While we're talking AWOL, let's ask the Cocaine question again!

[heidiho]

I would really like someone with the courage to bring the cocaine question back again. It still amazes me that the American people just let that question go away.

Let's paint the AWOL deserter as also a cocaine user. I want someone to make Bush answer that question. I often ask people who support Bush, "It doesn't bother you that he was an illegal drug user?" They never know what to say.

[DenverDem]

1. That year of public service in the ghetto in Houston

was just for character building, right Poppy?

This was why his driver's license number was changed and his records scrubbed when he became Gov of Tejas.

[pinkpops]

4. While governor

he was called for jury duty (that can happen in Texas). Instead of filling out the questionnaire about his past, he sent a lawyer for a chat with the judge.

[banana republican]

9. so the "top cop"

in texas not only arrest the criminals but he is also the jury???

Can't wait to see what he does as the judge and executioner...

[hlthe2b]

2. Onlyin the context that it may be related.... i.e., the reason why

he refused his medical exams and thus was stripped of flight status.

[DenverDem]

6. Dude, he got popped for possession in Houston,

got a deferred adjudication, did public service, had the records deleted. Like many other damning facts, this one has never been allowed to surface.

[hlthe2b]

7. Yes. I know. But the way to get out the crap on Bush is to

put out one well documented issue at a time. The coke being the probable reason for his removal from flight duty is part of the AWOL story. Let it all come out and play out and then go after the other pieces of his sordid past. Otherwise you dilute the impact...

[9215]

10. Some of this is detailed in the late JH Hatfield book

"Fortunate Son".

[BeatleBoot]

3. No poop!

Great post!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. A freeper at another board

called me stupid for asking that Bush release his records. I replied by asking him if he will stop asking for Dems to release theirs. I know the AWOL thing is bothering them because they are reduced to calling liberals names.

[0007]

8. All this information about junior being AWOL and busted

for cocine was known at freeperland long before junior was nominated to the party in 2000. Most freepers didn't want junior because of these issues.

[Bluerthanblue]

11. ya might suggest to the Freeper

that an inquiry 'ala' Ken Starr could probably unearth far more than even THEY would be able to 'reconcile'-

i never could understand how bush could get away with avoiding the questions....-and still be the candidate for the GOP never mind be president-

[9215]

12. Here is Daschle inquiring

I was just going to post a topic on this very link between AWOL and cocaine use.

This is the book that was pulled from bookshelves when the BFEE exerted pressure.

"Online Journal's Linda L. Starr claimed: 'Censorhsip is not done in this country, complete with book burnings and shreddings. This is America, not Nazi Germany."

In the Afterword of his book Hatfield states:

"On August 4, 1999, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle publicly Charged the Press with giving George W. Bush a 'free ride' in regards to the persistent rumors of past cocaine use, adding that it was a "a legitimate question" to expect any presidential candidate to answer to determine if he or she is morally fit to hold the highest elected office in the U.S.

In response to Senator Dashcle's challenge, later the same day the New York Daily News asked Bush and his other eleven political rivals where they had ever used cocain. All of them--except the presidential front-runner, who refused to answer the question--denied ever experimenting with the illegal drug. When the Associated Press asked the same candidates about the general use of the drugs, eight said no, and two acknoledged trying marijuana. Once again, Bush refused to answer the question, contributing to the media's feeding frenzy regarding allegations of his prior drug use by evasively responding: "I've made mistakes in the past and I've learned from my mistakes," branding such rumors "ridiculous and absurd," but declining to lable them false." (pp.299-300)

[0007]

23. btt

[kath]

13. Let's also ask why Chimpy felt the need to scrub his Driver's License

records when he was guv of Texas.

[ComerPerro]

14. No, lets wait

until we can actually get the AWOL claim to stick, as it should.

[psychopomp]

15. Right

It is better to have the AWOL story out first for two reasons:

one, the two are related and AWOL is more easily inferred by the paper trail documenting his absence; the other being that the alleged cocaine use may have been a stand-alone issue in the last election but it will look like a desperate smear if front-loaded this time around.

[Gingersnap]

16. bu- bu- but that was before he was born again!

His base won't care. He's a Christian now, so all is forgiven from his past. I think this is why this didn't stick much the first time around (and I remember reading about it in Time magazine, so it was out there).

[maggrwaggr]

17. his base isn't big enough to elect him.

his base is what, maybe 28 - 35 percent?

If everybody else despises him, which is a distinct possibility, he doesn't stand a chance.

I say go for broke. Let it all out of the bag.

He wants to get elected? He didn't last time, so it's a whole new ball game in 2004!

[funkyflathead]

19. Yep

Most folks don't care what you did in your youth.

His base will say he has "seen the light"

[LostInTheMaise]

18. I would but in my youth I did the evil thing

To condemn someone for their action I must first be innocent of that action. I was not innocent then but I am now. Please advise...

[Pobeka]

20. * constantly tells us there must be consequences!

Consequences for inappropriate behavior. And boy does he mean it, he smirked when he talked about sending prisoners to their death. He smirked when he talked about sending drug users to prison.

But see, the problem here, is he's a the biggest hypocrite on the face of the planet.

* never had consequences. It's a double standard.

[LostInTheMaise]

21. I understand current crimes

If I were to go way back then I am just as guilty and I can assure you I am not prepared to be punished for things I did 20+ years ago.

There are enough current crimes to persue rather than those in the distant past.

[Pobeka]

22. The point is, Bush was caught, and was not punished.

But others were caught, and held to a higher standard.

That's why it stinks when he talks of how there should be consequences -- he's excluding himself.