This Story Is no More, Ceased to Be, Expired and Gone to Meet its Maker!

Unlike Monty Python's Parrot, journalism's not dead yet. Though most media confuse bias with reportage, some papers actually investigated Democrat claims that Bush shirked his National Guard service, either in Texas or Alabama. As noted below (tpfp post dated 2/11 3:07pm), the Boston Globe suggested one Terry McAullife source was lying. Today's New York Post challenges the only other accuser:

Retired Brig. Gen. William Turnipseed, the 187th's Tactical Reconnaissance Group's former commander, recanted his statement that he couldn't remember if Bush reported for duty, now saying his memory is faulty because he's in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Even the NY Times is back-peddling, conceding today (after rehashing each accusation) the AWOL claim "appears to be exaggerated."

The "Bush was AWOL" meme is impervious to facts; it won't disappear. Expect it on the Internet, at all the "smart" cocktail parties, and in anonymous leaks from McAullife and others. It's already conventional wisdom in "blue states," along with a smug certainty of a cover-up by the Republican-biased press (!). The same folks also think the CIA shot Kennedy from the grassy knoll; don't waste time talking 'um down from the ledge.

The real issue is the press' double-standard. As evidenced by Joe Conason's quotes below (tpfp post 2/15 8:43pm), unsourced rumors about Republicans are page 1, 42-point type news. Unsourced rumors about Democrats are scurrilous libel. The media tried, convicted and hung Lt. Bush before even investigating. Even after Bush is cleared, the press remains silent.

Jonah Goldberg doubts "a fact like this would have been ignored if a Bill Clinton accuser were in a similar plight." He's right. Just imagine the howls were criminals treated like Republicans--sentence first, verdict afterward.

Update:

Via InstaPundit, Roger Mitchell's concise summary of the Bush National Guard story. Click to see why dental records--valid on every prime-time crime drama!--aren't enough for liberal news departments.