Bush in 72, Helen Thomas in 04

Josh Marshall has three good posts in a row.

Fifteen people now say that they never saw Bush on the small base he claims he was at, one GOP leader says he saw him.

Another reporter, this time for the AP, interviews people who saw Bush in 1972. One says he was a drunk, one says hard worker. This is the AP, they devote most of the time to the third, a prominent GOP leader. Surprise again, this former RNC national committeewoman and Alabama GOP leader says she knew he did his duty in the Guard then because she called the base when 'others' said he was slacking off to explain he was working on the campaign.

el - What the Hell difference would it make that he was working on a political campaign? What 'others'? Why haven't they come forward? Why is it only major GOP leaders who place him on base? Lastly, is this the best the GOP can do, even then some people were calling him a slacker? Her creditableness might best be measured by her recalling that was the only year he ever drank and even then it was just a couple of beers occasionally! This is just getting silly.

Finally Josh has Helen Thomas and others getting under Scott's skin as they try to get honest answers.