Cousin George ain't no socialist, but you might be. Anyone got a good strong tree handy?
Did I just hear that right?
FWIW, I think it is nice to have a POTUS that respects the military more than the last loser that occupied the office
Cousin George ain't no socialist, but you might be. Anyone got a good strong tree handy?
Oh good grief! NOT. Any "politician" couldn't have thought quick enough and stopped to do what Bush did. Your comment is pathetic.
Actions speak louder than words (or symbolic gestures).
Bush's actions HAVE spoken louder than his words, but you haven't been listening. And please don't demean a salute to a Marine as just "a symbolic gesture." Shame.
Oh, c'mon you guys! He's a politician and a pretty good one as shown today. Unfortunately, he's also a socialist and that's not what America (or any other country) should be about. Anyway, It was a good idea as judged by your responses but let's keep things in perspective. Are we really that starved for a hero? You know deep down that it was just a very poignant gesture by a politician. Actions speak louder than words (or symbolic gestures).
Perhaps.
But here is a DIFFERENT opinion, from "Saluting Bush", by George Caylor, at www.ontheRIGHTside.com:
Personally, bellagio_jo, I prefer Mr. Caylor's analysis to YOURS."...Now to today's subject. Have you noticed a difference in the salute given by our military men and women as President Bush walks by? Most folks would not notice anything, but military people see it right away. Watch: when President Bush leaves his helicopter or Air Force One, the honor guards salute and face him as he disembarks, then turn their faces towards him as he passes by.
They continue to salute his back as he walks away. This kind of salute has not been seen in the previous eight years, though it is customary courtesy to the Commander-in- Chief.
You see, soldiers aren't required to turn and face the President as they salute. They are not required to salute his back. They are only required to salute. They can remain face-forward the entire time. And that is what they did during Bill Clinton's entire Presidency. Our soldiers were forced to obey Clinton's orders, but they were not forced to respect him. From their salutes, we can surmise that they did not.
Why is such respect afforded to President Bush?
He doesn't even know how to bite his lower lip and get teary-eyed whenever he speaks!The following incident from Major General Van Antwerp may give us an insight.
Gen. Antwerp is president of the Officers' Christian Fellowship. He lost nearly all his staff when the Pentagon was attacked Sept.11. His executive officer LTC Brian Birdwell was badly burned and in the hospital when President Bush visited him. Our President spent time and prayed with Brian. As he was getting ready to leave, he went to the foot of Brian's bed and saluted. He held his salute until Brian was able to raise his burned and bandaged arm, ever so slowly, in return.
The Commander-in-Chief never initiates a salute, except in the case of a Congressional Medal of Honor winner. The injured soldier did not have to return the salute.
But he did, out of respect to his President - a Soldiers' President.
Congressman JC Watts (R. Oklahoma) said, "character is doing the right thing when nobody is looking."
The nation and world learned some of what our last President did when nobody was looking. That President has been disbarred this week - the worst disgrace (other than imprisonment) to a lawyer. CNN will have a difficult time shining his or his wife's tarnished images.
In this time of war and danger, I am so grateful to have a President whom the soldiers salute - fully."