Obama at Dover AFB
 

My blood pressure has always been on the low side according to medical personnel that know more about that sort of thing then I do. Within the confines of my own twisted analysis and logic, I attribute my modestly laid back personality, patient nature, general tolerance and slow to anger tendencies to my low blood pressure. Nothing in that self analysis is meant to suggest I have been a choirboy.

Obama, in his recent mission to Dover AFB, has succeeded in exercising my self restraint more than anything I can recall in recent history. No defense of his conduct will penetrate my intransient position in this matter.

Obama talks about his attendance at this emotional and final return of American heroes to their homeland with eloquent words like "solemn" and "dignity". Indeed both terms are appropriate. It's too bad Obama demeans them and the fallen with his action. Presidents before Obama including the maligned George Bush paid tribute quietly, without press releases, photo ops and exploitation of gallant heroes and their families, who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of their country. The NYT called GW's ban on such press coverage a cover-up.

Mr. Obama took his press pool with him and hawked families for photo-ops. The posed picture of the Obama salute continues to make the issue about Obama not our fallen soldiers or their families. It is reprehensible. I am convinced more than ever my President is a narcissistic, egocentric and dangerous individual. His conduct, if only from my perspective, is unforgivable.

God bless our returning heroes and their families.

Obama is a 24/7 campaigner.....EVERYTHING
 

is a calculated tactic for what ever the objective at hand happens to be....usually getting as many of we the people to buy into him appearing to be doing the right thing.

I agree the emphasis should have been on the returning heros....it was played the same way on NBC last night and during the day. It could have been reversed with the fallen troops being honored and oh by the way Obama was there too.

I wish I could believe it was more than political motivation...but he is a politician first and foremost. One that is looking in all corners to regain some of his lost support and ratings.....unfortunately.

GOD bless the troops.....that is what matters.

btk

Actually , I would love to disagree with you and would have because saluting the fallen is a wonderful thing, but when I found out about the staging and making it a photo op that did it for me also !

Seems everytime I want to give this guy some kind of break he shows who he really is and who is controlling him.

I recall the much maligned President Bush visiting troops at Bethesda and you didnt find out until a few days later.

And to your point, as I understand it, only ONE of the fifteen families went along with the photo op !

...nothing more than another photo op to Obama.

He doesn't have a clue about leadership and couldn't earn the respect of any military man or woman I have known in my 26 years in uniform.

What a bunch. In Canada when a fallen Soldier comes home whether it is one or more, Government Officials, Prime Minister, and Families meet the incoming Air Forces Plane at Trenton, Ontario where they pay respects to the fallen Soldier. Then a motorcade leaves the Base and drives the Highway of Heros to Toronto for the flight to the home base. Along the Highway for over 100 miles at every highway overpass there are crowds of people with Canadian Flags, paying respect. In the crowd are Firemen with their trucks, Policemen with their uniforms on standing at attention and saluting the Hearse as it passes.
God Bless all the Forces whether American, Canadians, British or whoever.

Why criticize your President for show Respect and Thanks on behalf of all Americans.

Wake Up!!

NOBODY...NOBODY...IF YOU WOULD JUST READ is criticizing President Obama for any such thing as you charge !!!! Where did you get that idea ?

What you describe in Canada is neat...it has not happened here...the criticism is the press corps being dragged along for what was called a private moment and a clue should be that all but ONE family refused to participate ! They knew they were being used for a photo op.

Fact is...I said in MY post..."Actually , I would love to disagree with you and would have because saluting the fallen is a wonderful thing, but when I found out about the staging and making it a photo op that did it for me also !"

I cannot speak for any others but my instinct tells me that the CRITICISM that you dont understand is for making this into a photo op !

The Press and TV Cameras are present when the Canadian Soldiers are brought home. Some people are unable to be present for the ceremony and by reading or seeing the event on TV gives them a little chance to view and pay their respects in their own way. Not photo ops as you suggest.

American Viet Nam casualties - 39,587
Canadian Viet Nam casualties - 110

American casualties in Iraq - 4,270
Canada did not join the coalition of the willing in Iraq. 40-50 military personnel mostly pilots, flew combat missions with the US Air Force. I am not aware of any Canadian casualties.

This does not diminish the loss of any Canadian lives in combat including Afghanistan. Your articulate infatuation with Canadian traditions is commendable not withstanding your insulting "Wake Up" admonition. However, I believe you are an intelligent poster who would be insulted if I tried to explain to you the practical implications of adopting Canadian traditions given the above statistics. The facts seem to make the premise of your argument absurd at so many levels.

I support unconditionally American traditions of respect, dignity, privacy and exploitation free honoring of our fallen without apology to anyone.

In Canada !!!

Why are you using that as a basis for this discussion which has nothing to do with Canada ?

Because u are suggesting that at Dover it was only for an photo op, and I disagree with your view, and, you in return disagree with mine. So this makes for healthy discussion, doesn't it??

I was simply confused when I posted that NOBODY was criticizing the President for honoring the troops, but using it and setting up a photo op that you responded by talking about Canada again.

I DO NOT DISAGREE with what you posted....I respect whatever is done to honor fallen heros, but the subject here has nothing to do with Canada...OR....with honoring the troops. It has to do with using a stiuation for a photo op and if you think that is ok, that is your right !

What is done in Canada has NOTHING to do with this particular discussion !

Have a nice evening !

Omg!
 

Wow! What a twisted thread this one is!!! President Obama is news. No matter where he goes or what he does, the cameras will find him. Our fallen hero's should be shown coming home to be laid to rest. I thought it was shameful that Bush stopped all coverage of this. When you see the bodies coming home, it's real. Bush wanted to sweep his mistakes under the carpet.
This war mentality is disgusting!

I applaud President Obama for bringing this to light again. I saw the video of how Canada respects the caskets coming home. Cabo, you are not aware of any Canadian casualties??? Really??? Oh, it's that "it's all about me" mentality again. Well watch this video. We should be doing the same! Shame on all of you that criticize President Obama for caring.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbCg1uf6XB8[/ame]

Chels, I posted, "Canada did not join the coalition of the willing in Iraq. 40-50military personnel mostly pilots, flew combat missions with the US Air Force. I am not aware of any Canadian casualties."

"This does not diminish the loss of any Canadian lives in combat including Afghanistan. "

What are you talking about?

Did you not understand "I tried to explain to you the practical implications of adopting Canadian traditions given the above statistics. The facts seem to make the premise of your argument absurd at so many levels."

It is difficult to debate you when you contrive and manufacture "windmills" and distort statements of others to fit your argument.

Shows you the level of cynicism doesn’t it. The first thing I thought of when I saw Brian Williams reporting on this (with all of the reverence in the world) is, “Gee, he sure needs a bump in the polls. I guess he expects this photo op to help his numbers.” Secondly, I thought, “I wonder how this would be reported if George W. Bush did this? I think I know.”

“I wonder how this would be reported if George W. Bush did this? I think I know.”

...But he didn't. And how exactly does that play with the Obama photo op? It doesn't. This thread deals with an act by Obama. No one else. And I for one agree with the premise that the Administration carefully orchestrated this for the sole benefit of O's image.

Fourpar-
I think I said that it was my rather cynical reaction to watching the newscast. Gosh, I really think the comment is on point. Was yours (not that it matters)?

Bush was criticized for not allowing the press at the return of soldier's remains. Obama is criticized for allowing it.

"There's no pleasing some people"
- Brian Cohen, "Life of Brian"

Big difference in motiivation. Bush did not bring the White House press pool including photographers with him. Bush did not hawk survivors for photo-ops that made the President the story instead of fallen heroes. Bush also visited with wounded vets, quietly without press ops, in hospitals sans press pool. I did not entirely support Bush's policies but the respect, dignity and unconditional support he gave our troops, returning heroes and vets earn him high marks and made him a class act in this regard. The other guy is all "act"...no class.

"The megalomaniac differs from the narcissist by the fact that he wishes to be powerful rather than charming, and seeks to be feared rather than loved. To this type belong many lunatics and most of the great men of history".

-Bertrand Russell

you are wrong
 

OBAMA DOESN'T GIVE A RATS ASS about our military. He has met with our head commander in Afghanistan once in over 6 months as Pres. I think it is wonderful what Canada does to show respect for their soldiers. I know every soldier in NW Indiana is shown great respect upon their return.
We were talking about OBAMA looking for a photo op.

"Big difference in motivation"- Bucco. "OBAMA DOESN'T GIVE A RATS ASS about our military"-Jurek.

Canada wasn't part of the "Coalition of the Willing"

I aplogize profusely - I did not realize that Bucco, Cabo & Jurek, to mention a few had such great powers of insight as to cull intention with just a moment's thought.

Coalition of the willing? Please the "willing" were those who were mislead by faulty and manipulated intelligence, or were bought and paid for by U.S. aid. Bravo to Canada, France and Germany for having the courage and the intelligence to NOT get involved in the wrong war at the wrong time.

Fortunately, President Obama and cabinet are restoring the total destruction of international respect for America. Their excuse for foreign policy caused by the neo-con cowboys (all of whom were draft dodgers) caused us to be a pariah in the free world, and an accellerant on groups that hate our democratic and captialist systems.

Well Said PT.
Canada chose to fight in Afghanistan where the Terrorists of 9/11 were.

AS YOU ALWAYS DO...you go right for the nasty stuff, but I find it interesting that you feel compelled to mention me as someone who has professed some sort of insight. What you are saying I am professing on here my opinion.

Somehow you feel that YOUR opinion is a profession of the truth as if you had some sort of visitation !

Oh, and by the way, NOTHING YOU REPEATED WAS EVER SAID BY ME, although you mention me in your rant...your hate is such that you just throw the stone and then hope it hits and hurts someone.

Someday grow up...get rid of the profound hate that you always exhibit on here. You manifest such hate for anything that is not Obama it is flat out scary and especially, please stop attributing quotes to me that are not mine !

If OBAMA was worried about the troops in Afghanistan he would respond to the request of sending more troops and talk to his generals over there. Instead he is more worried his approval rating is dropping .

Omg!
 

Bush wanted our fallen young soldiers hidden because he knew this was a mistake from the onset. He was finishing Daddy's war, with no provocation.
Lest we forget, he's had a lot of practice hiding skeletons in the closet.

Again, I applaud President Obama for bringing this to light and making it real.
BTW, there are only about 100 Al Qaeda left in Afghanistan, so I would love to have him pull out our troops all together.

The minority report.......
 

is noted!

btk

One thing that I think this photo op says is that President Obama knows how to campaign. Whether or not he knows how to govern is still an open question. I have my doubts.