Text 29473, 91 rader
Skriven 2009-03-16 16:13:22 av Lee Lofaso (3:800/432.0)
  Kommentar till text 29365 av Robert Bashe (2:2448/44)
Ärende: One-upsmanship        2/
================================
>>> Continued from previous message

RB>You did NOT "put your name in the hat" for the draft. You
RB>were medically inspected, got a draft classification and
RB>unless there was a reason for deferrment (university study
RB>was one, but in the USA - going abroad was a different
RB>kettle of fish) you were on the list. It wasn't a voluntary
RB>kind of thing.

It was not unusual for Rhodes Scholars to get a deferment, or
permission to begin studies at Oxford.  And it is true that Clinton
asked his draft board to drop his deferment and reclassify him
1-A so he could be drafted, which his draft board granted.  It
just so happened that Clinton drew a high number, thus keeping
him out of Vietnam.  "It was just a fluke." - Bill Clinton

RB>However, at that time, people age 25 and older were effectively not drafted
RB>too old for the military, was the attitude. Conveniently,
RB>age 25 is about the time you get a doctorate in the USA
RB>(unless you dither and then you can be over 30 by the time
RB>you get your doctorate), so it wasn't really that hard to
RB>get a 2-S (deferred for university study) classification.

Odds were slim to none that Clinton would be drafted.  Clinton
knew that.  After all, he was a Rhodes Scholar.  ;)

RB>BUT you did NOT leave the country without permission, and
RB>there were some strings that could be pulled to gain that
RB>(my point above). Incidently, I didn't say Bill did
RB>anything illegal - "dodging" the draft could be done
RB>legally with the proper permission.

Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar.  So were others.  It was not
unusual for Rhodes Scholars to get permission.

>LL>George W. Bush decided to get special favors from his dad to join the
>LL>Texas Air National Guard, thus avoiding service in Vietnam.

>LL>As such, who is the *real* draft dodger?

RB>Bill. George was at least in the military, even if it was a
RB>national guard and not in Vietnam.

The reason why George W. Bush enlisted in the TANG was to avoid
service in Vietnam.  How he got in was due to special favors being
granted.  Dan Quayle did the same thing.  And so did others.

Bill Clinton was not able to join the National Guard.  All the
slots had been filled.  And Bill Clinton did not have a prominent
politician able to get him a coveted slot (although he did have
several prominent politicians help him avoid the draft).

George W. Bush could have volunteered to serve in Vietnam, even
as a member of the TANG.  It is quite telling he chose not to do
so.  Chickenshit George.  Future president of the United States.
Quite a nickname.

Far better to be known as "Slick Willie."

>RB>(No wonder he screwed up taking out Osama bin Laden in Somalia and
>RB>Afghanistan - just no military savvy).

>LL>President Clinton tried to hit Osama bin Laden with cruise missiles,
>LL>but missed him by -><- that much.

RB>From what I read, the gap was a trifle wider. And of
RB>course, there were only two tries, and only cruise missles.
RB>The Israelis would presumably have done a better job, but
RB>they weren't involved.

George W. Bush took NO ACTION against Obama bin Laden until after
the tragic events of 9-11.  And then gave up, doing a 180 degree
turnaround to invade Iraq, which had absolutely nothing to do with
the events of 9-11, thus letting Osama bin Laden off the hook.

>RB>Now, if you had an Education Minister who was illiterate, _that_
>RB>might _really_ be something ;-)))

>LL>"Is our children learning?" - George W. Bush

RB>Cited where? Democratic Party website?

George W. Bush, in his own words, widely reported by the news media.

--Lee


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