The picture of Kerry saluting will win him the election.

[MikeG]

[Stephan_Ketz]

1. Agreed, but

one could say this was bit too offensive!

[Rainbowreflect]

2. I'm sure the rupubs will.

[West Coast Democrat]

5. Were you offended?

[Stephan_Ketz]

7. I'm not

but it immediately rushed into my mind that the repugs will get nasty about the salute and phrase.

[MikeG]

9. He served his country - let them bring it up.

[LibertyorDeath]

6. One could say anything

12 posts

[Stephan_Ketz]

10. Is this a warm welcome?

Don't make me sad!

[MikeG]

24. I will only question what you say, never you personally.

But I think its a great picture.

[Pachamama]

8. You were offended that an US Soldier salutes his country?

What the FUCHeney?


:eyes: :WTF:

[Stephan_Ketz]

16. The statement above should clear my position!

I wasn't offended, but thought of the repugs misusing it.

[trof]

11. Not "offensive", but a little cheesy, I thought.

Just me.

[RetroLounge]

12. One could say welcome to DU

but I won't...

RL

[Stephan_Ketz]

25. But I say hello to YOU fellow DU'er

that should make you happy!

[Tellurian]

13. Kerry is no stranger to a salute...Front or Back!

[Dem2theMax]

18. Kerry earned the right to salute as he did tonight.

Bush on the other hand, every time I see him do it, I just about gag.

[qanda]

20. You could give a reason why anyone would find that offensive

And instead of being defensive because some people find you suspect, explain what you mean.

[wabeewoman]

22. I, for one, am sick

and tired of letting the repugs define the dialog. I loved the tone of the convention. Even Bart would say it looks like the dems are growing some balls. We are taking back the flag and taking back our country! If they don't like it, they can get over it! Or they can move to Iraq (wink, smile)....

[NightOwwl]

3. Someone needs to post a pic of Bush attempting a salute

next to Kerry. The one with Barney!

[trof]

17. Leaning over.

In the military, as an officer, you are taught NEVER to carry anything in your right hand. Not an umbrella, nothing.
It's so that you are able to give or return a salute.
His salute to his Marine guards bending over, holding his dog, is an insult to the military and the Marines.

[DemBones DemBones]

29. Enlisted men aren't supposed to carry anything

in their right hands, either. That was one thing my career Navy dad would dress down an enlisted man for.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

27. here ya go

[NightOwwl]

28. Thank you Sheepy!

That is priceless.

[kwolf68]

4. Well

Kerry dodged bullets in Vietnam...he earned the right to salute. F*** bush

[Dookus]

14. yup

if Bush tried it, he'd poke himself in the eye.

[qanda]

15. I thought it was great

eom

[against all enemies]

19. Only those that reported for duty can criticize, they won't.

Who will say anything?
Bush, Cheney, they can't.
Powell, McCain, they won't.

[Jack Rabbit]

21. Welcome to DU, Mr. Ketz

I'm sure you know as well as anybody here that if Kerry praised Mom and apple pie, the Republican attack machine would find fault with Kerry, Mom and apple pie.

A bunch of thugs who would morph Max Cleland into Osama would stoop to anything.

[SodoffBush]

23. Superb!

I also loved his comment about his wanting a country that relied on ingenuity rather than the Saudi Royal Family. He also said he would be a president who believed in science. Just what I wanted to hear!

[hlthe2b]

26. That was a genius way to start and Kerry rose to every expectation

of mine (as I did predict that he WOULD!)

[jdonaldball]

30. It's not offensive but it's contrary to the

American tradition of Presidents emphasizing their civilian status rather than military status. Bush is the more guilty one of course, in doing such things, because yes Kerry is a true combat vet while Bush was AWOL.
But for over 200 years, American Presidents avoided giving salutes in their civilian roles, even when meeting with the military. Traditionally a salute is (or was) given only between men in uniform, at least in America. Presidents were supposed to be above this, even if they were veterans, and even (or ESPECIALLY) in their roles as Commander in Chief - because the original idea was for Commander In Chief to be a civilian role, to avoid Caesarism.
Washington and FDR and even (or especially) Eisenhower, to name a few, were veterans, but never appeared in military uniform while they were President - and this started with George Washington deliberately trying to distinguish civilian politics from military roles.
Sorry but this was a stupid salute. Not as stupid as when AWOL does it, but still, silly and contary to a fine old American tradition started by (former General) George Washington.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

31. You better go back and review some film of presidents getting off...

...of the helicoptor or Air Force One. I bet you'll see quite a few salutes from presidents....and yes, that's part of the tradition.

[jdonaldball]

33. Only since Reagan

The "tradition" you mention, started with Reagan.
It was not done before 1981 at the earliest.
So, do you look to Reagan as an origin of America's finest traditions?
:-) I prefer George Washington.

[AnnInLa]

32. Was the "reporting for duty" a subtle dig at bush?

since bush obviously didn't report to duty in Viet Nam or Guard duty, or whatever the hell it was? Even if it was meant to contrast...was it a dig? Even if it wasn't meant as a dig, I choose to take it that way and it was great..I leapt out of my chair!

[Fridays Child]

34. Side by side for best effect...Kerry salutes-Bush salutes