I don’t know what the whole story is, but I will admit to having thoughts somewhat similar to yours.
Is this truly a ship that was overdue to be retired, or was this simply a convenient excuse to get the ball rolling toward what Obama would love to do, leave us with perhaps one carrier group, if that.
After 50 years in salt water maybe some sailor just for fun poked at her side below deck and saw water come in from where he poked and said “Hey! Lookie here!”