Fri
Feb 27 2009
01:37 pm
Obama's speech to the troops gets a somewhat chilly reception.
By: Carole Borges

I thought it was kind of eerie not to hear all kinds of howls, grunts, and shouts every time this president stops to take a breath. There was some applause, but it paled in comparision to the clamor that usually erupted when GWB spoke.

Perhaps having a commander-in-chief that takes war seriouly, one who doesn't just promote the glory of it, is so new to the troops they will need time to adjust.

Toward the end, however, when he was talking about helping veterans, the audience did warm up a lot. When he talked about raising miltary pay, benefits, and a new GI Bill, the troops exloded with excitement.

So maybe in the end the troops came away with a lot more affection for their new boss.

Topics:
reform4's picture

Sometimes the Unit CO..

Submitted by reform4 on Fri, 2009/02/27 - 2:40pm.

.. will address the troops and "set the tone" before a VIP shows up. The troops then tend to follow that tone so as not to piss off the C.O. Dime gets you a dollar the unit C.O. is a wingnut, and made his viewpoint clear before Obama arrived. Compare to the previous time Obama met with the troops and got a very warm reception.

gonzone's picture

I dint' see it that way

Submitted by gonzone on Fri, 2009/02/27 - 2:42pm.

The "chilly reception", I mean.

Sounds like a Fox News/GOP talking point, "they cheer fro Bush but not for Obama!"

"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

Pam Strickland's picture

Actually, it appears to me

Submitted by Pam Strickland on Sat, 2009/02/28 - 12:38am.

Actually, it appears to me that Obama's speech was rather well received.

Pam Strickland

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." ~Kurt Vonnegut

gonzone's picture

yes

Submitted by gonzone on Sat, 2009/02/28 - 1:14pm.

I agree. I suppose interpretation is influenced by the assumptions and biases of the observer. When one accepts the GOP push that military persons prefer them to Dems, then it becomes inevitable that would color their world view. It ain't Kool-aid but rather Rush's yellow water being consumed. Too despicable for even Jim Jones allusions.

"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

Carole Borges's picture

No that was my own observation

Submitted by Carole Borges on Sat, 2009/02/28 - 2:15pm.

I have watched almost all the speeches made by Bush in front of the troops, and it has always been my impression they were revved up before the event and that the words Bush used were meant to rile the aggressiveness and therefore the standing ovations, shouts and howls of the troops. It has always irked me, so I was curious to see if Obama received the same rah-rah-rah reception. Sorry, but I stand by my impression that he didn't. That was, in my estimation, a tepid reception at first, warming up only when it came to benefits the troops were going to get.

I wish every comment that wasn't offering high praise of every action of Obama's wasn't greeted with that reference to being "a Fox News talking point". That kind of puts a chill on honest expression.

gonzone's picture

Sorry

Submitted by gonzone on Sat, 2009/02/28 - 2:19pm.

Sorry Carole, but this one truly IS a long standing GOP talking point. Not to offend you but its true.

"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

Bbeanster's picture

I've watched the video to

Submitted by Bbeanster on Sat, 2009/02/28 - 7:57pm.

I've watched the video to see if the reception was "tepid," and didn't find it so. Bush pandered to these military crowds, feeding them lots of applause lines and gettng "Boo-Yahs" in return. Obama gave a sober, dignified speech, and got a sober, respectful reception. I've also looked at the commentary, and haven't found anything to indicate that the President wasn't well-received.
It was Bush, after all, who was a prep school cheerleader.

Carole Borges's picture

Perthaps you put this better than I did...

Submitted by Carole Borges on Sun, 2009/03/01 - 11:26am.

Thanks Beanster. What you said so well is what I meant.

"Bush pandered to these military crowds, feeding them lots of applause lines and gettng "Boo-Yahs" in return. Obama gave a sober, dignified speech, and got a sober, respectful reception."

That is exactly what I meant. "Sober" would have been a better choice.

My only point was I saw a difference.

Nobody's picture

Kool Aid

Submitted by Nobody (not verified) on Fri, 2009/02/27 - 2:52pm.

Not every one has drunk the Obama aide

MDB's picture

Dear President Obama

Submitted by MDB on Fri, 2009/02/27 - 3:02pm.

As one of your adoring, cult-like followers, I have a request of your Messiah-ness.

When you begun the glorious purge of conservatism from our new order, could you please, if your infinite wisdom deems it so worthy, declare the expression "drink the kool-aid" and its variants forever stricken from the American vocabulary?

If you do bless me by choosing to implement my humble request, I promise I shall personally remove the tongues of five hundred people who have blasphemed you and your works.

In fawning adoration,
Cultist 867-5309-JNY

Voting is like driving. If you want to go backwards, select R. If you want to go forward, select D.

gonzone's picture

Yeah

Submitted by gonzone on Fri, 2009/02/27 - 4:30pm.

Obviously some "nobodys" have been drinking Rush Limbaugh urinary excretions for far too long.

Then again, many can identify a right wing talking point when we see one without automatically saying "ditto!"

"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

Nelle's picture

Feel the rush

Submitted by Nelle on Sat, 2009/02/28 - 7:40pm.

Obviously some "nobodys" have been drinking Rush Limbaugh urinary excretions for far too long.

AKA Bud Light.

jcgrim's picture

"It was Bush, after all, who

Submitted by jcgrim on Mon, 2009/03/02 - 11:02am.

"It was Bush, after all, who was a prep school cheerleader."

...and, a draft dodger who used his family's influence to get into the "champagne army" (euphemism given to Natl Guard by blue collar & poor who were drafted & shipped to Vietnam)
jcg

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