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I just received this in an email from my Liberal Dad In-law

Subject: A Soldier's President. . . .
A Soldier's President. . . .

Whether you actually like George W. or not....the following provides some interesting thoughts and insights to his beliefs.

First, an observation. 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 those of us who have served in the military see it right away.

Next time, 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 the previous administration. Our soldiers were forced to obey his 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 not 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 almost 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." (my favorite quote of all time). The nation and world learned some of what our last President did when nobody was
looking. That President has been disbarred, 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. On "Special Report with Brit Hume," at the close of the show when they normally have some funny video clip, they showed President Bush and the First Lady on their way to Maine to leave
for Camp David for the weekend. As the video starts, the First Lady is leading the way into the helicopter with the spaniel dog on the leash, and the president is right behind her with the Scotty on the leash. As the First
Lady entered the chopper, the Marine at the gangway saluted and held his salute. The Scottie the president was walking decided it wanted to sit right when he got to the steps. The president pulled on its leash, but the stubborn Scottie persisted in sitting. The president bent down and
scooped up the pooch and entered Marine One. After he entered, the Marine cut his salute and returned to the position of attention. Moments later the President reemerged from the helicopter and out onto the steps. The
Marine was standing at attention, head and eyes straight ahead. The President leaned over and tapped him on the left arm. The startled Marine turned his body toward the President and received his returned salute!

I was so impressed by this true act of respect for our military people by our President! He really does get it. Most any other person of his stature would have just continued his journey, disregarding the neglected return
salute. Not George W. Bush. He is earning the respect of the military community, not expecting it -- as most have and would.

President George W. Bush. The man whose happy-go-lucky lifestyle led him to mediocre grades in college and an ill-fated oil venture, who mangled syntax, and whose speaking mis-steps became known as "Bushisms." He came within a hair's breadth of losing the election in November. Bush named Jesus Christ as Lord of his life on public TV. Not an oblique reference to being "born-again" or having a "life change." He actually said the un-PC-like
phrase, "Jesus Christ!"

On September 11, he was thrust into a position only known by the likes of Roosevelt, Churchill, Lincoln, and Washington. The weight of the world was on his shoulders, and the responsibility of a generation was on his soul.
So President George W. Bush walked to his seat at the front of the National Cathedral just three days after two of the most impressive symbols of American capitalism and prosperity virtually evaporated. When the history of this time is written, it will be acknowledged by friend and foe alike that President George W. Bush came of age in that cathedral and lifted a nation off its knees. In what was one of the most impressive exhibitions of self-control in presidential history, President George W. Bush was able
to deliver his remarks without losing his resolve, focus, or confidence. God's hand, which guided him through that sliver-thin election, now rested fully on him. As he walked back to his seat, the camera angle was appropriate.
He was virtually alone in the scene, alone in that massive place with God, just him and the Lord.

Back at his seat, George H. Bush reached over and took his son's hand. In that gesture his father seemed to say, "I wish I could do this for you, son, but I can't. You have to do this on your own." President George W. Bush squeezed back and gave him a look of peace that said, "I don't have
to do it alone, Dad. I've got Help". What a blessing to have a professing Christian as President.

Please take a moment after you read this to "pray for him". He truly does have the weight of the world on his shoulders. Pray that God will sustain him and give him wisdom and discernment in his decisions. Pray for his
protection and that of his family. And after you have prayed, send this to people on your e-mail list. Our President needs Christians, Democrats and Republicans alike, to be praying for him. As this makes the e-mail
rounds, eventually there could literally be millions of people praying for him, and for our Great Country....

Drove to Grand Rapids (320 miles) last week to augment the locals countering the protesting leftists, when President Bush spoke after the State of the Union address.

His motorcade turned up the street at the intersection we were at. His motorcade returned to this intersection on his way to another speech and turned left which put him right in front of us.

I held a 3x5 American flag 12' into the air in my left hand. I rendered the most respectful salute possible with my right hand as he passed by. I am a veteran and I am so grateful for this Commander in Chief.

This thread has been so wonderful to read, tonight - thanks go to all.

I'm also so, so proud of our President. He is such a fine man, with wonderful people surrounding him. We Americans are so fortunate to have all that we do, and such great heros, and leaders...which brings me to my tag line, which is in response to your posting, Mo1.

Nite all - God Bless! NordP