wrote:

It was an issue in Kerry's campaign because he wants to try and use it as
some
sort of leverage that he has better qualifications to be commander in chief.

The democrats have been pushing the issue of Bush's National Guard record
from
the very beginning. It also takes the heat off of Kerry's voting record
which
they really don't want advertised.

Fact: Kerry went to Vietnam and fought in combat. Fact: He was a
commander who commanded in combat. Regardless the medals issue and
those swift boat idiots who are funded by close Texan friends of Bush,
and who have direct connections to the Whitehouse whether Bush was
aware of it or not, he went and put himself and his men in harms way,
like all soldiers are supposed to, but sometimes don't. It is said by
many who fought in war that leading soldiers under fire is an all
encompassing leavening process, that it changes you forever and
teaches you to lead.

It's an issue because Bush, for whatever his reasons, chose not to go
to Vietnam, and that's a fact too. Yes he flew an F-102 but as
everyone who knew him and Bush himself admits, he mostly drank and
partied during those years. I would venture to say, there's no doubt
about this either, it's been extensively documented and Bush himself
admits to heavy drinking and partying during those years, as do those
who knew him.

As a young man Kerry - led men in deadly combat during the most
divisive conflict in American history. A conflict that our leaders
who took us there now admit was a HUGE mistake. Some, like Kerry,
figured this out while he was there. He not only had to command his
men, he also had to command his Swift Boat. Loose control of the boat
and you loose control of the situation and put your men in jeopardy.
Most readily admit that Swift Boat duty was tough and dangerous duty.

As a young man Bush - drank and partied while flying stateside for the
National Guard thus avoiding serving in combat. Whether it was his
intent or not, he did not go.

Those were the processes by which these two men learned to lead.
Which process do you think might have the best chance to shape a
decisive leader?

Corky Scott

I don't think that any one event will shape a decisive leader. The roads to
any given point are many and varied. Yes, Kerry served in Viet Nam but based
on his testimony and actions after returning from Viet Nam, I have serious
questions about what sort of decisive leader he has become. I even have many
questions about what sort of leader he was in Viet Nam. He testified about
some of the acts our soldiers did in Viet Nam but I wonder if he was speaking
from the personal experience of his own actions.

In any case, both Bush and Kerry have come a long way since then. I much more
concerned with what each is likely to do from here forward than with what they
did 35 years ago. Neither impresses me much in that respect.

Bob Reed
www.kisbuild.r-a-reed-assoc.com (KIS Builders Site)
KIS Cruiser in progress...Slow but steady progress....

"Ladies and Gentlemen, take my advice,
pull down your pants and Slide on the Ice!"
(M.A.S.H. Sidney Freedman)