BUSH TO LAND ON CARRIER AT SEA

New York Post ^ | 5/01/03 | DEBORAH ORIN

[kattracks]

May 1, 2003 -- WASHINGTON - President Bush today turns "Top Gun" and boards a warplane to fly out over the Pacific for a dramatic landing on the homeward-bound aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, where he'll declare that "major combat" in Iraq is over.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I could use some joie de vivre myself, but I won't be buying it from the French.

Excellent!

[garyhope]

I agree, I'd love to try this too. I've heard it makes the old heart rate go up quite a bit. Landing is more dangerous than being catapaulted off it isn't it?

I think it shows the guts of Pres. Bush.

[gridlock]

As CIC, Bush commands Naval Aviators to make carrier traps every day of the week. It is not unreasonable that he should bear some of the same risk. Besides, a carrier trap on an aircraft carrier in a Viking is probably safer than pre-flight inspection on a Delta Dagger, which Tom Wolfe famously described as a brick with fins.

Dangerous? Yes.
Publicity Stunt? I guess. I would call it a dramatic gesture.
Stupid? No way. This is what we pay the man for.

BTW, can you imagine being the Naval Aviator who drew this assignment? After being frowned on by fighter jocks for you whole career, now you get to fly Navy One!

[2timothy3.16]

a stupid...dangerous...publicity stunt

You are an idiot!

[Textide]

As CIC, Bush commands Naval Aviators to make carrier traps every day of the week. It is not unreasonable that he should bear some of the same risk.

I agree. This is a way for him to show respect to the men and women who do this daily. Short of coming under enemy fire, I can think of few more dangerous situations.

If it's a pubblicity stunt, it's aimed to impress the Armed Forces. That's OK by me.

[jla]

a stupid...dangerous...publicity stunt

Nah, just Dubya's way of letting our military know that they're no longer loathed at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
And the fact that this President is going out to meet them at sea, instead of waiting for the carrier to moor, is a gesture of respect and admiration for those on board.

[mj1234]

I agree -and "Broker " said it all- COD aircraft deliver
"guests" all the time, the S3 I guess was picked because
it is a warplane.When I served (VF51) every cruise-
we lost an airplane - so there is some danger.

By the way, the use to entice lowly airmen to re-enlist
with a catapult shot and landing.

[Gary Boldwater]

This is nothing. Barry Goldwater used to land his presidential campaign plane regularly with dozens on board.

[mwl1]

And President Nixon spent the night on an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean in 1970.

[pickemuphere]

I don't see this as being all that dangerous, but it certainly is a publicity stunt. I thought we moved past publicity stunts when the clintoon was finally kicked out of office. :(

[Pan_Yans Wife]

When I first met my husband to be, he was in the Navy, and mentioned his boat, often. He also mentioned submerging... I sheepishly asked if that meant he was serving onboard a submarine, and he answered in the affirmative. My excuse is that I was a young woman who had never had any contact with the USNavy... Clinton had no excuse for his same naivete.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Your mentioning the aviator's pride, when flying the CIC is very appropriate. I remember seeing footage of the National Guard aviators who escorted Airforce 1, on September 11th. They were not told the details about their mission, just informed that when they encountered what they were seeking, they would know it, and that they would be protecting "one of their own". I can imagine they felt the same sense of pride in their service to their President.

[el_texicano]

Probably more chance of getting hurt in the car on the way to work or around town, more chance of that than getting hurt landing on the deck of a carrier in a relatively safe plane.

Personally, I think it would have been cooler if President Bush came in on an F-18 Super Hornet fighter/bomber riding in the second seat. YEAH!!! Talk about balls then. Them sailors/Marines would be pumped for sure.

My COWBOY President - YESSSSS...Ride 'em cowboy

[Anamensis]

It makes me think of when Bush threw the first pitch of the baseball game soon after 9/11 and everyone was so uneasy that he would be very exposed out there. I was uneasy too. I'm uneasy now. I understand what he's doing and if it goes well it'll be jolly good fun and all. But till he's safely landed I'll be digesting fingernails.

[trebb]

a stupid...dangerous...publicity stunt

The Prez isn't a coward and he continues to prove it. He took the vaccination everyone was so afraid of because it was necessary for the troops to take it (Klinton enforced drugs on the troops that he would want to be in the same room with). Now, the Prez is doing what our Navy pilots do as a normal day-to-day thing. Risky - a little; a sign of class - YOU BETCHA

[el_texicano]

I keep seeing some here are bemoaning the "publicity stunt" flavor of this carrier landing. Yeah it's publicity, and damned good publicity I might add. This will send so many messages to people and for little risk, it's a touch of genius. So, poo on all your moaning and groaning.

As for the libs back here, I can hear Rush now commenting how they will be seething with pent up rage and hatred for President Bush and how he's got all this attention, and how he's stoking up the American pride, how he's showing the world he means what he says. I'm sure the libs will castigate Bush for this big time, but it will only show the world how petty they are.

[ErnBatavia]

a stupid...dangerous...publicity stunt

I couldn't have said it better...His security people have got to sound like Tommy Lasorda during one of his "This bleeping job ain't that bleeping easy!" tirades.

[Anamensis]

Well, I'm personally not bemoaning the publicity stunt flavor of it all, I'm bemoaning the danger factor. I like the guy. I want him to stay safe. That's all.

[2Jedismom]

A carefully calculated plan which will have the world glued to their collective TV screens

Well, that would include me if I knew what time it was going to happen! Any idea?

I remember watching "Independence Day" when it first came out and thinking "We need a president like that!"

We came pretty close!

[leprechaun9]

A general rule, you can put a boat on a ship, but you can't put a ship on a boat. The exception is a submarine. My understanding is that all submarines are cakked boats!