Interesting tidbits about Laura (Welch) Bush's vehicular homicide!

[Tim4319]

**Tommy Frank and Laura (Welch) Bush went to high school together!**

I was reading up on the 1963 killing of Laura's boyfriend when I stumbled across a few facts that shocked me. Some of you may have already known this, but this is news to me.

<<snip>>
Laura had killed the most popular boy at school, more popular than Tommy Frank, also a student there, who later would become an Army general and lead US forces in the invasion of Iraq. She stayed home until about Christmas.

What a tangled web we weeve....
<<snip>>
Laura Bush's mother has expressed thankfulness that it was *not her daughter that was killed*, since the Welches only had one child. This reminds of George Bush's attitude toward Cindy Sheehan (mother of Spc. Casey Sheehan, USA, killed in action in Iraq): "It's not mah son!"


This is kind of puzzling to me!
<<snip>>
The police report noted that Laura committed two violations of traffic laws that contributed to the wreck: "Disregard stop sign or signal" and "(illegible)"

In the box labeled "Is investigation complete?", the police officer checked "No."

The officer went through all the proper motions: measured the skid marks, diagramed the wreck, went to the hospital to check on the dead (Michael) and others (Laura and Judy). He took statements from the survivors and photos of the wreckage. The next day, he filed his report.

He did not issue a citation to Laura Welch!!!! The investigation apparently was never completed. No grand jury was convened.


And finally: LAURA'S VERY OWN COVERUP
<<snip>>
Media reports have appeared in "Reader's Digest" and other places with incorrect facts that would seem to be ameliorating circumstances. For example: Michael Douglas was driving an open Jeep, from which he could easily be thrown. The wreck happened right after a thunderstorm, which would imply that the pavement was wet and slick.

The fact is, Michael was driving a closed sedan that was very small and no match for Laura's much larger car. The pavement was dry, as the officer checked the box on the police report form. Laura never bothered to correct these and other misstatements, including the one that she was not Michael's girlfriend. She will not acknowledge the accident or even her relationship with the victim even to this day.

The true facts came out when the police report was released in 2000, 37 years after the fact, also after the Midland city attorney refused to release the report. The Texas attorney-general compelled the release of the report after a newspaper in another Texas town, Odessa, filed a Freedom of Information Act request.


https://sf.indymedia.org/news/2005/09/1719472.php

[slackmaster]

1. Laura Bush kicked my dog

:eyes:

[SlipperySlope]

31. Did he have it coming?

Heh!

[Ilsa]

2. Too bad

Tommy Franks wasn't in that car instead of the boy that died. I can't help it, it's how I feel. Maybe someone oelse would have had that General's job and would have stood up to W and Rumsferatu.

[leveymg]

3. They don't let you into The Family unless you've killed someone

That's the way the Mafia works.

[LaurenG]

4. This is a cheap shot, what does this have to do with now

She was a kid and she killed someone by speeding and running a stop sign. I am thankful that I've never killed anyone by doing those things as an inexperienced driver.

[mtnsnake]

8. How many years will they take cheap shots at Ted Kennedy?

I say ram it down their throats forever.

[Tim4319]

9. Ain't that the truth!

Ted Kennedy will never live that down.

[LaurenG]

10. I know, I'm not trying to piss anyone off here

but they are just as wrong. Sorry, it's the way I feel about it that's all.

[Southsideirish]

32. Its her "holier than thou" attitude that ticks people off and want to take

her down a peg. Little "Miss Perfect in Every Way" and she's not nearly as perfect as she tries to pretend she is - people enjoy deflating the pretensions of the "high and mighty."

[BooScout]

58. I agree......

This just brings us down to their level. I won't go there.

[Horse with no Name]

63. It's never the crime that is in question

It's the coverup as evidenced by (lack) of follow through by the police department.
If it wasn't a big deal, then why did she (along with her husband) have her Texas Driver's License records expunged and have new numbers issued?
I used to agree with you about getting to their level. But the time to play nicey-nice is over.
Michael Douglas is no less dead than Mary Jo Kopechne, yet anytime Ted Kennedy says ANYTHING those freaks don't like--they drag her body around in effigy.
It's time to play tit-for-tat. If that is the only thing that will shut them up--then that is how we must play. When they see that everytime Kopechne is brought up--then Douglas will be brought up....at some point it will stop.

[Mad_Dem_X]

26. BINGO! To this day

repukes are making jokes about Ted. Let them have a taste of their own medicine, any way we can!

Edit for spelling

[donsu]

22. "cheap shot"?? you can't be serious

nt

[LaurenG]

29. Why is it so hard to see that what angers you is

how unfair they are and yet you think it's OK to do the same?

Pay-back is for the immature and the movies. In the end you can't hurt someone else without getting hurt yourself.

[napi21]

53. In a fair and honest world, you're right, that's the way it should be.

Unfortunately, the world we live in is neither fair or honest! And I disagree with you on the pay back is immature. Think back a little bit to the Swift boaters and what they did to Kerry. I suspect he said the same thing as you're saying, and what happened? No pay back and he lost!

I don't believe in pay back in every stuation, but some earn it!

[BooScout]

59. BS....`

Kerry lost that round because he didn't respond quickly enough and forcefully enough.

[napi21]

60. And you don't catagorize that as lack of a pay back?

Of course! He should have come out swinging! But in Swinging, there sure could have been a lot of dirt on his detractors, don't ya think?

[donsu]

66. Kerry lost because the machines counted the votes

Kerry won

so did Gore

[LaurenG]

67. I wonder at the terminology here, Kerry should have DEFENDED

himself. I wrote to him daily asking him to say something. I was involved in another forum at the time and the freeps were coming out of the wood work over the swift boat liars. I told him that we couldn't keep defending him alone and that if he wouldn't stand up for himself how could he expect us to keep at it every day.

As far as laura I just think this was too long ago. I know others have differing opinions but I can't attack her, I just can't at least not over that. :)

[RaleighNCDUer]

30. It's not the accident --

it's the coverup and the implication, by coverup, of not taking responsibility for the accident.

Isn't that one of the classic arguments for the death penalty in murder cases, that the killer 'shows no acceptance of responsibilty or regret'?

[roguevalley]

45. personally, the different justice ethic works for the rich white folks

down in texas. would she be even up for parole yet if she was brown or black? they are such a 'family values-kick others in the teeth' bullshitters that this is relevent.

[Bucky]

50. Thanks. She's an accidental homocider. Her husband is the murderer

Mrs Bush's only error was running down her lover too early in life.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

55. Homidecider?

:think:

[bloom]

57. Someone around here

had a similar accident and got 4 years in jail. Though he was hispanic. Might not have been a citizen. Certainly didn't have any clout.


(And that is without alcohol being involved).

[TahitiNut]

5. Well, if Laura were black or Hispanic ...

... she might still be in prison. :eyes:

[lpbk2713]

6. Q: Is there a statute of limitations on Vehicular Homicide in Texas?

I'll bet there was one written into the books after her devious ol' man became Texas governor.




K&R

[noonwitch]

7. Let it go, it was over 40 years ago and she was a kid

I take no pleasure in watching Laura or the twins get raked over the coals. They are not the President.

[Tim4319]

13. Well they should stop portraying themselves with this "holier than thou"

attitude!

[Syncronaut Seven]

15. It's highly relevant! It's how they hold her to her obligations

Laura is owned, it's a national security threat. Like being a closeted, terrified elected official. they have the goods on Laura and she knows it well.

There is no statute of limitations for homicide.

[Canuckistanian]

16. Neither were Hillary or Chelsea

But you're right, keep the focus on the true cause of all this misery and death.

[NewJeffCT]

68. Not to mention Ted Kennedy & Bob Byrd

Republicans love to tar us with one word or one phrase. Hillary is "Hitlery"... Kennedy, it's "Chappaquiddick", with Byrd, it's "KKK"

While it may be simple, it's effective.

[donsu]

23. how ridiculous to try and separate Laura from the bushmilhousegang

nt

[hexola]

35. Uh...folks...they're dead...stop kicking the body...

Im ready for some solutions to todays problems...

BushCo is beaten...we need to get ready to lead.

This aint it...

[Late Slip]

48. I'm with you - it's something that could have happened to anyone

when they were just learning to drive. And just because the repugs like to bring up Ted Kennedy/Chappaquidick (sp?) doesn't mean we have to stoop. It was a terrible tragedgy for both families. Let it go.

[DELUSIONAL]

54. No . . . . this cannot be ignored . . . if she were black she'd still be

in jail -- or worse.

[oasis]

11. That's all true, but she keeps house far better than Hillary. So there.

:spank:

[donsu]

25. Hillary dresses better - Laura looked like the easter bunny yesterday

greeting Hu. all she needed was bunny ears

[NYCGirl]

27. I don't know about that. They both dress poorly. NT

[NJmaverick]

12. I always bring this up to the Ted Kennedy driver people

I see this crime as no better than what Ted Kennedy was accused of. Since the liberal haters still like to bring this up, we should always bring this up at the same time.

[Gregorian]

17. This proves Democrats are civil.

And it also proves that human beings have their Chappaquiddicks. But what we don't have are the Bush coverups. Every damning or illegal thing that has ever happend to a Bush was magically vaporized. The Bush threat is big.

[NYCGirl]

20. But this happened years before she even knew him. And Chappaquiddick

happened when Kennedy was a senator and 36 years old. So there are some very big differences. But I agree, everyone can have a Chappaquiddick.

[jeanarrett]

37. Yeah, your right, Kennedy never tried to cover anything

up about Chappaquiddick. :eyes:

[Gregorian]

56. Oh crap. Am I forgetting something?

I seem to vaguely remember leaving the scene. But I don't think it was as coordinated as every single Bush fuck up.

[jeanarrett]

61. Never said it was.

But he changed his story several times. BTW I love Ted Kennedy and I believe in good people making mistakes. I would never want to be born into such a politically situated family (as he was)that your every move was circumspect. Hindsight is 20/20 and I think that Ted has totally made his amends. Peace. I was just trying to bring balance, because just because you and I are on the right side (and we are) does not mean that we don't always fuck up or make the wrong decisions sometimes. We do. And the acknowledgment of that is what makes us superior to them (GOP).

[DelawareValleyDem]

19. Yep

I always throw in Bill Janklow for good measure.

[Patiod]

39. Janklow and Kennedy were drunk and adults

Laura was a kid, and likely not intoxicated.

We are better than this, people.

I'd prefer to pile on people like Thomas Druce and other adult Republicans who screw up - there are PLENTY of them to go around.

Picking on a teenaged Laura Bush just makes us look small - accidents happen - look at Adlai Stevenson.

[DelawareValleyDem]

40. Actually, Janklow wasn't drunk

and I don't see what difference the age makes. If you're old enough to enjoy the privilege of driving, you're old enough to accept responsibility for your actions while doing so. Laura will get her pass when the freeps get over Teddy.

[NYCGirl]

41. Not excusing anyone, but you don't think there's a difference between

just turning 17 and age 36?

[DelawareValleyDem]

42. Sure there's a difference

but, like you said, it's not an excuse. She could easily have faced prosecution for what happened, and got a free pass.


On edit: Just want to clarify further. There are obvious physical and emotional differences between the two ages, but to say the age of the driver causing the accident changes things I don't accept.

[NYCGirl]

43. In many states, there are different laws for minors. NT

[DelawareValleyDem]

44. I doubt if any state says that just because you're a minor

when you violate two traffic laws and cause a fatal accident, you won't face some penalty.

[Tim4319]

46. I thought 17 years of age was a borderline age?

At that age, I thought there could be an opportunity for being tried as an adult.

[NYCGirl]

47. Usually only for a murder charge. NT

[Yupster]

49. I disagree

I expect a lot more mature behavior from a sitting US Senator than from a high school junior (senior?). Maybe that's just me.

[NJmaverick]

64. Laura killed a complete innocent

Ted's passenger should have known he was impared.

[NYCGirl]

65. So you're saying the victim is at fault for getting in the car?

That's grasping at straws.

[NJmaverick]

69. If she knew he was drunk or impared YES she is partly to blame

That's not grasping at straws, that is being honest and realistic. You never refused to get in the car with someone you felt was not capable of driving?

[papau]

14. Texas law required alcohol test if death - but no test for Laura - why?

:toast:

Did she invoke the Cheney clause on waiting 18 hours or just say no to alcohol testing?

[Syncronaut Seven]

21. Because she was widely recognized as the best baker in town?

A girl with a promising future, why mess that up? Lets not bicker and argue about who killed who, the GOP has gained a daughter, in a very real, and legally binding sense.

[WI_DEM]

24. Of course back then she was a Democrat and even supported

Eugene McCarthy in 1968.

[Syncronaut Seven]

28. No shit?

Parents too? Laura (the kid) didn't weasel out of this one by herself.

I'd only ask that she be treated the same as any Texan, black, white, hispanic and you know, not connected.

Time to convene a grand jury? I get the sneaking suspiscion I'd be hung out to dry in the same situation.

No BAC test, that meets the test of criminal stupidity and begs the question, who paid who to disregard well established procedure?

[hexola]

36. Special secret ESP magic power...

Of course they knew...that she would be first lady one day and gave her a break...everything is controlled...nothing is real...

[DelawareValleyDem]

18. Here's a link to the police report from Wiki

Tough to read but you can get some details. Originals should be available from Midland PD.

http://tinyurl.com/b8adq

[Supersedeas]

33. why does it take a FOIA request to get a police report--that is strange in

and of itself.

[NYCGirl]

34. This happened when she was a minor — are there special rules for that? NT

[leftofthedial]

38. she's as much a sociapath as king george

how does one violate traffic laws, resulting in an accident that kills someone and not even get cited?

how does that happen, even in an uncivilized place like Texas?

[Yupster]

51. Small town America 50 years ago

I'm sure the cop on the scene just wanted to get everyone still alive to the hospital to get checked out.

It looks like they decided it was kids having an accident and that was the end of it.

I don't know how the police worked in Midland 50 years ago. It was a dusty little oil town back then.

The Welch family was not an important family like the Midkiffs or Scharbauers or Bushes. Certainly not politically important anyway.

[0007]

52. Tommy Franks was two or three years ahead of Laura

at MIdland High School.

[Yupster]

62. Tommy and Laura both went to

Robert E Lee High School in Midland I think. Today there two public high schols in Midland, Midland High, and Lee High. The Midland Bulldogs and Lee Rebels. The Rebels were the big rivals to Permian High in the movie Friday Night Lights.