Posted on 11/09/2013 12:34:00 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Ship christenings at Newport News Shipbuilding are typically a who's who of political figures, and Saturday's event honoring the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford is no exception.
Past aircraft carrier christenings have drawn presidents to the shipyard, but not this time.
A shipyard spokeswoman said Ford administration figures — Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and chief of staff (and eventual veep) Dick Cheney — will be there. Democratic heavyweight Carl Levin, a senator from Ford's home state of Michigan, will also be on hand.
President Barack Obama, who gave a major policy speech on sequestration at the shipyard in February, will not do a second visit in one year.
It seems likely that he will be on hand when the shipyard eventually christens the attack submarine Illinois. Michelle Obama is the boat's sponsor...
(Excerpt) Read more at dailypress.com ...
Of course hes not going. It’s not named after him.
I goofed around and didn’t get my “Cold War Certificate” signed by President Bush so I’m waiting until an American is in that role again.
I wouldn’t want Obama there anyway. he’d likely use that time to trash republicans anyway, exhibiting no class and bad manners. I guess both Bushes are in poor health; HW.Bush in a wheelchair would not be practical and is not essential, W. Bush just had heart surgery last month, I believe. I’m surprised Hillary didn’t finagle some reason for her to be there as Bill’s proxy.
i don’t want him there. i am glad he’s not there.
If I read the article correctly, one of the stories that I skimmed through about Billy Graham’s 95th birthday (at which Gov. Palin and Donald Trump were guests) also included President Bill Clinton.
“A look inside the USS Gerald R. Ford”
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/article/272881/2/A-look-inside-the-USS-Gerald-R-Ford
“”It’s hard to imagine a young man from Grand Rapids in the Navy during World War II would ever think that one day, the most advanced aircraft carrier in the world would bear his name.
But the USS Gerald R. Ford is about to be christened.
WZZM 13’s Lee Van Ameyde is in Newport News, Virginia to give a first look at the Navy’s newest class of aircraft carrier. He spoke Friday with President Ford’s daughter, Susan Ford Bales.
“I have gotten to weld, I’ve gotten to work on the lift system, all different systems of the ship,” Susan told Lee. Saturday, she will break a specially made bottle of Founder’s beer to christen the multi-billion dollar ship.
The USS Ford has been under construction in Virginia since 2009; the outside is done but lots of work inside remains. The shipbuilders say everything is new
“It has a new propulsion system, three times the electrical power, aircraft landing systems... there is nothing that is not new on this ship,” said Matthew Mulherin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding.
The ship includes 10 million feet of electric cable and 4 million feet of fiber optic cable. The USS Ford will produce 400,000 gallons of fresh water everyday; sailors wont have to worry about long showers. The ship kitchen will also produce 15,000 meals a day.
The USS Ford won’t be operational until 2016 when Captain John Meier takes the helm.
“As captain, I could not ask for a better role model for the crew; Ford’s life was a life of integrity. When you look at what you want in a crew, that is at the top of the list,” said Meier. “Although it is a very expensive ship, its a tremendous investment of the national treasury, in terms of resources. But the men and woman who sail here... that the true war fighting capability.”
“When you break the bottle, what will you be thinking about, what will be going through your head?” Lee asked Susan Ford Bales. “You taught me well, dad. Thank you.”””
Another plus for true American’s.
To him it would be nothing more than another phony photo-op.
Now if it were held in the bath house ——!
Hell, why should he? With Terry McAuliffe soon to occupy the Governor’s mansion, and St. Mark of Warner set to cruise to an incontested reelection next year, VA isn’t useful to Obama until he parades Hillary around in 2016.
I'm sure he tried to get the name changed, probably why so many Navy guys have been fired recently.
Why is carl levin attending? Doesn’t the ship have an anchor?
lenin’s permanent home is in Maryland, a relatively short hop via helicopter from Norfolk. If he speaks at the event it will probably be something inane which has nothing to do with the reason for the event.
I’m told he is a big fan of Michigan undocumented democrap governor and tax collector Rick Gran.....er, uh Snyder.
Man, I bet the Midrats are gonna suck...
Baby Doc Baraq never attends a “public” event where his handlers can not choose who is in the audience ahead of time.
It would jinx this mighty ship to “taking one up the stern” while the unisex sailors(?) frolicked in debauchery.
Man, I would hate to be on that sub when commissioned.
Talk about a Jonah!
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