Why the troops aren’t pleased with the President
The Washington Post seems a little upset at their polling data about how the troops aren’t very pleased with the President’s performance. According to Real Clear Politics, the Post’s poll says that 32% of folks who served in Iraq or Afghanistan approve of the job Obama is doing, compared with 65% who approved of George W. Bush’s performance. So the Post’s Jennifer Rubin, one of those conservatives (question mark) at the Post addresses what Obama can do to to improve his numbers;
We don’t know why their view of Obama is comparatively so negative. Maybe they believe his budget choices reflect that they are a lower priority than, say, universal pre-school. Perhaps, they see in his rush to remove all troops from Iraq, and possibly adopt the “zero option” for Afghanistan as well, that he lacks the will the retain the benefits they sacrificed to win. It could be that his wishy-washy approach to Syria or his unwillingness to deter aggressors like Vladimir Putin concerns them and makes the potential for hostilities even greater. Or it could be that, like my colleague Jackson Diehl, they understand that the president via his secretary of state “thanks to a profound misreading of the realities on the ground — was enabling the bad guys.”
Or, maybe, he shits on the troops at every turn. He has kept a bumbling moron on as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Maybe folks in the military believed him when he said he wanted the war in Afghanistan to be “won” and every chance that he ever had to “win”, he squandered the chance in favor of political expedience. Maybe it’s because he’s weakened our place in the world so badly that we’re a laughing stock. maybe because they know at some point, his inability to accept that American Exceptionalism was what kept us safe.
Maybe the military is tired of holding his umbrella.
I do agree with Rubin one her last point;
And finally, it is time to install a respected and capable secretary of defense with a competent national security team to exclude political hacks from national security decision-making and to become realistic about the state of the world.
Hagel is a buffoon who likes to make the politically-correct decision, rather than the effective decision. John Kerry is living out his dream from 1971, projecting his own worldview as our foreign policy. Joe Biden is a clown. Period. Between the three, the words “United States” are a global punchline. And toss the Joint Chiefs in that clown car, too.
The troops don’t like being pawns, they don’t like to be told that their tattoos make them ineffective, while Congress and the Administration cuts their training and their pay. They don’t like making sacrifices while the whole rest of the country doesn’t have to be uncomfortable one whit. Through the wars, they already saw that, so why is this administration so willing to let it happen to them again? Let, Hell, they’re mandating that the troops will suffer while admitting that illegal aliens deserve more from the government.
They understand sacrifice and service, maybe that’s why they don’t approve of the jet-setting President and his family.
Thanks to Chief Tango for the links.
Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Military issues
“We don’t know why their view of Obama is comparatively so negative.” If you don’t know, then why did you lay out the reasons so well?
The first comment from one of the Progressive posters at their blog says it all, from the Prog voter to the Prog pResident, “The troops are conservative. They are easily misled by patriotic speeches, flag waving, and breast beating by Republicans who would NEVER allow their own children to be put into harm’s way. Republicans like Bush and Cheney send other people’s kids off to die. For what? Profits for companies like Haliburton.” Fuck him and the horse he rode in on.
I think Cheney is a rat bastard too, but it doesn’t change the fact that Obama is doing nothing to put any strength behind his words of support for the troops. He is instead screwing the troops at every turn.
Why do you think Cheney is a rat bastard?
They oughta go say that to Senator McCain’s youngest son, who, for the record, was a damn good Marine with whom I had the distinct pleasure of serving. In the infantry, of all places. I’m pretty damned sure that counts as a Republican Senator’s son in harms way. We were in Iraq together.
Not that I’m a fan of hers, but Sarah Palin’s son did a year in Iraq with the AKNG.
He wasn’t in the AKNG. I served with him in the 1/25 SBCT. He was a darn good Infantryman.
Ask a litard sometime just how that works – “the military” is conservative because the Republicans won’t send their children to war. So the parents of “the military” are Democrats who mysteriously bred conservative children?
Libtards really do have defective brain function.
If the Progs ever do have a brain function, it certainly is defective.
I have trouble with calling ’em “Progs.”
What is “progressive” about clinging to a Nineteenth Century ideology that was conclusively proved flawed in the Twentieth? Seems reactionary and a little dimwitted to me.
“Liberal” doesn’t work well either, since they are not too keen on individual freedom.
Perhaps “Commie”?
Cordially,
Pat
BOHICA
“President” Ballrog, HUSSEIN, Sombrero, Fresh Prince of Bill Ayers, al-Chicago, Chocolate Jesus, B-Rock the Islamic Shock, Barky McTeleprompter, Wizard of Uhhs, BoBo the Clown, Oblahbla, Jug Ears, Saunas breach akimbo, Waffles The Clown, Borborygmos Hammerhiem, The Rainbow King, Bukkake O’Bunga, OBIGOT, El Jefe Chocholate, “Jace the Mindsculpter”, Hopey McChangeypants, Oyobi, Bonzo the Time Traveler, La Bamba yo’ Mamma, Samurai Kebab Nachos, Barackabeedoobeedoobeedo, Hussein-In-The-Membrane, Black Thunder, Dr. Utopia, Obamarambo, Fartbongo, II”
LMAO!!!
Chip what center are you at? I’m at MSFC…
Clasiffied…I can’t tell you…
(Psul of the Ballsack et al)
Nobody asked me … but I’m at ARC
–ghp
“President Mom Jeans”.
Chip, you left out bodaprez and jodaveep.
What about “B. Hussein 0bama”?
Dammit, I forgot “B-HO”!
STPO IT!! STOP IT!! I hurt a rib somehow today, and you’re making it worse, I’m laughing so hard.
I thought my “Obaomao” was clever, but I bow before the master.
How about Obamessiah?
This will certainly be answered by an editorial claiming (again) that the military only recruits the dumbest and dullest.
Never mind that there’s mountains of evidence to disprove that notion. It’s the same holier-than-thou mentality that back in 2008 proclaimed that people in certain parts of the country “cling to their Bibles and guns while voting against their best interests” (translation: against Obama and/or Hillary). Remember, serfs, it’s in your “best interests” to vote how we say you should, because we say so and, being liberals, we’re like, SOOOO much smarter than you! Alles en ordnung!
Anyone wonder if the Nobel Prize decision board is mulling over the mistake they made when they awarded this guy the Peace prize before he took office…especially after his track record in international politics?
Yeah, me neither.
“They understand sacrifice and service, maybe that’s why they don’t approve of the jet-setting President and his family.”
I wish I had the words to make a salient point to this post but Jonn has done so in Spades. His line I quoted, says it all to me.
Watch a video of the two visiting troops.
Not even close.
Obama is a photo op President. Bush still does more for the troops and the wounded and does not bring a gaggle of press with him. When Obama went to Dover he made sure every one knew it. Bush did it out of respect and no one knew he was there. He still goes to the airport to welcome home the troops. Obama uses them as props.That’s the difference.
It’s the Post’s new feature: “Rhetorical Question of the Day”
Fort Hood, Texas. A jihadist Major goes on a killing spree.
Obama: Takes him about a minute and a half to talk about it because he had to give “shout outs” to his friends.
Bush: Shows up at hospital without fanfare, talks to the wounded, leaves just as quietly.
Gee. That might just be one example of why the troops aren’t as eager to fellate President Boyfriend like the press is.
Serving a state that hates us.
I have always wondered why that didn’t translate to congress as well. I know congress has a low approval rating but that mostly stems from the fact that congress does the bulk of the work. Not everything they do is going to be liked, BUT they were the ones that write and approve laws. They are equals to the president.
Congress needs some of this. They are passing the laws, he’s signing them. In some way I hope vets organize this next election cycle a little bit better then they used to.
The lion had no courage
The scarecrow didn’t have a brain
the tinman didn’t have a heart
the Obamaman doesn’t have courage, a brain, a heart, balls or backbone.
any wonder why “the troops don’t like him”
2LT Sneederman(?) on “Enlisted” is more respected than the President
Why?
1 – There’s nothing in it for him, especially since he’s the lamest of lameducks.
2 – He doesn’t give a shit about anything unless it’s on his plate or in his closet.
3 – He’s a self-important, lazy, self-serving dilettante.
4 – He’s not even close to as clever as he thinks he is.
and 5) – Why should he give a fuck when he doesn’t really have to?
Top 5:
“you guys make a pretty good photo op.” – Pres Obama
Marines holding the umbrellas (http://cdn.washingtonexaminer.biz/cache/r620-916994827b31afbfed0225cbad98057b.jpg)
“I want to thank my Cabinet members and senior administration officials who participated today. I hear that Dr. Joe Medicine Crow (ph) was around, and so I want to give a shout out to that Congressional Medal of Honor winner. It’s good to see you.” – Pres Obama
“I had the great honor of seeing some of you because a comrade of yours, Jared Monti, was the first person who I was able to award the Medal of Honor to who actually came back and wasn’t receiving it posthumously.” – Pres Obama
“Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki confirmed Tuesday that the Obama administration is considering a controversial plan to make veterans pay for treatment of service-related injuries with private insurance.”
That about sums it up.
…”is considering a controversial plan to make veterans pay for treatment of service-related injuries with private insurance.”
Umm, my private insurance IS paying for my VA treatment due to my current classification.
“… to who actually came back and wasn’t recieving it posthumously.”
Hey, uhm, Obama? You know what “posthumous” means, right? I think we should be just a little alarmed if a posthumous award winner *did* come to the ceremony.
Good gawd man, he did more against troops in the first MONTH than most presidents did in their entire terms.
Anyone remember nearly strip-searching troops who came to view him in Iraq? How about, in the first 2 months, wanting to cut VA budget and support, until TAL and VFW stepped on him? or not supporting HELP in AFG as needed to quash Taliban early?
Troops can see weakness- quickly. Bowing to other world leaders? Wonder if he bowed last week on his visit to Saud again. Or did he just grovel.
Oh, how about, ON HIS INAUGURATION DAY, bucking every tradition for the last 60 years in showing vet support? Hell, I could go on for days. And barely scratch the surface.
I have one way he could READILY help his numbers- resigning. THAT would make him a ‘fave’ quite quickly.
How many think he’ll visit ONE VA center or troop once he’s out of office? Or that ANY would want him to?
Maybe they don’t like being props and political tools for a guy who repeatedly lies to them and fucks them over?
Or being told that they need to pay more for benefits while the man telling them they need to ‘do their share’ for cost cutting sends his wife and kids on vacations disguised as diplomacy?
Or having their benefits and training cut, while the civilian employees (who are already vastly overpaid vs. their private sector counterparts) don’t bare any hardship?
Or being used as a backdrop as he twists the knife in their backs?
No idea why they don’t like him. At all.
1% pay raise vs a 1.8% and the lower pay raise endorsed by Gen. Dempsey. Wow, when you have GOs backing the administration’s cutting your lively-hood, I wouldn’t be happy either. The whole scene reeks…
Or perhaps it’s that he can give an informed answer to the question: What does a cock taste like?
Pretty sure Dempsey is well acquainted with that particular flavor …
In their cases, it probably tastes like shit…
Anybody remember the 25% increases, mostly across the board IIRC, on all federal gimmes shortly after he took office?
Obama wouldn’t know leadership if it walked up and punched him in the nose.
“We don’t know why their view of Obama is so comparatively negative”
Well, it MIGHT help if you got your head out of your 4th point of contact and quit breathing your own intestinal fumes. Oh, and it would also help if you quit drinking the WaPo Libtard koolaid Bigot-Flavor-of-the-Month.
(I got so wrapped up I forgot this point).
Once you get your cranium out of your anal orifice and clear the air, you just MIGHT be able to save at least one of the two remaining brain cells left in your head.
I have a theory.
It isn’t going to war that pisses them off, it is going to war because their President is dumb. Going to war, with all that implies, should mean something more than, “I’m here because my President is an idiot.”
I don’t think that Obama is openly contemptuous of the military-unlike the vast majority of the left from whence he came. In fact, I think that he at least makes an effort to be respectful (which is not to say that he doesn’t make really dumb mistakes).
But it is clear that Obama really doesn’t understand military culture and that he doesn’t have a whole lot in common with most of us who fill out the ranks. Joe knows who really has his back and that’s why Obama is unpopular with those in the ranks.
“I am not going to balance the budget on the backs of veterans.” Meanwhile, back in the halls of injustice….
Maybe they are talking to the same “generals” who claim that Soldiers “understand” the pay and budget cuts.
By the way, here’s the link to what the they proclaim: http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/03/26/generals-say-troops-understand-need-for-pay-cuts.html?comp=7000023467940&rank=4
Granted, these are the same guys who get a 100+% pension when they retire because theirs would be so “small” if they had the same rules as the rest of us do for retirement pay.