I think it should be said:

Any group, sufficiently immersed in an ideology can find "bias" in any source that does not agree with their predisposition.

Mule: Not quite. On both sides (no one is innocent) the idea is to toss as much crap as possible and hope some of it sticks. Too many times a front page story that has been discredited, finds the apology on a back page. Your side is just a guilty of distortion as the other, and probably as of late, moreso.

This problem will never be resolved. Both sides claim their "heroes" are telling the truth. One side has a presidential candidate that may have embellished the facts. The other has a successful lawyer so full of hate, I can't completely believe him either. Both sides, to some extent, relying on 35 year old "recalls". Heck, can any of you remember precisely what you were doing just five years ago today?

Then again, I can't totally believe the President or his VP. ALthough not necessarily lies, there have been enough half truths and "flip flops" re: reasons for war and the economy to keep my head shaking.

Sad when we can't trust our leadership to at least some degree.

Just another sign of the deep rift in our society.

Very well put on both points.

i just heard on the radio, that our VP recieved 5 deferrments for the vietnam war. ashcroft had 7.

i couldnt run for president, because once the smear campaign started, i would blow the election by telling my opponent to go and eff himself/herself.

Did all you Kerry supporters vote for Dole over Clinton because of his military record?

Don't be gettin all rational on these people...they will acuse you of personal attacks and report you to the moderator.

Have you been reported to the moderator, Mul?

Even if true...a deferment was not a disgrace. Lots of folks were defered for medical reasons. Almost everyone that was in college applied for and received deferments (except very early in the war). Clinton did....even Kerry applied for one, but it was rejected (bad luck, poor timing). The lower middle-class guys who could not afford college bore the brunt of the war.

FInt:

You are correct re: the deferrments and who wound up fighting the war. When Highschool was over, and college was financially out of the question, I joined the Coast Guard. At that time, things were still in the early stages in 'Nam and no one gave it much of a thought; just some advisors. Lucky me. My hitch was over and I was having a bit of help from my favorite uncle (the one in red white and blue), attending college part time. The full time students were scared spitless of dropping out, knowing by then where they would probably wind up. Can't blame them. Had a friend who was in the Marines (we actually did some training at the same time at LeJune on landing craft...me learning how to drive them, him and his buds learning how to disembark). He reupped, went over and didn't come back.

I truly appreciate your cogent and unbiased answer.

Unless health related, multiple deferrments were rare indeed. It would be interesting to see just how 5 and 7 of them were brokered.