When people started discussing the issue of whether President Bush obtained special favoritism to gain a slot in the National Guard my first thought was ?of course, given his family history and supposed influence why wouldn?t he get special consideration?? But then the more I reflected on it the more I thought, ?gee, that?s the best his old man could do? How much influence could he have had?? If all that being a powerful member of the ruling class can get you is a 6 year stint in the National Guard, with all the related potential of being called into active duty, what does a kid growing up in the U.S. of A. have to aspire to. After all, when facing the draft in 1970, my cousin, the son of a janitor and a textile factory worker, was able to join the Guard. If H.W. couldn?t at least get George the younger classified as 27F or whatever, and completely out of the line of fire he should be ashamed of himself. No, my feeling now is that it?s the fact that the future president served in the Guard, that demonstrates he received no special favors.