Posted on 12/21/2008 9:42:31 PM PST by melt
KAILUA, Hawaii Hes not the commander in chief yet, but was President-elect Barack Obama briefly practicing his salute on Sunday?
On the first morning of his vacation here, Mr. Obama arrived at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii for his daily workout. As he walked out of the Semper Fit Center, his gray T-shirt soaked in sweat, he lifted his right hand and gave a quick salute to two Marines in fatigues who were standing in the distance.
The brief moment was not captured by cameras. Photographs and video were not permitted to be taken on the military base, according to campaign aides.
Mr. Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, opened their day with a 45-minute workout inside a large gymnasium at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, which is located on the Mokapu Penninsula on the windward side of Oahu, about 30 minutes outside Honolulu. It is sunny and warm here, a world away, at least in terms of the weather, from Chicago.
The Marine base seemed sleepy when the motorcade rolled through shortly after 7 a.m. Home to the 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Aircraft Group 24 and the 3rd Radio Battalion, the base is located only a few minutes from where the Obamas are staying, a rented home at the end of a series of cul-de-sacs (and security barricades) along Kailuana Place.
Mr. Obama, who arrived to his native Hawaii on Saturday afternoon, is taking a 13-day holiday vacation with his family and a few friends from Chicago. At least some work, though, followed him to Hawaii.
He is receiving his daily national security briefing and his transition team is scheduled on Monday or Tuesday to release an internal review of any contacts between his advisers and the Illinois governors office over filling his vacant Senate seat.
(Excerpt) Read more at thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com ...

Lefty salute, fumbling with his cell phone"Nuclear Football".
This is going to be an interesting 4 years...
I bet that’s painful for him to have to try and show respect.
WTF?
Oh yeah. He is a real CinC. Riiiiiiiiiight.
(At least Kerry knew what hand to use.)
what a dickwad
Oh ..Puke!
Verrry insulting.
I remember that the first thing Clinton aides did in the White House was piss off the military. That began a rocky relationship. Probably more of the same from Obama and his staff.
Gonna be interesting to see how much revenge Obama enacts on these folks for voting against his communist punk-@ss.
Such thugscum.
I can’t believe this joke was elected president of our country.
WTF??
The more you think about it, the more shocking it really is. We elected a man that has ZERO accomplishments and experience. All he has ever done was deliver a speech at a DNC and defeat Hillary in the democrat primaries.
Those Marines don’t have to salute him! BHO is nothing. He isn’t their senior in any form nor their commander. What a jerk. Left-handed, no less.
Many are getting out. There will be a mass exodus just like the 2nd term of the Clinton regime. And with BHO’s intention to implement a civilian police force...you watch. There will also be a reinstatement of the draft. I’d bet every last dime.
Makes W look like a genius!
I don't know who said it first but whoever coined the phrase "The great thing about America is that anybody can grow up to be president" sure as hell wasn't kidding.
I was wondering when that would come out. LOL He’s so much better at the middle finger salute.
If he returns a salute Right Handed & briskly... then adds his smile, When the troop is just an enlistee... He might pull it off.
Should he show the contempt that First Lady Hillary did, for the lowest ranks, He’ll have problems.
I respect the office he will hold.
But I will NEVER respect Obama.
I will NEVER forget or forgive his betrayal of our troops on the battlefield. He championed defeat, he voted against funding them, he accused them of war crimes.
Words fail.
“The more you think about it, the more shocking it really is. “
That is something I have been thinking about the majority of the electorate. Do they really know what they did to our future? To the future of our republic?
Why salute him when he on the president-elect? His isn’t CIC yet.

probably the same as the clintons... forced retirement for all war-time upper staff, clearing the way for the clintonian preferred
Along this line, there was an article in our local paper a week or two ago and some lady had done a study about the states that voted for McCain and the interesting thing was that of all the states, the red states have the greatest number of military personnel. Interesting that the blue states are far behind.And yes there was a study done or poll if you like, and the percent of military personnel who voted for McC is just about what you quoted. there are some of the younger troops that did go for 0bama but not many overall.
We may see a re awakening of silent contempt.
WE did not elect him..the dolts that voted for him did this and the rest of us are going to pay the price for this terrible turn of events.
...with a muslim middle name, while we are at war with muslim terrorists, just 7 years after 9/11. It is astounding.
I bet the Marines nearby were hoping that Obama wasn't going to do something silly like salute them. The Marines aren't obligated to do anything but look at him and think "What's that dude doing?".
Obama is not in the executive chain of the military, has not been sworn in as President, isn't an officer of any kind, is saluting with his left hand, isn't facing anyone in particular, is holding an object in his hand, has no recognizable uniform, and for some bloody reason took the initiative to salute a USMC Lance Corporal.
"Who are you, man?" would be the appropriate response from the Marines at the scene. I hated seeing civilian VIPs on base for these reasons. I once saw Mexican Army generals getting a tour of Camp Pendleton and made sure everyone knew that they were nobodies.
I know that..as a senator though I am not sure he doesn’t rate the salute..I personally would gag, find a way not to see him if you get my drift.
Just my HO...
If Obama was Secretary of the Navy, he'd rate a salute.
THIS WHOLE THING SICKENS ME. YES IAM YELLING
you know it pains him to have to show respect for those he despises...
PROVE IT, Mr President!
> BO is just our very own Neville Chamberlain
I think you do Chamberlain a disservice. Chamberlain was a gentleman, and would never keep company with traitors. He did, however, show remarkably poor judgment as it pertains to Hitler. Aside from that he was a good Englishman, through and through.
BHO, on the other hand, keeps company with traitors, and demonstrably is no gentleman, and it remains to be seen what his citizenship status is.
> Has anybody close to Zero ever served the nation?
Perhaps at McDonalds...
I saw a vehicle today with a yellow ribbon, a representation of a "silver star" flag, and a giant Obama "O" in the back window, along with a Texans for Obama sticker on the bumper. If I wore false teeth, I'd have dropped them.
But nobodies that are still due a salute as visiting officers, guests of your commanders from a mostly friendly country. Heck your supposed to salute the enemy, while you take his surrender. :)
I thought about that, but he's not a Senator anymore, he's already resigned. Hopefully that was a Bad Move.
Whatsa matta wit choo? Don’t be a foo!
Dipshittery
Why does he get to use a gym on a military base? How does that crap work?
Well put!
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