Reply #12: Actually...

[punpirate]

... there are strict rules on making up missed drills--and on how drills may be done at locations other than one's home base. As I recall, the time limits were up to two weeks in advance, or up to 30 days after the missed drill. Many of the drills listed in Bush's record (and there's still some question whether Bush actually attended, or was just credited with inactive reserve time for scheduled drills he didn't actually attend) are outside of those limits.

And, one had to get written approval to do so. Haven't seen all those written approvals in Bush's records, either.

Doesn't really matter, though--there are enough gaps in the record that the WH has put out to generate more questions than answers. And, there's that sticky matter of failing to take his physical--twice. (Everyone says he "missed his physical," but that's not accurate. His last physical was May, 1971. He was supposed to take a flight physical one year later, May 1972 (and no later than his birthday), and his next anniversary date would have been May, 1973. So he skipped two of them....)

All the excuses made for why he couldn't take his physical in May, 1972 (wasn't in Houston for his personal physician, Alabama didn't fly the planes he could fly, etc.) didn't apply in May, 1973. And he didn't take his physical, then, either.

In 1999 and 2000, the press bought all these excuses (one of the very good reasons why it's not unfair to call them lazy). if they ignore it all this time around, then they are consciously looking the other way. Bush skipped out on 31 months of a 60-month agreement to fly for the ANG. Skipped out on his responsibilities to the country--just as he's done for the last 3-1/2 years....