George HW Bush, Robin Meade Going Skydiving To Celebrate Bush's 85th Birthday

George H.W. Bush will celebrate his 85th birthday Friday afternoon with another bout of skydiving. In a twist, this year Bush Sr., a veteran skydiver who made his first jump as a 20-year-old Navy pilot in World War II who was shot down over the Pacific, will make the jump in tandem with HLN anchor Robin Meade. Meade will interview Bush Sr. before they make the jump.

Press release from HLN is below.

HLN (formerly Headline News) today announced that Robin Meade, anchor of Morning Express with Robin Meade, will participate in a tandem parachute jump with President George H. W. Bush this Friday, June 12. The U.S. Army Parachute Team, the "Golden Knights," will be conducting the jump, which will take place in Kennebunkport, Maine, as family and friends gather to observe the former president's 85th birthday.

"It's not every day one gets the chance to tandem jump alongside a former president, with the Army's Golden Knights; it is both a thrill and an honor," commented Meade. "Anchoring four hours of live television is an adrenaline rush most days, but this tandem jump with President Bush will be a new level of excitement, I'm sure."

CNN, HLN, and CNN.com will all feature coverage of the jump, including an exclusive interview Meade will conduct with former President Bush before they embark on the jump.

Comments

[factotem]

And I think we all know what "skydiving" means.

[sockman]

If you don't succeed at first, so much for skydiving.

[WorkingClass]

If I had to live with "Bar" I would gladly risk my life.

[tvrmx]

first bo.ner he's had in 20 years.

[epiphany1234]

Well, now....

Is pops stepping out on "The Silver Douchba..." I mean, ...."Fox"???

First a lap dance at the party, now this....

What took him so long??

[daffey]

Silver Doucha...?

Your comment reminds me of when I used to be a self-proclaimed liberal agnostic. Then I attended a speech by Ronald Reagan in 1988. Some enlightened and open minded liberals like me were sitting behind me and commenting on Reagan, his presidency, his wife, her looks, his health, and a whole host of observations. And some of it actually sounded like they had gotten past puberty. But not enough of it. From that point on, I realized that the Left was being coopted by a growing segment of the population that I wouldn't let feed my fish for me while I went to the mailbox, much less want to impact the future of my country. Though I never became a true conservative, and have shied from ever jumping on board with the Republicans, it's comments like yours that have long kept me from ever stating openly any allegiance with the so-called-liberalism that was, but is no more.

[daffey]

Then again, most of the comments on this thread remind me of this. Embarrassing really. But nothing less than I’ve come to expect.

[BetsyNZ]

Shame he didn't go skydiving BEFORE he started breeding .

[sekigahara]

He did, sorta - his first jump was before he had any kids (that he knew about, that is.). It wasn't an actual skydive with freefall or anything- he deployed is parachute while standing upright in the pilot seat of his aircraft with the result of him being swept out of the cockpit and bashing his head on the tail. No diving, but a quick parachute ride, is all.

[openhand]

What a way to sugar coat the mob boss.

[ywcachieve]

That's exactly what he is.

[ScreenName05]

Good for him.

[auntiecairo]

So how much is this costing taxpayers - given that he receives Secret Service detail - since Republicans suddenly seem concerned about presidential excursions (and while you're at it let's figure out how much Reagan's trips to Santa Barbara and Bush Jr.'s to Crawford cost taxpayers.)

[timmmahhhh]

I cringed when the Republicans criticized Obama's trip to New York with his wife. I have to equally cringe for picking on GHWB. The man deserves a life and it's not his fault some kooks out there require secret service protection for the rest of his life. And maybe CNN will "sponsor" some of it.

[ywcachieve]

Don't compare the Obama's to this Bush criminal.

[daffey]

Actually, the criticism was based on Obama telling CEOs that their big trips and fancy vacations needed to be a thing of the past, then turning around and going for a tax-payer paid night on the town. But it's old stuff. The Dems blasted Nancy Reagan for expensive taste while people were starving in the world. They blasted the first Bush family for yachting while people were starving in the world. They just more or less blasted GW Bush, period. Mostly because he woke up in the morning. It's an old politic tactic. It seems to have worked, since the MSM dropped the adoring coverage quickly, and the White House moved on without further references. My guess, it did hit too close to home given Obama's scolding of the CEOs.

[KeysDan]

What is wrong with this man?

[sekigahara]

Beyond his record as a US President and fathering one of the worst Presidents in US history, nothing at all. He's skydiving because he wants to and still can - though in very rigidly defined circumstances.

[northstar11]

wifey told him he was crazy last time he jumped.----- this dude is pushing it a bit----- he may be joining sotomayor in the white boot lineup.--jumping with robin is a pretty good gig though.

[hartkid]

there is no god.

[openhand]

there is still time, something could ... er happen.

[daffey]

your implied meaning.....?

[tc2598]

Don't do it Robin! It's a trap!

[eastjame]

strap me to Meade

[OneTop]

Obviously Robin is there to point out the right direction for Bush Sr. to go. No one wants him hanging around up there all day trying to figure it out on his own.