Randy Cunningham: Vietnam vet and felon?

[LePaul]

Ah man, I'd just watched an extrodinary bit about him on the History Channel, the one that details all the various Aces and all.  It was a really well done, CGI and all, bio.

Sad.  Certainly not the way one would like to be remembered.

[StarOfAfrica2]

I remember when the info on the house and the investigation came out last year, everyone was adopting a "wait and see" attitude.  Well, you cant get more damming than a confession.  I do not believe he is a bad guy.  He just couldnt resist temptation.  I made the point when this first came out that many of our greatest aces were "colorful" to say the least, and didnt have the most successful of private lives.  Being a hero gets you some slack in alot of things, and I really think if he had not been so obvious about it that most people really wouldnt have cared one way or the other.  He just did everything big.  I dont think this in any way detracts from what he did as a pilot in battle.  Its just a lesson that even the best of us have weaknesses.

[Gunthr]

I'm pretty pissed and let down about this.  (I'm Conservative, and I know his history)

Still, its refreshing to see the guy take responsibility and refrain from the song and dance.

[Karnak]

Originally posted by Gunthr
Still, its refreshing to see the guy take responsibility and refrain from the song and dance.

I'd like to see it that way, but......

He didn't "take responsibility" until he was 100% going down in flames.  Now he has a plea agreement and is testifying against his co-conspirators.

After what he did pull I have serious doubts that he'd being doing what he is if he thought he might get off.

Examples from the Pleae Agreement:

a. On or about May 1, 2000 Coconspirator No. 1 paid $70,000 (with personal check no. 1039) to defendant, which defendant deposited into his personal back account at Union Bank of California in San Diego County, California;
b. On or about May 1, 2000, Coconspirator No. 1 paid $30,000 (with personal check no. 1040 to defendant, which defendent deposited into his personal bank account at Congressional Federal Credit Union in Washington, D.C.;

That is blatant stuff, not this quasi hidden property stuff, but blunt bribery.  In the Plea Agreement it goes on from "a." to "zz."

PDF of the Plea Agreement

[storch]

yup I'm fairly dissillusioned.  who woulda thunk it.  I have to agree with karnak on this, it seems if he thought he might skate he woulda kept denying the charges.  he should do time.

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by rpm
Proof that politics can ruin a good man.

Yup or he was ruined from the begining and somone said his hero status "would make him a shoe in for politics"

Either way the guy is a crook and a hero at the same time.  Can't deminish from it.

Good people have an image of combat "heros" as good wholesome people.....of wich many are.  But keep in mind "a Hero in combat is often a coward that got cornered"  I don't know who said that but I remember reading while reading about a guy that won a silver star.  

Not to say this applies directly to Cunningham, the guy is an Ace and a big one at that.  I'm really dissapointed to learn this and think what RPM here says is valid in this situation.  Ok i'm not sure where I'm going with this, Cunningham is a Hero and a crook at the same time.....but still a hero.

A bunch of Air Force Brass over dinner once asked him what's best way the USAF can improve it's K/D ration in air to air combat in 'nam.

Cunningham's answer was something to the effect  "use navy pilots"

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by Karnak
I'd like to see it that way, but......

He didn't "take responsibility" until he was 100% going down in flames.  Now he has a plea agreement and is testifying against his co-conspirators.

After what he did pull I have serious doubts that he'd being doing what he is if he thought he might get off.

Examples from the Pleae Agreement:

That is blatant stuff, not this quasi hidden property stuff, but blunt bribery.  In the Plea Agreement it goes on from "a." to "zz."

PDF of the Plea Agreement

well either way today he went in front of the mics and cameras and in a tear filled speech admited that he did wrong and violated the publics trust.  Refreshing indeed.

[Debonair]

"Show me a hero, and I'll show you a bum."

[mora]

http://dukecunningham.org/

[Holden McGroin]

He passed for over 29,000 yards and has 35 rushing TD's.

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Most of Americans pointing fingers, feeding the witchunt, are probably stealing cable TV.

[moot]

I'm probably the exception, but I've never met anyone who stole cable TV...

[storch]

Originally posted by SFRT - Frenchy
Most of Americans pointing fingers, feeding the witchunt, are probably stealing cable TV.

how would you steal cable TV for very long?  why would you put yourself in a situation that could be potentially embarrassing for a few pennies per month?  it must be a french thing.  

[ASTAC]

Originally posted by storch
how would you steal cable TV for very long?  why would you put yourself in a situation that could be potentially embarrassing for a few pennies per month?  it must be a french thing.  

A few pennies? My cable bil is $140 a month.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by ASTAC
A few pennies? My cable bil is $140 a month.

Ease up on the porn.