Something does not compute

A new story about President Bush getting into the Air National Guard is getting ready to come out on 60 Minutes.

This bomb is an already-taped Dan Rather interview with former Texas Lt. Governor Ben Barnes in which Barnes will hint, and deceptive CBS editing will strongly imply, that during the Vietnam War the Bush family pressured him to use politics to get a young George W. Bush into the Texas Air National Guard.

There is one problem with this story, well there is more then likely one but one that stands out in my mind. Back in 1968, Texas was a Democratic state not a Republican one. Bush senior did not have a very successful political career in Texas (failed to get elected Senator, although he did get into the House for one or more terms). The Bush family was not powerful in the 1960s like they are today or even were in the 1980's. A Democrat would have no reason to give preferential treatment to a Republican because the Republican party was not a factor in Texas politics until the Regan era.

Finally, Kerry keeps demanding Bush and Cheney stop trashing his service record in Vietnam. Can someone, ANYONE, please show me where Bush did trash Kerry's service in Vietnam? Bush has praised Kerry for his service and has not made any comment about his medals or how they were earned. Bush has criticized Kerry for his work in the Senate and for his anti war protests. Or because Bush was not an anti-war protestor nor a Senator he is not allowed to criticize Kerry's actions here either?

Now before anyone says (all three of you who read this blog, I thank you) what about the Swiftboat Vets, well they are independent of Bush just like MoveOn.org is independent from Kerry. And before someone mentions the attorney who worked for both the Swiftboat and the Bush campaign, that is NOT illegal. Also, the Democratic 527's have a number of people who either work on Kerry's campaign or at the DNC.

Bush is not questioning Kerry's service in Vietnam, he is questioning Kerry's actions in the Senate and where he wants to take the country. Just as Kerry has questioned Bush's policies and where he wants to take the country. That is called an election campaign.