[Jumper]

Here is how to guage the president's popularity around a military base... During the Clinton years, the troops were stripped of their weapons and ammunition 7-10 days out from a presidential or first lady visit; when W comes to a base there is no security service operation to disarm the troops. I'd love to see the press report that aspect of presidential popularity.

I did 9.5 years in the 82d, 2.5 in XVIII Abn Corps and the rest of 20 in Korea/Japan. From Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush I and Clinton and the Carter-Clinton years were the worst to serve.

[longtermmemmory]

Actually I though it was interesting that troops had to be ORDERED to applaud and "be nice" for Clinton visits.

Then you saw images of polite applause.

Just to the GWPresidency.

You see cameras, a president wading into the soldiers to help them pose with the president.

and yet

The MSM only sees malaise. (MSM: using burned out flashlights to see in broad daylight)

[rlmorel]

I was in the USN 75-79...we were in the North Atlantic, had to hot-swap foul weather gear and suff them with rags to make them warmer. Carter was a great President...NOT!