USS George H.W. Bush Christened

Bush Family Commemorates Warship Named For 41st President

(AP)  Spraying the bubbles from sparkling wine across the enormous gray bow of the USS George H.W. Bush, the Bush family on Saturday christened the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier named after the 82-year-old former president.

"I know you join me in saying to our father, President Bush, your ship has come in," the current president said during a ceremony for the last of the Nimitz-class carriers, the CVN 77.

"She is unrelenting, she is unyielding, she is unstoppable," Mr. Bush said, lauding the warship's state-of-the-art design before pausing for a punch line aimed at his mother's well-known steely constitution. "Matter of fact, she probably should have been named Barbara Bush."

The elder Bush, a decorated Navy pilot in World War II, joined the armed forces on his 18th birthday, June 12, 1942. "After our nation was attacked at Pearl Harbor, you simply couldn't find anyone who wasn't anxious to sign up," he told the audience as a heavy rain fell.

"The point is that our nation was totally united against the insidious totalitarian threat against freedom," he said. He added, "In my humble view, we were no greater than the kids that serve today."

The current president said that in the 21st century, "freedom is again under attack and young Americans are volunteering to answer the call."

Dorothy Bush Koch, the elder Bush's daughter, handled the ritual smashing of a bottle of sparkling wine against the flattop's bow.

Bush father and son and several relatives joined hundreds of others at the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard, where the $6 billion, 1,092-foot-long carrier is being built. It is not yet finished and is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in late 2008.

The christening ceremony was scheduled to be nearly two hours long, but deafening thunderclaps, lightning, wind and intermittent heavy rain left the speakers mostly abandoning their prepared remarks to merely introduce the next in line.

With friends, Navy personnel and shipyard workers looking on, the elder Bush choked up during his informal and sentimental address, while talking about the men with whom he served in World War II.

Four of his fellow Navy pilots from the war traveled to the ceremony, an event the former president called the "third happiest day of his life," after his wedding and the day when two of his sons were elected governors.

"This is every naval aviator's dream," he said

The 10th of the Nimitz-class carriers — the largest warships in the world — features technological advancements that make it a bridge to the next generation of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

On Sunday, the carrier was to be launched from its dry-dock into the James River and taken to an outfitting berth, where work on interior systems will continue.

The former president was the youngest pilot in the Navy when he joined, receiving his commission and naval aviator wings before age 19.

George H.W. Bush flew torpedo bombers off the aircraft carrier USS San Jacinto. In 1944, he was on a mission over the Pacific when Japanese anti-aircraft fire hit his plane. Bush parachuted into the sea and was rescued by a Navy submarine. He later was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals for his Navy service in the Pacific theater.

Capt. Kevin O'Flaherty, the carrier's prospective commanding officer, is in charge of about 330 sailors now attached to the ship. He said he eventually will be responsible for about 3,000 crew members when the ship is put into service. It is not known where the carrier is to be stationed.

[peaceforusa]

Why is it that we fight among ourselves in these forums. I was raised a Democrat and voted as such until Clinton went soft on terrorism in the early 90's. I wanted someone who would protect our shores. I switched to Republican, but didn't vote for Bush either election because he just didn't feel right for the country.
Until all parties can come together for the common good of the people of America, NONE of them are any good. Most of them are lying, greedy, immoral, politicians.
So let's find solutions instead of bickering all the time. We all want the same thing...We don't want our Freedoms and Rights that the Constitution gives us taken away from us. We want to live freely in the Land of the Free. We want something left for our children and grandchildren and their children. None of these people in office, whether it is Republican or Democrats, give us these things. We need to fight to get this country back to the American values it was built on and get all these creeps and their special interest groups out. We need to stand united no matter what party we are affiliated with, because we all want the same thing!

Peace

[phil-in-fin]

To pendragon679

My, you do like to play the "othering" game. Thanks for proving my point.

I always thought of myself as a Democrat, though it is true that I never voted for the current installment of (King) Bush.

Are Democrat's allowed to think for themselves, or are they mostly like you?

[pendragon679]

phil-in-Fin:

Well, at least I got a rise out of one obvious Republican knee-jerker...

[grumpas]

I am sick to death of the right wing crazies like NVHC who try and fool everyone into believing their an American Patriot! They are the ones who are trying to rewrite the constitution, bill of rights, political system, and don't seem to think they should have to obey any of the laws that have made us a great nation! They don't like a single solitary thing about this country, our traditions, it's foundations or belief's! So why are you people still here???? Why don't the whole lot of you form your own dictatorship with your much beloved Georgie at the helm sending all of you to his newly formed Gulag's!!! You will be doing everyone here a big favor if you do! I am a liberal and damned proud of it! At least, I love my country! That's more than I can say for people like NVHC!

[phil-in-fin]

To pendragon679

And speaking of fair, you seem to have a real issue with those who cannot read.

Sad, isn't that there are actually people out there who cannot defend themselves against your disgusting comments.

So, let me do it for them. You are prejudice.

[arlyss-2009]

Whatever any of us thinks of either Bush, I have to agree with what Sr. said, "She probably should have been named Barbara Bush."

I have thought many times that both Barbara Bush AND Hilary Clinton would have made better presidents than their husbands. Time has given the lie to my thoughts concerning Senator Clinton; I find her desire to pander to the court of public opinion offensive. However, Mrs. Bush remains one of the brightest lights of that time, and I wish her many more happy years.

As for all the political statements people have made: As an American, and a veteran, I still gladly would die for our continued freedom to express whatever opinions we may have. What I find disturbing about the Iraq war was the pre-emptive strike, and the fact that our efforts on the behalf of others' freedoms are not appreciated. Perhaps we could better serve our people by bringing our brave soldiers, Marines, airmen, and sailors home, and then deploying them on missions in direct defense of the common good of Americans at home. Heaven only knows, we need their energy and passion to serve here at home.

Just one libertarian's opinion. Thanks for allowing us to opine in this public forum

[zeekylord]

And articles like this bring all of the braindead idiots who are blindly loyal to the "Bush Dynasty" out to sound like the uneducated trailer trash that they are.

People are free here in the US to disaprove of the government - and our way is to vote the frakkers out of office. Or vote to keep them out of office - providing Fox News doesn't interfere.

Just because we don't like Bush, doesn't mean we sympathize with terrorists. What kind of grade school logic is that?

[pendragon679]

Incidentally, my suggestion to read Edmund Morris's book only applies to those of you knee-jerkers who can actually READ.

[pendragon679]

In fairness (remember fairness, anyone?) to a President I never supported, Mr. Bush Sr. is right to be honored at this event. Unlike his son who was too busy protecting the shores of Texas and Alabama to actually go to Vietnam, George H.W. Bush actually served in the military, earned his medals, and deserves our respect for that if nothing else. It's not his fault that his son is a coward, a liar, a thief, a drunken idiot, and a fool. For some interesting views on the Sr. Bush, I suggest reading Edmund Morris's "Dutch," an intriguing memoir of Ronald Reagan. Seems there was little love lost between Mr. Reagan and his VP. BTW, nvhc, the word you're looking for is 'defecate.' It may interest you to know that there's a wonderful invention in every schoolroom in the country...it's called a dictionary. Try looking at one sometime.

[rharrin1]

Hope that ship doesn't turn and run like bush did

[nvhc]

This news coverage sure did bring the anti-american liberals out in full force didn't it? How about we put all of you on this brand new ship and it can sail all of you over the Bin Laden's cave where the lot of you can defamate on the USA with like minded company.

[tibu987]

Unfortunately, with the naming of this aircraft carrier we will forever be reminded of the terrible foreign policy of the Bush dynasty and what it has cost us in young American lives and countless billions of dollars. Too bad.

[phil-in-fin]

To: ZeekyLord

Excellent point.

There is no longer any need to be diplomatic, is there.

Or humanitarian ...

Just sit back, zzzzzzt, and watch the glow.

[zeekylord]

But on a seperate note, the last of the Nimitz-class carriers is something to behold!

The design and military advancements that has been given to this baby is enough to cure any case of erectile dysfuntion.

The thinking behind this was obviously to build a giant, floating symbol of "Frak you!" - and I think that the lads serving aboard her will definitely feel safe in giving the finger to any and all countries she sails by.

If we follow the logic that "you don't put on a condom unless your ready to (EXPLETIVE)", then the USA is definitely ready for the mother of all orgies!

[phil-in-fin]

Oops ... forgive my spelling error

McHappy Missiles

[phil-in-fin]

If America has so many warships that the War Department has to start scraping the bottom of the barrel just to find names, then America has too many warships.

How about "The Good Ship Lollipop?"

It's just as logical and laughable as the USS George H. W. Bush.

Maybe private industry would pay to have their names placed on them?

"Warship Ronald McDonald"

McHappy Missles.

[zeekylord]

Hmmmm...

"...but deafening thunderclaps, lightning, wind and intermittent heavy rain left the speakers mostly abandoning their prepared remarks..."

You think they might have actually paid attention to God saying that they were idiots for naming a Ship of The Line after this family.

I guess USS Tiny Phallus, USS Moron, USS Traitor, USS *********, and USS George Chokes On Broccoli were already taken.

I vote for USS Fuzzy Bunny.

[acforsure]

Not at all worthy of any news coverage.

[nothappyatall]

How wonderfully appropriate- name a WAR SHIP after this idiot, the two president are nothing less than power hungry war mongers. We need a nuclear bomb named after the present Bush maybe too.