The POTUS is a civilian, folks.

"RyanFrew" (ryanfrew)
09/24/2014 at 12:47 • Filed to: None

I'm sorry, guys. I know this isn't the place. But I went to Gawker on accident. This is not a political post - I would never publish something like that here. But ignorance drives me insane. Everyone has heard the story about Obama saluting with a coffee cup in his hand. Oops. Here's what you need to know. The President is under no obligation to salute. Ever. He is a civilian. I don't care that he is the Commander in Chief, that does not make him a member of the military. If you think it does, you are wrong. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (unrelated to this week's incident). The domain name in that URL is kind of obnoxious, but the article itself is great. Fun fact: Presidents did not start saluting until the Reagan administration. I just wish that people would do their research before getting all upset about something they don't know anything about. Further, if people are going to get upset, I wish it was about something worthwhile.

[/rant]

Sorry.

DISCUSSION (40)

CalzoneGolem > RyanFrew
09/24/2014 at 12:49

I hadn't heard about this before. I don't car about it anymore than I did before.

FKA-RacecaR > RyanFrew
09/24/2014 at 12:52

Further, if people are going to get upset, I wish it was about something worthwhile.

Kinja'd!!!

For Sweden > RyanFrew
09/24/2014 at 12:53

He has no obligation to salute, but if you're going to salute, do it right.

It's like putting a V8 in a Miata. You have no obligation to put a V8 in a Miata, but don't be stupid and put a Northstar in it.

BigBlock440 > RyanFrew
09/24/2014 at 12:54

The place you went is no more or less gawker than here is. It's a Jalopnik sub-blog, just like this one.

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > RyanFrew
09/24/2014 at 12:54

Here's the thing, you either salute correctly, or you don't do it at all.

His left had was empty (he appeared to be buttoning his jacket with it). He could have easily put the cup in his left hand and saluted with his right. Someone on Twitter had a great response to this.

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HammerheadFistpunch > RyanFrew
09/24/2014 at 12:55

good rant, interesting info. just an FYI, you are free to post political rants here on oppo if you want, just make sure to treat it as NSFW by tagging it and announcing it in the title so you ward off the type of attention you don't want and so people don't have the right to complain about not wanting to read political stuff on oppo.

Gamecat235 > For Sweden
09/24/2014 at 12:56

So... a Chevy 305 H.O. V8 then?

burntartichoke > RyanFrew
09/24/2014 at 12:57

I think this was the best response

Over the course of 20 years in the Navy, I've pretty much saluted with just about everything you can think of in my hand...thus confirming our status of pirates I suppose. ;)

http://gawker.com/over-the-cours…

Sweet Trav > For Sweden
09/24/2014 at 12:57

Id rather Northstar than a 305. lol

RyanFrew > For Sweden
09/24/2014 at 12:57

Haha, I half agree. Mostly I just enjoy the metaphor. Here's the thing. If you blow the motor in your Miata, have a Northstar lying around, and will lose your job if you can't drive to work...then, screw it, drop the Northstar in. It's not ideal, but you have more important things to worry about.

For Sweden > RyanFrew
09/24/2014 at 12:59

That would only make sense if the President had a muscle seizure and could not release his grasp on his mocca chai latte.

RyanFrew > BigBlock440
09/24/2014 at 12:59

I went to the actual Gawker.com. I'm aware they're all under one umbrella, but prefer the authors, audience, etc. here much more than Gawker.com. Unfortunately, misery enjoys company, so I selfishly dragged you guys down with me in this post.

For Sweden > Gamecat235
09/24/2014 at 13:00

A Rover V8.

T5Killer > RyanFrew
09/24/2014 at 13:01

I agree being former enlisted (US ARMY 15G) I have received more halfassed salutes returned by officers than this. Those were insulting, Obamas was not I don't see the outrage. As a Civilian he is not really bound by military customs and courtesies

Chairman Kaga > RyanFrew
09/24/2014 at 13:01

I get the outrage, because people these days are outraged to the point of rioting that Arby's changed the recipe for Horsey Sauce.

Based on the presidential biographies I've read (and, fine, many seasons of The West Wing), I know the president tends to have fairly friendly relationships with the military staff assigned to him. I honestly wouldn't be half surprised if he didn't say "Morning, guys," to the marines as he disembarked. Because he knows them. And as such he doesn't feel the need to be so damned formal all the time. Just a somewhat informed guess.

For Sweden > burntartichoke
09/24/2014 at 13:02

The terminal-seamen are getting mouthy again, eh?

PS9 > For Sweden
09/24/2014 at 13:03

Yeah, why pick the north star when theres great options like the 350 diesel!

For Sweden > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
09/24/2014 at 13:04

In before "but when I was an E-3 I did it all the time!"

burntartichoke > For Sweden
09/24/2014 at 13:04

Since when did they stop?

BigBlock440 > RyanFrew
09/24/2014 at 13:04

Sorry, I assumed you were talking about the FA article, I didn't know it happened in a gawker article also.

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > For Sweden
09/24/2014 at 13:08

Holding stuff in your left hand and saluting with your right hand = OK
Holding stuff in both hands and verbally greeting someone/acknowledging a salute = OK
Holding stuff in your right and and saluting with your right hand = bad juju
Left hand salutes are like Ass To Mouth, you never do it.

For Sweden > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
09/24/2014 at 13:10

Don't tell Gawker

RyanFrew > BigBlock440
09/24/2014 at 13:10

HamNo wrote a piece satirizing it. Haven't seen the FA post.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > For Sweden
09/24/2014 at 13:11

well yeah, the northstar would face the wrong direction!

For Sweden > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
09/24/2014 at 13:14

#COTD

BigBlock440 > RyanFrew
09/24/2014 at 13:16

Ah, just checked. Didn't know this was a recent "issue".

T5Killer > Sweet Trav
09/24/2014 at 13:17

I would rather have a Stock Miata motor vs a 305. LOL

Your boy, BJR > For Sweden
09/24/2014 at 13:18

UNF YES 4.4L S/C northstar miata please!

Sweet Trav > T5Killer
09/24/2014 at 13:21

I think they make about the same power LG4 only made like 160hp lol

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > RyanFrew
09/24/2014 at 13:24

So what your saying is that instead of just not saluting, he chose to be disrespectful? And copping out with "he's not in the Military..." He's been getting saluted and saluting back, as the Commander in Chief, for 6 years now. If you can't learn how to salute in less than a couple of days in any branch's training camp, you get your ass kicked. He's had more than enough time to learn to respect the tradition, he has just not considered it important enough. There is plenty enough already to upset about, and I agree that this is small, but I do feel that it offers a bit of insight as to what he thinks of the little people around him.

Crocket Bernet > CalzoneGolem
09/24/2014 at 13:25

It seems that we are in the "I couldn't give a fuck less minority."

Captain_Overboost > RyanFrew
09/24/2014 at 13:26

Just wait till he salutes with a copy of his birth certificate in his hand. Some people will really lose their shit.

CalzoneGolem > Crocket Bernet
09/24/2014 at 13:34

People just loved getting worked up about what some fucker is doing.

and 100 more > RyanFrew
09/24/2014 at 13:49

Agreed entirely!

Also, let's not forget that, like him or not, agree with him or not, he's been under some immense pressure of late, and the cup of coffee was likely about the only thing keeping him vertical.

Was it disrespectful? Maybe, yes. I can see the reason for calling it that.

Was it a friggin crime? No. I forget shit when I'm tired and/or stressed out, we all do. But considering that he just told Syria, "Yeah, we're gonna bomb shit inside your country, and you're gonna just accept it, get me?" and is now trying to justify it to the world (again - agree with his decisions or not), I dare say he's been under some pressure. This is not news; launching missles into Syria is news.

T5Killer > Sweet Trav
09/24/2014 at 13:49

Yeah those 305s were crap. A friend had a IROC Z with a TPI 305 and it was gutless and redlined at some absurdly low RPM.

Sweet Trav > T5Killer
09/24/2014 at 13:55

Mostly due to the long runner TPI system, the biggest problem with the 305 was the long stroke, small bore set up. undersquare = bad, which is why it took so long for the ford mod motors to gain traction as a viable performance engine.

GM also made another engine of similar displacement, the 302 found in early Camaros, it was the exact opposite, poor low end torque due to its short 3in stroke, but it would wind out to 7500-8000 rpm, no problem with a solid lifter camshaft.

RyanFrew > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits
09/24/2014 at 14:20

As mentioned by others, members of the military salute with something in their hand on a reasonable basis as well. Maybe this will make you feel better

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > RyanFrew
09/24/2014 at 14:51

Yep, having the pilot remind him he left that Marine hanging made me feel better. I like pilots. And yes, they will salute with something in their hand, as long as it's their left hand holding.

RyanFrew > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits
09/24/2014 at 14:55

LOL. He definitely got reminded. But he's human. Like I said, I'm not taking a stance on Obama here, but I know that was a good moment for that Marine, which is cool.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > RyanFrew
10/01/2014 at 21:04

When this non-issue blew up last week, I saw this photo posted in several places just to put things in perspective. As a vet, this doesn't bother me on bit; not sure why some got all wrapped around the axle over it.

Kinja'd!!!