[lanceboyle]

Allright...I'll consider myself chastened. But know this, I've seen military instructors forced to waste over an estimated 1000+ man-hours this past year because of the twisted marketing strategy of an 0-6. Time they could have better spent training troops, or prepping to train, or even just going to the gym. For goodness sake, the Hints from Heloise lady was visiting the town, and sure enough, they had to invite her out to eat some friggin MRE's. There are more anecdotes such as those. But needless to say, yeah, I'm a little bitter.

[terilyn]

You might try enlightening yourself and listening to some of these sailors and airmen. They don't appear to share your views.

[Miss Marple]

Well, I am sorry you are bitter, but if you watched this as we did all afternoon, you would realize that the enlisted men and women were not being used as 'tools." For heavens sake, the President is eating in the enlisted mess tonight, and he spent well over an hour greeting people and getting his picture taken with whoever had a camera!

ALL the reporters have spoken about how thrilled the crew is!

Just because some officer acts like an idiot, you don't need to transfer those feelings onto the CIC, who truly loves and values the military!

[MEG33]

Most military know how important it is for them to have the support of the citizens..and good PR pays off.We are all part of the picture.I hardly think a Presidential visit is time to be critical..This citizen appreciates the sacrifices made by our military and their families.God bless them. I've waited on a ship to come home years ago.My husband had the duty..luckily a late trade was arranged!

[SamAdams76]

I served in the Marine Corps with Ronald Reagan as commander-in-chief. If I learned that President Reagan was coming to visit my unit, I would have gladly gone through whatever "inconveniences" that were necessary to prepare for his arrival. It would have been an honor to have him.

This was no dog-and-pony show today. For most of the 5,500 members of the U.S.S. Lincoln, today was the highlight of their military careers. For the rest of their lives, they will be talking about the day that President Bush flew onto their carrier and spent the night with them.