Misfiring at 'Top Gun'

Washington Post ^ | May 11, 2003 | WP Editorial

[FairOpinion]

DID PRESIDENT BUSH arrive by fighter jet when he could have taken a helicopter -- for $7 less per hour?

Democrats are only hurting themselves with churlish and petty complaints. Their real gripe with Mr. Bush is that he looked great; the president pulled off his "Top Gun" act as much as Michael Dukakis flubbed his spin in a tank. And what was the result of their agitating? Even more showings of the same dramatic footage of a triumphant commander-in-chief.

Mr. Bush's visit to the USS Abraham Lincoln may have been the real kickoff of his presidential campaign. If the Democrats' tone-deaf handling of this episode is any indication, he may well get his four more years.

[FairOpinion]

Even the liberal Washington Post is starting to figure it out, but apparently many of the Democrats still didn't,so get ready for more cricism and more showing of Bush on the Carrier

[Sir Gawain]

What was bad about Dukakis in the tank? I was too young back then to remember.

[eddie willers]

What was bad about Dukakis in the tank?

He looked like a dork.

[Salvey]

He looked like a freakin' geek. Other than that, it was a great photo.

[SamAdams76]

Was it only $7 more to take the jet than the helicopter? Send the bill to me then, I'll be happy to pay it. It was worth $7 to see the president do an arrested landing on a moving aircraft carrier. Sure beats most of the movies Hollywood has been putting out lately (and they charge $7 as well).

[IoCaster]

[shhrubbery!]

What was bad about Dukakis in the tank? I was too young back then to remember.

Imagine an Alfred E. Neumann doll with an ill-fitting helmet, looking ill-at-ease in a Tonka tank driving around a parking lot.

At least that's the way I remember it.

[Ford Fairlane]

For every hour a naval helicopter flies there is 10 hours of maintenance time

For every hour a naval airplane flies there is 10 minutes of maintenance time

Which do you think costs more?

[Paul Atreides]

Have you ever seen a two-year old wearing an adult-sized football helmet? That is how Dukakis looked.

[SamAdams76]

What was bad about Dukakis in the tank?

Ever see those publicity photos for the Segway? The ones with the smiling geeks in their bicycle helmets? Well, that is how Dukakis looked in the tank. He even had a nametag across his helmet that looked like it was written on masking tape with a Sharpie pen. Something a mother would do for her son's poncho before sending him off to summer camp.

[thumblesswonder]

Really, nothing was bad. It made him look like an Alfred E. Newman, the public didn't buy it and it came across as buffoonish. All good.

[Salem]

Somebody will have to find a picture of Dukakis and that episode. Interesting moment. Dudkakis perched on top of a tank in the standard oprator's head gear.

Thing is, he looked like such a dorky idiot. He was done after that picture hit the mainstream media. Never recovered.

Imagine George Bush on the Lincoln, but to the other extreme.

[Stay the course]

[3AngelaD]

Even the Washington Post is revolted by the sight of the Democrats peeing their pants in envy of our dashing President. The more they whine about it, THE LAMER THEY LOOK. The ones who are calling for an "investigation" don't realize the damage they are doing to themselves and what is laughingly referred to as their party.

[petuniasevan]

Poppy's campaign managers had a field day with Dukakis - Mike was a P.R. disaster!

It was originally a Dukakis campaign ad meant to show that Mike was strong on defense. The public wasn't buying.

The tank ride took place at the General Dynamics Sterling Heights office complex in Michigan on 9/13/1988.

[inaperfectworld]

What do they want to learn? If it was really Bush? I don't understand the point of these "investigations."

Honestly- what would be the possible wrong doing? A president staging a photo-op? As if GWB invented it?

[FairOpinion]

Dukakis looked ridiculous. I don't have a picture, but he looke totally out of place.

I think he rode around in a tank as part of his campaign for president.

[prairiebreeze]

Dukakis looks like a toad with a gun

Prairie

[FairOpinion]

Great pictures. I am glad you saved them.

[prairiebreeze]

bump for an excellent point!

Prairie