Bush visits Boy Scouts: "Cheney & Rumsfeld were scouts. OO-rah!"

[Bluebear]

Marine One landed in a grassy field and Bush, a former Cub Scout in Texas, was ferried by van to a stage where he was met by a sea of cheering Scouts wearing fatigue green uniforms covered with colorful patches and badges.

As the sun set, Bush told the crowd that the first man he often sees every morning, chief of staff Andy Card, is a former Scout from Massachusetts; Vice President Dick Cheney was a Boy Scout in Wyoming; and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was an Eagle Scout in Illinois.

Bush's speech was about patriotism and community and military service to the nation, but he also recalled how his mother, former first lady Barbara Bush, was the den mother of his Scouting troop. "It's about the time her hair turned white," he joked.

Before Bush arrived on stage, an Army band performed and a man wearing an Army T-shirt led groups of Scouts in chants of "OO-rah" and "U.S.A." Tall pines provided a backdrop for blue, red and black hot air balloons emblazoned with military and Scouting emblems.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050731/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_boy_scouts&printer=1

[lynettebro440]

1. Where's the lightening

bolt when you really need one.

[kliljedahl]

2. Red, Black & Blue balloons, Hoo-Rah!!!

Emphasis on Black & Blue.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[Bluebear]

4. I never thought of the Scouts as a young military organization

Until now!

[unschooler]

5. The Scouts were started in England in order to prepare boys

for the outdoor/camping aspects of military service. The ties between the US DOD and the BSA are old and deep. While I'd like to see the BSA moving away from this and just focus on camping and community service and such, it seems to be rediscovering its militaristic roots.

[Cha]

3. NOT A Good recommendation

for Boy Scouts..look how the bush cheney turned out.

Poor Boy Scouts have had a bad week.

[unschooler]

6. I agree! They must have missed the "character" badge!