Obama skipping Memorial day wreath-laying at Arlington

[JakeYonkel]

Thoughts?

[Ugmo]

Thoughts?

Got a link? I looked in a few places and even Fox News doesn't seem to be sufficiently upset by this to write an article!

[JakeYonkel]

Google it... it was in the Washington Post for one, along with plenty of other sites:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/201 ... l?wprss=44

Obama will use Memorial weekend for a trip home to Chicago
By Anne E. Kornblut
With the long Memorial Day weekend on the horizon, President Obama is finally addressing one of the great broken promises of his administration: his early pledge to return home to Chicago every six weeks or so.

In 16 months at the White House, the Obamas have been back home just once - in February of 2009. But they plan to make the trip over Memorial Day weekend, an official said. After arriving on Thursday night, they will visit with friends and participate in private events.

On Monday, Obama will make remarks at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, south of Chicago - missing the usual tradition of presidents speaking at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day.

Vice President Biden and his wife will appear in Obama's place, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as well as holding a breakfast for Gold Star families -- families whose loved ones died in military service -- at the White House earlier that day.

[Ugmo]

Hmm... well he'll be speaking at a different cemetary instead. Unless he's going to be playing golf while Biden is at Arlington (which I guess is possible), I'm not sure if it's worth getting upset about.

[thejuggernaut]

Big surprise

[EvilMadman]

I wonder what would've been the reaction of the MSM and the Democrats had George Bush decided to skip the wreath-laying at Arlington?

Another bad decision on part of the president.

He can always visit family or friends in Chicago. Why the hell cut this out of his schedule?

[JakeYonkel]

I think it's extremely disrespectful. A major slap in the face to dead soldiers, IMO.

Maybe a vet can chime in here? One that's not dead, hopefully? Tinny?

[Iron Duck]

A major slap in the face to dead soldiers, IMO.

Thank God they're dead then. That would hurt.

[JakeYonkel]

I would throw a tomato at you right now, but...

[MadmanShepherd]

Reagan did it in in '83

Bush did it in '92

You can't expect these people to be at every wreath laying ceremony can you?

Of course, in '83 Reagan's stand in was the Deputy Secretary of Defense I think.

And what's more disrespectful than having Dan Quayle represent the country?

[JakeYonkel]

You can't expect these people to be at every wreath laying ceremony can you?

With a legit excuse, no.

When he's going to hang out in Chicago and probably go to a White Sox game, then yeah, that's pretty weak.

[tin00can]

I think it's extremely disrespectful. A major slap in the face to dead soldiers, IMO.

Maybe a vet can chime in here? One that's not dead, hopefully? Tinny?

This would actually make a good blog subject and I may yet do it, but I'm too lazy right now and I just wrote a paper for something else. In short: I don't like it, but I don't think it is quite the slap in the face some people want it to be. There are dead soldiers buried everywhere. Yes, Arlington is the place that comes to mind when people think of that, but it certainly isn't the only place where such a speech could be made. Traditions persist even if they don't entirely make sense.

That said...wow, Obama just can't stop fucking up, and this is yet another example. How hard is it for somebody on his staff to raise his or her hand and say "Um, yeah, Mr. President...you know you've been taking it in the shorts lately and getting your ass kicked by the oil spill; why do you want to give your detractors even more ammo by not giving the Memorial Day speech at Arlington? You know that most people think democrats hate the military and this will only give them more ammo, right?"

For fuck's sake, it's an easy decision to make.

[tin00can]

You can't expect these people to be at every wreath laying ceremony can you?

With a legit excuse, no.

When he's going to hang out in Chicago and probably go to a White Sox game, then yeah, that's pretty weak.

Would it be OK if he went to a Cubs game instead?

[MickeyG]

Holidays should be for the family. Dude's entitled to a day off. As long as he's not out playing golf and does spend it with his bro's, ho's and homies etc.

[Ugmo]

I think it's extremely disrespectful. A major slap in the face to dead soldiers, IMO.

I think the guy should be judged on whether he really does "support the troops", not by some token speech he gives somewhere.

[Ugmo]

Holidays should be for the family. Dude's entitled to a day off. As long as he's not out playing golf and does spend it with his bro's, ho's and homies etc.

Yeah, but when the holiday in question is Memorial Day it probably isn't too much to ask for the Commander In Chief to pay his respects in some way!

[JakeYonkel]

You can't expect these people to be at every wreath laying ceremony can you?

With a legit excuse, no.

When he's going to hang out in Chicago and probably go to a White Sox game, then yeah, that's pretty weak.

Would it be OK if he went to a Cubs game instead?

Personally I would avoid going to a ballgame in Chicago at any cost, regardless of team affiliation. That's kinda in the same list as Philly as far as "places I don't want to see a sporting event."

[vlad]

http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/abrahamlincoln.asp

So the other national cemeteries are chopped liver? The soldiers and vets buried in them less deserving? (Full disclosure, my husband's father and grandparents are buried in two different ones here in Oregon (Wlillamette and Eagle Point)...) and if my husband wanted to be buried and not cremated he'd be buried with his grandparents and I guess I would go there as well..but we're doing something different).

Arlington isn't the only national cemetery...it's just the one closest ot the White House. Just saying.

[MadmanShepherd]

Would it be OK if he went to a Cubs game instead?

Personally I would avoid going to a ballgame in Chicago at any cost, regardless of team affiliation. That's kinda in the same list as Philly as far as "places I don't want to see a sporting event."

Off topic but Wrigley is the fucking best ballpark in the country. The history of the park and the surrounding neighborhoods give it the best celebratory feeling out of any of them.

Sure, the Cubs kinda suck, but theres a reason they have some of the most loyal fans (obviously not victory).

Fuck the White Sox.

[JakeYonkel]

I was an admitted Yankee Stadium mark... but I don't think you can touch Fenway. That's just me, though.

[MadmanShepherd]

I actually got to tour Yankee stadium before it closed. While I was obviously impressed with the history, the stadium didn't appear to be anything special.

I must say however, Fenway does seem pretty damn cool and probably the only stadium capable of touching Wrigley as far as legacy.

[Crazy Levi]

Thoughts?

Don't care.

[Crazy Levi]

Reagan did it in in '83

And what's more disrespectful than having Dan Quayle represent the country?

Surely a far worse crime.

[Crazy Levi]

I actually got to tour Yankee stadium before it closed. While I was obviously impressed with the history, the stadium didn't appear to be anything special.

I must say however, Fenway does seem pretty damn cool and probably the only stadium capable of touching Wrigley as far as legacy.

Yankee Stadium was a dump. It was renovated (basically rebuilt) in the 1970s - as such, the Yankees Stadium you visited had virtually no historical value besides its geographic location.

[VinnieKulick]

Yankee Stadium was a dump. It was renovated (basically rebuilt) in the 1970s - as such, the Yankees Stadium you visited had virtually no historical value besides its geographic location.

Unless you don't count "most world champions" since 1976 as being historic.


I saw a game at old Comiskee Park in 89. Whitesox vs Oakland.
Saw McGuire and Conseco both hit mammoth home runs.
Then I saw about four fights break out right in front of me.
Classy place, that Chicago.

My favorite Stadium I've been to is old Tiger Stadium. Went there as a kid a ton of times. I shed a tear when they played the last game there.

[Crazy Levi]

Unless you don't count "most world champions" since 1976 as being historic.

No, I don't count that. Could care less, the place was a generic 70s dump.

People thought of Yankee Stadium as "The House that Ruth Built," which it was until 1976. Nobody ever celebrated it as "The House that Reggie Jackson Built."

[WhiteHouseSubsAC]

Would it be OK if he went to a Cubs game instead?

Personally I would avoid going to a ballgame in Chicago at any cost, regardless of team affiliation. That's kinda in the same list as Philly as far as "places I don't want to see a sporting event."

Puss.

[MickeyG]

Holidays should be for the family. Dude's entitled to a day off. As long as he's not out playing golf and does spend it with his bro's, ho's and homies etc.

Yeah, but when the holiday in question is Memorial Day it probably isn't too much to ask for the Commander In Chief to pay his respects in some way!

He's sending Biden to do his bidding.

Christ, maybe they should get the whole cabinet to go along for the ride.

I'm sure he'll show up next year.

[MasterOfMeatPuppets]

Holidays should be for the family. Dude's entitled to a day off. As long as he's not out playing golf and does spend it with his bro's, ho's and homies etc.

Yeah, but when the holiday in question is Memorial Day it probably isn't too much to ask for the Commander In Chief to pay his respects in some way!

Maybe he could go to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery? I hear they have soldiers and veterans buried there also.

[tin00can]

Holidays should be for the family. Dude's entitled to a day off. As long as he's not out playing golf and does spend it with his bro's, ho's and homies etc.

Yeah, but when the holiday in question is Memorial Day it probably isn't too much to ask for the Commander In Chief to pay his respects in some way!

He's sending Biden to do his bidding.

Christ, maybe they should get the whole cabinet to go along for the ride.

I'm sure he'll show up next year.

It's so unusual for a president to send the veep in his place to do something. I'm with ya, WTF?