Words Matter:
Garry Wills published an important commentary on today's New York Times Op-Ed page, "At Ease, Mr. President," pointing out what most of us never notice: The President is not our commander in chief. The Constitution names the President as "commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States" only. He is not my commander in chief. Although I am a veteran, I was honorably discharged many years ago.
This might seem a point of little concern, but the truth is that the constant tossing around of such verbiage serves to undermine the average citizen's political power. If the President is our Commander in Chief, we exist to serve his ends. If he is our elected official, he's in office to serve ours. But I guess that's a difficult concept for a boy born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Garry Wills published an important commentary on today's New York Times Op-Ed page, "At Ease, Mr. President," pointing out what most of us never notice: The President is not our commander in chief. The Constitution names the President as "commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States" only. He is not my commander in chief. Although I am a veteran, I was honorably discharged many years ago.
This might seem a point of little concern, but the truth is that the constant tossing around of such verbiage serves to undermine the average citizen's political power. If the President is our Commander in Chief, we exist to serve his ends. If he is our elected official, he's in office to serve ours. But I guess that's a difficult concept for a boy born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
posted by Jim | 3:54 PM
1 Comments:
Bush 43 was my commander-in-chief for the last 4 years of my 26-year career in the Air Force/Air Force Reserve. No question he was the gawdawfulest. Let me just say this: The worst boss I ever had in the Air Force (colonels and brigadier generals, for the most part) at least came around on Christmas Eve and wished everyone a happy holiday, sending us home for the day early. Bush 43 can't even get it through his thick draft-dodging skull to do something as simple as this gesture.
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