Posted on 10/14/2006 10:07:42 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
COLLEGE STATION, Texas- Former President George H.W. Bush almost had to wait a little longer to see an aircraft carrier bear his name.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, speaking at a leadership forum with Bush at Texas A&M University on Friday, said he nearly chose a different namesake for the nuclear-powered USS George H.W. Bush christened last week in Virginia.
The $6 billion CVN 77 is the last of the Nimitz-class carriers. England, whose duty included naming new carriers in his former position as secretary of the Navy, told the crowd he was torn over whether to wait for the new carrier class in 2015 to use Bush's name.
Bush, 82, was a decorated pilot in World Ward II. England said he ultimately decided that it made sense to bookend the Nimitz class with the USS Bush, since the namesake of both carriers served over the Pacific.
"The ship reflects his personal characteristics," England said in a story by the Bryan College-Station Eagle. "I could not be more proud. The United States Navy could not be more proud."
Bush, who joined the armed forces on his 18th birthday, reminded the crowd that he is one of the few Naval aviators to have warships named after them.
"It's overwhelming," Bush said. "A lot of neat things happen to you when you used to be president."
Interior work is still being completed on the 1,092-foot-long carrier, which is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in late 2008.
Bill Clinton will have a Brothel Boat named after him..
I DO love former President Bush .. he's maybe the most natural of all men to have held that office in my lifetime. I'm not saying he's the best former POTUS, but as a person he seems so much more comfortable with who he is: i.e,his self-deprecating style, his total ease, his willingness to do what he wants to do such as jump from a plane on his 75th and 80th birthdays) ... you can see those qualities in the current President Bush, except circumstances have made the latter a whole lot tougher as POTUS.
I cant stand W's fFather and I blame him for 8 years of Clinton and the current Iraq war which he could have finished if he had any balls.
Bill Clinton will have a ship shaped like a pair of lips named after him.
The USS BJ.
I agree on the politics ... former President Bush, through the weakness of his Administration, opened the door for Clinton ... tho, honestly, after 12 years of a GOP Administration, the public tends to tire and turn anyway. At the time, Clinton/Gore seemed like a hip new generation, the Cold War had ended, everything was cooooool. We could afford an adolescent in the White House ... or so the thinking went.
As to Iraq in 91, that decision was based on advice of Colin Powell, if I recall. And, the D's beat up on '41' for all those years for NOT going into Baghdad; then beat up on '43' for going into Baghdad ... just can't win with those folks.
Agreed. And shortly we will have the indignity of Bush #1's Secretary of State Baker issuing a report recommending that we surrender Iraq to the Iranians and Syrians. These are the so-called "realists" in the Republican party.
I remember hardly anyone blamed Bush I after the first Iraq war.
Then, after a few years into Clinton's term, the MSM and Dems began a calculated campaign to change his legacy and fed all kinds of innuendo so now the vast majority blame Bush Sr. What a turn around.
It's truly scary what evil men in power can do.
Perot, not Bush
No "New Taxes", No Perot...
Or... A garbage scow.
When Hillary has a ship named after her, it will just be the S.S. Hillary with no U.
I thought Poppy was tough enough -- his achilles heel was too much of a desire to get along with everyone, a trait his son has inherited. I thought he was a rather shallow man before he was VP. He attributes his maturation to 8 years of working with Ronald Reagan, and I think that is supreme credit to both of them. I got goosebumps writing that.
How wonderful that he has been able to live long enough to enjoy this!
He should be the first former president to serve time in a prison named after him. Actually, Carter should be the first to serve time.
Yeah. Put both Bubba and Karter in the same cell and put the latter in a blue dress..... ;-)
No "New Taxes", No Perot...
H. Ross Perot was never a fan of George H. W. Bush. Perot was so opposed to US involvement in Desert Storm that he urged senators to vote against the war resolution in 1990.
He did use the veto pen a lot, something that his son should try more often.
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