Posted on 09/15/2015 1:05:58 PM PDT by Red Steel
Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump picked a World War II-era battleship in San Pedro as a backdrop to share his views Tuesday about national security.
Trump’s appearance, organized by Veterans for a Strong America, is expected to draw more than 1,000 attendees to the top deck of the USS Iowa, which has been docked in Los Angeles as a nonprofit tourist attraction, community gathering space and educational museum since 2012.
The Iowa was launched in 1942 and recommissioned in 1984 during the military build up at the end of the Cold War. In April 1989, an explosion of undetermined origin wrecked her No. 2 gun turret, killing 47 sailors.
ome critics contend Trump’s visit — on the eve of the CNN Republican candidate debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library — is not an appropriate use of the battleship. An online petition, “Tell the USS Iowa: We Don’t Want Trump in San Pedro,” had garnered more than 3,500 signatures as of late last week from area residents calling for the event to be canceled.
“This battleship is part of American history and should not allow a man who has injured and insulted a significant portion of the Los Angeles community,” wrote Gabriela Lopez of San Pedro, who started the petition on Change.org. “We are for freedom of speech, however this ship represents freedom, equality and justice; terms that do not align with Mr. Trump’s political views.”
“We are not taking sides — this is neutral ground,” Williams said. “Our number one goal is to be a community platform, and freedom of speech is a great thing, whether that’s from Trump or from protestors. We are happy people are talking.”
This is the first time Veterans for a Strong America has used the battleship, which rents out and hosts a variety of events throughout the year, from free community movie nights and a veterans’ job fair to corporate events that can be much larger in scale than Trump’s appearance, Williams said.
Registration and advance payment is required for those interested in attending the event. For details, visit www.veteransforamerica.org.
Totally much like JFK/Dallas. Who knows? Who believes all of the official investigation?
I agree. I think the Iowa Class battleships are some of the most beautiful ships ever used by the U.S. Navy.
Gabriela Lopez is apparently functionally illiterate.
As I understand it, there never was a conclusive determination of the cause of the explosion. But the Navy did recant the allegations against Clayton Hartwig and apologized to his family.
Oh wow, Victory at Sea was one of my favorite shows back then. And the soundtrack is really excellent!
Thanks for the reminder!
Since it only happened once, it’s tough to seperate design and proceedures vs. gross human error/intentional.
It could be used for the live event thread. ;-)
I believe the event starts at 5:30pm Pacific time.
So true.
On a family vacation to the Outer Banks, we toured the North Carolina (BB-55) and the fire control computer in the turret was amazing. As you stated, there were about 27 dials and wheels the size of a Golden Corral buffet station that would have been (today) encased in an ICU that could fit in the volume of a cigarette lighter.
From reading about the computer, each round had an effect on the wear of the bore and that wear was accounted for before the next round was fired.
I love those old ships!
“...will make him look like he is already president.”
Agree. A month ago I told my husband that he’s acting and looking presidential already, which is psychologically huge for the voting public. A little in the vein of the old career advice, “Don’t dress for the job you have; dress for the job you want.”
‘Hopefully the rain blows out of here by the time he speaks.’
No, no, NO. We desperately NEED the rain.
Whatever percentage of people are stopped by the rain, so be it.
They can stay home if they think they might melt - - -
Anyone from the east is USED to rain.
Maybe the easterners are BRINGing the rain!
It hasn’t really been ‘raining’ anyway - just a medium on and off drizzle, here in Ventura County, 1 hour from L.A., and 20 minutes from the Reagan Library.
I know, I know, we’re spoiled. : ^ }
From, Former Noo Yawker
Here’s one live stream link starts about 1:45 minutes.
http://the405media.com/2015/09/15/donald-trump-uss-iowa-los-angeles-live-stream-video/
You know he’s going to say “The Iowa is an example of when we used to build things and when America was great.
This looks like the live stream to Trump’s national defense speech on the Iowa Battlewagon. Another link I posted above this one.
Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27gg7nEdp_c
Thanks Red
I’ll bump it to Breaking in about 5 minutes.
Sidebar Moderator, thanks for the title change to live thread. :-)
Welcome!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.