Tuesday Open Thread: West Point Edition
by PubliusToday, President Obama travels to West Point, the United States Military Academy, to announce his absolute, final, this is really it, no mistake about it, really serious decision on Afghanistan.

Today, President Obama travels to West Point, the United States Military Academy, to announce his absolute, final, this is really it, no mistake about it, really serious decision on Afghanistan.

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Tags: Afghanistan, Gen. McChrystal, West Point
Posted Dec 1st 2009 at 5:33 am in Open Threads |
3896294 Commentshttp://biggovernment.com/publius/2009/12/01/tuesday-open-thread-west-point-edition/Tuesday+Open+Thread%3A+West+Point+Edition2009-12-01+12%3A33%3A42Publius
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I am calling to all of you freedom-loving Americans to come once again to Washington D.C. to gather on the Capitol steps on Saturday, at 12 o’clock noon. We must come by the thousands. Speaker Pelosi will stop at nothing to fulfill her corrupt conquests. She will...





94 Comments
makes me wonder….why West Point? In his mind, is W.P. another conquest?
Will Obama accuse the Seattle police of acting stupidly for shooting dead the "suspected" cop killer of four before he makes his big speech or after? Could be he will ignore it altogether or at least wait four plus months to announce his decision.
One can only hope the Grand Jury does its job. It could be an interesting day. There are going to be a lot of people there, and oddly enough, nobody from the MSM, not even Faux News……….
I am sure he will plae the blame squarely on Huckabee. He should have given orders to bring th man in alive, they could have held a Beer Summit, included a teachable moment and sent the man to sensitivity training.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by DRIP USA and AZ grassroots, Big Tweeting. Big Tweeting said: BigGovt: Tuesday Open Thread: West Point Edition: Today, President Obama travels to West Poin.. http://bit.ly/5OpOR2 #BigTweet [...]
The self-absorbed image-maker in the White House will visit West Point, where real men and women live, work and learn. The commitment they share won't rub off on him. He's impervious. His shallowness sure as HELL won't rub off on them. As freedom-fighters and persons of consequence in the world, they are inoculated.
JFK or LBJ at West Point, fine. Clinton or Obama at West Point, WTH?
For all the WP'ers out there…Sink Navy
I believe, that he believes, it says "I AM THE BOSS" Which of course he is, he just wants to make sure these young officers know it.
OBUMMER needs a photo op again!
http://noliberalspin.blogtownhall.com/2009/12/01/...
Obama is a JOKE
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#dripusa #ocra #tcot…
he wasn't coming out alive and I really don't give a crap… no more tax dollars wasted on his sorry azz !!! See tis story is over … make sure they add his grave to the hollywood tour of graves so we know where we can take a piss if necessary…
When in Obama's world it's all about the SHOW !!!!! Me Me Me Me…
Look up Obama in the dictionary and you'll fnd this
Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for admiration. Those with narcissistic personality disorder believe that they're superior to others and have little regard for other people's feelings. But behind this mask of ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem, vulnerable to the slightest criticism.
President Ben Dover, the procrastinator-in-chief, the king of habitually doing-nothing, had better show some honor and respect to the men and women of West Point. I got a dollar that says he bows to no one, and struts around with his nose up in the air the whole time he's there.
As to weather he's going to fight to win this war or not……………………..I'll not ponder a guess. Hopefully he does the right thing, and listens to his generals, and gives our fighting men and women everything they need to succeed at their mission. I wish he'd just turn the whole operation (fighting a war) over to the professionals and stay the hell out of the way. He vacillates, fluctuates, oscillates, and hesitates too much for me.
He'll probably just show up, in his empty suit with teleprompter……………..wink……………..and it'ill all be better.
The cadets should all rise in unison and turn thier backs to Obama when he begins his speech. He's already turned his back on them.
Disgraceful for BO to use West Point as another photo op. Yeah, and it's disgraceful for any President in the past to use them as a photo op. It's wrong for anyone to use West Point or any of our troops as a photo op!
He's a disgrace. I want him impeached. NOW.
They should, but they won't. anyone that did would be court martialed. In the military, you are NOT allowed to speak against the C-I-C. Is one of many reasons I'm glad my DH is out now. Because even as a spouse, my mouth was muzzled for fear that what I said could be used against my husband in his military career.
Six months and
He's using West Point because he knows the cadets and instructors will never violate their oaths and call out 'liar', or make a symbolic gesture.
The gall of the man has no limits, does it?
At least Clinton had a clue about using the military as a backdrop for his politics.
This guy seems not to understand how jarring the contrast between his values and "Duty, Honor, Country" will be.
Obama will orchestrate the entire event to make it look like the cadets admire and support him. The cadets will be polite and respectful.My children and I lived at West Point for 7 years when my husband was stationed there. The only reason I will watch is to see if the Army had to make concessions or change anything for Obama. Remember the religious symbols that had to be covered when O. spoke at Georgetown ?
Why can't O. just talk from his office ? This trip will cost the taxpayers plenty.
"Grand Jury in Monroe County, Tennessee is hearing charges against Obama for Treason. " I didn't know that! Where can I find more on this?????
… and then sent him to NYC for trial…
What is wrong with the White House? Obama spending other peoples's money for nothing, again.
So obama endorses the strategy of his top generals with a few slight limitations on (get THIS) DURATION, MAN-POWER, and MONEY.
I guess that's how you go about fighting a war…………………………….if you don't give a shit who win's.
Just like the Beer summit crap, that's state level stuff. NObama shouldn't get involved in any of that. His mistake (one of many) was to get involved in that first incident in the first place… now he's set the precident… the expectation that he's going to be involved in all of these incidents.
why West Point? Photo Op! The only reason!
That photo that graces this thread brings back memories. Unless I am very much mistaken, this is the back side of MacArthur Barracks. My room was just above the sallyport on the left side.
I was an 82 graduate, but I was a kid there from 1973 on. I remember when Carter came to West Point to give the graduation speech. West Point will do what it always does, honor the office. Honor for the officeholder, though, is always optional, and I believe it will be absent.
The Academy will endure this insult, as it has many others throughout the centuries it has been in existance. But it will also remember well those special moments that are its alone – like when the Iranian hostages spent their first days back on US soil there. That was one of my proudest moments as a cadet – when these people looked at us and trusted us to keep them safe.
You are right, they won't make gestures because THEY have honor, respect and integrity and actually believe in the core values of our country. I just wish our own President shared those same qualities.
Just a thought:
Isn't it dangerous for Obama to go to a place where everyone is sworn to "defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic"?
Any cadet that has been there over three months (ie, all of them) will know the drill. They know their cue lines. They will not give the media anything to use to discredit the institution.
Obama will get his photo op. In January, 2013, he will pack away the photos of this op for shipment to Chicagoland, and wonder how he could have played the Presidency better. He will have be abandoned by all but the Inner Temple dwellers. The cadets that he is addressing now will be in the real world that he had crafted, his name a curse on their lips as they lead the good men and women of America in far-off lands, trying to undo the damage he has caused.
I curse Carter to this day. Obama's future will be the same.
So do I.
This lowly POS has the AUDACITY to even show his face at one of America's greatest military institutions ? I am really stunned. This seditious man will not even hold his palm accross his heart when the National Anthem is played. I would love to hear the thoughts going on in the heads of these fine cadets and future military leaders.
Is ObamaPOS so utterly disingenuous that he cannot even sense the disgust the military holds for him ? A fine
institution used as a photo op for this incompetent community organizer in an attempt to bolster his image. What a pathetic joke this man is !
It's just sad what this country is putting our boys through. 30,000 more troops to hamstring on the battlefield. I have a sick fantasy that in his speech Obama will cut our troops loose and let them do what they do, INCLUDING punching terrorists in the mouth! Let them run amok Mr Presidend, they'll clean it right up…NO PRISONERS!!!!
Thank God for cable television!
Navy always beats Army..GO NAVY!!!
See Drudge Report. BO is bumping Charlie Brown to alert U.S. enemies of our new war plans, using West Point as a photo-op.
I'd rather watch Charlie Brown's Christmas for the 100th time than old, tired BO's teleprompter.
If i were the corps of cadets at West Point, I would turn my back on him as he began to speak and listen in silence until he finished. Then, as a group, i would do an about face and return to facing him. A sign of utter contempt for the pansy-in-chief.
Not in water polo! Go ARMY!
Narcissistic leadership is about theatre, not about life.
The narcissistic leader prefers the sparkle and glamour of well-orchestrated
illusions to the tedium and method of real accomplishments. His reign is all
smoke and mirrors, devoid of substances, consisting of mere appearances, lies and mass
delusions.
Not when they're off duty, they mock Obama. They all know and say what a bull$hit bs'er he is.
I heard that Obama is going to be "detained" by the soldiers when he goes to West Point. Slap the cuffs on! Impech for treason!
Yes, it's another "in-your-face" demonstration of the sickness of this man.
Here's a link:
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/1730...
Here's a link:
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/1730...
. . . like a conqueror mocking the vanquished.
Fair winds & following seas
Another reason, beyond the the court martial, it is about the respect of the position, not the person. I still respect the position even though I despise the person.
Total Personal Staff members for other first ladies paid by taxpayers:
Mamie Eisenhower : 1 paid for personally out of President's salary
Jackie Kennedy: 1
Roseline Carter: 1
Barbara Bush: 1
Hilary Clinton: 3
Laura Bush: 1
Michele Obama: 22
1.. $172,200 – Sher, Susan (Chief Of Staff)
2. $140,000 – Frye, Jocelyn C. (Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy And Projects For The First Lady)
3…. $113,000 – Rogers, Desiree G. (Special Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary for Mrs. Obama)
4. $102,000 – Johnston, Camille Y. (Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for the First Lady)
5. $100,000 – Winter, Melissa E. (Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
6. $90,000 – Medina , David S. (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
7. $84,000 – Lel yveld, Catherine M. (Director and Press Secretary to the First Lady)
8. $75,000 – Starkey, Frances M. (Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady)
9. $70,000 – Sanders, Trooper (Deputy Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady)
10. $65,000 – Burnough, Erinn J. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
11. $64,000 – Reinstein, Joseph B. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
12. $62,000 – Goodman, Jennifer R. (Deputy Director of Scheduling and Events Coordinator For The First Lady)
13. $60,000 – Fitts, Alan O. (Deputy Director of Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady)
14. $57,500 – Lewis, Dana M. (Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the First Lady)
15. $52,500 – Mustaphi, Semonti M. (Associate Director and Deputy Press Secretary To The First Lady)
16. $50,000 – Jarvis, Kristen E. (Special Assistant for Scheduling and Traveling Aide To The First Lady)
17. $45,000 – Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (Associate Director of Correspondence For The First Lady)
18. $43,000 – Tubman, Samanth a (Deputy Associate Director, Social Office)
19. $40,000 – Boswell, Joseph J. (Executive Assistant to the Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
20.. $36,000 – Armbruster, Sally M. (Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary)
21. $35,000 – Bookey, Natalie (Staff Assistant)
22. $35,000 – Jackson, Deilia A.. (Deputy Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady)
(total = $1,591,200 in annual salaries)
Note: This does not include makeup artist Ingrid Grimes-Miles, 49, and "First Hairstylist" Johnny Wright, 31, both of whom traveled aboard Air Force One to Europe ..
Thanks for the link! Just read it. I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR how it turns out. I hope MANY people show up to support him!
You win the stuffed animal.
I believe JFK and LBJ both served in the military.
Personally I don't have a problem with the President of the US addressing the military at West Point. But I'm under no illusions that it wasn't chosen specifically for the photo op back ground.
The president announced a new strategy for Afghanistan back in March. Now he waits months before revamping. My own opinion is the delay was specifically to not alienate his far left base before the health care votes. And I predict the speech will mainly focus on none of this is his fault, it's all Bush/Cheney/Rusmfeld's fault, and isn't he awesome for not being them.
Theatrical politics.
He's butting in on "Charile Brown Christmas" !!!!! Aggggh
Nice, now I have a cup of coffee to clean off my key board.
Thanks for the laugh!
Charlie Brown has more wisdom.
It ain't cheap being progressive.
Yep, in the old days it was called "nigger rich".
Navy cheats, they bring Marines.
That's because it's total BS.
Some do, a lot have a different view.
It's just another photo-op. He thinks that if we're against his bonehead plan, we must be against WP. I found it hard to believe he is so stupid when he stole the election but now I realize that he absolutely is. The democrat/liberals howled about how stupid Sarah Palin is she'd make two of him on his best day.
I will give it all to see the westpointers coughing out the words B.S. during the presidents address ala Belluchi and company in Animal House. The O deserves no respect and the military owes him none.
You are absolutely right. He should not send any additional troops to Afghanistan and should withdraw the ones who are there pronto.
Your point? If you look at WH salaries for the previous administration, you will see the same thing.
And that's called racism.
Oddly enough, it is symbolism over substance. Further, he is throwing down the gauntlet to the military. Oddly enough, today is the day, that the Grand Jury in Monroe County, Tennessee is hearing charges against Obama for Treason. Coincidence? I think not. As it relates to Afghanistan, one needs ask only one question:
HOW MANY TROOPS HAVE DIED WHILE BARRY DITHERED?
I read that, Cowboy…but do you think it will go anywhere??
Ditto, RightTurn. They should snub him as he does them.
Gunny, I love reading all the good stuff at the ANTI-LIBERAL ZONE. That one posted today (Dec 1st) is awesome as usual. Keep up the good work. Eventually all these dirt-balls will be unmasked, and hopefully lead to the gallows.
Mr O has kept the whole world in suspense because he had to negoiate with his radical left, so he will send them in and pull them out. Remember he doesnt like the military or the American People. We are just the trash he must kick out of the way to reach his goal. I cant watch the Show I'm sick of looking at " IT " We need an investigation and Impeachment. This Administration is nothing but Fraud and Lies!!!
Maybe he'll have a big sign behind him reading "Mission Accomplished"… oh wait, that's already been done. sorry.
Now, now. All is not lost. Obambi at least put his hand over his heart when the Communist Chinesee anthem was played. So we know he knows how to do it when it matters to him.
Why hasn't anyone addressed this story? When he was on his Asian trip, there were at least 2 photos of others (including Hillary) with their hands over their hearts when the National Anthem was played (Barry had his hands linked just above his groin), yet when the Commie Chinese anthem was played, Barry had his hand on his heart. Why has no one brought this up, complete with photos as proof. I saw it on Greta, although she was speaking about something else.
I just saw Glenn Beck's show and for anyone who watches him, he now has 10 Refounders. The Refounders are members of Congress or this administration who choose to remain in the shadows, but are passing along information that they feel needs to get out in the public domain. It appears that only a handful of people have seen Gen. McCrystal's unredacted report, which is 6 pages longer than the redacted one. The Refounder who called it in said that once you read the unredacted report, it becomes a game-changer. Your perspective on the Afghan War and its urgency changes. Most members of Congress who will vote on taxes to support the war have not seen the unredacted version, which must be read in a closed room after signing in. No phones, no cameras allowed.
Barry is nowhere near being 1/10th as intelligent as Sarah Palin is.
And when it comes to being the WORST president in America's history, while there are quite a few candidates for that place, Obama is far and away the ONLY candidate for that position; blowing Wilson, FDR, Carter, and Clinton out of the water and leaving them in the dust.
He's already set a date to get out, so no, tonight's speech is a sham and nothing more than a photo-op,for him.
Sadly, the MSM will continue to cover for him, as he gets our brave members of the military killed and makes out nation set for horrific attacks on our soil.
I hope none of the information they are passing along is classified.
Agreed. I couldn't stand it when the left tried to humiliate Bush for eight years, and I don't like it any better when a dem is in office. Some things should be more important than politics, and respect for the office of the President of the United States should be one of them.
And by that I don't mean just throw up our hands and give in, there is a big difference between respect for the office, and respect for the office holder.
Cowboy, you have any news on how that grand jury thing went? Also, can you answer this question? How does a local grand jury have jurisdiction to indict someone for treason, since treason is a federal crime? I figured that if anyone knew the answer, it'd be you. Thanks.
Giving his speech at West Point is a shameless photo op. He should be giving it from the Oval Office. Or has it been transformed into a party room?
Why not the deck of an aircraft carrier?
Not for the first lady. Or did you miss that part?
PS: Her bloody mail readers make as much money as a freaking O3 in the military, and I find it hard to believe that they produce the same value. The benefits are probably better too, and that's hard to do.
To tell you the truth, I just got in, and it has been a long day, but i wanted to answer your question. I have not heard anything, but am going to look. That was a question I also had, as to how a Grand Jury could hear that, and have not dug up a satisfactory answer, yet. But I will.
Here is all I could find as far as an update tonight:
http://americangrandjury.org/
Except "that part" is incorrect.
Here's a list of WH staff and salaries for the last year of the GWB administration. Check out the people on Laura Bush's staff and their salaries. It was not one person as "Mom" claims. By the way, the Deputy Director of Correspondence for the Laura Bush made $47,000.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/gra...
THEY OWE ME ! Typical ghetto rat welfare mentality… No dignity or respect unlike her predecessors who had a clue.
I guess that makes Laura Bush a "ghetto rat," too. Her staff and their salaries were in the same ballpark as Michelle Obama's.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/gra...
My speech would be short and to the point. Ladies and gentlemen, all weapon systems will be in play during the coming surge….let me repeat that…ALL WEAPON SYSTEMS WILL BE IN PLAY AND ON THE TABLE. HERE THAT OBL?
And Chris Matthews called West Point "enemey country." I think we know the enemy, and it isn't West Point cadets.
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