I second Mark Kleiman's smart analysis of Mickey Kaus' not-so-smart analysis of the timing of the re-ignited AWOL issue. After quickly dispatching Mickey's idiotic tactical asessment of the timing by mentioning that the resurrection of this issue was the result more of Michael Moore than anything else, Kleiman has more thoughts:

But even if the timing had been a decision rather than an accident, I don't think the timing is bad from the viewpoint of the Democrats' eventual nominee. The real issue isn't war service, it's character: the "honor and integrity" Mr. Bush promised and has so signally failed to deliver.

We're likely to have at least a week of controversy now while the White House tries to dig itself out from under the President's promise to Tim Russert to release all his military records without actually letting out all of his military records. (If today's release of payroll records showing six days' service in 1972 is the best they can do, they're in bad shape.) And we may well have follow-up stories if news organizations (or perhaps even groups of veterans) submit FOIA requests accompanied by requests that the President waive his Privacy Act rights.

All of that makes a nice companion to the WMD story and the budget story and the Medicare story and the employment-estimate story. It all helps establish that the truth is not in Mr. Bush.

Another reason that the early arrival of this issue is good for those with an interest in sending Bush back to Connecticut Texas in November is this: We've learned from the energy task force, the 9/11 commission, and now with the leak of a couple of teensy payroll figures on Bush's service, that the administration reveals information at a snail's pace. With a Democratic candidate, particularly the one whose name ends in "erry", continually pressing the issue, and the rejuvinated press corps going along as they have been, the Bushies will keep finding themselves in the unfortunate position of trying to pacify this irresistable force. Little tidbits wont be enough, because Kerry and others wont stop until Bush puts it all out there for everyone to see. Knowing him, this will take time, so it's good that the AWOL issue got out there earlier. Thank you, Mikey!