The Blue Angels are a major recruiting tool for the US Navy, just as the Thunderbirds are to the USAF and the Golden Knights are to the US Army. Get over it!
"...Surely there is something better that can be done with our military manpower..."
Sylvia, I agree. These planes should be strafing and bombing the crap out of places like Iran or the hiterlands of Pakistan where the hideouts are. Sort of an "air-show-them". Plus, they could fill up locally, where fuel should be cheaper, and save the cost of shipping.
"The Blue Angels are a major recruiting tool for the US Navy, just as the Thunderbirds are to the USAF and the Golden Knights are to the US Army. Get over it!"
The Golden Knights do incredible stuff, but I doubt they are as effective recruiting tool. When I joined the Army in 1983, the Golden Knights were not even a thought.
Blue Angels and Thunderbirds do all kinds of tricks that can be seen with the naked eye, especially the low overhead pass which is so close you think you can touch the plane.
Golden Knights do some very risky moves but from the ground it looks like a big fluster cluck in the sky.
Now, blowing stuff up with Apaches and M1 Abrams is what makes good recruiting tools.