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A Graduate So Happy, He Hugged the Speaker (Bush and the Merchant Marine)
New York Times ^ | June 21, 2006 | JULIA C. MEAD

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 ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bush; commencement; graduations; merchantmarine; usmma
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To: catholicfreeper

General order #1- Do not hug the Commander In Chief.


21 posted on 06/21/2006 10:36:37 AM PDT by BadAndy ("Loud mouth internet Rambo")
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To: navyblue
I didn't even think we had much of a merchant marine these days. None of the ships I see in the bay have U.S. flags on them unless they're warships. I'm curious, if someone knows, Where do the King's Point graduates serve?
22 posted on 06/21/2006 10:37:44 AM PDT by PUGACHEV
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To: 12th_Monkey

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


23 posted on 06/21/2006 10:38:03 AM PDT by catholicfreeper (I am Blogging for the GOP and Victory O6 at www.theponderingamerican.blogspot.com)
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To: atomicpossum

"Is that the view from the Secret Service sniper? :-)"

A picture with crosshairs would be LOL funny.


24 posted on 06/21/2006 10:39:01 AM PDT by BadAndy ("Loud mouth internet Rambo")
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.


25 posted on 06/21/2006 10:39:07 AM PDT by firewalk
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To: 12th_Monkey
Most excellant. Here it first on Free Republic, turn off the MSM.

Ummm...this came from the New York Times...

26 posted on 06/21/2006 10:40:57 AM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - They want to die for Islam, and we want to kill them.)
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To: PUGACHEV
I think they go on to serve on whatever commercial vessels there are out there, regardless of flag. The "Merchant Marine" itself is sort of like the Naval Reserve.

When you graduate, you get your "ticket" and you can punch it where you wish . . . given gross tonnage restrictions, etc.

27 posted on 06/21/2006 10:44:51 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: 2banana

It was on the Daily Dose a couple days ago.


28 posted on 06/21/2006 10:46:34 AM PDT by Mrs. Shawnlaw (No NAIS! And the USDA can bugger off, too!)
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To: 1rudeboy

I think that tankers between US ports have US masters and
mates.


29 posted on 06/21/2006 10:59:18 AM PDT by rahbert
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To: rahbert

Yeah, I remember hearing something about that . . . whether it was tankers or all "intra-US" shipping, I don't remember.


30 posted on 06/21/2006 11:03:54 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: catholicfreeper

This guy is probably still doing bends-and-thrusts....


31 posted on 06/21/2006 11:07:52 AM PDT by paddles
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To: catholicfreeper

Is this guy's name Whitney or Blutarsky?


32 posted on 06/21/2006 11:09:25 AM PDT by paddles
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To: PUGACHEV

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.


33 posted on 06/21/2006 11:14:34 AM PDT by Waverunner
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To: navyblue

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.


34 posted on 06/21/2006 11:19:39 AM PDT by rwa265
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To: PUGACHEV

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.


35 posted on 06/21/2006 11:28:22 AM PDT by rwa265
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To: catholicfreeper

First assignment Antarctica (after some R&R in Iraq.)


36 posted on 06/21/2006 11:31:54 AM PDT by pke
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To: catholicfreeper

LOL! Oh man, awesome picture! Look at President Bush's face!


37 posted on 06/21/2006 11:41:04 AM PDT by rake (zarqawi eats spam! - (in hell))
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To: catholicfreeper

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.


38 posted on 06/21/2006 11:42:20 AM PDT by AJMaXx (ILU Roo.....!)
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To: PUGACHEV

Military Sealift Command employs lots.


39 posted on 06/21/2006 11:59:48 AM PDT by stuartcr (Everything happens as God wants it to.....otherwise, things would be different.)
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To: PUGACHEV
KP grads serve as licensed deck and engineering officers aboard U.S. merchant ships.

They also receive a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve upon graduation and have an obligation to serve in the Navy if called.

40 posted on 06/21/2006 12:30:40 PM PDT by navyblue (at one.)
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