HoodaThunk?

Comment from valerie harrison
Time December 26, 2008 at 23:35

well, there’s no accounting for taste. i wish he’d make a surprise visit to his wife’s old job at the u of c on the night shift. he and the press core would see what high regard we south siders have for him. and as for the lackluster troops: everyone and everything is a mixed blessing so take the best and leave the rest. vh

Comment from Fercryinoutloud
Time December 27, 2008 at 00:55

Press “Corps” you moron,
Must be a teacher at UC, a janitor would have known how to spell Corps

Comment from Taniwha
Time December 27, 2008 at 08:05

I don’t think ‘lackluster’ means what she thinks it means, either.

Comment from Native Floridian
Time December 27, 2008 at 09:32

God bless our troops, true respect must be earned not given, bought or forced. Our military troops from the past and present know nothing is “free”, there’s a price on everything. Merry Christmas, with Christmas trees, mom and dad, English, and true American family traditions!

Comment from Julia
Time December 27, 2008 at 10:52

We are establishing new ===Guinness World Record=== Be a PART OF IT here: http://record-guinness.blogspot.com

Comment from Luke
Time December 27, 2008 at 11:16

Does anyone really think these visits are surprises? Anywhere the president or president elect goes is carefully checked and prepared ahead of time. Bush orders the troops to cheer him, Obama says to let them go about their business so he can talk to the troops like people. Sounds like Obama doesn’t have the ego problem that Bush does.

Comment from Mark
Time December 27, 2008 at 11:26

The troops happen to have great respect for Bush. Media didn’t show the great cheers during the last visit, just the shoe toss. We don’t want to leave, we want to finish. Mark

Comment from Ivette
Time December 27, 2008 at 12:03

I disagree with comments from Native Floridian. In most cases respect certainly be earned. That is NOT the case within the military. You are trained to stand, salute, and give proper respect to any ranking officer when they enter the room, especially the Commander-in-Chief. Your personal like or dislike does not matter. Since when do soldiers establish policy? and if that becomes a problem, then at re-enlistment time, don’t “remain silent;” just don’t raise your right hand. That one disrespectful act revealed more about the military personnel and their families than it did about the President. By the way, I am a former military spouse, and I understand the sacrifice of our military; however, this type of disrespect is never proper regardless of your personal feelings.

Comment from Elise
Time December 27, 2008 at 12:33

Comment for Luke. You can hate Bush all you want, time will tell if your new hero will find any respect from the troops. He has to prove himself and right now he hasn’t. He doesn’t have a clue what they are going through either. Bush has and continues to have their respect. No ego involved here, just fact.

Comment from Robert
Time December 27, 2008 at 12:39

In reply to Ivette. There was no need for the troops to stand when He entered the room. Right now He is just a senator from Illinois. They should not stand or salute Him until He is sworn into office. I am a former sailor and I think they acted correctly. They didn’t show any thing disrepectful in any way shape or form.

Comment from Shawn
Time December 27, 2008 at 13:00

@Ivette:

I think you are confusing obedience and respect. I have sworn an oath to obey the orders of the President, but nowhere in the oath does it say I have to like or respect him. Respect, no matter who you are, is something that can be earned and lost. For many in the military, respect for Obama is something that is not yet earned, especially since Obama has never served a day in the military.

Also, they were in a chow hall. In most branches, while indoors, it is against custom and courtesy to salute anyone indoors unless it is an official ceremony, or one is reporting directly to that officer. In some places such as operational environments, administrative offices, and even chow halls the rules for even standing to attention when an officer enters are different than anywhere else.

Further, as far as I am aware, Obama is not an Officer, nor is he the President. Rendering him the courtesy of either would, in my opinion, be disrespectful to those who hold either of those positions.

Comment from Wilson Clyde
Time December 27, 2008 at 13:03

He is not the Commander-in-Chief YET. At this point he is just another Senator and a President-elect in waiting. I am sure that the press corps arrived long before he did so they could capture the “surprise” visit.

I am sure the troops were more concerned about spending time with their families and each other during the Christmas Season than with “just another Senator probably on a taxpayer paid visit”.

Once he is sworn into office,I am sure the proper respect will be shown, if earned and deserved.

Comment from Splattone
Time December 27, 2008 at 13:05

Obama is NOT the commander-in-chief yet people. He has to be sworn in as president first. The service men and women who didn’t stand and salute were VERY correct in not doing so.

Comment from Pendo
Time December 27, 2008 at 13:10

Correct. Considering he is still just the senator of Illinois, like Robert said, it was not disrespectful for them to not stand, salute, or clap. He was just a normal man in that room on that day, and deserved no sort of special treatment. Now when he is fully in office on January 20th I’m sure he’ll get more respect, but for now he must earn it before he gets the army to respect him. I have no respect for Barrack Obama, and if he wants my respect he will have to earn it. But right now all of my respect is split between our troops and George W. Bush.

Southern Thirteen Year Old,
Pendo

Comment from Shawn
Time December 27, 2008 at 13:43

Let’s just be clear. I, as well as every other member of the United States’ armed forces have the utmost respect and loyalty towards the office of the President of the United States of America, but to the man only obedience is required. If Obama proves the he possesses leadership then respect will follow since leadership is defined as, “the art of influencing and directing people that will win the obedience, confidence, respect, and loyal cooperation in achieving a common objective.” He may possess these attributes in the political arena, but when it comes to leading men and women in the profession of arms there is a difference.

George Bush has earned my respect. He has at the moral fortitude to stand on principles, not because they are popular or easy, but because it is the right thing to do. Whether or not his decisions have been the best or the worst he is the kind of person that I aspire to be like.

Comment from jameslanderson
Time December 27, 2008 at 13:49

Having read y’alls comments, I, also, am a veteran of 12 years of service. The confusion here is not a case of showing respect. It is a clear case of protocol. Question one would be weather or not, prior to Senator Obama’s entering the dining facility, did anyone enter before him and call the room to attention, as is protocol. Those Marines and Saliors were correct in their action. End of question!

Comment from Cherry Walker
Time December 27, 2008 at 14:29

He’s not even a Senator any longer. He resigned his post remember? That’s why Blago is in deep doo doo for trying to sell of the position.
I would not have stood up either! He has to earn the respect of the men and women who are out there every day defending our constitutional rights. From what I can see he wipes his b#$t with the constitution.

Comment from madmonq
Time December 27, 2008 at 17:53

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4A441P20081105?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

“I’m excited. He’s going to be president and he’s going to pull us from over here,” said Sergeant First Class Norman Brown.

“If McCain had won we’d be over here for years, and I mean years and years. I reckon even people here don’t want us here.”

They’ll be f-ing deliriously happy to be home no matter how it appears they feel about Obama.

Comment from cmgrayson
Time December 27, 2008 at 18:13

Ivette is right. I am former military. You are trained to respect the commander in chief – whether or not you like him/her or agree with his/her politics. This training doesn’t stop when you leave the military. The military will show President-Elect Obama the same respect that they show President Bush.

Comment from cmgrayson
Time December 27, 2008 at 18:34

And if he is not an officer or the commander in chief, there is no need to stand when he enters the room – unless you have been ordered to do so by an officer.

Comment from cmgrayson
Time December 27, 2008 at 21:15

Cherry, explain how Obama wipes his B#$t with the constitution. I would like to hear it.