Liberal Forum

I wasn't hiding behind anything. I didn't discount the facts of the story, did I? I was just commenting on the way that FreeRuplic framed it as the 'most disgraceful photo-op in the history of the presidency'. Sure sounded as if you attempted to assinate the message with the messenger to me, but I'll defer to your explanation.And Bush took the anniversary of 9/11 as an opportunity to promote himself. As a matter of fact he used 9/11 to promote himself all the time, nevermind that the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil took place on his watch.(Please don't bother telling me how that was Clinton's fault, because I know that's what's coming next, so I'll save you the trouble.)Bush's Daddy helped him get into the TANG during the Vietnam war, then got him a transfer to Alabama, (where no one seems to remember seeing him) to supposedly work on a political campaign. He was afraid to pee in a cup, because he likely couldn't pass the drug test.Curious that you would complain about a politician using his pull to get his son INTO the military. Most Leftwingers were using their political connections to get OUT of the military. As far as photo-ops go, all presidents do this kind of stuff. But you want to ignore the fact that Republican presidents are just as guilty of it, if not more so than Democratic ones.Bush stocked his WH communications operation with people from network television who had expertise in lighting, camera angles and the importance of backdrops, and it was Ronald Reagan and his team who really first mastered the art of the photo-op. I agree that all presidents take advantage of photo ops. I just think that our two most recent Democratic chickenhawks loved to use the military for their photo ops and then use them as political pawns with their base the rest of the time. Nevermind the fact that the crew had to sit off the coast of San Diego while President Bush slept aboard, instead of heading straight to port after 10 months at sea. He delayed their homecoming. I don't recall hearing anything but gratitude for the president's show of support from the crew, did you?That makes for a wonderful talking point, but do have specific examples of Obama going around the ME apologizing to terrorists, because it seems to me that he's been going around the ME and the world killing terrorists.Obama address to the UN:"I took office at a time when many around the world had come to view America with skepticism and distrust. Part of this was due to misperceptions and misinformation about my country. Part of this was due to opposition to specific policies and a belief that on certain critical issues, America has acted unilaterally, without regard for the interests of others. And this has fed an almost reflexive anti-Americanism, which too often has served as an excuse for collective inaction."During the 2008 campaign:"Well, first of all, during the campaign I did not say that some of that loss of authority was inevitable," Obama said. "I said it was traced to very specific decisions that the previous administration had made that I believed had lowered our standing in the world.... I would like to think that with my election and the early decisions that we've made, that you're starting to see some restoration of America's standing in the world."In his Cairo speech:"In the middle of the Cold War, the United States played a role in the overthrow of a democratically elected Iranian government. Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has played a role in acts of hostage-taking and violence against U.S. troops and civilians. This history is well known. Rather than remain trapped in the past, I've made it clear to Iran's leaders and people that my country is prepared to move forward."Sounds like an apologist to me, how about you? Can you be honest and admit the truth when it's right there in B&W?Once again, ALL presidents engage in photo-ops.You just don't like it when Democrats do it.I don't like it when anti-military presidents use the military for their political gain....like Obama and the killing of Bin Laden.