged,” the letter said.

This process resulted in “the inadvertent destruction of microfilm containing certain National Guard payroll records,” including Bush’s, the letter said.

Timeline President’s service record

President Bush’s military service has been questioned by Democrats, who claim his family pulled strings to keep him out of Vietnam. Below is a timeline of his National Guard service:

Jan. 19, 1968 Bush completes Air Force officer qualifications test in New Haven, Conn., while attending Yale University.

May 27, 1968 Walter B. Staudt, commander of the Texas National Guard, interviews Bush and recommends he be accepted for pilot training. Bush’s application for enlistment in the Guard is approved.

June 1968 Bush receives bachelor of arts degree from Yale.

July 12, 1968 A three-member Federal Recognition Examining Board reports Bush is qualified for promotion to 2nd Lieutenant in the 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron.

July 14, 1968 Bush attends basic military training in San Antonio.

Aug. 25, 1968 Completes basic military training.

Nov. 26, 1968 - Dec. 2, 1969 Attends undergraduate pilot training with the 3559th Student Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga. He is trained to fly standard Air Force aircraft, including the T-31, T-37, and T-39.

Dec. 29, 1969 - Jan. 20, 1970 Trainee, 111th Squadron, Ellington Air Force Base, near Houston.

Jan. 11, 1970 Assigned flying duty as a pilot of F-102 fighter interceptors, 111th Squadron at Ellington.

Aug. 24, 1970 Three-member board recommends 2nd Lt. Bush for promotion to first lieutenant. Bush later receives the promotion.

1971 Participates in drills and alerts at Ellington. Begins work for Houston-based agricultural company.

May 1972 Bush asks for and receives permission to continue his duties in Alabama while he works as political director on the Senate campaign of Winton M. Blount, a friend of his father. Loses flight credentials after missing physical exam.

Sept. 6, 1972 Bush’s request for a three-month transfer to 187th TAC Recon Group, Montgomery, Ala. is approved so he can work as political director for a Senate campaign.

November 1972 Bush returns to his unit at Ellington in Texas.

May-July 1973 Participates in non-flying drills at Ellington. Works at inner-city poverty program earlier in the year.

Sept. 18, 1973 Bush receives permission to transfer to reserve status and is placed on inactive guard duty about six months before six-year commitment ends. Attends Harvard Business School in the fall.

Oct. 1, 1973 Receives honorable discharge.

Swedishoo wrote on 7/9/2004 10:13:02 PM:

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Al, you'd rather have BushyBones or KerryBones over Ron Paul? If you had to choose, who would you want as President? Christy

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For years my father has talked about his idea. That state and federal officals should be elected through a lottery-style election. That names of registered drivers who have no criminal record get put into a pool of names to be drawn as a public service to society and they will get paid handsomely (as they already do) and only for one year or one term (so that way they don't get to rub elbows and learn any dirty tricks) Government would be on the up and up, each offical would have a job requirement given to them, and be required to read every bill, for example. It's a known fact that House reps spend most of their two year term campaigning to be re-elected for the next election. This would stop cold turkey if we had a lottery-style system. Special intertest groups and the career politican croonies would dissappear overnight. People in hopes (or in fear) of winning the lotto would want to stay informed and educated in government issues and it would create a new awareness level.

Food for thought.

Christy