"Do you know that that "mission-accomplished" photo op where he flew onto that aircraft carrier in that two-seater jet kept the troops returning from their missions onboard that carrier for an extra month waiting for the president to arrive?"

Really Wordsmith? Please tell us how. By the bye the aircraft he flew in was an S-3B Viking - crew of four.

According to CNN:

"The Lincoln, currently en route to NAS North Island, has been at sea for nearly 10 months, after participating in both the Afghanistan and Iraq war theaters. The president is scheduled to spend the night on the aircraft carrier, which is based in Everett, Washington, but is stopping in San Diego first.

Bush will leave the carrier before it berths at North Island Friday. The ship will return to Everett on May 6."

Now he arrived onboard on the 2nd May and the Lincoln made home port on the 6th May - Where's the month that you are talking about Wordsmith?

The San Diego "stop" for the "Lincoln" would possibly be to fly off her Air Group. Returning UK carriers used to do this in Lyme Bay in the Channel with Fighter Squadrons flying the short hop to RNAS Yeovilton and the Strike Squadrons flying up to RNAS Lossiemouth.