"I want to see what book Obama swears in on."

[riverdeep]

No one is supposed to talk bad about the military; they're over there so the bad guys don't come over here, so the story goes. Well, I don't know if pointing out cluelessness on the part of some people in the military would be considered 'talking bad', but with that risk in mind, here goes.

Here's some excerpts of quotes from military officers stationed in Afghanistan during election night.

"I want to see what book Obama swears in on."

"I take (Obama's) not wearing the flag on his lapel and his reasoning very personally. Fuck him."

"But this is the wrong guy for the job, and the wrong time for our country. He's weak."

"The greatest fear for a military officer is dedicating your life to a fight that ends up meaning nothing...Now those friends that I buried will have died for nothing. All Obama wants to do is get us out."

("The Other Side of Paradise")
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-kesterson/the-other-side-of-paradis_b_141677.html

The military supporting Republicans has always seemed to me like cows supporting butchers. They were the ones who sent you in without body armor, in insufficient numbers, and didn't give a damn when you came home, etc.

[Librerin_114]

1. You should....

...have to swear in upon whatever holy scriptures you hold to be yours. Either that or the Constitution...idk...interesting point

[riverdeep]

2. The point is, the guy thinks he's a Muslim. n/t

[JohnnyRingo]

3. Where would he get an idea like that?

Hmmmmm.
Maybe we need to see a new monument in Washington DC. Huge letters that read "He's not a freakin' Muslim".

[billyoc]

4. ...

[aquart]

5. As are a fair number of our soldiers.

[gollygee]

23. Yes, they think he's a Muslim AND they don't like the preacher at his Christian church

They know he isn't a Muslim if they know he goes to a Christian church. They're just trying to stir up shit.

The bigger question is why a Muslim couldn't be president.

[plaintiff]

38. Remember McSame's comment, "He's not an Arab, he's a decent family man"

:eyes:

[Indenturedebtor]

32. Good. Now that the elections over I hope Obama stands up and says

"All you people who care whether or not I'm a Muslim are complete and total hatefilled idiots. BOOO!"

To hell with these idiots and their hate.

[surrealAmerican]

20. Even though this isn't the point of the OP, ...

... I think the president should be sworn in with his hand on the constitution, since that is the document he is swearing to uphold.

[gollygee]

24. Bush's hand would have burned

LOL

[billyoc]

6. I never said good things about the military when I was in it, I damn sure ain't gonna start now.

Remind me again why the troops shoot these guys.

[riverdeep]

7. Just for clarity, are you talking about 'friendly fire'?

edit: Looked it up, the correct term is 'fragging'- soldiers shooting their commanders.

[riverdale]

26. Awesome quote

"I never said good things about the military when I was in it, I damn sure ain't gonna start now."

Pretty much applies to me as well.

[leftofcool]

8. Probably Harry Potter

Which makes just about as much sense as any holy book

[billyoc]

9. That would RULE!

:rofl:

[Smith_3]

16. Oh, come on now.

Harry Potter is MUCH more entertaining than the bible.

[Librerin_114]

45. Well...

...to millions of teary-eyed tweens across the world...it might as well be the bible...

[Loudmxr]

10. Th Jefferson's Koran just to see Denis Prager's head explode.

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

19. Injecting a juvenille comment.

If you change the letters a little, his name is 'Penis Dragger'.

Meh, it made my day a little better.

[bowens43]

11. I can't think of anyones opinion I value leass on the war etc

then the active duty military.

[silverojo]

12. I read that 2/3 of the military voted for McSame

Therefore, I hate 2/3 of the military.

[riverdeep]

18. You know, this year we won Indiana and Virginia after 44 years.

Now, some of that isn't because all traditional red staters suddenly got wise, some of that is because of demographic shifts that took place. You've heard of the communist and unpatriotic areas of Northern Virginia, I presume? But some of that, is also because traditional red staters finally did get sick and tired of being used.

To me, a lot of these guys fit that bill. They've been brought up stewing in Republicanism so long, they viscerally hate us. But I gotta think there's hope for even them. Maybe someday, they will come to the realization that Republicans just use the military as a prop and a shield. When it comes to the actual well being of the troops, they don't put their money where their mouth is.

[KG]

13. well, it doesn't really matter which book he swears on fella, he's the new CiC

your job is still to follow orders.

[riverdeep]

17. Actually, in the article, that's precisely what they say.

"Obama is now our President. We're not happy about it. It sucks. But now that he is our President, we will support him. That's part of being an American soldier. That's what makes our country strong."

[MaryEllen9399]

14. do you think we will start to hear stories of troops disobeying orders

because they don't like Obama?

[ITsec]

15. Well, considering that the Constitution doesn't require ANY book...

nor does it require the words "So help me God", it probably doesn't matter.

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

[gollygee]

21. At one time, we were hearing that no one should ever talk badly about the Commander in Chief

wonder why that's changed?

[Ezlivin]

22. He'll use the UCMJ

Uniform Code of Military Justice

[Orsino]

25. Asshole officers want more men and women to die...

...so that they never have to confront their own doubts about the need for our current wars. They think that Obama's urging us to reconsider is somehow "weak," which only reveals the frailty of their own commitment to duty, honor and country.

Officers have the tough job of continuing to sell useless, bloody war year after year to troops who need leadership. When they start to believe the propaganda, though, they become dangerous to themselves and to everyone in their commands.

[Mad_Dem_X]

27. That's a shame

Sounds like they've been brainwashed by all the Repuke propoganda. Hopefully, they will change their minds once Obama takes office.

[Skidmore]

28. Do these people ever stop to think that

*/Cheney swore in on Bibles and went on to lie as much as they breathed while decimating this nation's core democratic tenets?

[bridgit]

29. They don't call them GI's & Jar-Heads for nothing. Once you fight wars for American Corporatism

all you need to be smart enough to do is run, duck, pull a trigger, mop up, and not be smart enough to understand that Blackwater does what you do for 4x's what you'll do it for for your naive, half-baked notions of American freedom & liberty, yee-haw boo'yaw!!

[riverdeep]

43. A few points...

First, these quotes are from officers, not the ones out in the field.

Second, from what I've heard, a lot of troops are angry about private contracters, but can't really make their feelings known.

Lastly, I understand the frustration of hearing massive ignorance coming from someone who would actually benefit from Obama's leadership, but I don't know if calling them stupid is really the best response. I'm thinking of someone like Howard Dean here. He could easily have said something like 'those damn redneck, racist, hicks aren't going to ever vote for us, screw them.' Instead, he went to their states, and respectfully made the case. Some of them came to our side.

Although there surely are the mindless GI Joe types you describe who easily fall for patriotic nonsense and are ready to blow away men, women and children at the drop of a hat, I posted this primarily to see how much work needs to be done in some quarters. Part of the way they think surely has to come from being in another country, with like-minded people, and limited sources of info.

[JHB]

30. I'd like to hear what these guys have to say in a year or two...

These guys have all the hallmarks of living in a bubble (look at all the RW talking points they're spouting).

It'll be interesting to see if their opinions change once they realize the foundation for all these points is a pile of bullshit.

[LeftinOH]

31. "those friends that I have buried will have died for nothing"....

they're already dead, and it WAS for nothing.

[No Elephants]

33. Have all Presidents even used a Bible? the Constitution does not require that, and the oath as in

the COTUS, contains no reference to God. George Washington added a reference to God and other Presidents have followed the tradition. If the Costitution is really first in priority in our government, the oath should be said as ALL the founders wrote it and as the nation adopted it, right, oh originalist Justices?

[No Elephants]

34. How very bizarre, to take Obama's not wearing the flag pin personally, when he stopped wearing it as

a protest against legislators who wear it, but consistently vote down anything for vets that costs money, from repairing of walter reed on up. did this bozo take it personally that McCain voted against the Webb bill and most other vets benefits? What a putz!

[bridgit]

35. Sure, while they have no problem with bush serving them a plastic turkey...

Now that's the definition of ignorant, dumb-ass shit

[orleans]

36. "fuck him?" i wonder if that military officer is still saying that

now that obama is president elect.

i have a feeling that military officer is gonna have a bit of a problem taking orders from a commander-in-chief that he thought of more as "fuck him"

(what an asshole)

[plaintiff]

37. Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of military officers.

(There's a reason why 'military intelligence' is the world's premier oxymoron)

[Mari333]

39. these are officers, not grunts

my son who is in the national guard voted obama, so did most of the grunts in his unit.and his unit is in iraq now. my son has a medical disability and is home. my stepson, who was in iraq, voted for obama.
officers and non officers see these wars very differently.

[riverdeep]

42. I think this point needs stressing.

For some reason, they do have different viewpoints. I'd love to hear some details of why from someone familiar with military life. Don't forget that donations from the military went for Obama.

[JPettus]

47. And another article I read last week

shows that military donations went by and large to Obama, not McCain. Too many in the officer corps any more are die hard dittoheads. They swallow the ideology without any thought for whether it's correct.

[RichardRay]

40. These guys need to resign, ASAP.

They missed the part of becoming officers in which they committed to the idea of civilian control of the military and the mission of the military in service to the country. They obviously have no basis for their comments, and by making them they disqualify themselves from the positions they have been given.

They have every right to have politics, you don't give up your citizenship when you enlist, but they also need to get their heads straight about the mission they're sworn to support.

[knitter4democracy]

41. I hope he uses the Constitution. That would be the right book.

I get it, it's not the same as the Bible, but it would really send a clear message that the rule of law is back. Maybe a copy of the Constitution on top of a Bible?

[OxQQme]

44. Maybe a copy of the Constitution on top of a Bible?

Sitting atop the Koran and all other major and minor religious tomes to include a Native American Medicine Wheel.

[knitter4democracy]

49. A book on world religions with a chapter on atheism?

That would work. :)

[JPettus]

46. And you will never change their minds

They aren't interested in facts, and for the most part conservatives don't want to hear facts that might prove their opinions are incorrect. To them, those opinions ARE fact.

[Sheltiemama]

48. He should be sworn in on a Bible so big ...

... a crane has to lower it.