Name:	h_hob -	Reply
Subject:	Yo, liberals
Date:	9/23/2014 9:16:21 PM

Aren't you just ever so proud of YOUR president?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/sep/23/obama-salutes-marines-with-coffee-cup/

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Yo, liberals
Date:	9/24/2014 9:39:50 AM

There is also a picture of GWB doing some sort of salute while holding his dog Barney with both hands.   Lets remember that Presidents are human beings just like the rest of us  There is a lot more to worry about in the world than Obama saluting with a coffee cup in his hand or GWB saluting with his arms around Barney. 

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Yo, liberals
Date:	9/24/2014 9:45:09 AM

I was frankly more horrified when he misprounced Qutar during his speech yesterday.  For the record, it is pronounced "Cutter" not Qutar (rhyming with guitar).  Not a great way to build a coalition when you can't pronounce the name of a country correctly.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Yo, liberals
Date:	9/24/2014 1:02:33 PM

How about the way he pronounces Pakistan.....Pock-e-stonn.....maybe its pronounced that way but for some reason it drives me crazy.  Just like W pronounces nuclear as nuke-u-lar.  Those kind of things bug me unlike the coffee salute.  We know the guy doesn't respect the military but his salute matters not a whit to me.  

Name:	Mack -	Reply
Subject:	Yo, liberals
Date:	9/24/2014 7:44:45 PM

Well, his lack of respect for a member of a group of Americans actively being killed to protect his ass offends me to no end.

That Marine at the bottom of the steps rendered a salute as a "courtesy" to the office, nothing more. The man saluted the OFFICE of THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, not the man holding the office.... He is trained that way. No exceptions. None. Like it or not.

And the salute was NOT RETURNED Properly. Must be a great recruiting incentive,,,, and a dreadful forecast for the future security of my country....

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Yo, liberals
Date:	9/24/2014 8:08:04 PM

 Seriously, is this the most important issue facing our country. BTW, they don't salute the Office of the President, they salute because the President is their Commander in Chief. They are obligated to salute him, but it is at his discrestion to salute back or not.  This practice was started by the actor, our former President Ronald Reagan.  Before Reagan, no President saluted the attending Marines when leaving an aircraft, not even the former General Eisenhower.

Obama is left handed.  He was holding the railing going down the steps with his dominent (i.e.) left hand.  He was holding his coffee in his right hand.  In the case of GWB, he was holding Barney the dog with both hands, so he gave them a partial doggy salute.  Does this mean that GWB had no respect for the military? 

I think both of these men have/had a little more to worry about than saluting when they got off an aircraft. 

And before anyone goes off half-cocked about the lack of Congressional approval/support for the attacks on ISIS, please remember that Congress is on recess until after the November elections, because, you know, getting re-elected is more important than the national security of the U.S.

And don't bother posting that I am an Obama apologizer, because that is simply not the case.  I do not think he is a good President; but I don't think people shoud go around putting energy into a tempest in a teapot.  Presidents are human - deal with it. 

MM - I agree with you about his pronunciation of Pakistan.  It is actually Pak-is-staun. But I won't tell you what I call it.  :-)

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Yo, liberals
Date:	9/24/2014 9:30:25 PM (updated 9/24/2014 9:31:39 PM)

I watched the video replay and while he was returning the salute of the Marine he was playing with his buttons with his left hand.  Hound, the guy has no clue.  He is an embarrassment to the office.  For crying out loud, if you are going to return a salute do it right.  Otherwise, don't bother.

Name:	Mack -	Reply
Subject:	Hound??
Date:	9/24/2014 10:47:00 PM

Do you have any more excuses for him??

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Mack
Date:	9/25/2014 7:42:04 AM

No excuses for him, other than he is a human being.  I think he is a terrible President.  Do you have an excuse for GWB's doggy salute? 

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Hodja
Date:	9/25/2014 7:51:33 AM

I agree with you about the "doing it right".  Anything worth doing is worth doing well.  I think he or GWB, with their hands full should have skipped the salute and acknowedged the salute with a "good morning or whatever is the appropriate time of day).  I kinda doubt those Marines care if he returns their salute or not.  For them, it's all in a days work. 

It would be interesting to know if the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs salutes the President every time he sees him.  (I'll bet not).

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Hodja
Date:	9/25/2014 8:11:23 AM

The only thing I might quibble with is whether the Marines care....I think they would be honored for him to return their salute, but don't expect him to.  

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Yo, liberals
Date:	9/25/2014 8:37:07 AM

Mack, I don't disagree that he is disrespectful but of all the ways he shows that disrespect this is the least of them to say the least.  That is why in the grand scheme of things it doesn't bother me, especially when compared to all the other ways he shows contempt for the military.  Having said that I can understand your consternation. 

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Clarification
Date:	9/25/2014 8:39:14 AM

Reagan didn't start it, he just did it more often than his predecessors.  I've seen a picture of FDR standing in a car saluting the military.  Reagan did so out of his respect for the military but I think in reality POTUS is a civilian and probably should not salute. 

Name:	h_hob -	Reply
Subject:	Clarification
Date:	9/25/2014 9:37:16 AM

MM,  You're right this one should not salute.  He is so much better at bowing.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Hodja
Date:	9/25/2014 9:39:28 AM

My thinking is that they are at the WH all the time and probably see the President on a daily basis.  He probably knows them by name.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Clarification
Date:	9/25/2014 9:41:09 AM

Perhaps you are right.  I just watched a PBS special on the Roosevelts and he did salute the troops, but I don't think it was on a daily basis. 

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Clarification
Date:	9/25/2014 9:41:15 AM

Perhaps you are right.  I just watched a PBS special on the Roosevelts and he did salute the troops, but I don't think it was on a daily basis. 

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Yo, liberals
Date:	9/25/2014 9:51:58 AM

I really think his "contempt" for the military is way overstated.  The former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs say as much. 

Can you tell me what specific things makes you think he has contempt for the military?  I dont' think that because he doesn't take every military recommendation made to him, that it means he has contempt for the military.  In my mind, the military makes a range of recommendations to him, as well does the State Department and he gets to choose the direction he wants to go.  In my mind, it is all part of a mosiac that includes CIA and the various intelligence organizations. 

You know, I think the military deserves every bit of credit they get.  They make a lot of sacrifices.  But, I don't believe that their butts need to be kissed on a daily basis and all of the military I have known, or former military I know now, don't expect it.  On the whole, the military has a military perspective, but it is not always right and certainly, it is only one perspective.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Clarification
Date:	9/25/2014 10:31:32 AM

FDR saluted occasionally.  It was definitely Reagan that did it as often as he could and presidents since him have followed his lead.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Yo, liberals
Date:	9/25/2014 11:06:55 AM

Easy answer.  Read his book.  He has also decimated the military budget in favor of domestic entitlement programs where he can buy votes.  We can argue all day whether the budget is too high or too low or the money is well spent but any president that tries to pay for domestic spending at the expense of his number one priorty of defending and protecting us is contemptuous of the military.  I could go on with all the smaller examples of his contempt but it is not worth the effort.  And I will freely admit that my view is obviously tainted by my contempt and disdain for him.  Mea culpa.....

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Yo, liberals
Date:	9/25/2014 1:25:38 PM

I don't think he has "decimated" the military budget.  There have been ebbs and flows of military spending over the long term.  I view it as natural that in a time when his intent was to withdraw from the last two wars, to cut back on military spending.  You know, I worked for the Army for many years and also worked for the Office of the Secretary of Defense.  I've seen the acquisiton process up close and I can tell you that there is a lot of waste and mismanagement.  (I had a close relationship with the Joint Strike Fighter, and it's waste and mismangement is well documented.  It is not a singular example).   So I think that th cutbacks will cause the Pentagon to sharpen their pencils and think about how they are spending their money.  Additionally, you know that the Army has centered their strategies in the last 10 years on a light strike force  They had already rearranged their money to fund these programs, so that the Special Forces would have what they needed. 

Now in terms of the cutting of the  force - it saddens me to see them release the combat proven mid-grade officers in order to keep more Colonels and Generals.  But that is a choice that the miltary is making, not the President.  Remember, the Congress approves the budget for the DOD, and then the DoD decides how they will allocate it to the military departments (except when Congress gets invovled and directs certain acquisitions).  But the truth is, if we were pulling out of wars, then we needed less soldiers, sailors and airmen.  Same as companies, when you think about it. 

I don't see a problem with spending more money on domestic projects.  Not entitlements, you noitice, but domestic projects.  Our country is literally falling apart.  I saw something the other day about the age of gas pipes that are exploding, just due to wear.  We've seen the condition of bridges. I'm not happy to see programs for free cell phones, and other programs that allow people to sit on their butts and get money from the govenrment.  One huge one that irritates me to no end is social security disabilty.  I have a friend that just retired as a SS disability lawyer, and basically, anyone who applies will eventually be approved. It is a total ripoff. 

But now, I expect you will see additons to the military budget.  If Congress ever decides to come back to Washington and do their job, instead of running for office. 

Name:	h_hob -	Reply
Subject:	Yo, liberals
Date:	9/25/2014 5:08:15 PM

I see you still are touting about how much you know about everything since you once worked for the pentagon.  I didn't miss you during your hiatus.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Yes
Date:	9/25/2014 7:28:03 PM

we know, you are some little wage grade out in the middle of nowhere who has no experience worth talking about.  Really, you should get a life.

Name:	h_hob -	Reply
Subject:	Yes
Date:	9/25/2014 9:52:48 PM

And you are a big wheel from the pentagon that even had to cheat and be removed from your position on this board because you were removing comments you didn't like.  At least as a little know nothing, I haven't stooped as low on here has you have.  Go ahead,  and tell me once more about your character and moral convictions.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	For the Record
Date:	9/26/2014 3:38:21 PM

I never had a position on this board.  Bruce gave me administrators privileges at one time.  He chose to recind them and I had no problem with that because I never asked for them to start with.  I left this board because I had other things going on with me that had nothing to do with anything here. 

I did not like and still do not like personal attacks.  And I will respond in kind.  If you don't like me, then you can block me and my heart will not be broken.