A tale of two Presidents, Or, Semper Fi vs. a “tepid response”
March 7th, 2009 - 4:01 am
Here we have an illuminating contrast: the United States Marines greeting President George W. Bush on Labor Day versus the Marines greeting President Obama at Camp Lejeune last week. Wild enthusiasm for “our Commander in Chief” vs. a restrained and skeptical politeness, what a newscaster described as the “mostly you would have to say tepid response.” What should we make of that?
I wondered how Barack was received at LeJeune when I heard the AP or ABC cut on radio. Now, I know.
Wonder how many thought: “You suck,” as they applauded.
It’s racism, of course.
I hope some of the military brass have the courage to resign when Obama guts the military and slashes defense spending.
It’s hard to respect a commander-in-chief who shows such contempt for the military.
As a former Marine, I can tell you, in the Corps, one earns respect, it isn’t granted by an election or rank.
ooh rah.
Respect is earned.
Obama does not respect our Warriors.
You know it.
I know it.
They know it.
I see what the problem is.
Mr. TP didn’t have his TelePrompter with him.
You know what is amazing?
It was a CNN talking head that pointed out that Mr. TP got a tepid response.
{Damn I wish I was a poet. There must be some gold in the TP-TelePrompter-tepid thing, but I don’t know how to dig it out.]
What should we make of it?
That the Marines are loyal, but not stupid.
Maybe they were ordered to stand that still.
Then again, they know who their friends are.
yeah, i posted this a week or so ago.
http://astuteblogger.blogspot.com/2009/03/bush-versus-obama-who-do-troops-love.html
it has a link to video – PLUS: several stills.
look at the still. maybe you’ll notice what i noticed; it’s something just as important as how thew troops relate to their Commander in Chief – MAYBE MORE IMPORTANT.
look how their Commander in Chief relates to them!
look at bush’s response to them versus obama’s response to them…
and i’ve checked this many times:
you can tell bush is very moved by the troops; he obviously respects them, LOVES THEM.
obama looks at them as if they were inconvenient.
I believe Occam’s Razor applies -
The Marines knew W. was “for them” and therefore they were “for him.”
They have no such faith in “O”.
Absolutely has to be racism. No other possible explanation.
I mean, did you see how many of those redneck black grunts were cheering W?
But doesn’t Obamao truly support the troops by getting them out of harm’s way and throwing a pile of cash at them for PTSD treatment? Isn’t that what being a Marine is: Walking away from a fight, ceding the field to the enemy and yielding to the soft, suffocating embrace of the therapeutic state.
Bush served. Barry never did. That says it all.
Funny how a band can actually make someone seem “smaller.” Standing before those men and women of action, Barry was six inches tall and scared to death.
The question is will the Marines stand with the President or the constitution when this crazed lunatic we are supposed to call our President starts trying to make us like Venezuela?
And before some really smart Ivy League sort comes by and assures me that Barack Hussein Obama is not heading that way you were the same punks who assured us that he would govern from the middle. He is heading directly to Socialism and to taking away our rights.
For a second all I could think of was: ‘What does Toilet Paper have to do with this?’
As a Marine, I certainly understand the change in reaction to the President, but it really does bode ill for our country that the military is willing to be so political. When I came in the military in the mid 80′s it was still considered improper to express a political preference in public or even when subordinate Marines were near. Nowadays political opinions are given quite freely. I’m not sure that’s a good thing. In fact, it’s a dangerous thing.
Yes, the troops loved Pres. Bush. In fairness, though, it’s very possible that at Pres. Obama’s speech, they had been called to attention before he entered. They were playing “Hail to the Chief” after all, so the event was treated with some formality. And, if I remember right (I think I saw the beginning of this speech as I was getting ready for work), they had the national Anthem sung right before his entrance… I remember thinking of the AAFES movie theaters, and wondered if Obama’s performance was going to stack up.
In fairness, the clips look like comparing apples to oranges. Obama’s visit has all the appearances of a much more formal ceremony. The Marines are standing at attention, as one would expect when the Commander in Chief enters the room. The playing of “Hail to the Chief,” the presence of high-ranking general officers, and even the flags and blue curtains, all indicate a much more formal, ceremonial situation than with President Bush (who was, it seems, dressed casually in a much more casual situation).
My only question is why the informality existed with Bush. It can’t simply be explained by the Marines’ greater affection for Bush (which I don’t doubt is real). Marines put discipline far above their personal preferences, even for a popular commander. I don’t doubt the affection for Bush was real. But even if they felt as much or more affection for Obama, if the circumstances called for Marines to stand silently at attention, well then that’s what they would do.
My background is Army, but the USMC vets above have it right – W. has the troops’ respect as a leader. He earned it by backing them and continually showing his concern and affection. There’s one other thing here, though – the troops know that W. wanted the same thing they do – victory, the only justifiable result for the incredible sacrifices they have made for us since 2001. Obama’s affection and enthusiasm for them and their mission is so far just lip service.
Obama is a jive turkey.
And the perfect seed for a military coup.
They knew that Bush risked his political life to back the surge when it was deeply unpopular to give them their best chance at winning in Iraq while Obama was elected on a platform that was at best indifferent to victory. Soldiers (and Marines) like a commander who leads them to victory not one who cuts and runs.
By the time a troop or Marine has done 6 months, they can size up a senior NCO or officer in about 10 minutes as being competent, capable, and worthy of putting their lives on the line with or for. By, six months they have ingrained BS detectors. They’ll respect the rank, but that is about it.
7. Larry Sheldon:
“I see what the problem is.
Mr. TP didn’t have his TelePrompter with him.”
Chavez tells Obama “Obama vaya a lavarse ese palto,” which translates to “Obama go wipe your ass!”
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/03/chavez-tells-obama-to-wash-his-ass.html
I have heard the phrase “the new greatest generation” applied to the men and women of todays military who have given and accomplished so much. I think that Bush understands. I think that Prez Obama doesn’t have a clue.
You know who loves Mr. Bush? Those 4500 soldiers who died on his watch in Iraq.
Rah rah, you jingoistic idiots.
btw, Roger, has the masterpiece from Encounter, Blacklisting Myself, been reviewed by anyone who wasn’t on PJs’ payroll?
Methinks not.
As a former Marine myself, having served in Iraq during the 2003 invasion, it’s shocking to me that we can elect a president who could not care less the history or sacrifices veterans make for our country.
According to Barry, he’s actually “surprised” at how well things have turned out in Iraq. Barry believes we fought for nothing – a “mistake” is what he called it.
Like “Former Marine” said; in the Corps, one earns respect, it isn’t granted. Obviously the Marines were ‘respectful’ to Barry, but you can tell by their enthusiasm how honored they were to see the man who ridiculed their sacrifices the previous six years.
They swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution – a document and an ideal that Mr. Obama finds ‘deficient’.
11. reliapundit:
yeah, i posted this a week or so ago.
http://astuteblogger.blogspot.com/2009/03/bush-versus-obama-who-do-troops-love.html
it has a link to video – PLUS: several stills.
look at the still. maybe you’ll notice what i noticed; it’s something just as important as how thew troops relate to their Commander in Chief – MAYBE MORE IMPORTANT.
look how their Commander in Chief relates to them!
look at bush’s response to them versus obama’s response to them…
and i’ve checked this many times:
you can tell bush is very moved by the troops; he obviously respects them, LOVES THEM.
obama looks at them as if they were inconvenient.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I noticed in the picture included of obama speaking to the troops – there were three black marines behind him. not one of them was smiling, or looking remotely excited. (reminds me of the “drivers license” expression.) Interesting, especially when you consider the pre-election military polls broken down by race had about 70% of blacks supporting the “o”.
I agree with what seems to be the general consensus concerning this video. However, aren’t members of the military required to snap to attention when Hail to the Chief is played? That would explain the lack of cheering and applause when B.O. entered. Is it childish that I laugh when I type the initials B.O. because i think he stinks?
Hearing Obama utter the words, “Semper Fi” is a filthy disgrace.
I am active duty, and I am a George Bush supporter all the way. Didn’t see either appearance in the video in person, but I think it’s important to point out that the environments for the two appearances contributed to the seeming disparate reception…Bush’s appearance was in Iraq, at Al Asad airbase, and was obviously planned to be “informal” from the start–you are much less “formal” in a combat zone. A morale visit by the Commander in Chief to a war zone will obviously elicit a better response than an obvious PR stunt at a base a few hours flight from DC.
Obama’s appearance was at Camp Lejeune, much more formal with Ruffles and Flourishes. A formal reception like this mandates the position of attention, no clapping or cheering whatsoever. From beginning to end, this was less a morale visit than a formal presentation.
Does it indicate less admiration for Obama versus Bush? Not necessarily, although I’m sure it’s true. I think what it indicates more so is poor planning and possibly some pretty crummy PR skills. And, unfortunately, a revival of the Clinton-era misunderstanding of the military by decision makers who have never served. I’m guessing they wanted to be formal to reinforce the fact that he’s the Commander in Chief, and not necessarily to increase morale. Good intentions, bad judgment. Had they made the visit more informal, you would probably see much more applause and cheering–although I would suspect not as much as for Bush.
Jake
A Marine can tell a shucker and a jiver any time!!!!
You have to have a pair to talk to the Marines.
He went there just to feel them out.He keeps trying
to impress the Military,but they are not falling for it.
Do you notice how many black marines they have in the background!
Every president except Obie pays tribute to Medal of Honor receipients. Every president except Obie treats the British PM with respect.
Obie believes all those MSM smooches on his naked butt a special design on his emperor gown. He expects the Brit PM to pay him tribute, and the Honorees to kiss his ring.
It is funny and embarrassing to give a set of movies to a blind man (blind in one eye, can hardly see in the other).
Okay, but come on. Anbar vs. Camp Lejeune? That’s not exactly an even comparison.
The question is who or what is Obama. When he has a teleprompter he is briliant; when he doesn’t have a teleprompter, he is a blithering idiot. We need to know who is in the teleprompter, the Wizard of ooze, maybe!
Yup. We’re SO looking forward to Obama squandering the gains we have made “for the promise of future negotiations”.
And just like Clinton, he’ll kick the foreign policy can down the road again. And in 4 years we’ll be called in again to save the team from anotehr 4th Quarter disaster.
“All this has happened before. And will happen again”
Which is precisely why Obama wants to gut the military. He understands full well that a military that remembers its’ oath to the Constitution will have no choice ultimately but to remove him when he starts acting Unconstitutionally.
Tough to say. I’m no Obama fan, but a surprise party in a combat zone is much more likely to generate excitement than a dress event back in the states.
To be fair the Obama thing looked a lot more formal. Different rules apply.
Others have noted that the Marines did not applaud during “Hail to the Chief” and assumed this is protocol. However, please note that ADM Mullen does applaud Mr. Obama’s entrance AND the Marines do not follow his example.
Greater formality? No doubt. But the author’s point still stands.
I doubt seriously that the average Marine, or Soldier, Sailor or Airman, has much enthusiasm for the President. President Obama has never made much of a secret of his dislike of the military. In the last administration, the Marine respected the person who was President. In this one they respect the office.
A personal viewpoint – As a veteran I’ve always felt a closer connection to a Prez who’s been there and done that than one who hasn’t. That might be a small part of what you’re seeing here.
Plus it’s difficult to fool GIs, they know a lightweight when they see one.
As former Army, on the one hand I’d tend to agree about the setting playing a role. On the other hand, we Veterans full well understand when we meet someone who really supports us, and when we’re playing scenery in a Dog-and-Pony show…
Wow, the snark and sneering that passes for military respect for a COC here… if you guys really cared about your leader and your country, and you felt that the President had the wrong idea about you, you’d deal with him like adult men and women deal with each other. Instead, you profess contempt for him as if he was your enemy, just because he’s a civilian and doesn’t know how to posture and demagogue for you like Bush did.
Well, folks, if you go to such lengths to show that civilians are your enemy, don’t be surprised if we believe you and act accordingly.
So what? The US isn’t a military dictatorship, and it shouldn’t be one.
1. Everyone who’s been in the fight knows that an insurgency fails when hope is lost & the enemy can no longer recruit. It was Barry, Code Pink, Daily Kos and NYT whose shrill declarations of failure, immorality, corruption, and illegitimacy gave rise to the worst of the violence. There is American and Iraqi blood on there hands.
2. Barry’s first meeting in a Hawaiian mess hall was a pathetic second lieutenant wanting to be ‘one of the guys’ because he knew he’d done nothing to earn their respect. He missed step one in being an officer: show the troops sincere respect for their hard work and competence, most by dong the hard work it takes to be a competent leader. Nothing in BO’s race-baiting, drugged academic counter culture projects any sense of self sacrifice or competence for the job of Commander In Chief.
Having twice sworn the Oath, once as an enlisted man and again as an officer, I think I might have an insight. You swear to defend and uphold the Constitution against all enemies, “foreign and domestic”. You then are confronted with a political environment where you have lost comrades who died to capture the very enemy combatants that your new commander-in-chief is contemplating releasing. And you wonder who gets to define what an “enemy” is. It used to be fairly straightforward who a “foreign” enemy is; not any more.
And worst, this new commander-in-chief wants to re-engineer your country in the image and likeness of European socialist governments. And you live with the growing realization that this commander-in-chief might consider your parents and your neighbors “domestic enemies”, and when he’s abandoned the foreign battleground, he might call you home to bear arms against your erstwhile countrymen.
Whether the grunt will give words to these concerns or not, those concerns certainly affect their response to the President.
I resigned my commission in the Army when clinton gutted the military. I knew I’d be RIF’d anyway (reduction in force) if I’d merely waited for it, but I resigned proactively as a matter of principle. Clinton “loathed” the military, and his harridan of a wife, who now is Obama’s right hand in diplomacy, wouldn’t even allow uniformed military in her presence. The writing on the wall was a bit hazier then; it’s crystal clear now.
You’d think with all those BS detectors in the Army with more than 6 months of experience, that one of them would have been able to know there were no WMD in Iraq.
Thank you TS (#28) for enlightening us as to the “real” thoughts of the soldiers and marines who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. And for your right to exploit their deaths for your own pathetic rants.
@speedwell Snark? On the one hand, I see men and women who have pledged their lives to defend the nation and its constitution. On the other hand, I see a commenter who thinks snark is a reasonable substitute for knowledge of the subject at hand.
Military people respect those who have earned it, or at least those who respect them back, regardless of whether they are civilians or not. Obama and his advisers repeatedly display the same obvious ambivalence towards the military that many of my own wonkish colleagues show. I see it almost every day.
I dislike the liberal fascist Obama greatly, but I’d point out that the two situations are not the same. In the Obama clips parade music is being played, and thus the Marines would have to fight the music in order to clap. Marines are respectful, and no one wants to clap over music anyway, so the responses MAY be muted here because of the music being played simultaneously.
Neverthelss, it’s quite possible that, in the absence of the music, the response would be as tepid. But this has not been shown by these videos.
#28 TS is not well informed, press did not cover Clintons death toll under his time in office- you can look it up, it is over 5,ooo soldiers killed. So get some facts TS.Google.
Warriors sign up, my husband told me when he signed up its in plain writing, you may be called to war. you may die. What are you prepared to do TS. Thank the Warriors.
“As a former Marine, I can tell you, in the Corps, one earns respect, it isn’t granted by an election or rank.”
You said this all correctly with one big exception—-there’s no such thing as a “former Marine”. And bless you for your sevice.
Semper Fi!
I’m retired Air Force–previously enlisted and officer. An announced visit by a sitting president is a presidential pain in the a$$ to any military unit. Surprize visits are OK and can be fun.
I wholeheartedly agree with the idea the the two events were completely different. O’s visit was a formal one – and the Marines (bless ‘em all) know a little something about formalities (and how much of a pain in the a$$ they can be (thanks for reminding us Ken in SC)).
Jim (#4) called for officer resignations, and I don’t support that. A commander doesn’t quit his troops over such things. When I worked in the Pentagon there was a rumor (never confirmed that I know of) that a whole bunch of generals and admirals tried to resign enmass as protest to Clinton’s budgets and the Secretary of Defense wouldn’t accept the enmass date and they ended up retiring in small spurts and the intended effect was completely lost, anyway.
As a member of the military, the two instances are not comparable. Not saying that President Obama would get anything like what President Bush got in Anbar, but when you play that little song, you got to the position of attention, sort of takes the bluster out of a response.
Speedwell: when you liberals have gone to such lengths to prove your contempt for the men and women who don the uniform and walk the posts — referring to them either as uneducated, child-like “victims” who only join because they can’t get a better job elsewhere, as Kerry and others have, or smearing them as bloodthirsty killers, as untold millions of you have done since your Vietnam-era “glory” days– don’t be surprised when those men and women in uniform don’t respect you. They’re smarter than you think, and despite liberals’ transparent protestations of “support,” they know who their friends really are — and who merely feasts on the fruits of their sacrifice while undermining them at every turn, like tapeworms.
And all I can say to the ignorant jerk calling himself ts is: you need to learn the distinction between “gall” and “guts.” There is one, as you’ll find out should you ever muster enough of the latter to repeat your idiotic blather to a soldier. Nobody here should be holding their breath waiting for it.
YouTube: “Revolution Now! Anonymous American Patriot God Bless”
I’m not a liberal–I’m merely someone who thinks respect should be mutual and earned.
Do I respect those who fought to protect my freedom? Hell, yes.
Do I think every single individual in the military personally fought to protect my freedom? Do I think every single individual in the military even believes in freedom, except as some abstract propaganda concept they don’t really understand? Do I think every single individual in the military believes that the freedom of every single civilian, whether liberal or conservative, whether religious or nonreligious, is equally worth preserving? Hell, NO.
THANK GOD MY MILITARY RETIREMENT LETTER from the President of The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS Signed By GEORGE W BUSH.
SEMPER FI,
S. GARCIA USMC/Army NAtional Guard (RETIRED)
I was against the war in Vietnam. I knew republican kids just like Bush kids; mot wanting to go to war…they got braces, got into college, got daddy to get them out of the military.
Obama, is somebody that did not want the war in Iraq….he saw it was a lie. “The Project for the New American Century” was the war machine. They sent letters to Bill Clinton regarding Iraq as the enemy, a failed regime, and a country that we should take over-signed by Rumsfeld, Cheney, Jeb Bush, and a bunch of other Neo Conservatives…Cheney-Haliburton behind the whole thing. Money, oil, money, oil, money, business, money.
I knew right away that this was a lie-in 2003.
The blaa response for the military is lackluster…because they know the truth, and they are still enlisted…This is equal to having to serve time in prison when you know you are innocent…So that is why.
I feel sorry for them don’t you.
Obama has compassion. So did Bill Clinton. Democrats aren’t whimps….they just don’t like war.
Republicans on the other hand, love to beat up the enemy, torture, and rape, and take no prisoners-yea! Where does Jesus fall in to this category?
The Old Testament-that is where it all comes from-not Jesus.
Take a good look at yourselves….The Christmas Carol. You guys are going to be visited by the past, present and future…Tonight!
Time for bed, “acj” ….mommy won’t be happy you’re still up and using her computer.The difference between Democrat and Republican presidents over the last 20 years is that the Republican presidents try and win their wars while the Dems try to lost theirs.BTW if the Republicans “take no prisoners-yea” what are all those terrorists doing in Gitmo ? Tell you what, “acj” , finish high school first and then come back and post here. See you in five years !
I’m a former Army enlisted man, and I’ve worked and served with Marines. They’re good people who can smell BS a mile away and have little tolerance for it; they’re also highly disciplined. As a civilian after I was discharged I worked a sales job and tried to pitch a Marine on my product. He stood respectfully at parade rest and spoke to me respectfully, in an even tone, and told me he wasn’t interested. He didn’t need to verbally tell me that–I pretty much knew it from his stance going into the pitch. We were both playing required roles, and both of us knew it.
Like I said, Marines are highly disciplined–they have to be to do what they do. A Marine will take an incredible amount of abuse and shrug it off–that’s pretty much what they have to do to become Marines. He’ll do it standing at attention with what looks like a blank expression on his face, but don’t misread either that stance or his expression.
The Marines have a saying that fits: “No better friend, no worse enemy”. Unleashed Marines have terrified enemies from the British to the Germans to the North Vietnamese. Those same Marines have aided and comforted disaster victims across the globe with the same skill and determination that they brought to bear when storming Iwo Jima or fighting off the Chinese at Chosin. They are warriors who can be both frightful and tender at the same time, and trust me–there’s no cognitive dissonance in that.
The Marines know who does and does not respect them. They know Obama does not respect them. But they also know that he is, at least for now, their commander. They will show him respect no matter what he does to them, but at the end of the day it behooves us to remember that these are Americans like us. At home or in the barracks they might think. “Jeez, what an ass!” but on the parade ground you will not see that. What you will see is a stone-faced Marine doing what Marines do–under fire or under the contempt of someone who has never given himself the priviledge of serving with those fine men and women.
This pretty much sums up all of our people in uniform–jarheads, grunts, squids, zoomies and coasties. Trust me, you will never collectively meet a better group of people, and pray that you’re not on the receiving end when they’re cut loose. Obama is a fool if he doesn’t appreciate those folks, and they know a fool when they see one
SPEEDWELL
#47
Your post/observation (?) is,quite possibly, the most asinine I have read on this site to date.
Its painfully obvious that you don’t have the balls to be a military man….probably just antoher metrosexual.
speedwell will be one of the first to scream for protection when his enemies arrive at his doorstep, while having no concept of those who previously died to allow even idiots to speak freely.
When under duress, be sure to leave this statement on your front pourch so the grunts and jarheads can pass you by……
THe men and women in our military have sworn an oath to uphold and protect the CONSTITUTION and not some half-wit commander-in-chief. It is the Constitution that is being assaulted by The Mistake.
Good scenario: If my boss were to ask me to do something illegal or unethical my allegence to him/her stops. I will not voliate my ethics to cover their problems.
Same goes for the Military, they are bond to the Constitution and not the President. He is just their boss. The Mistake is a bad one at that and the Marines know it.
God bless all who wear the uniform to defend even the liberal communists who are in charge of the White House and Congress.
May God destroy the Mistake’s administration!
78 % of all Marines Voted for McCain even though we were not Crazy over Him but compared to OBAMA We had no other Choice .
The reason it was only 78 % ? Most Black Marines Voted for the A-H !
Folks,
In the long run, it is probably not good to have a politicized military. As a retired officer, I am very conservative. I was not happy with Mr. Clinton as my President when I served and as a retired officer I am not happy with Obama either. But something inside me tells me I could regret my positions on this. Rome ceased to be a self governing republic because professional armies sided politically with one general or another because those generals took care of them rather than the state. While this is not Rome, how different is it when, over time, a professional officer corps or professional enlisted continue to prefer one party over another. Could it evolve into something more sinister than what it is now? I hope not for the Republic’s sake.
Rovin, There are is no such thing as an ex-marine. The term Former Marine is correct.
I served from 1963 to 1984. During this time, I served under 6 presidents. Things don’t change. For the majority, there were presidents we like and didn’t like. Kennedy we liked. Johnson we didn’t, Nixion was ok. Ford wasn’t president long enough, but for the most part he was ok. Carter sucked. Reagen was great. As for Obama, he IS NOT an honorable man. He pays lip service to the troops and has no intention of honoring his oath of office.
This country had better wakeup soon. Obama just doesn’t get it. More than 70% of “We the People” didn’t want the porkulus bill passed, but did he or the Congress listen? Not only “NO, but HELL NO!!!”
Ask yourselves, just who is it that the president and congress work for? The answer of course it “We the People”. They need to get it right or resign. The whole lot of them.
“Remember folks, Freedom isn’t Free. It was bought with the blood and sacrifice of the men and women who are serving and who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know.
Also remember folks, that the way to SUPPORT THE TROOPS is to support their mission. Anyone who says that they support the troops but don’t support their mission is lying about supporting the troops. And if you want to know, yes I do have a dog in the fight, he is a United States Marine.” – Me.
While I humbly stand corrected, and agree with you, the word “former” can mean something that elapsed into the past. And while I understand that when a Marine is no longer in active duty, they could be called “former Marines”, I still prefer to consider them Marines without the adjective, the greatest fighting force in U.S. history.
“65. acj:
I was against the war in Vietnam. I knew republican kids just like Bush kids; mot wanting to go to war…they got braces, got into college, got daddy to get them out of the military.”
Oh you mean like those “republican kids” bill clinton, bill ayers, and howard dean?
“Obama, is somebody that did not want the war in Iraq….he saw it was a lie.”
Oh, so the fact that Iraq was in material breach of it’s obligations under the U.N. was a lie? For 12 years they violated the cease fire agreement they they signed. When a cease fire agreement is violated, hostilities can resume at any time. This is EXACTLY what happened but hey, you treasoncrats were whining all the way up through 2002 saying how dangerous Iraq was:
“We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandated of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them.” Sen. Carl Levin (d, MI), Sept. 19, 2002.
“We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country.” Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.
“Iraq’s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power.” Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.
“We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.” Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002.
“The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons…” Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002.
“I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force– if necessary — to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security.” Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002.
“He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do.” Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002.
“76. k a 0 s:
There are is no such thing as an ex-marine. The term Former Marine is correct.”
Actually there is only one “Ex-Marine”, and he is John Murtha.
If you don’t stand behind OUR troops feel free to stand in front of them!
SentryDan #77 said it best…”For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know”
To the guy who said :Bush served, Obama didn’t. Bush DESERTED HIS POST. He got away with because Daddy, who REALLY DID serve and honorably, bailed him out to avoid disgracing their family ( habit of Dubya’s).
Obama is trying to end a war that has gone on too long for no reason; one that was started on false information from the vice president and the sec def. It has been a waste of American life, first, and also a waste of American investment that spent us right into this financial crisis.
We all stand behind out troops. We certainly should. Bringing them home to honor them and give them their lives back is the best way to prove it.
Woe is me (cry-cry) said republican who hinds behind the title Ex Marine. Who maybe served four years and clings to the title for life (Former Marine) … lol.
Hey guys, “Look at the response of the marines he-he – we all chuckled” … “The troop must not like the new President, they must have loved Bush” he-he. Is this the point you’re trying to make, if so the jarhead concept is alive.
Well I served this county too as a career serviceman, so tell your sob stories of patriotism… to someone who believes your partisan political, non- patriotic BS … If you served and you’re still Marine (in theory) then you still uphold your oath of enlistment, and if you forgot what that means; that is to support the office President of the United States and Congress, not try to under mind the leaders. If you don’t like it run for office, either way stop your adolescent whining! I’m ashamed that the Corp let you in, but even more pleased they let you out!
NOTE:
1. Using sleight of hand that would be sure to make Houdini green with envy, the Bush Administration has managed to turn a $128 billion surplus into a $490 billion deficit. Vote for us were conservative (smile)… Yeah Right! Mr. I voted with Bush 90% of the time.
2. The rise in the unemployment rate, economists expected the unemployment rate to be at an all time. Give me more Bush, Thanks!
3. We attacked a country that did not attack the US, US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,259 Don’t forget them Bush!
4. Tax cuts to the Richest of American… who has made obscene living off of our sweat… Thank you Bush for the crumbs…
And last but not least as of April 29, 2009 you’ll have 3 years, 255 days to win back the office of President and congress. Oh yeah I almost forgot good luck with change the minds of 66,882,230 Americans… but there is hope the margin of victory was only 8,538,559.00 VOTES! Again Good Luck!
SEMPER FI
Everyone that cant see through this is really slow…
Two completely different events here. One formal one informal. One probably around the beginning of the war and one after over 4000 troops have been killed and moral is extremely low.
Get a clue neocons!
I think this guy stated it perfectly!
ken in sc:
I’m retired Air Force–previously enlisted and officer. An announced visit by a sitting president is a presidential pain in the a$$ to any military unit. Surprise visits are OK and can be fun.