FR EXCLUSIVE: INTERVIEW WITH HIGH LEVEL NAVY COMMANDER REGARDING PRESIDENT BUSH'S TAILHOOK LANDING

a Navy commander | May 9., 2003 | dfu

[doug from upland]

After listening to the rantings and ravings of the DemocRATS who are both jealous and livid after seeing a beloved commander in chief do a tailhook landing on the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, I wanted to get the real story.

After about 5 calls and transfers and return calls, I just spoke with a Navy commander who deals with public relations. He is very high level, but because this issue is so sensitive, I agreed that I would not use his name.

When asked whether the visit of the president delayed the arrival of the Lincoln, the answer was a resounding "Absolutely not!" The Lincoln arrived when it was scheduled to arrive. Ships slow down and speed up all the time.

The Navy does not have its ships land early. No. It is just not done. It is a logistical nightmare. Tugs and other port services have to be arranged. In 1991, the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT arrived 20 hours early off the coast of Virginia. It sat out there looking at land for 20 hours. And they never come to port at night.

There were 20-25,000 families and friends expecting to watch the return of the ship and greet their loved ones.

"Psychologically," said the commander, "it would have been a nightmare. People made plane reservations, hotel reservations, long trips by car. Imagine what it would have been like for them to arrive to meet there loved ones, but it turned out that they came a day late for the event. We would have had 20-25,000 people really angry with the U.S. Navy."

The commander gave me his worst scenario for a public relations nightmare. It would be a grandma who drove all the way from Des Moines to see her grandson arrive, only to be told that she didn't make it in time; that they decided to come to port early. What do they say to her?

The commander is amazed at this flap, which has been totally invented by the media. This should be a non-issue with them. Some in the media were sworn to silence, and they were given the May 2 date about 3-4 weeks ago. They knew it would be coming to port at that time. At the appropriate time, the crew and families were notified. You just do not change the date.

As to the landing on a Viking rather than Marine One. The costs are roughly the same. Fuel and other costs for that Viking were already allocated and spent. If the President was not aboard that plane, it would have made a landing on the ship anyway. It would have done so sooner or later because it was in the budget to do it.

What has been lost in all of this, according to the commander, is that it was the Navy's idea for the President to come aboard and make a tailhook landing. They opted for an F-18. Because of security, however, the White House opted for the Viking, a 4-seater which could accommodate Secret Service.

"We would do this again," said the commander. "Ever since President Franklin Roosevelt, every president has landed aboard a Navy ship."

We finished with a laugh at the media. Members of congress and journalists are flown in and not charged. And these are the people creating an issue where none should exist.

[firewalk]

Thanks for the ping
& Bttt

[lorrainer]

Great article, Doug!

We are trying to remember at our house--maybe someone can help with a link? I seem to have heard (correct me if I'm wrong) that another carrier crew was kind of jealous of W's visit to the Lincoln, and wish their ship had been the one to have hosted him.

Anybody else remember this?

[Krodg]

MY HERO

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Outstanding work Doug!

We all thank you!

[Wild Irish Rogue]

I hope President Bush dons SCUBA gear and submerges in the surf off Coronado to thank the SEALS.
I hope President Bush parachutes into Ft Bragg to thank the 82nd.
I hope President Bush sets up a clandestine meeting to thank the CIA operatives.
I hope President Bush puts on a balaclava and fast ropes out of a BlackHawk to thank the Special Operators.
I hope President Bush gets into a HUMVEE and barrels into Ft Hood to thank the 4ID.
But mostly-
I hope President Bush ignores the demands of the Democrat Party to stop honoring the military.

[Miss Marple]

OK, new tactic by the Rats. Now they are blaming this on Karl Rove and accusing the President of "showboating." (Just heard this in an interview with Raymond Strother on Fox.)

Of course, while Strother was talking and pontificating, Fox showed the landing again. Heheheh.

[Miss Marple]

Hey! I like those ideas! Especially the SCUBA gear!! LOL!

[Grampa Dave]

This is great!

http://ronwade.freeservers.com/BushTopGun.JPG

[doug from upland]

Here you go --- CLICK.

[PISANO]

Anyone who has ever been in the NAVY knows this is true.

[FairOpinion]

[BOBTHENAILER]

Michael, also, points out that the ship docked on time and was not delayed in his thread. Just more proof of how the rats who hate America lie!

Thanks for the link to Michael's report, I went on over and paid tribute to his son.

[Gunrunner2]

Not a "custom fittd" flight suite. The only people that have those are the pretty airshow boys, and that flight suite he was wearing, that thing was in no way custom fitted---unless you count the following:
Life Support Technition: "Sir, what chest size are you?"
POTUS: "About a 46"
LST: "You wear Regular or Large Jackets?"
POTUS: "Regular"
LST: "You are probably a Long"
POTUS: "Yup"
LST: "Here take this 46 Regular Long"
POTUS: "Gotcha"
So, based upon the conversation above, I guess you can say it was "custom fitted," but you can't say it was "tailor made" (as is the implication on the part of the rats).

[LiteKeeper]

archive - I understand it costs $6000/hour to fly the Viking. That is $7 an hour more than flying Marine 1 (a helicopter). But, because the Viking flies faster than the helicopter, it actually cost less because of the shorter flying time.

[altura]

Settle down, girls.

[isthisnickcool]

This is one of my favorite pics from a movie I love called "The Rght Stuff". It depicts an American hero named Chuck Yeager. Another real man.

The Dems. are pissed because George W. Bush has the right stuff. And he is a real man.

[Cordova Belle]

BTTT! Hope this gets WIDE coverage!!!

[Grampa Dave]

We are proud of our freeper, Michael SF, like he is proud of his son!

[altura]

You forgot the dialogue.

Wasn't it something like an observer seeing him in the distance asks, "Is that a man?"

And the answer, "Oh, yeah, that's a man!"

Or something.