I don't know when the returning of a salute by the President started, but the thing is it has been done for quite some time now and is definitely the custom. In the scheme of things, will the half hearted salute with a latté in his hand bring down democracy as we know it? No. Is it disrespectful and is it just another example of how President Obama just seems to think of himself as above/beyond all the lowly mortals out there that he unfortunately has to maneuverer around? Yep, pretty much.

 

Let me put it another way. When I was in the Army, if our 2nd LT had passed me with a coffee in his right hand and given me a "coffee cup" salute, and Cpt. Warner, (the first Captain I served under) had seen him do that...he would have REAMED him a new one right there on the spot and had a discussion with him on saluting protocol and respect. If the lowliest lieutenant should be expected to do it correctly, should we expect anything less from our President?

I don't know when the returning of a salute by the President started, but the thing is it has been done for quite some time now and is definitely the custom. In the scheme of things, will the half hearted salute with a latté in his hand bring down democracy as we know it? No. Is it disrespectful and is it just another example of how President Obama just seems to think of himself as above/beyond all the lowly mortals out there that he unfortunately has to maneuverer around? Yep, pretty much.

 

Let me put it another way. When I was in the Army, if our 2nd LT had passed me with a coffee in his right hand and given me a "coffee cup" salute, and Cpt. Warner, (the first Captain I served under) had seen him do that...he would have REAMED him a new one right there on the spot and had a discussion with him on saluting protocol and respect. If the lowliest lieutenant should be expected to do it correctly, should we expect anything less from our President?

 

I am not a military person, but I definitely respect and support the military. I don't personally think it matters if the President salutes or not. I do think the president should explain why or why not he chooses to salute the military. If he chooses to do so, do it every time no matter what without Latte or Cell phone or dog. If he chooses not to do so, then explain that he doesn't salute due to the fact he is not a person that was in the military. Either way I would be okay with it.

snopes.com: Obama Cell Phone Salute

 

Interesting read and even more interesting picture of Bush

 

Now now, not the same at all. GW got confused and was simply saluting the dog.

Don't care for Bush's "dog carrying salute" either, both disrespectful to me. So, are we saying "your guy did it too" here and that makes it okay, or what?

 

 

:lol2: :lol2:

 

You should get to know Hatz a little bit better. That way when you say "your guy" to him you'll get the "guy" right.

Put me in the camp that says the President shouldn't be saluting back unless he is in uniform. He hasn't earned the right to salute. Saluting the military began because Reagan felt like he should. That's not a custom. That's a guilty conscience.

Put me in the camp that says the President shouldn't be saluting back unless he is in uniform. He hasn't earned the right to salute. Saluting the military began because Reagan felt like he should. That's not a custom. That's a guilty conscience.

 

Now THAT I would have no problem with. If you haven't served, then you don't have the privilege of returning a salute, no matter who you are. But, as far as receiving a salute, for better or worse the President is at the very top of the command chain as "Commander in Chief".

Don't care for Bush's "dog carrying salute" either, both disrespectful to me. So, are we saying "your guy did it too" here and that makes it okay, or what?

 

No. I'm asking was this the same scrutiny of other presidents. Obama has enough of a resume to be derided, I'm just wondering if this is big enough to warrant three pages if it didn't when other presidents failed to return a proper salute?

Now THAT I would have no problem with. If you haven't served, then you don't have the privilege of returning a salute, no matter who you are. But, as far as receiving a salute, for better or worse the President is at the very top of the command chain as "Commander in Chief".

 

Even though it isn't something that is required by any POTUS to do? People are getting fired up about something that the POTUS isn't even required to do.

Im guessing the military hates when he does salute because they have to do it back. And from what I read and hear, our military doesnt care to much for him.

Im guessing the military hates when he does salute because they have to do it back. And from what I read and hear, our military doesnt care to much for him.

 

 

Seems that way.

Put me in the camp that says the President shouldn't be saluting back unless he is in uniform. He hasn't earned the right to salute. Saluting the military began because Reagan felt like he should. That's not a custom. That's a guilty conscience.

 

How can the Commander-In-Chief not have earned the right when the title of CIC is bestowed upon him once he becomes POTUS? it's like saying the military doesn't have to follow his orders. Not true.

How can the Commander-In-Chief not have earned the right when the title of CIC is bestowed upon him once he becomes POTUS? it's like saying the military doesn't have to follow his orders. Not true.

 

I'm just passing on what some in the military say. Not my rules. I don't care if the POTUS salutes or not and I don't caught up in what is or isn't disrespectful. Spitting on a soldier is disrespectful. Not saluting when walking off of Marine One isn't.

BTW, has anybody noticed that we haven't had a President who was in the Active Military since the first George Bush? It seems like everyone prior to that (except maybe LBJ and FDR) were. Am I wrong on that? (BTW I know GWB was in the National Guard but I was speaking of active full time duty)

BTW, has anybody noticed that we haven't had a President who was in the Active Military since the first George Bush? It seems like everyone prior to that (except maybe LBJ and FDR) were. Am I wrong on that? (BTW I know GWB was in the National Guard but I was speaking of active full time duty)

 

Did Reagan & Carter serve?

BTW, has anybody noticed that we haven't had a President who was in the Active Military since the first George Bush? It seems like everyone prior to that (except maybe LBJ and FDR) were. Am I wrong on that? (BTW I know GWB was in the National Guard but I was speaking of active full time duty)

 

Johnson was in the Navy.