Outside the Beltway

George H.W. Bush Marks 90th Birthday With Skydiving

Doug Mataconis
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George H.W. Bush, Mike Elliott

Continuing a tradition that started with his 80th birthday some 10 years ago, former President George H.W. Bush took to the air to celebrate his 90th birthday:

Former President George H.W. Bush has celebrated his 90th birthday as most people his age do — jumping out of a plane.

(…)

The former president was seen landing with a red, white and blue parachute. A Bush spokesman told the Associated Press that he landed safely.

Bush was scheduled to take off at 10:45 a.m. from Walker’s Point in Kennebunkport, Maine, where the Bush family owns an estate. He performed a tandem jump with members of the All Veteran Group, former U.S. Army Golden Knights members, according to a press release.

Bush is no skydiving novice — the jump was his eighth, according to the release. He did a jump on his 80th and 85th birthdays, and said two years ago that this will be his last one.

“I’ve got one more in me,” he told his granddaughter, Jenna Bush Hager, when he was 88.

Bush’s first jump, of course, occurred under less than ideal conditions.  Incidentally, Bush is only the fifth former President to reach the age of 90.

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12 responses to “George H.W. Bush Marks 90th Birthday With Skydiving”

  1. stonetools Avatar
    stonetools

    Good for “Poppy” . One of the better Republican presidents, and an all around good guy, by everything I have read.

  2. anjin-san Avatar
    anjin-san

    GHW is all right. He was a tough guy when he was flying combat missions as a teenager, and he still has it. 45 years older than me, and I am not planning on anything more strenuous than dinner in Berkeley for my birthday.

  3. mantis Avatar
    mantis

    I hope I’m still jumping if I reach his age!

  4. george Avatar
    george

    Good for him!

  5. grumpy realist Avatar
    grumpy realist

    Bravo! I hope he is able to carry out his jump for his 100th birthday as well.

  6. John Peabody Avatar
    John Peabody

    Better explain the first jump, Doug. Most people don’t know that he was the youngest Aviator in the Navy during WWII.

  7. Jenos Idanian #13 Avatar
    Jenos Idanian #13

    All this belated love for 41 makes me want to dig up some of the ads and commentaries from the 1988 and 1992 elections. Just for example, does this mean that all is forgiven for the Willie Horton incident?

  8. george Avatar
    george

    @Jenos Idanian #13:

    All this belated love for 41 makes me want to dig up some of the ads and commentaries from the 1988 and 1992 elections. Just for example, does this mean that all is forgiven for the Willie Horton incident?

    As far as that goes, every president looks better in hindsight (when we tend to judge them as people rather than as leaders). You can like someone as a person without liking how they do their job (and its not just presidents who can be good people doing a job they’re not fitted for – if there is actually anybody who’s a good fit for president, can’t think of any in recent memory, tho some were worse than others).

    For that matter, many ex’s look better in hindsight too. Memory works that way.

  9. anjin-san Avatar
    anjin-san

    @ Jenos

    does this mean that all is forgiven for the Willie Horton incident?

    No, but it does mean that some people are able to engage in flexible thinking. A dogmatic dolt such as yourself will not understand this.

    Footnote: Recent research shows that crows are also able to engage in flexible thinking, which puts them ahead of a lot of conservatives.

  10. Jenos Idanian #13 Avatar
    Jenos Idanian #13

    @anjin-san: Annie, if you meander over to the latest Bergdahl thread (the one about him returning to the US), you might see a little of that “flexibility” you seem to prize.

  11. anjin-san Avatar
    anjin-san

    @ Jenos

    if you meander over to the latest Bergdahl thread (the one about him returning to the US), you might see a little of that “flexibility” you seem to prize.

    Walking back your earlier idiotic statements about Bergdahi is not being flexible, it’s a failed attempt to try to get out with a little dignity.

    There were lots of voices saying we did not know enough to hang him out to dry and that there was no need to rush to judgement, but you could not wait. You labeled him a deserter, even as you admitted that there was no proof. You even hinted a death sentence might be in his future.

    Of course none of this was about Bergdhal, you are simply, as always, trying to get a shot in at Obama. And you did not hesitate to trash a combat vet in your quest to do so.

  12. Johne852 Avatar
    Johne852

    Over the course of the initial period, they began to flrm group identities. dfekcgdddcke

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