[Comment deleted by Robbie --- one of the only rules I have about comments on my site is that you don't get to denigrate the US Military on my site. Criticize them if you want, but I won't host comments that run down better men and women then the likes of RFS.]

Have you been to Mardi Gras? It’s supposed to be fun. I personally don’t have a horse in this race but it’s a bit ridiculous watching the right try to make a big deal about the costume the Mayor wears in a parade.

At least he’s not wearing chaps or some sort of bondage wear.

(Although I’ll admit to cringing a bit when I saw Chuck Schumer looking a bit goofy in the West Indian Day parade in Brooklyn wearing a Hawaiian shirt. But I didn’t blog about it.)

Get over it! Have you not heard of freedom of speech/expression (i.e. First Amendment). Could swear the Constitution mentions something about that.

Also, it was freakin Mardis Gras. Sheesh, I guess we better warn the kids what they can/cannot wear on Halloween next year. Looks like the far-right crazies might mistake them for military imposters.

This confirms my theory that the further down the political spectrum towards the right one goes, humor diminishes at an astonishing rate, until everything is taken literally and enemies multiply exponentially.

So who was Bush impersonating when he stormed onto an aircraft carrier in full flight uniform and declared, “Mission Accomplished!”

How exactly do you hypocrites sleep at night?

While I realize that constitutionally President Shrub is commander-in-chief, that little charade was much more offensive to all the American serviceman/women who have died in battle since that fascistic publicity stunt.

CEO of America, Bush leads the US military to victory! Fall in line and sing my praises or you’re collaborating with the enemy. You don’t want to collaborate, do ya?

I wonder how many responses there will be to this blog before all hell breaks out…. oops, sorry, that’s RFS’s territory.

“I wonder how many responses there will be to this blog before all hell breaks out…. oops, sorry, that’s RFS’s territory.”

I’m upset at the responses but don’t have an intelligent rejoinder. Perhaps I shall resort to personal attacks on RFS so that I feel better.
Unfortunately, I am unable to coherently do so, thus I will refer to hell and somehow relate that to an anonymous person that I do not know.

There, I feel better.

I’m quite capable of speaking for myself, thank you. I really don’t have a strong opinion on this issue. I just like to stir up the coals and fan the fire once in a while. You do understand, right? lol

Scuse me if I’m brief, I’m leaving on a trip to South Dakota.

I guess it was too much to think that a bunch of lefties who have obviously never served in the military would still be able to fathom concepts such as honor and respect.

Just more of the Left “supporting the troops” in that special way that only they’re capable of.

And it is illegal to wear authentic military uniforms in the manner that Nagin is wearing it (with the medals attached to the uniform).

Bill — I’m amazed at the Liberal left who wants us to NOT print cartoons of muhammed because it offends muslims, but they could give a shit about the improper wearing of US military uniforms, which offends US Soldiers. You’ll have to excuse me if I don’t see the disprespectful wearing of a US military uniform as humerous the way that you do.

Word-
There is a big difference between the Commander and Chief wearing a uniform and the Mayor of New Orleans wearing a uniform. The Mayor did not even serve one minute in any Military Branch or National Guard unit. I know, I know, you are now going to pull out the well worn diatribe about The President’s service, before you do, did you serve our country in the Military?

Robbie-
It does appear that he is mocking LTG Honore with the cigar and all.
If he was only half the man LTG Honore is….

It does appear that he is mocking LTG Honore with the cigar and all.

That’s because Nagin is stuck on stupid.

Bill — I’m amazed at the Liberal left who wants us to NOT print cartoons of muhammed because it offends muslims,

I’m sorry, who are you talking about? The most prominent advocate against printing the cartoons I can remember was George Bush. Believe it or not there isn’t always a convenient liberal for you to attack who believes the opposite of what you do. (I suppose next you’ll attack the liberals who want to sell American ports to the UAE…)

And it is illegal to wear authentic military uniforms in the manner that Nagin is wearing it (with the medals attached to the uniform).
That’s nonesense. I’m sure there has never been a single arrest in US history of someone wearing a military uniform as costume. Nagin was not ‘impersonating’ an officer: he was not wearing a uniform with the intention of deceiving soldiers in to war.

There is a big difference between the Commander and Chief wearing a uniform and the Mayor of New Orleans wearing a uniform.

Is this really the line you’re going to go with? Do you honestly feel that the episode on the USS Abraham Lincoln was something besides a publicity stunt intended to be used for ads in 2004? If only things had worked out that way… Sure, that’s an enormous amount of respect George Bush has for the military.

One, Pres. Bush did fly on a military jet onto the carrier, so I can’t fault him for wearing a flight suit and he is the CIC. Two, yes the USS Lincoln ’s mission was accomplished and they were heading home. And, last, Pres. Bush’s appearance on the USS Abraham Lincoln was great. The troops loved it. We loved it. The only people who didn’t love it are the left. Years later you people are still whining about it. Seek help.

Two, yes the USS Lincoln ’s mission was accomplished and they were heading home.

(Clever attempt at deflecting the ridiculousness of the declaration ‘mission accomplished’…)

Of course, they would have been home already if the Lincoln hadn’t been ordered back to sea for the photo op.

Remind me, did Abraham Lincoln himself dress up as a soldier? No, because 1. we have something called ‘civillian control of the military’ and 2. it looks ridiculous.

Clever attempt? No, I just stated a fact. Facts kill you leftys all the time. The only people complaining about the speech are the lefties, not the sailors. I love the Abraham Lincoln non sequitur. You donks are just so out of touch with — well, everything. Keep it up!

this from a military wife who also was accused of impersonating an officer:

Mayor Nagin Disgraces Military Uniform on National TV
Sarah Smiley, Copyright 2006

About two years ago (on September 19, 2003, to be exact) I was caught doing a stupid thing: posing for a picture in a Navy officer’s cover (Story Here). That photograph — or “The Hat Picture” as it is known around the Smiley house now — was published in The Pensacola News Journal along with my first column, unleashing a deluge of angry messages and abruptly introducing me to the idea of “hate mail.”

When I posed for the photo, I thought it was innocent enough. Sure I had heard my Navy dad and husband talk about “respect for the military uniform,” so perhaps I should have known better. Yet unlike a child playing dress-up in Dad’s medals or wearing his uniform for fun on Halloween (I was never allowed to do either, by the way), the Hat Picture was meant to evoke a feeling and demonstrate my military roots. It was supposed to be reminiscent of romantic World War II images, or of Deborah Winger taking Richard Gere’s hat in An Officer and a Gentleman. It was supposed to underscore my position as a military wife.

I had the best of intentions.

A lot of readers disagreed. I was called names I had never heard of before, and ultimately, was accused of impersonating an officer, as per United States Code (10 USC, Subtitle A, Part II, Chapter 45, Sections 771 and 772). According to this, it is technically illegal for an unauthorized person to wear a military uniform or any recognizable piece of the uniform. The only exception: actors and actresses in a “theatrical setting” (a loop-hole giving men like Tom Cruise the right to wear a uniform in movies such as Top Gun).

I’m sure you can imagine my surprise when I learned that someone was actually pursuing legal action against me (a charge that might have landed me six months in prison, I was told) if I didn’t remove the photograph from my column. Sending me away for six months would make a darn good book, I said to the district attorney. He didn’t laugh.

Eventually my headshot was changed, but that didn’t stop the angry emails. Apparently I had touched a nerve and the debate took months to simmer down.

So why am I opening the pot again?

Because last week, on Tuesday, February 28, Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans sat for an interview with Today Show host Katie Couric, and he was wearing a four-star general’s Army fatigues, with ribbons and all. Nagin claimed later, although not during the actual interview, that he was wearing the uniform in honor of Lt. General Russel Honore, who has been in charge of the military efforts in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina. For nearly six minutes, Nagin sat (slouching, no less, in a chair) on national television in a military uniform, giving the impression to any one who didn’t know better that HE was the four-star general.

Watching the interview, I was shocked, first because no one questioned Nagin’s get-up and that he offered no explanation, but also because I felt offended by his mockery of the military uniform. For the first time, I realized how some reader’s felt when they saw my Hat Picture. (Although a military wife posing for a romantic photo is a lot different than a city official sitting for an interview on national television wearing a four-star general’s fatigues, don’t you think?) Yet still, “How dare him?!” went through my mind several times as I listened to Nagin talk.

And that he didn’t even volunteer explanation? Again, how dare him!

Initially, back in 2003, I felt righteous in my use of a military cover and couldn’t understand the anger it had caused. I was irritated that no one saw my point or realized my intentions. Lighten up, I said.

Over time, however, the angry e-mails started to make sense to me. Military men and women sacrifice so much to earn the right — the privilege — to wear their uniform. Who am I to use it and then say, “I meant no harm.”

As far as I’m concerned, Mayor Nagin wearing a four-star general’s uniform on television and not offering an explanation about it until pushed is probably equivalent to misleading the public, but definitely is an offense to the men and women of the armed services.

I apologize to my readers and those that I offended back in 2003.

Now, Mr. Nagin, shouldn’t you?

___________________________

Sarah Smiley is the author of Shore Duty, a syndicated newspaper column that reaches more than 2 million readers weekly, and of the memoir GOING OVERBOARD: The Misadventures of a Military Wife, which was recently featured in the New York Times and Newsweek, and on Nightline, CNN and MSNBC.

Smiley’s life rights were optioned by Kelsey Grammer’s company, Grammnet, and Paramount Television. A half-hour sitcom is now in development for CBS based on Smiley’s book and columns.

Read more about Sarah and subscribe to her newsletter at http://www.SarahSmiley.com

If you’d like to see SHORE DUTY in your local newspaper, write the managing editor of your daily paper and request it!

___________________________

[Post deleted by Robbie and this user IP address has been banned]

[Post Deleted by Robbie, and this user's IP address had been banned --- simple rules on MY website people: no denigrating or insulting US military personelle. I don't prohibit criticism, but outright disdain and insulting of these fine men and women will not be hosted on this site.]

After the comments that have been made in the past by Mayor Ray Nagin, it doesn’t surprise me in the least that he would do something so incredibly stupid like disrespecting a military uniform. When I was a kid, I dressed up as a soldier for halloween one year (wearing one of my dad’s old bdu’s). It wasn’t until I married a military man that I realized that it was inappropriate. My dad passed away way before that particular Halloween. I am sure that he would have not allowed me to wear that uniform had he been around.

There is such a thing as free speech, there is also something called responsible speech. Unfortunantly Ray Nagin exercises the former, regulary, and the later, NEVER. Ray, you are welcome to run your clown show “Choclate City” however you like but don’t be pissed off at the tax payer for not wanting to fund your circus. Don’t fool yourself it isn’t just the uniform you wear when you put on those camo’s and stars, it’s the blood and souls of countless men and women thoughout history, including those of our colored Brothers in Arms who you are mocking. If that is ok with you and your three ring act then so be it. As far as speaking in public though I would offer this. 1. Think about what you are going to say. 2. Say it to yourself. 3 shut the F&^% up.

hello

hello, i was in the navy for 4 years then went to college for 4 years. the i joined the army for 16 years. i was a teacher for my last 8 years at the army school of the americas. i stll wear my maroon beret, my big red maltese cross flash, and my major pin on the beret. i want to see or hear someone tell me that i can’t. my wife also wears hers with her 4th psych group flash, and lt pin even though she was medically discharged after a year. let me know if we are doing something illegal and we will stop, yeah right, ha ha. johnny and betsy in philly