Just before the Ra^thergate story broke, the groundwork was being laid for the rehabilitation of Bill Burkett:

Bottom line: Burkett's story is largely credible (though obviously not proven); the number of missing documents from Bush's file is suspicious; and it's possible that even if some documents were purged from Bush's paper file in Austin they might still be recorded on the microfilm records made in the 70s and 80s. AP's request is a legitimate one, and hopefully the microfilm records will be made available to them before the election. After all, Bush is proud of his service in the Guard, right?

The major players in the Bush/National Guard/AWOL story seem to be Burkett (suspected in the forgery), Eric Boehlert of Salon (who insists that the threat of drug testing was the "reason" for that Bush allegedly didn't report for the physical exam), and Marty Heldt. (More here.)

[TIP FOR BOEHLERT FANS: If you're too cheap to pay for a subscription or don't like watching the Salon.com video, you might try the Kerry web site.]

While they're still in the pussyfooting around stages, I believe that ultimately, all roads will lead to cocaine. Kitty Kelley provides aroma, Boehlert offers unproven military regulations, an ancient secretary provides feeling, and Burkett, lovable nutcase that he is, painstakingly recreated the documents destroyed by Bush's evil minions.

It really isn't important that not one of the pieces in this puzzle can withstand serious scrutiny, because they're intended to work collectively on the American subconscious.

There's a feeling of cocaine. You can almost smell it.

Oh, and if the cocaine feelings wear off, there are always the tried and true feelings of Hitler.....