[Cousin Eddie]

Frankly some democrats are falling into the same knee-jerk trap that many conservatives fell into regarding Clinton. Instead of letting some things go, every time Clinton did something even remotely questionable, people pounced on him. The political middle (who didn't have the rabid dislike for the man) eventually felt sorry for him and bought into Hillary's 'vast right wing conspiracy' jibe.

Anyone with any honesty would admit that the Lincoln speech had some political aspects to it along with Bush's heartfelt desire to thank the troops for the job well done...doesn't make it wrong, just a acknowledges reality. Let's face it, if Lieberman was president (I pick him because he's the only democrat that I could see going forward with this war) and he chose to land on the Lincoln on a jet and give that speech, we conservatives would be a bit miffed. But the democrats are stupid for attempting to make a federal case out of it. They're singing to the choir but alienating the political middle.

[nutmeg]

bump

[mass55th]

"Rep. Henry Waxman of California has asked the General Accounting Office to provide a full accounting of the landing's costs, since the event had "clear political overtones."

Did you get to see Hannity & Colmes tonight? Hannity claimed that there were several Democrat Congresscritters who were also flown out to the aircraft carrier. I think Mr. Waxman should have GAO figure up their total while he's at it!

[JustPiper]

Bump and ChipsAhoy! ;)

[jwh_Denver]

Showmanship or statesmanship? Maybe a little or a lot of both. I'm sure the photo op people on Bush's staff were having wide awake wet dreams but it was also known that Bush was going to make a speech about the victory in Iraq. Though I cannot judge Bush's true intent of his heart but I'm sure the question went though his mind, Presidential or one of the guys/gals? He chose Commander in Chief - one of them. After all this wasn't going to be a speech to those just on the Lincoln but to all servicepeople and to the nation and world. So on goes the flight suit and away he goes. I honestly think Bush wanted to personally and genuinely thank all the "warriors" as possible for a job very well done.

But the kicker for me is that the crew of the Lincoln were genuinely "outspoken" in their admiration and love for the Commander in Chief and as President. They loved it. Their CIC was in a flight suit and not a business suit. Actually I don't think it would have mattered a great deal but it to me it just goes to the mind set of President Bush, CIC.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

bump

[Libloather]

Cost?

1,200 to join Clinton on China trip
South China Morning Post
4/6/98 David Murphy

US President Bill Clinton will lead an entourage of almost 1,200 people on his visit to China in June, a diplomatic source says.

The delegation will arrive in three Boeing 747s.

Mr Clinton, accompanied by his wife, Hillary, and daughter, Chelsea, will make his first visit to China between June 23 and July 3.

"He will be in China for a minimum of six to seven days," said a diplomatic source, but indicated the President might stay up to 10 days.

"It will be a grand tour, similar to his African tour."

So far, Mr Clinton is scheduled to visit Beijing, Xian and Shanghai.

Other cities he may visit are Nanjing, Guilin and Chengdu, and he is expected to pay a stopover visit to Hong Kong.

The duration of his stay in Beijing had not been decided, the source said.

The advance team of US officials will arrive on April 12 to lay the groundwork for the visit and begin inspecting tour sites and hotels where Mr Clinton and his party will stay.

A tentative itinerary includes a visit to the Project Hope hospital in Shanghai and speaking engagements at some of the following academic institutions: Qinghua and Beijing universities in Beijing, Fudan University in Shanghai and the Johns Hopkins University in Nanjing.

Mr Clinton may also visit major American investments: Motorola in Tianjin and the General Motors factory in Shanghai.

"The itinerary is shaping up pretty well but we don't yet know the order of his visit," the source said.

In the run-up to Mr Clinton's trip, several senior US administration figures will travel to China, including Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Trade Secretary Charlene Barshefsky and the under-secretaries for state and commerce.

"Everybody in Washington wants to come to China now, that's an about face from a year ago," said the source.

The visit will have a strong cultural emphasis, particularly on the part of Mrs Clinton and their daughter.

Co-operation with the Chinese side is seen as good, in contrast to Mrs Clinton's previous visit to China for the Women's Conference in September 1995, which was described as "very difficult" by officials. "The Chinese seem genuinely excited about the visit and the Foreign Ministry couldn't be more co-operative," the diplomatic source said.

In China, Mrs Clinton is likely to play the significant supporting role she has carved for herself as First Lady on other foreign trips.

The United States, like China, wants to move quickly to secure relations.

Having moved the date of the visit forward from November to June, Washington wanted to bring it forward again but Mr Clinton's May trip to Europe - which may be extended to include Ireland and Moscow - prevented that. The administration could not choose a date that fell close to June 4, anniversary of the Beijing crackdown.

[rintense]

Now, to even further ruffles some feathers, the RNC should sell photos of the event. LOL! Seriously, they should sell photos and donate the money to the families of the brave soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq.

[nicmarlo]

Fifty million dollars for Kenneth Starr's investigation was an outrage; $100,000 to land on deck and welcome troops returning from war is patriotic pageantry.

Earth to Democrats: There is nothing wrong with a little patriotic pageantry.

I hope this backfires on the Rats....so far, everything they've done to attack Bush has..... : )

[P.O.E.]

Dems can now add "Envy" to the list of deadly sins they have on their political platform.

[JETDRVR]

Id be interested to hear why an S-3 Vik? he should have arrived in a Tomcat , Vik's kick ass , but he's the CinC and could have picked any bird. BTW not criticizing at all, imagine GW in a seat of a "D" Tomcat, the dems would have gone nuts...hehehehe

[hope]

Yes, they are imploding...We should be so fortunate to have such great entertainment...

[RooRoobird14]

Dear hate-filled Dimwits: Please don't listen to the writer's advice. You must FEEL your anger.......let it POSSESS you......you are slowly sinking into madness..........

**SNICKER***

[CaptRon]

Henry Waxman is admired even by Republicans

Oh yeah?

[desertcry]

When lust for power takes hold, all reasons go out of the democrat window. The best the democrats could have done after that glorious President GWBs tail hook landing was to keep quiet, and let the glory fade away over time. But 2004 is just around the corner, that's why the dems panicked. I just love it!

[martianagent]

It's obvious enough what the dems are pissed over, I mean the public image of a real man in command of the US military landing on a carrier and what not vs the popular image of themselves as a bunch of chicken-#### nattering nabobs of negativism and all.

What do the dems need to do about it? Why, that's obvious: they need to stage images of themselves in daring-do activities for the public. This has never really presented problems for them in the past, and they should simply read up on their own history a bit. For instance, they could be seen driving cars off of bridges, flying small planes off over the North Atlantic at night without benefit of instruments or instrument rating, ski downhill while operating a camcorder and throwing footballs.....

[votelife]

in 2008 they can talk about Jeb or Condi, we'll see how Hillary likes that!

[EdReform]

Bump

[Beck_isright]

Wow, this is hitting a home run....Great article.

[solo gringo]

I read some place when clinton and his gang went aboard the T.Roosevelt flattop the gang stole anything that had t.roosevelt printed on it.Bush left the lincoln without a table napkin only with lots of pride and a pocket full of thanks.