RavenHawk Posted September 24, 2014 #1 Share Posted September 24, 2014 where have I seen this before? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euphorbia Posted September 24, 2014 #2 Share Posted September 24, 2014 There's far more important things for people to b**** about! This doesn't bother me at all. Now if he was carrying an open bottle of Jack..... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rashore Posted September 24, 2014 #3 Share Posted September 24, 2014 I guess it might run par with a dog salute: 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keel M. Posted September 24, 2014 #4 Share Posted September 24, 2014 There's far more important things for people to b**** about! This doesn't bother me at all. Now if he was carrying an open bottle of Jack..... Nothing more important than b****ing about every little thing President Obama does. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+and-then Posted September 24, 2014 #5 Share Posted September 24, 2014 It was dismissive - and shows him being true to form. No real surprise. I guess they should be impressed that he bothers at all. Equating Bush holding a live animal that he could not drop or forget about (like a cup of coffee) isn't much of a comparison. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Wearer of Hats Posted September 24, 2014 #6 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Ohh come on, you can't expect him to hold something he's drinking in his left hand can you? It's against his religious dietary regulations. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent0range Posted September 24, 2014 #7 Share Posted September 24, 2014 It was dismissive - and shows him being true to form. No real surprise. I guess they should be impressed that he bothers at all. Equating Bush holding a live animal that he could not drop or forget about (like a cup of coffee) isn't much of a comparison. An animal he could not drop or forget about? I am 99.99% sure I can see a leash in the picture. Anyway, I have saluted with things in my hand, and I have had my salute returned by officers with things in their hand. You don't just drop everything to salute. As an Officer walking around a military base, or the President, you are going to get saluted HUNDREDS of times a day. Are you just supposed to never carry anything? That isn't very practical. It is much more disrespectful to not return a salute. I don't fault Obama for his coffee salute, or Bush for his dog salute. The people that are complaining about it have never served in the military.. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenemet Posted September 24, 2014 #8 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Anyway, I have saluted with things in my hand, and I have had my salute returned by officers with things in their hand. You don't just drop everything to salute. As an Officer walking around a military base, or the President, you are going to get saluted HUNDREDS of times a day. Are you just supposed to never carry anything? That isn't very practical. It is much more disrespectful to not return a salute. The people that are complaining about it have never served in the military.. EXACTLY! If they're going to fault Obama, then they'd better start in on all the other military personnel who do this and have done this over many long years. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogbin Posted September 24, 2014 #9 Share Posted September 24, 2014 (edited) He is the Commander and Chief. . He should show more respect to our military personnel. Edited September 24, 2014 by Ogbin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skep B Posted September 24, 2014 #10 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Comparing Pres obama to bill murray? That's high praise where I come from 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+and-then Posted September 24, 2014 #11 Share Posted September 24, 2014 An animal he could not drop or forget about? I am 99.99% sure I can see a leash in the picture. Anyway, I have saluted with things in my hand, and I have had my salute returned by officers with things in their hand. You don't just drop everything to salute. As an Officer walking around a military base, or the President, you are going to get saluted HUNDREDS of times a day. Are you just supposed to never carry anything? That isn't very practical. It is much more disrespectful to not return a salute. I don't fault Obama for his coffee salute, or Bush for his dog salute. The people that are complaining about it have never served in the military.. Oh, I understand your point - and agree. I am far more concerned with his treatment of budgeting for the men and women who are bleeding and dying. I read recently that he's giving pink slips to officers in the mid ranks WHILE they are still deployed. If the country cannot afford it's military AND massive welfare disbursements then maybe the welfare should take a hit also? Neither should carry the whole load. The casual hand salute - when he could have held the coffee in the other hand, is just bad a visual. My guess is he would pay far more attention to a situation involving his base. But my opinion isn't worth much because I despise the weakling no matter what he does - short of growing a set OR resigning. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremiah65 Posted September 25, 2014 #12 Share Posted September 25, 2014 This is one I just don't care about...it's been done before and even worse...I think it was Eisenhower that didn't salute at all...so... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babe Ruth Posted September 25, 2014 #13 Share Posted September 25, 2014 I agree that it is much ado about nothing, but it does provide insight into Obama's and Bush's lack of military experience. Yes, Bush actually wore the uniform while Obama has not, but Bush wore it because he had to, not because he wanted to. As POTUS he only needs to return salutes, not initiate them. Still, it shows a lack of class, something I was already aware of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pallidin Posted September 25, 2014 #14 Share Posted September 25, 2014 I agree with everyone's opinions. Keep in mind, though, that it was President Reagan, that started the tradition. It was never "formalized" as a "requirement", rather a "courtesy" Which I agree should be done. And looks like, from the pic and story, that Pres. Obama had a LOT on his mind before addressing the U.N. on extremely significant matters. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rafterman Posted September 25, 2014 #15 Share Posted September 25, 2014 The best of the whole thing was watching the Dems and the media go into red alert panic mode trying to find a picture of Bush doing something similar. Because, you know, if Bush did it too, then it's OK. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogbin Posted September 25, 2014 #16 Share Posted September 25, 2014 (edited) If you are going to salute a member of the military then do it correctly, anything short of that is disrespect. Edited September 25, 2014 by Ogbin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taun Posted September 25, 2014 #17 Share Posted September 25, 2014 There is a rule (In the Army at least) that if you are in uniform, and your hands are in such a position that saluting is not possible, that you do not have to salute, but should acknowledge the salute... Those in civilian clothing, (normally) are not expected to return salutes - though there are times when it IS required... As Palladin said, it was Reagan that started the "tradition" of the POTUS returning salutes of this nature - and that's fine... But it is not a "requirement"... Of course, in this instance, perhaps the best thing would have been for him to transfer the cup to the other hand... Face saved - "major international crisis" averted... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gromdor Posted September 25, 2014 #18 Share Posted September 25, 2014 There really isn't a rule that the president is supposed to salute military at all. The fact that they do it strikes me more that they are ignorant of that fact than any true demonstration of respect to our military. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pallidin Posted September 26, 2014 #19 Share Posted September 26, 2014 There really isn't a rule that the president is supposed to salute military at all. The fact that they do it strikes me more that they are ignorant of that fact than any true demonstration of respect to our military. True enough, but keep in mind that the U.S. President is "Commander-in-Chief" of the armed forces, by Constitutional law. Congressional provisions excepted, of course. The President, usually of no standing military recognition, is not required to "salute" back. However, being "Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces", subordinate's are protocolled to salute in presence. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pallidin Posted September 26, 2014 #20 Share Posted September 26, 2014 (edited) Snip... Edited September 26, 2014 by pallidin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babe Ruth Posted September 26, 2014 #21 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Just found out that the incident happened in Nueva York as Barack was arriving for UN shindig. How much does it cost to have the 2 Marines brought to NY for the formalities? Can't the President deplane without having some soldiers there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rashore Posted September 26, 2014 #22 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Considering that Obama was flown in on Marine One, the marines might have been his escort on the helicopter. It is normal for the crew of the Marine One to wear dress blues instead of flight gear. And it's been the standard for a marine or two to be waiting as the president disembarks off Marine One since the late 50's, so this isn't something special for Obama. It could also be that the marines were local- there's a story about Clinton landing at the Grand Canyon and a marine was standing on a rock out there in the middle of nowhere awaiting the landing of Marine One. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supervike Posted September 26, 2014 #23 Share Posted September 26, 2014 There really isn't a rule that the president is supposed to salute military at all. The fact that they do it strikes me more that they are ignorant of that fact than any true demonstration of respect to our military. The fact that they do is probably more likely to do with the negative press they'd get for some supposed 'disrespect'. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beany Posted September 27, 2014 #24 Share Posted September 27, 2014 I agree that it is much ado about nothing, but it does provide insight into Obama's and Bush's lack of military experience. Yes, Bush actually wore the uniform while Obama has not, but Bush wore it because he had to, not because he wanted to. As POTUS he only needs to return salutes, not initiate them. Still, it shows a lack of class, something I was already aware of. It doesn't provide insight to anything about Obama or Bush, or anyone else. Is how one takes the measure of a person? I think not. As criteria goes, it's not right up there at the top, but I suppose if one has an agenda this would work. I'm concerned about the economy, women's reproductive rights, our citizens who go to bed hungry, those whose unemployment ran out and can't find jobs, corporations co-opting our political system, immigration issues, but a salute? Nah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pallidin Posted September 27, 2014 #25 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Yeah, a POTUS salute is not a requirement at all, just a "courtesy" If the President has a lot on his mind, this is easily excused and understood. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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