Can you refresh my memory of one of Bush's speeches to Virginia? Military

[patrice]

Cadets in June? of this year? I saw it on CSPAN and really fealt the atmosphere was a little hostile.

What Military Academy was that? I believe it was in Virginia . . . ? The officer-cadets did not applaude spontaneously. They probably also DID care about what happened to Colin Powell's reputation, because he followed Executive Orders.

[malmapus]

1. Was it VMI?

I kinda remember hearing about that, but don't recall which Academy is was.

[underpants]

2. VMI is in Va. (obviously) but you are probably thinking of Ft.Bragg speech

They never applauded and W was stuck more than once waiting after an applause line. It was actually admitted by Fox News that the ONE applause break was started by an "overly enthusiastic White House staffer". This was the speech that W cried at the end and through in some recruiting talk.

[MADem]

3. VMI??? Those guys do not HAVE to go in Service

It isn't a military academy like the Point, or USNA, or the Air Force Academy. It is one of those "military schools" where you play soldier, and on graduation, one is not required to accept a commission (only half of the last graduating class did--the rest probably took one look at Iraq, and said to hell with it). It is state supported, though, which was why, to great hue and cry, they finally had to start admitting females eight or so years ago. If you are an in-state student, the tuition is about eight grand a year, it is more than twice that if you are an out-of-stater, but there are alumni grants you can get if you play the game right, so it can be a very cheap education.

It is fairly highly rated as an educational institution, but frankly, I find the whole culture of the place rather creepy.