(09-24-2014 10:01 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  This is why I hate politics. People try and pick apart the other party over little things. Was there a huge uproar when Bush saluted with his dog in his arms? We just need to get rid of political parties and let everyone run as an independent. The Political parties are what ruin the country.

Yes, it's like the "issues" no longer matter. EVERYTHING is politicized regardless of the issue.

Has it always been that way? I don't know, it doesn't seem like it. But, maybe I've always been naive.

(09-24-2014 10:42 PM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote:  

(09-24-2014 10:01 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  This is why I hate politics. People try and pick apart the other party over little things. Was there a huge uproar when Bush saluted with his dog in his arms? We just need to get rid of political parties and let everyone run as an independent. The Political parties are what ruin the country.

Yes, it's like the "issues" no longer matter. EVERYTHING is politicized regardless of the issue.

Has it always been that way? I don't know, it doesn't seem like it. But, maybe I've always been naive.

We'd sooner get rid of coffee cups and dogs.

without coffee there would be no politics

I sent this to my ex-Marine Republican friend who voted for McCain and Romney.

His words:

"People are making too much of this, the President is not obligated to return the salute… period. Number one, he is a civilian leader, not governed by the military code of conduct, I believe the whole presidential salute thing started with Reagan but I might be wrong about that, number two, his hands are occupied, he’s is therefore not required to return the salute, even if in service, please notice that the military people commenting on this are not making a big deal out of it, I personally would have preferred no salute (either do it right or don’t do it at all), but what do I know.

Think about it, if Presidents were governed by the Military Code of Conduct, very few would have lasted in office because knowingly lying, adultery, and all sort of other behaviors are strictly verboten (see General Petraeus)."

(09-24-2014 08:02 PM)MotoRocket Wrote:  

(09-24-2014 07:54 PM)pono Wrote:  well, he was also holding stuff in his left hand. really, people, US policy toward Israel, managing the economy, school standards and policy, environmental decline, re-emerging fiscal bubbles, new cold war w russia, etc... there's a lot of substantive things to critique obama on, are we really saying that a sloppy salute by a non-military man is "disgusting". The commander in chief role is flexible, many presidents have had minimal involvement in military decisions, some have used the designation to push for military actions that fit their politics or benefit their allies and business contacts.

do we know it was a latte, could it have been a quadruple espresso or caramel mocha, maybe a large black, or a medium roast w half n half...

No matter how you look at it or spin it - it was disrespectful. He acted like he was looking for a sniper and that they were bothering him by being there. If he is that bothered by their presence, just ask the military leaders to not have them posted along his routes. Not a big deal. Then he won't need to be bothered about a silly salute that is obviously too painful for him to take the time to do with some respect.

Dang...you sure read a lot into a split second decision on how to salute with a cup in your hand.

Some good reading on this latest kerfuffle:

Quote:Mr. Reagan’s successors continued the practice, and I continued to be conflicted — believing that when it comes to salutes (and one or two other matters), presidents deserved to be cut some slack, but also feeling a little uneasy about the whole thing.

My ambivalence came to an end last week, when I saw a videotape of the president’s midnight trip to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where he had participated, very early that morning, in the “dignified transfer” of 15 Army soldiers and three Drug Enforcement Administration agents killed that week in Afghanistan. Mr. Obama stood ramrod straight and saluted as six soldiers carried the coffin bearing the body of Sgt. Dale Griffin of Indiana off a C-17 transport aircraft and into a waiting van. His salute, it struck me, was impeccable in every way.

A Final Verdict on the Presidential Salute

Sorry, The Presidential Salute Isn’t A Real Thing
However, in the above article it references a book by Rachel Maddow in which she says no other presidents before Reagan saluted. That's not true, DDE did it on at least 7 occasions as president.

(09-25-2014 05:36 AM)pono Wrote:  without coffee there would be no politics

Excellent point. Without coffee....well, I just don't even want to contemplate it.

(09-25-2014 08:58 AM)FtLauderdaleRocket Wrote:  I sent this to my ex-Marine Republican friend who voted for McCain and Romney.

His words:

"People are making too much of this, the President is not obligated to return the salute… period. Number one, he is a civilian leader, not governed by the military code of conduct, I believe the whole presidential salute thing started with Reagan but I might be wrong about that, number two, his hands are occupied, he’s is therefore not required to return the salute, even if in service, please notice that the military people commenting on this are not making a big deal out of it, I personally would have preferred no salute (either do it right or don’t do it at all), but what do I know.

Think about it, if Presidents were governed by the Military Code of Conduct, very few would have lasted in office because knowingly lying, adultery, and all sort of other behaviors are strictly verboten (see General Petraeus)."

Well, if it's OK with the Marines and that's the rule... Surprised the media even picked it up then.

From my perspective of 20 years wearing the uniform -- make all of the excuses you want for the President, it was disrespectful to those young Marines if no one else.

I was always proud to salute my superiors and also to return the salute of my subordinates.

Hopefully it was a one time mistake that he doesn't repeat.

How about this - this is a SPORTS board, NOT a political board. Isn't there ANYWHERE we can go without being subjected to politics and all the inherent that goes along with it?

PLEASE stick to sports and leave the politics for other boards. Geesh!!!

Yeah...you can visit The Spin Room for this type of stuff.

That being said, I did ask if the moderators wanted to move this because it was political and nothing happened.