This isn't something that I hold against Bush. (there are plenty of more important issues to disagree with him on). Clearly- he came from a wealthy, well connected, privileged family. That's no secret. Also not a secret were his partying, alcoholic ways as a young man. So- his family used their connections to get their boy a safer and more interesting military gig, flying jets in the National Guard, rather than being a foot soldier in Nam. Sounds reasonable to me. Heck- I'd consider it smart.. . Now- where I have the problem is when you compare Kerry's Nam service to Bush's. Here's a guy who also was priviledged, and could have gotten out of it, but instead he volunteered and served with distinction and was a bonafide hero. Then- when he saw the indescretions of the american forces- he did the american thing and legally and non-violently spoke out against things that he felt were wrong. Kerry was testifying in front of congress at an age when Bush was partying his ass off, and barely showing up for duty.. . the whole 'swift boat veterans for truth' is an abomination and an embarassment to Republicans. It was dirty politics at its worst.