Top Gun CUNNINGHAM: I broke the law, concealed my conduct and disgraced my office.

On Sat, 08 Jul 2006 10:17:40 -0500, Ian MacLure wrote
in ::

"Dan Luke" wrote in
:

"Duke" Cunningham is living proof that a profoundly stupid man can be a
fighter pilot and get elected to high office.

That's news?

And its equal opportunity stupidity. Look at Buh'wheat McKinney
and Marxine Waters.

IBM

Were McKinney and Waters revered former Top Gun aces who toured the US
as heroes and as shining examples of military can-do also? I had no
idea. :-)

On Sat, 08 Jul 2006 10:30:57 -0500, Ian MacLure wrote
in ::

Larry Dighera wrote in
:

Personally, I'd feel that justice was significantly better served if
Cunningham were made to make restitution for results of the illegal
acts he committed.

Did the bribers actually deliver what they were supposed to?

The CNN new account mentions Cunningham's mansions and yachts:

His corruption is stunning in its scope and in its sheer
audacity: $2.4 million in bribes, at least. Private jets for
resort getaways. A California mansion. A Rolls Royce. A lifestyle
well beyond his means and a thirst for more.

It would seem they did.

"Ed Rasimus" wrote

Twoop!

????
--
Jim in NC

Jay Honeck wrote:

Just goes to show you that a great fighter pilot doesn't necessarily
make an honest politician, I guess.


Not to mention a chickenhawk, merely capable, fighter pilot.

On Fri, 7 Jul 2006 18:56:52 -0500, "Dan Luke"
wrote:


"Duke" Cunningham is living proof that a profoundly stupid man can be a
fighter pilot and get elected to high office.

That's news?

Lemme see, is that a reference to the incumbent president? The one who
spent three times as long in military service and qualified to fly
single-seat, single-engine jets? The one with the Yale degree and the
Harvard MBA?

Or, is that somehow implying that flying military fighters is a simple
task? In combat?

I've encountered some unsophisticated tactical aviators along the way,
and even some folks populating fighter cockpits who were in no way,
shape or form, qualified to carry the title, Fighter Pilot. But I
don't know a single one that I would characterize as "profoundly
stupid".

You got any experience in that line?


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com

On Sat, 08 Jul 2006 10:25:53 -0500, Ian MacLure wrote:

"Gordon" wrote in
roups.com:


Cunningham's tearful mea culpa reminded me of an earlier, equally
unconvincing speech by disgraced Pastor Jimmy Swaggart, who used that
time worn phrase in front of the tv cameras. Go in front of your
constituents, grab the microphone, cry like a baby and try to convince
the faithful that you really are _sorry_ .... for getting caught!

Not to mention Jimmy and Tammy Faye Bakkers bravura performance.
My reaction when they got caught was "THANK YOU, JESUS!" ( so to
speak ). They made my skin crawl. First time I saw Ernest Angeley(sp)
on TV ( circa 1984 ) I had a similar reaction.

IBM

Now there was a piece of work. I'd forgotten about him with the shiny
silk suits and very poor hairpiece, slapping people in the forehead,
shouting "out, Satan" and having them fall backward into the arms of
the catchers. Great TV!

Duke disappointed a lot of folks and in the process destroyed himself.
Lots of time ahead of him in Federal prison to consider what choices
he might have made.

Overall though, we've had some pretty good former military aviators
brave the political process and come out without disgrace--two George
Bush's, McCain, Denton, Sam Johnson, Rick Perry (gov. TX), Pete
Peterson (ambassador), and more that don't come to mind immediately.
Hell, even anti-war Sen. George McGovern flew bombers in combat--don't
agree with him, but he wasn't disgraced. Got a former Phantom Phlyer
running for Congress in my old district in Colorado this year--Bentley
Rayburn.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com

On 8 Jul 2006 09:54:47 -0700, "
wrote:


Jay Honeck wrote:

Just goes to show you that a great fighter pilot doesn't necessarily
make an honest politician, I guess.


Not to mention a chickenhawk, merely capable, fighter pilot.

Ever been on the wing in the weather at night in a single-seat jet?

Didn't think so. "Merely capable" translates as pretty damn good in
terms of most folks capabilities.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com

Ed Rasimus wrote:

Lemme see, is that a reference to the incumbent president?


DUH !!

The one who
spent three times as long in military service and qualified to fly
single-seat, single-engine jets?

Yeah, much of it in absentia (stateside no less), and who didn't show
for a flight physical for unexplained reasons.

The one with the Yale degree and the
Harvard MBA?

A legacy.

Or, is that somehow implying that flying military fighters is a simple
task? In combat?

Not saying it is simple, but it's not rocket science, either. He never
flew in combat...never even saw combat...never went to Nam (unlike his
last opponent).


I've encountered some unsophisticated tactical aviators along the way,
and even some folks populating fighter cockpits who were in no way,
shape or form, qualified to carry the title, Fighter Pilot.

I didn't know you'd met W.

But I
don't know a single one that I would characterize as "profoundly
stupid".

You got any experience in that line?

No. Unlike you, I don't have any experience being profoundly stupid.

Ed Rasimus wrote:
Ever been on the wing in the weather at night in a single-seat jet?

Didn't think so. "Merely capable" translates as pretty damn good in
terms of most folks capabilities.

You're drifting off topic, Eddy. The topic isn't about whether I (or
any other poster, for that matter) has ever been a jet pilot. I
suspect most of the posters here, both conservative and liberal haven't
been. Are you putting us all down? The question is whether a
profoundly stupid mancan be a fighter pilot and also be elected to high
office.
The answer is obviouly "yes."

On 8 Jul 2006 10:31:26 -0700, "
wrote:


Ed Rasimus wrote:

Lemme see, is that a reference to the incumbent president?


DUH !!

The one who
spent three times as long in military service and qualified to fly
single-seat, single-engine jets?

Yeah, much of it in absentia (stateside no less), and who didn't show
for a flight physical for unexplained reasons.

You might want to look beyond the media talking points. Even ANG
pilots are full time active duty for all of their UPT and operational
training. They then qualify for mission-ready in their unit of
assignment. GWB handled all of that for nearly five years.

The flight physical issue is a red herring. His TX unit was
re-equipping with a different aircraft and a different mission. He
wasn't flying when he got attached to the Montgomery ANG unit which
was also transitioning from RF-84 to RF-4C and had NEITHER TYPE in
place at the period in question. In other words, no flying
opportunity, no requirement for a flight physical.

The one with the Yale degree and the
Harvard MBA?

A legacy.

Undergraduate admission is unquestionably a legacy issue. At Yale,
Bush got about the same grades as Kerry. No problem. But, Harvard
doesn't issue MBA's on legacy credentials.

Or, is that somehow implying that flying military fighters is a simple
task? In combat?

Not saying it is simple, but it's not rocket science, either. He never
flew in combat...never even saw combat...never went to Nam (unlike his
last opponent).

No, he didn't go to Vietnam. At the time he went to UPT, the F-102
(from various ANG units) WAS being rotated through SEA and the
possibility for assignment existed. By the time he was operationally
ready, the aircraft was no longer being used in the limited mission it
had in SEA. Somehow, not even I can tell what is going to be a
situation two or more years in advance during a war.


I've encountered some unsophisticated tactical aviators along the way,
and even some folks populating fighter cockpits who were in no way,
shape or form, qualified to carry the title, Fighter Pilot.

I didn't know you'd met W.

I haven't met him, but I'm a close friend of the guy who was GWB's
T-38 Instructor Pilot at in UPT. The guy flew F-105s with me as a 1/Lt
and we both went into the training business after our 100 missions
tours. He testifies to GWB's capabilities in the fighter business and
I've no reason to doubt him. He's been to the White House twice in the
last three years on personal visits.

But I
don't know a single one that I would characterize as "profoundly
stupid".

You got any experience in that line?

No. Unlike you, I don't have any experience being profoundly stupid.

We might get some objective evaluators here in the news group to
validate that now. I think you don't give your experience enough
credit.



Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com