# Dan Rather and the forged letter **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 23, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-the-forged-letter/438879 "2008-02-23T20:15:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-the-forged-letter/438879/21 "2008-02-25T00:40:16Z")
You obviously got leave. So? (Well, you _did_, right?) There is no evidence that Bush ever even showed up _at all_ after his transfer to Alabama, or intended to but couldn’t for some reason, or had leave to blow off his duty, or even claimed he had leave - just that he got a discharge, as any rich and connected kid would have done. If your position is “Well, under the UCMJ that’s not \*legally, technically \* AWOL, therefore it didn’t technically, legally become desertion when the 30 days ran out”, well, you’re welcome to it. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-the-forged-letter/438879/22 "2008-02-25T00:54:48Z")
[QUOTE=ElvisL1ves] You obviously got leave. So? (Well, you _did_, right?) [/QUOTE] Are you listening? No I didn’t. No one in the guard gets leave. On active duty you get 2.5 days of leave a year. In the guard you don’t accrue leave. It is a concept that does not exist in the guard unless you are activated. You can’t be absent without something you can’t get in the first place. [QUOTE=ElvisL1ves] There is no evidence that Bush ever even showed up _at all_ after his transfer to Alabama, or intended to but couldn’t for some reason, or had leave to blow off his duty, or even claimed he had leave - just that he got a discharge, as any rich and connected kid would have done. If your position is “Well, under the UCMJ that’s not \*legally, technically \* AWOL, therefore it didn’t technically, legally become desertion when the 30 days ran out”, well, you’re welcome to it. [/QUOTE] If you are going to use specific legal terms for specific actions which fall under very specific laws and circumstances then you should actually learn what they mean or you are just speaking out your ass. I have never defended Bush’s military service. It wasn’t much. But his service and the discharge he got is similar to what I have seen many others do over the years (and I don’t know too many rich kids). It’s nothing to be particularly proud of but it is nothing to be crucified for. I just can’t stand people throwing around terms like desertion when they have know idea what they are talking about. Sorry I forgot this was GD. Bush is teh ev1l! Better? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-the-forged-letter/438879/23 "2008-02-25T01:22:23Z")
Sigh … you had “permission” not to show up for duty, then. Bush did not. There would seem to be a difference in substance, whatever word you choose to use for it, would there not? As for the rest of that post, I did say you’re welcome to that argument. It obviously gives you comfort, something to hold onto. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-the-forged-letter/438879/24 "2008-02-25T02:20:41Z")
[QUOTE=ElvisL1ves] Sigh … you had “permission” not to show up for duty, then. Bush did not. There would seem to be a difference in substance, whatever word you choose to use for it, would there not? As for the rest of that post, I did say you’re welcome to that argument. It obviously gives you comfort, something to hold onto. [/QUOTE] When you are talking about legal definitions you can’t just make shit up. If that gives you comfort go ahead. You are still wrong. So much for fighting ignorance. Or the ignorant. Like I said why do I even try? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-the-forged-letter/438879/25 "2008-02-25T02:27:30Z")
Setting aside the technical definition of “desertion”, it seems too grand a word for the trivial burden young Lt. Bush couldn’t be bothered with. “Playing hooky” seems about right, considering the strategic significance of his contribution. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-the-forged-letter/438879/26 "2008-02-25T02:28:55Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Setting aside the technical definition of “desertion”, it seems too grand a word for the trivial burden young Lt. Bush couldn’t be bothered with. “Playing hooky” seems about right, considering the strategic significance of his contribution. [/QUOTE] Pretty much. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-the-forged-letter/438879/27 "2008-02-25T03:15:10Z")
Not to mention that the cite given, above, to back up the charge of desertion said: > [@](#): > > Bush’s enemies say all this proves he was a cowardly deserter. Nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-the-forged-letter/438879/28 "2008-02-25T03:22:20Z")
Are you actually missing the point, or simply carefully steering around it? :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-the-forged-letter/438879.md?page=1)