<p>i had a dream last night where i was at a banquet with all the kids who were going to any of the academies from missouri. They had us spaced around the tables alternating so you didn't get a chance to sit by anyone going to the same academy. There were about 15 utensils to eat with, but they were all scrambled up. As soon as we sat down, everyone else arranged them in the same way, but i couldn't manage to do it. i asked one girl how she knew how, and she said, "i just sensed it." For some reason, not knowing how to do it really upset me. After that, they served all the foods i hate (and i'm really not a picky eater). I finally got so upset (in the dream) that i woke up. </p>
<p>Look, kind friend....the last and only USNA alum to grace 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is to this day someone I regret having voted for. Without naming names or political parties, in my opinion he was a terrible President. </p>
<p>It is a sad, SAD fact that my beloved alma mater has generated outstanding Naval leaders but abysmal political ones. </p>
<p>I'll name them: Carter, Perot, McCain.</p>
<p>"Terrible" doesn't begin to come close to how bad Carter was. I was a kid at the time, and I still remember the Iran Hostage Crisis, the gas lines, the contempt the military was held in, how the rest of the world laughed at us, how Communism marched unopposed across the face of the globe, being told to wear sweaters because we couldn't do anything about the oil problems, double-digit inflation, the Misery Index, being told by that loser that our best days were past, etc., etc....</p>
<p>PATHETIC!</p>
<p>Then came Perot, the hand grenade with a bad haircut who has thankfully shut the hell up and stayed home.</p>
<p>Nowadays it's McCain, who seems to think his political fame is more important that the fact his country is fighting a damned war. He has my respect for his conduct as a POW, but my utter contempt for almost everything since. Sorry, but what you did decades ago does not make you immune from criticism for the idiocy you espouse today.</p>
<p>I, for one, would love to live in Arizona just to be able to vote AGAINST the pretentious bastard.</p>
<p>Must be out of the loop on McCain - missed out on the nagativity (perhaps due to living ouside CONUS during the 2000 election). Appreciate y'all's insights. </p>
<p>Lots of time to soul-search as a POW - seems like McCain would have strong mettle and enlightened perspective after that.</p>
<p>Is anyone here familiar with the name "Admiral Elmo Zumwalt Jr."? Just wondering. I think he was a great man. Though not a President, but I believe a senator of VA or somewhere on the east coast, and much more in his life time.</p>
<p>He was CNO back in the 70's. A disaster. A real idealist who was famous for his "Z-grams" to the fleet changing all kinds of things. Some were good, others rediculous.</p>
<p>Before my time, but I remember the guys who HAD been there complaining about how the old man wouldn't STHU and leave them alone to do their jobs.</p>
<p>that's pretty funny. Have you ever met him?</p>
<p>Zaphod, did you know how to swim entering NAPS/USNA? I don't know how. Never lived near water, and they are strict on Post about when you can go swimming, that's the only pool near me.</p>
<p>I use to have night mares all the time about swimming, never drowned, but always panicked. I gotta plead my mom to get me lessons after almost 17 years. Maybe hopefully next summer, hope that's not too late.</p>
<p>Zumwalt: At age 44, the youngest naval officer ever promoted to Rear Admiral. At age 49, the youngest four-star Admiral in U. S. naval history, and the youngest to serve as Chief of Naval Operations.</p>
<p>From his citation: "Rear Admiral Zumwalt, by direction of the Chief of Naval Operations, established the Systems Analysis Division and rapidly developed it into a highly effective, responsive organization. Under his leadership, the division has assisted in generating within the Navy a better understanding of requirements, problems and a more effective presentation of those requirements in major program areas which will strongly influence the combat capabilities of U. S. Naval Forces through the next generation. (He) has displayed exceptional acumen, integrity, tact and diplomacy as personal representative of the Chief of Naval Operations, not only in dealings within the Department of Defense, but also in testifying before Congressional Committees. Among the major analyses completed under his direct supervision were the major Fleet Escort, Antisubmarine Warfare Force Level, Tactical Air, Surface-to-Surface Missile, and War-at-Sea Studies. Additionally, under Rear Admiral Zumwalt's guidance, the Center for Naval Analyses has been restructured, and its methodologies clearly defined with such precision as to ensure that completed studies will reflect thoroughness, comprehensiveness and accuracy when subjected to closest scrutiny..."</p>
<p>What does the Navy know? Right?</p>
<p>Sort of like the old FBI guys that used to complain about Hoover; the legends, stories, and complaints grow over time. Since Zumwalt was CNO in the early 70s, I am sure by the late 80s the stories sounded particularly good.</p>