Congressman Randy ‘Duke’ Cunningham is spending the first full day in jail after being sentenced to more than eight years imprisonment after his conviction on bribery charges.
I am decidedly not a Republican. But I grew up in San Diego until I was 15. I spent many days at NAS (now MCAS) Miramar. They had a replica of Cunningham’s F-4 on a pedestal. Cunningham was an ace in the Vietnam War. Supposedly, Tom Cruise’s character was based on him in Top Gun.
But what’s more is that my dad was a Naval officer. I was brought up to uphold the standards of gentlemanly conduct. My dad was a gentleman, and I grew up in an atmosphere where my impression of Naval officers was that they are symbols of the highest traditions of respectability.
And here’s Cunningham going to the slammer because he’s crooked. I’d expect a Congressman to do what he did – especially a Republican one. (Sorry, Righties.) But for a former Naval officer to do it? So much for my childish illusions.