[Lauratealeaf]

When we were stationed at Fort Drum right after Clinton was elected, sometime during the Somalia deployment but before the Mogadishu horrors he came to Fort Drum. They had to order troops to go to the rally. I refused to do it although I had to do the calligraphy for the invitations to the locals. I will never forget how disgusted people were who had to go. Clinton nussled up to a goodlooking Colonel's wife to her everlasting disgust in the handshaking line. (she was my bridge partner)

[Fracas]

I hope someone arranges for her to meet GWB - so she can shake the hand of a President who loves the military ... and isn't looking to hit on those who can't get away!

[CFC__VRWC]

I don't doubt it for one minute. I got out of the Navy before Clinton oozed into the White House, but kept in touch with a few guys whose hitches ran beyond mine. They told me that the loathing and utter contempt for Bill Clinton was all but universal among the troops.

In contracst, we loved George Bush (41). I remember one time, when Desert Storm was pretty much wound down and we were waiting for our orders to head home (I was on on board the Saratoga). Pres. Bush has flown over to Saudi Arabia to address the troops, and was on his way back to the US. Anyway, his plane's flight path was going to take him right over our position in the middle of the night. We were flooding the XO with ideas on how to greet him and just acknowledge our respect for him. One guy even suggested having the crew go out on the flight deck with flashlights, arranged so that we spelled out "BUSH".

The XO nixed the idea - it wouldn't have worked anyway. But it sure feels good to once again have a commander-in-chief who has the love and respect of the troops.