corrente

On the one hand, the WhiteWash House releases Bush's dental records from Bush's (alleged) time in Alabama in the Guard (back).

On the other, via Atrios in the Memphis Flyer, two Guardsmen in Bush's unit were on the lookout for him because they wanted to party with him—and he never showed up.

Recalls Memphian Mintz, now 63: “I remember that I heard someone was coming to drill with us from Texas. And it was implied that it was somebody with political influence. I was a young bachelor then. I was looking for somebody to prowl around with.” But, says Mintz, that “somebody” -- better known to the world now as the president of the United States -- never showed up at Dannelly in 1972. Nor in 1973, nor at any time that Mintz, a FedEx pilot now and an Eastern Airlines pilot then, when he was a reserve first lieutenant at Dannelly, can remember.

“And I was looking for him,” repeated Mintz.

So what's the bottom line, here? Bush shows up to get some dental work done, on the taxpayer's nickel, and then blew off his Guard duty?

I just don't understand it. The Bush Team is famously competent and disciplined, and they just can't bring themselves to clear this all up by releasing Bush's complete records. And then when Bush goes on MTP and says he's "absolutely" going to, first McClellan and then Bartlett start frantically back-pedalling. I wonder why?