[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.

[XJarhead]

They told me that the loathing and utter contempt for Bill Clinton was all but universal among the troops.

My experience was similar. And its very, very easy to explain. Troops loved Reagan because they knew he loved them. And both Bush's have that same quality. You couldn't watch him tonight and doubt the depth of his feelings for the troops.

Clinton "loathed" them. And it was reciprocated.

American troops don't ask much of their President, do they? Just respect them for what they do.