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

Or more correctly that even a great man can become corrupt and do
stupid things.

-Robert



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?

It should be noted that he tried to post the list of democrats but his
news server overloaded.

-Robert


wrote:
Convicted/Pled Guilty
--------------
Republican Governor George Ryan - CONVICTED (along with 72 others)
NH GOP Chair Chuck McGee - CONVICTED
Republican Allen Raymond -- CONVICTED
Republican James Tobin (NE Regional Dir., Bush campaign) -- CONVICTED
Republican Scott Falwell - CONVICTED

Robert M. Gary wrote:
Or more correctly that even a great man can become corrupt and do
stupid things.

Robert, this can hardly be the case in Duke's case - he was only a
"great man" in his own eyes. I know people who worked with him during
his very first political campaign and as recently as today, we had a
discussion about what he was like back then. A few words that stand
out from the conversation we

Braggart
bull-headed
bully
pushy
self-centered


Plus a few words that went far beyond that. A 'great man' he never
was. A SH pilot, once.

v/r
Gordon

Yeah, while I don't really buy into 'heroes', I thought he must have
been hot sh-t. I can still remember the account of his 'ace day' in
some book on the Phantom back in the 60s. Of course, the war was
underway and I was struck by everything having to do with wings. Heck,
I remember where I was when I read it...

....But I never liked the smug look and ego that I saw in the picture
that accompanied the account of his flights.

I never forgot any of it. Too bad he turned out to be a scumbag.

Jay Honeck wrote:
Cunningham is now serving a federal prison term for bribery. The San
Diego Republican was sentenced yesterday to eight years and four
months for taking bribes from at least three defense contractors.


This whole thing is so sad. Duke Cunningham was always one of my
heroes, and to see him completely fall from grace is stunning. What a
stupid, stupid thing to do.

Just goes to show you that a great fighter pilot doesn't necessarily
make an honest politician, I guess.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

wrote:


Actually, I don't need appraisal by others. My educational and
professional accomplishments are enough, thank you.

Too bad they aren't in any of the areas you are so quick to judge.

You have, however, made of yourself a flaming example of
Internet-enabled stupidity. I'd vote Republican just for the pleasure of
seeing more of your kind go apoplectic.

Thanks for the show.


Jack

Gordon wrote:
Braggart
bull-headed
bully
pushy
self-centered

Sounds like he met the minimum quals for a great fighter pilot.

-Robert

Robert M. Gary wrote:
Gordon wrote:
Braggart
bull-headed
bully
pushy
self-centered

Sounds like he met the minimum quals for a great fighter pilot.


I'd disagree, Robert - I've known quite a few, had breakfast with
approximately 30 fighter and combat pilots this morning, and I can
honestly say that there is the smallest percentage that I'd discribe as
I did Cunningham. He takes the qualities of a fighter pilot and
discards the best of them, making a mockery of the work ethic,
dedication, and professionalism that exemplify the breed. A lot of
fighter pilots brag, primarily because they have something to brag
about. I think of Bud Anderson -- "Call me Andy, my friends do." --
described by Chuck Yeager as "the best fighter pilot". Anderson is
caring, quiet, introspective, self-effacing. None of the descriptors I
used for Cunningham would be remotely applicable to Col. Anderson.
Real fighter pilots have little in common with 'Maverick'; I remember
sitting in that movie with about a dozen other Navy flyers and the
concensus was that any "****BIRD" like him would be grounded and
drummed out. There are many things in that movie that made us laugh or
just shake our heads, but the whole speech by CAG about what a FU
Maverick was, but he still 'had' to send him to Top Gun was beyond
ludicrous. The real Maverick would have been sent TAD as a Supply
Officer or given command of a BEQ someplace. I watched (and
participated) in circumstances that ended poor Navy aviator's careers.
Maverick was a myth - Cunningham was a cautionary tale for why Mav
should remain a myth.

v/r
Gordon

Gordon wrote:
I think of Bud Anderson -- "Call me Andy, my friends do." --
described by Chuck Yeager as "the best fighter pilot". Anderson is
caring, quiet, introspective, self-effacing.

The first time I flew with Bud he walked up to the plane next to ours
and took a **** on the tire. He was very colorful.

Real fighter pilots have little in common with 'Maverick'; I remember
sitting in that movie with about a dozen other Navy flyers and the
concensus was that any "****BIRD" like him would be grounded and
drummed out.

Being the CO's son I got to spent a lot of time sitting in the squadron
room and road out the Kitty Hawk on a few Tiger cruises. Fighter pilots
today are probably more bookish than in years past. Less seat of the
paints flying. I don't get the impression that Vietnam era was quite
that way.

-Robert

On 12 Jul 2006 14:44:01 -0700, "Gordon" wrote in
. com::

Real fighter pilots have little in common with 'Maverick'; I remember
sitting in that movie with about a dozen other Navy flyers and the
concensus was that any "****BIRD" like him would be grounded and
drummed out.

If the verbal reprimand Lt. Conl. Parker received as a result of
leading his wingman into a fatal collision with a Cessna 172 over
Florida on November 16, 2000 is indicative of how the military
disciplines a pilot who entered congested Class B and C terminal
airspace at ~500 knots without the benefit of the required ATC
clearance, I'm unconvinced your statement above is accurate.

See: http://tinyurl.com/fn2f2
http://tinyurl.com/krm6e

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.a...999e553d4dff5f

Larry Dighera wrote:
On 12 Jul 2006 14:44:01 -0700, "Gordon" wrote in
. com::

Real fighter pilots have little in common with 'Maverick'; I remember
sitting in that movie with about a dozen other Navy flyers and the
concensus was that any "****BIRD" like him would be grounded and
drummed out.

If the verbal reprimand Lt. Conl. Parker received as a result of
leading his wingman into a fatal collision with a Cessna 172 over
Florida on November 16, 2000 is indicative of how the military
disciplines a pilot who entered congested Class B and C terminal
airspace at ~500 knots without the benefit of the required ATC
clearance, I'm unconvinced your statement above is accurate.

Hardly an adequate description of the outcome and the initial
assessment. It appears that there was at least an issue as to how much
blame can be shouldered by Parker himself. The article below suggests
that there was a confusion of procedures as to the use of transponders
by multiple formations. At the very least the report also cited ATC.
Was this a case of bad decisionmaking? For the sake of argument yes -
but not every bad decision elevates the one who makes it to the level
of Tom Cruise. This was hardly hot-dogging; on the other hand, there
is the case of Richard Webb, who made a high-speed pass of San Luis
Obispo in a Super Hornet. Though the flight was otherwise uneventful,
Webb was stripped of flight status and reassigned to Qatar. Looks like
lean times for Mavericks everywhere.

http://www.iasa.com.au/folders/Safet...perhornet.html

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/25/Ta..._F_16_pi.shtml