Comments on: Remember how outraged republicans were when Obama said he would be willing to meet with Iran and Cuba… https://www.habitablezone.com/2018/06/14/remember-how-outraged-republicans-were-when-obama-said-he-would-be-willing-to-meet-with-iran-and-cuba/ Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:41:18 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ER https://www.habitablezone.com/2018/06/14/remember-how-outraged-republicans-were-when-obama-said-he-would-be-willing-to-meet-with-iran-and-cuba/#comment-41593 ER Fri, 15 Jun 2018 12:48:02 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=71401#comment-41593 Republicans were outraged when Obama did not insist on the issues of domestic human rights and international terrorism when he negotiated with Cuba and Iran. Obama felt those questions were separate and unconnected to the normalization of relations and arms control issues he discussed with those countries. His critics had some justification to declare that there should have been some linkage with those issues. Even if you didn't fully agree with them, it is clear they did have a point. On the other hand, there has been no Conservative outrage or indignation when Trump followed the same Obama policy when dealing with what is arguably a much more dangerous and despicable adversary, one with a clear record of supporting terror and oppressing his own people. What could possibly be the reason for this inconsistency? Could it be that Obama was a Liberal, and anything he did had to be reflexively attacked and condemned? Or could the fact that he was black have anything to do with it? Oh yeah, right. I'm WAY outta line. Once again, I would like to point out that it is not merely Trump's hypocrisy that is the issue here. He is just one man. What really steams me is the sycophancy and pettiness of his followers. The GOP is now Trump's party, and even those in it who may disagree with him have learned to keep their mouths shut and look the other way no matter what he does. They realize that his ideology demands lock-step obedience and those who do not provide it will simply be purged out of the Party. Right now, the Trump faction only has that authority over fellow Republicans and Conservatives. If they can maintain their majority after the mid-term elections, they will be able to extend that authority to everyone else. No constitutional right can long survive a total one party majority. If the Conservatives emerge victorious from the mid-terms, they will have two unobstructed years to fully consolidate their power without fear of opposition or retribution. The America of 2020 will be unrecognizable, even if Mr Trump is no longer around. Enjoy your tax cuts. You will have earned them. Republicans were outraged when Obama did not insist on the issues of domestic human rights and international terrorism when he negotiated with Cuba and Iran. Obama felt those questions were separate and unconnected to the normalization of relations and arms control issues he discussed with those countries. His critics had some justification to declare that there should have been some linkage with those issues. Even if you didn’t fully agree with them, it is clear they did have a point.

On the other hand, there has been no Conservative outrage or indignation when Trump followed the same Obama policy when dealing with what is arguably a much more dangerous and despicable adversary, one with a clear record of supporting terror and oppressing his own people. What could possibly be the reason for this inconsistency? Could it be that Obama was a Liberal, and anything he did had to be reflexively attacked and condemned? Or could the fact that he was black have anything to do with it? Oh yeah, right. I’m WAY outta line.

Once again, I would like to point out that it is not merely Trump’s hypocrisy that is the issue here. He is just one man. What really steams me is the sycophancy and pettiness of his followers. The GOP is now Trump’s party, and even those in it who may disagree with him have learned to keep their mouths shut and look the other way no matter what he does. They realize that his ideology demands lock-step obedience and those who do not provide it will simply be purged out of the Party. Right now, the Trump faction only has that authority over fellow Republicans and Conservatives. If they can maintain their majority after the mid-term elections, they will be able to extend that authority to everyone else. No constitutional right can long survive a total one party majority. If the Conservatives emerge victorious from the mid-terms, they will have two unobstructed years to fully consolidate their power without fear of opposition or retribution. The America of 2020 will be unrecognizable, even if Mr Trump is no longer around.

Enjoy your tax cuts. You will have earned them.

]]> By: ER https://www.habitablezone.com/2018/06/14/remember-how-outraged-republicans-were-when-obama-said-he-would-be-willing-to-meet-with-iran-and-cuba/#comment-41592 ER Fri, 15 Jun 2018 03:13:22 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=71401#comment-41592 but it is not allowed to salute when out of uniform, although a uniformed officer is allowed to salute a civilian as a formal greeting, but the civilian is not expected to return it. Military courtesy requires the junior officer salutes the senior first, and the senior then must return the salute, even if their countries are at war. It is said Gen Eisenhower refused to return Reichsmarshal Goering's salute when they met, but I guess he can be forgiven. I suppose the President IS permitted to return a military salute to an <em>American</em> serviceman since he is, technically, in his chain of command. (Like when POTUS returns the salute of a Marine guard when stepping out of Air Force One). Even so, I always find that jarring when I see it on TV. But he is certainly not expected to salute or return the salutes of foreign military personnel. The General followed correct protocol, but our President has once again embarrassed us in front of the entire world. He might as well have knelt and kissed the General's ring. By a recent act of Congress, I am authorized (as a combat veteran) to salute the colors at ceremonial occasions, even if I am wearing civilian clothes. Yes, I am officially a combat veteran, even though I was never in combat, since my ship conducted combat patrols in wartime and I was awarded combat pay). As for bowing to foreign royalty, that is simply protocol, and I'm sure Obama was thoroughly briefed on it by State Department experts. If I am introduced to Queen Elizabeth, good manners requires I bow, a lady would curtsey, not because we are expressing obedience to her personally but to show respect to her country, but it is not allowed to salute when out of uniform, although a uniformed officer is allowed to salute a civilian as a formal greeting, but the civilian is not expected to return it. Military courtesy requires the junior officer salutes the senior first, and the senior then must return the salute, even if their countries are at war.

It is said Gen Eisenhower refused to return Reichsmarshal Goering’s salute when they met, but I guess he can be forgiven.

I suppose the President IS permitted to return a military salute to an American serviceman since he is, technically, in his chain of command. (Like when POTUS returns the salute of a Marine guard when stepping out of Air Force One). Even so, I always find that jarring when I see it on TV. But he is certainly not expected to salute or return the salutes of foreign military personnel. The General followed correct protocol, but our President has once again embarrassed us in front of the entire world. He might as well have knelt and kissed the General’s ring.

By a recent act of Congress, I am authorized (as a combat veteran) to salute the colors at ceremonial occasions, even if I am wearing civilian clothes. Yes, I am officially a combat veteran, even though I was never in combat, since my ship conducted combat patrols in wartime and I was awarded combat pay).

As for bowing to foreign royalty, that is simply protocol, and I’m sure Obama was thoroughly briefed on it by State Department experts. If I am introduced to Queen Elizabeth, good manners requires I bow, a lady would curtsey, not because we are expressing obedience to her personally but to show respect to her country,

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