Did Arnie's AWOL fade into non-issue (like *)?

[Sapphocrat]

While digging around for other unsavory facts about Der Gubernatater-Elect, I ran across something (at http://www.bodybuilders.com/arnold.htm ) that raised my eyebrows:

In 1965 he enlisted in the Austrian army, but to compete in Stuttgart, Arnold had to go A.W.O.L and because of that, he was jailed when he came back.

I was out of the U.S. for a month, so I must have missed this little nugget. But it didn't take much to find a couple of hundred mentions on Google.

So what's the deal? It looks like Arnie's AWOL came to light around September 19, and then... what? Just went away?

Not that I'm surprised, as Americans don't seem to give a rat whisker's anymore if their leaders are deserters -- or felons, or jailbirds.

It is, however, something I would certainly like to see kept at the forefront of public consciousness until the day Ah-nold is kicked out of Sacramento on his big, musclebound head.

P.S. The quoted piece above makes it sound like he volunteered for service, when, IIRC, service is/was mandatory in Austria.

[Not a robought]

1. birds of a feather.... n/t

[eleny]

2. Kick

:kick:

[Sapphocrat]

4. Thanks for the...!

[fizzana]

3. He went back and did some jail time for going AWOL.

Sounds like he got punished and then completed his service. Not in the same league as Bush*.

I'm not trying to defend Arnold but Bush's AWOL is a lot worse. He never went back and never got punished.

[Sapphocrat]

5. I hear ya...

Just call me blindly hopeful that by throwing enough facts at Steroid Boy, something may stick... especially after Ah-nold's honeymoon period is a distant memory.

[kskiska]

6. A&E "Biography" skipped over the issue the other night

They said he served a year in the Austrian Army. That's all. They also didn't say that he chose not to attend his father's or brother's funerals. He had other priorities.

[Silverhair]

7. Makes Dems sound desperate and that's bad

Get a grip. Arnold would have been 18 (A teenager) at the time. That was 38 years ago and in another country. If Dems try to attack Arnold with this it will make Dems look desperate. Americans don't vote for desperate people or parties because looking desperate is looking like a loser. That's why all the last minute attacks on him didn't work, but instead created sympathy for him. You can't win by tearing the other guy down. You win by building yourself up.

[TruthIsAll]

9. Oh, a righteous one...Stop the Bushit pontificating..

"You can't win by tearing the other guy down. You win by building yourself up".

Remember Clinton? Remember Gore? The Repuke Nazis do it all the time. How come they get away with it?

I'm sick of the hypocrisy.

BTW, Who did you vote for?

[foreigncorrespondent]

10. Americans don't vote for desperate people or parties

Then why did some American's vote for Bush* in the 2000 selection?

[ReadTomPaine]

11. You can't win by tearing the other guy down, unless you're a Republican!

Re: John McCain & Ralph Reed.

[RapidCreek]

14. Looking Desperate?

Right....Pointing out a guy is more interested in looking like a meat puppet than honoring his obligations to his countrymen and country....that's desperate.

The last minute attacks? How is pointing out the truth an attack? Yes I suppose if one of us Dems suggested Arnold grabbing your wifes cunny and giving it a rub was somehow wrong....that might get him some sympathy, eh?

You can win by tearing another guy down....that is exactly what the recall was about...tearing down Davis. Further, that is why Bush is currently in office....his minions tore down Clinton for 8 years and the the resultant stink permeated Gores campaign.

You better wake up chief.

RC

[REP]

16. "But That Was In Another Country, and Besides, The Wench Is Dead"

I agree that since he was jailed for going AWOL, it's a little different from Asslick's* being AWOL from his Champaign Unit. Saying that it was long ago and in a different country is a weak defense, however.

[eleny]

8. * will reign him in

[abbyhoffman]

12. it would only be

an issue if he was AwOL from the US Army! the fact the it was the Austrian army may have scored him points

[foreigncorrespondent]

13. Then why hasn't...

Bush*s AWOL story hit the American media?

The fact is, if he was a democrat, or if Bush* was a democrat then the story would have hit big time, but these stories get brushed under the carpet because they are both under the veil of repuke protection.

[RapidCreek]

15. Why wasn't Bush going AWOL

an isseu then? Your argument lacks merit.

RC