Presidents and the Salute

[Clyde]

First, lets file this under absolutely no big deal in the grand scheme of things.

 

I saw this picture of President Obama saluting a Marine. Rather weak. I've never been in the military but my dad was a Marine as well as a police officer so "squared away" is something I've always been around. If I were the President and did not have a military background I would get someone to train me on how to salute properly. It just looks a lot better and I think would garner some respect from military folk.

[UKMustangFan]

I'll be the one to ask....What's wrong with the way he's doing it? Can't say I'm familiar with the proper saluting technique.

[rockmom]

I sure hope that he's not asked to do the Girl Scout pledge. Heaven's to Betsy!

 

Clyde...I'm sorry....but...really...????

[Clyde]

I'll be the one to ask....What's wrong with the way he's doing it? Can't say I'm familiar with the proper saluting technique.

 

See the Marine's salute.

[Clyde]

I sure hope that he's not asked to do the Girl Scout pledge. Heaven's to Betsy!

 

Clyde...I'm sorry....but...really...????

 

Hey now. I qualified this with my very first sentence as "no big deal." However, I like a man or woman who knows how to salute properly. Will it alter the outcome of terrorism? Nope. Will it fix the economy? Nope.

 

It would just look more presidential.

[Zoot Soup]

I think he's just trying to block the sun from his eyes.

[Clyde]

I think he's just trying to block the sun from his eyes.

 

Or he has a headache.

[Zoot Soup]

Where did he learn to salute like that? I feel like any kid from the age of 5+ knows how to properly salute.

[All Blue]

Looks to me like he is wondering, did I turn the lights off in my office before I left.

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

I'll be the one to ask....What's wrong with the way he's doing it? Can't say I'm familiar with the proper saluting technique.

 

My grandfather taught me (and all of my cousins) to salute "properly": Palm stays flat and fingers are extended out straight and held together. Upper arm projects out at a 90 degree angle to your body, and your elbow should bend, accordingly, to about 45 degrees when you bring your hand up to the edge of your brow line.

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

First, lets file this under absolutely no big deal in the grand scheme of things.

 

I saw this picture of President Obama saluting a Marine. Rather weak. I've never been in the military but my dad was a Marine as well as a police officer so "squared away" is something I've always been around. If I were the President and did not have a military background I would get someone to train me on how to salute properly. It just looks a lot better and I think would garner some respect from military folk.

 

Exactly...it's not like he doesn't have any of about a hundred military contacts whom he runs into on a day-to-day basis that he could ask for a couple quick pointers.

[Trinity alum]

It doesn't look too out of line compared to previous presidents. Better than some.

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://kenfitlike.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/reagan_salute_1984.jpg&imgrefurl=http://kenfitlike.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/presidential-salutes/&usg=__DrfzVq5Eji1FmQ5onBOFrk7CQQo=&h=323&w=400&sz=17&hl=en&start=12&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=aQefblkPYcTPoM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpresidential%2Bsalutes%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26tbs%3Disch:1

[Clyde]

It doesn't look too out of line compared to previous presidents. Better than some.

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://kenfitlike.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/reagan_salute_1984.jpg&imgrefurl=http://kenfitlike.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/presidential-salutes/&usg=__DrfzVq5Eji1FmQ5onBOFrk7CQQo=&h=323&w=400&sz=17&hl=en&start=12&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=aQefblkPYcTPoM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpresidential%2Bsalutes%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26tbs%3Disch:1

 

The first one in the link is President Obama with a much better salute. Don't get lazy, Mr. President.

[Trinity alum]

The first one in the link is President Obama with a much better salute. Don't get lazy, Mr. President.

 

I don't think it is lazy. When I googled presidential salutes I found a lot of pictures. In formal settings most of them were very good. The picture of President Obama in the link is receiving caskets at Dover. That requires a very formal salute if one is given at all. In less formal settings all of the Presidents were more relaxed. I have seen old newsreels of Ike returning salutes. Alot of them looked very much like the salutes the presidents give. I'm not sure that the presidents should salute at all, but if they do, I'm don't think they should look like a private saluting a general.

[True blue (and gold)]

It's really hard to tell where he was in the salute in a still frame photo. To me, it looks like he is coming out of the salute. Photos are difficult to judge for a variety of reasons.