February 13, 2004
How Bush Made the National Guard
So in 1999, as George W. Bush was running for president, Barnes and the Bush military record were going to court. Barnes told his story in a five-hour deposition and then told the reporters what he had told the court. As speaker of the Texas House, he would sometimes find slots in the National Guard for the fortunate sons of friends and supporters. It had already been reported that two of his aides would take the names of the lucky young men who won the legislative lottery over to the commandant of the Guard, who would find space for them. In 1969, a Houston oil-service company executive called on Barnes and asked him to get George W. Bush into the National Guard.
Certainly a partisan article, but it seems well-researched and consistent with what we've heard in the past. If it was fair to label Clinton a draft-dodger, then it should be applied to Bush as well. Turnabout and all, you know...