Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: olezip

I absolutely disagree with the notion that “just because the Dems are corrupt” Republicans like Cunningham should be pardoned. It’s ludicrous to even think of it.

Bush already dealt with Libby by commuting his prison sentence. Libby deserves what he got.


12 posted on 01/19/2009 3:02:45 PM PST by bigbob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies ]


To: bigbob
I personally believe that Randy Cunningham did not believe that he was doing anything different than other congressmen and women. His sentence should at least be commuted.

Why I like Cunningham:

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Cunningham

During his service, Cunningham and his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) "Irish" Driscoll became the only Navy aces in the Vietnam War, flying an F-4 Phantom from aboard aircraft carriers, and recording five confirmed kills. He was one of the early graduates of the Navy's TOPGUN school that taught dogfighting techniques to F-4 Phantom pilots and RIOs.

It has been alleged that Cunningham downed a MiG-17 piloted by North Vietnam Air Force fighter ace Col. Nguyen Toon, aka, "Colonel Tomb". Although "Col. Toon" was an American-manufactured myth, several Vietnamese pilots were superb dogfighters, and the North Vietnamese Air Force helped perpetuate the myth of "Colonel Toon", or "Tomb".[8] "Colonel Toon" was not only skilled but unorthodox, as Cunningham found out, when the Navy pilot made an elementary tactical error engaging him. The resulting dogfight became extended. Cunningham climbed steeply, and the MiG pilot surprised Cunningham by climbing as well. Remembering his TOPGUN training, Cunningham finally forced the MiG out ahead of him and destroyed it with an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile.

Cunningham was reportedly almost court-martialed while still in flight school for breaking into an office to compare his records with those of his colleagues — a charge denied by Cunningham, but supported by two of his superior officers at the time.[9] Regardless of the controversy, there was little doubt about Cunningham's piloting abilities. He was one of the most highly decorated United States Navy pilots in the Vietnam War, receiving the Navy Cross once, the Silver Star twice, the Air Medal 15 times, and the Purple Heart for wounds he received under enemy fire.

After returning from Vietnam in 1972, he became an instructor at the Navy's TOPGUN school for fighter pilots at Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego. It has been stated that many of his real-life experiences in combat and as an instructor were depicted in the popular 1986 movie Top Gun.[10] Though the movie's producer says the film was not based on any specific aviator,[11] one particularly memorable scene was indeed inspired by Cunningham's own combat experience. The technique Cunningham and Driscoll used to defeat "Colonel Tomb", deploying the aircraft's speed brakes and causing "Tomb" to overshoot, inspired the scenes in Top Gun, where Maverick defeats Jester, and later, an enemy MiG by deploying the brakes and forcing his opponent to overshoot his aircraft.

19 posted on 01/19/2009 4:55:45 PM PST by olezip
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson