Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo is en fuego re: the Bush White House's dodging and reneging on Bush's promise to release all his military records. Go read him right away.

All it would take for the White House to truly lay this matter to rest is to get Bush's file released. His entire file. And all it would entail for that to happen is simple: Bush would formally waive his privacy rights and direct the military to release the contents of his file.

But he won't.

Even though he said he would.

(Want proof? From the transcript of Sunday's interview:

Russert: When allegations were made about John McCain or Wesley Clark on their military records, they opened up their entire files. Would you agree to do that?

President Bush: Yeah. Listen, these files — I mean, people have been looking for these files for a long period of time, trust me, and starting in the 1994 campaign for governor. And I can assure you in the year 2000 people were looking for those files as well. Probably you were. And — absolutely. I mean, I —

Russert: But you would allow pay stubs, tax records, anything to show that you were serving during that period?

President Bush: Yeah. If we still have them, but I — you know, the records are kept in Colorado, as I understand, and they scoured the records.

And I'm just telling you, I did my duty, and it's politics, you know, to kind of ascribe all kinds of motives to me. But I have been through it before. I'm used to it. What I don't like is when people say serving in the Guard is — is — may not be a true service.

Russert: But you authorize the release of everything to settle this?

President Bush: Yes, absolutely. We did so in 2000, by the way.

That was my bold-face there, not NBC's. I'm using it to highlight the bright shining lie. (a bold-faced lie?) But it's only one of two on that line. The other is the second sentence; the documents they've released so far this week haven't been seen before, and weren't released in 2000. So evidently the thorough "scouring" the records got four years ago wasn't good enough...but the records released this week could evidently be easily found once questions once again arose.)

He's released payroll records. He's released freakin' dental records. Where's the rest of the file? What about other medical records? Disciplinary records, if there are any?

So he promised to release 'em all. He hasn't. Which naturally leads one to wonder: What are they holding back? Something pretty damn incendiary, I'm guessing, if they're going to such lengths to duck, distort, and dodge releasing it.

(Incidentally, nice timing of the leak regarding Bush's support of an amendment banning gay marriage. It's just a giant "Look! Over there!", except it's the Constitution that'll get blindsided if the White House has its way.)

Comments

[George]

It's amusing the liberals have no problem with Clinton dodging the draft but Bush serving all him time just not in the usual order is a horrible thing.

Don't you feel stupid?

[Vidiot]

Don't you feel cowardly, leaving a comment with a bogus e-mail address?

First: Where did I say that I had no problem with Clinton dodging the draft?

Second: I don't think Clinton did dodge the draft -- he gamed the system. Not the most honorable course of action, to be true. But I'm not sure I wouldn't have done the same if I were in his shoes.

Third, and most important: There isn't sufficient proof that Bush served "all his time." The records are there; Bush promised to release them; he hasn't. He's released them in dribs and drabs and seems to be holding something back. I just want him to keep his promise. We've caught the President in not one, but two lies over this matter alone. Do you have proof, "George"? If so, release it. Point to it. Show me. If not, then show me why I'm wrong. Give me details. Convince me.

Seems like this belief that Bush served all his time is yet another faith-based program.