Posted on 06/21/2006 10:10:13 AM PDT by catholicfreeper
Gabriel Whitney says he did not plan to nearly suffocate President Bush in a bear hug. In fact, he did not plan to hug him at all. But when Mr. Whitney, one of 202 midshipmen to graduate from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., on Monday, stepped forward to receive his diploma, it just sort of happened. Call it irrational exuberance. But after six years of undergraduate school and 4,872 demerits, Mr. Whitney, 25, of Nashua, N.H., could hardly restrain himself. With more reason than most to be overjoyed, the 6-foot-7 midshipman stepped onto the stage to accept his degree and hugged Vice Adm. Joseph D. Stewart, the academy's superintendent. Then he raised both arms in a victorious salute as his classmates roared their approval. Elated and with his arms still upraised, he turned toward President Bush, who had just delivered the commencement address. Mr. Bush, wearing a quizzical expression, responded by raising his arms as well and moved in for a hug. The midshipman almost unwittingly found himself squeezing the president in his powerful arms. When the president caught his breath, he shook Mr. Whitney's hand. "I said, 'You're the man! Thank you very much,' " Mr. Whitney said in a telephone interview yesterday. "The president thought the .......
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
General order #1- Do not hug the Commander In Chief.
Well, I have to give credit where credit is due. I was browsing that raunchy wonkette site(lol) and came across it. Of course it will get more out the belt way exposure here lol
"Is that the view from the Secret Service sniper? :-)"
A picture with crosshairs would be LOL funny.
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Ummm...this came from the New York Times...
When you graduate, you get your "ticket" and you can punch it where you wish . . . given gross tonnage restrictions, etc.
It was on the Daily Dose a couple days ago.
I think that tankers between US ports have US masters and
mates.
Yeah, I remember hearing something about that . . . whether it was tankers or all "intra-US" shipping, I don't remember.
This guy is probably still doing bends-and-thrusts....
Is this guy's name Whitney or Blutarsky?
On the support vessels, such as LTC Calvin Titus a RORO prepositioning ship, or on navy oceanographic vessels as crew. And on the few american flagged ships left.
My daughter-in-law went there. For a long time I could not figure out what the kp in her e-mail address stood for until she explained it to me.
From their web site:
http://www.usmma.edu/admissions/lifeafterkp.htm
No other federal service academy offers you the career options of Kings Point. You may choose to seek your opportunity as a ship's officer at sea, ashore in the maritime and intermodal transportation field, or as an active duty officer in one of the Armed Forces.
First assignment Antarctica (after some R&R in Iraq.)
LOL! Oh man, awesome picture! Look at President Bush's face!
Well, you gotta admit, this guy can get things done, takes awhile, and has made errors, but he is commited to getting things done.
Hope he does well. I look forward to seeing him on the high seas.....and being that I live in NV, that means alot.
Military Sealift Command employs lots.
They also receive a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve upon graduation and have an obligation to serve in the Navy if called.
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