<< True, however, has the USMC completely severed all ties from the USN? >>
LOL! Tell you what . . . walk into a bar around Camp Pendleton or Camp Lejeune, and say, "What's up, swabbies." You will probably be spending some time in the hospital. The Marine Corps is part of the Department of the Navy, but in their viewpoint, it's just so they can hitch a ride to the beach. (or so my dad grumbled when I asked him. )
As far as Bush being a draft dodger . . . come on Red, be consistent at least. He was born on July 6, 1946. Attended Yale from 64 to 68 (a lot of college boys never got drafted, Red - how'd you avoid going to 'nam? You're of that generation, are you not?) Bush was in the Texas Air National Guard from 68 to 73, pretty much the higher points of the war. More than likely his squadron never got rotated in, or else he would have gone. He also joined the Guard of his own volition, which is more than can be said of Clinton.