Were they American troops?

Pogues. Real warriors would respectfully stand, joyless, dreaming of using him for combative training.

I seem to recall the same attitude by soldiers in Vietnam given the appearance of Barbara Eden.

Arthurstone

Yeah, yeah. We hate the troops. Nice deflection. We still have the same commitment to our troops that we had before. It's just that we don't trust your choice of leadership for them.

Today I'm walking in town and behold what do I see? I young man walking with his family wearing a CCCP shirt. I'm sure you would think, ahh, what an enlightened young man. Whereas I think what a deluded family. I would have the same reaction if he had on a NAZI shirt. I don't trust you commies with my money, my liberty, or the future of my children. I will do everything possible that I can to make sure you lying slithering sonsabitches get defeated this election.

Given the opportunity, many people would take pictures of demented circus monkeys, too.

Today I won't add to the drama and conflict that Mamet recommends. I'll just offer that I think this was a nice post.

Obama's advance man earned his money. We'll learn the story in a few days, always do.

Obama is a celebrity, and many people, including the troops, are fascinated by celebrities. I'd probably take his picture too if I met him, just for the sake of remembering the time.

But, having watched (and listened to) the masses of troops gathered to hear the addresses of both men, you cannot compare the two.

The cordial and professional response Obama got from those who are trained to show respect to authority is a pale ghost of the raucous and loving ovations Bush got from those who knew he had their back, and would have laid down his life for their safe return in an instant.

"Pogues. Real warriors would respectfully stand, joyless, dreaming of using him for combative training.

Posted by twolaneflash at April 2, 2010 6:56 AM"

Exactly my thought. Hell, they're not even Fobbits.

From my personal military experience, I'd say that the troops in attendance generally fall into two categories:

1) Ones who resent the fact that they were forced to give up some of their precious little recreational time to put on a dog and pony show for some civilian show-off who's never worn the uniform.

2) Ones who are happy to be there, because their presence gets them out of doing some other task that's even more unpleasant than being used as a photo-op prop.

I wonder if all of these digital cameras were handed out by Obama's advance team like the time he first visited Iraq as President.

I also wonder if these "admirers" had to pass the political smell test like the troops who were in that same photo-op I mentioned in Iraq before being allowed to attend.