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October 27, 2006

Crusader Sends Word of What's Shaping Up to Be

...an epic Naval battle.

What has a better ring to it?

The USS America and the "America-class" of aircraft carriers? Or the USS Gerald R. Ford and the "Ford-class"?

..."We just find it appalling that the name of the country has been pushed aside in favor of living politicians," said Walt Waite, the association's vice president. "The name of the country belongs on a carrier well before individuals and politicians especially living ones. What better way to start the new class than the America?"


My country? 'Tis. I agree.


Posted by tree hugging sister at October 27, 2006 12:37 PM

Comments

To me this is the best quote in that story:

"That Congress would call for naming the nation's newest flattop after a one-term president who was never elected over the country's name, Waite says, shows how far removed they are from the American people."

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at October 27, 2006 12:56 PM

I despise this new practice of naming ships after politicians that are still alive.

Posted by: Mike Rentner at October 27, 2006 01:24 PM

Especially since there're like TWO alive worth naming anything after. Quality takes a nosedive postehaste.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at October 27, 2006 02:06 PM

The USS Bingley

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at October 27, 2006 02:31 PM

Why anyone would think that a ship should be named after Gerald Ford let alone a class of ships is beyond me. Carriers should be Saratoga, Coral Sea etc. The USS George Bush? "What ship you on"? "The Shrub"...Mike is dead on, NO living person should have a ship named after them and damn few dead ones either.

Posted by: major dad at October 27, 2006 03:56 PM

This practice of naming ships after politicians is bad enough. Naming a new, top-of-the-line vessel after a politician best known for stumbling and falling on his ass is downright criminal!

Posted by: Gunsniper at October 27, 2006 05:10 PM

When I think of a magical name like "Oriskany" waiting for a new ship and someone says "let's call it the Gerry Ford"? Chills me to the bone.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at October 27, 2006 05:22 PM

http://www.ussamerica.org/downloads/pressrelease.pdf

'Nuff said.

Posted by: Gunsniper at October 27, 2006 11:49 PM

Anything named after politicians (live especially) is goofy, especially after some states practically pepper their territory with name signs of living politicians (West Virgina and Alaska come to mind).

Warships should be named for battles and heros. Politicians? Not even Regan, for all that he did for the military. Some things should be sacrosanct, and not subject to the egos of politicians.

Posted by: The_Real_JeffS at October 28, 2006 07:01 PM

I doubt you could name it America, because I don't think the America will be destroyed before then. Mothballed ships retain their names and we can't have two Americas.

Posted by: Mike Rentner at October 28, 2006 11:15 PM

The USS America is currently under 17,000 feet of water. Names for aircraft carriers instead of
USS America:
USS Saratoga
USS Franklin

Posted by: Bart at October 29, 2006 09:51 PM