# Does the President have a cool uniform? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 2, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768 "2006-03-02T16:28:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/21 "2006-03-03T04:06:07Z")
[It should look something lke this](http://www.theforce.net/swtc/Pix/dvd/zs/tesb/veers01.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/22 "2006-03-03T04:44:52Z")
The cite from the Constitution says that the President can not receive any other emolument from the United States or any of them. He can, of course, take all he can get from Dubai. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/23 "2006-03-03T05:58:10Z")
\ **David** , having met you on a couple of occasions, I think you’re a hell of a guy. But I’m afraid I’m going to have to slap your hand for inappropriate comments in GQ. Please keep those type of comments to GD or The Pit. Thanks. \ ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/24 "2006-03-03T06:04:39Z")
> [@Rico](#): > > \ > > **David** , having met you on a couple of occasions, I think you’re a hell of a guy. But I’m afraid I’m going to have to slap your hand for inappropriate comments in GQ. > > Please keep those type of comments to GD or The Pit. Thanks. > > \ And I know better, too. I’m sorry and apologize. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/25 "2006-03-03T07:03:31Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Now, Johnson could wear fatigues when visiting 'Nam and W can wear a flight suit when on an airplane, well, because those are practical and sensible work clothes for the operational environment (whether it’s practical and sensible for a President to be in that operational environment is a separate issue). Yeah, the big thing that Flight Suits have going for them is that they’re considerably more fire-resistant than most business suits. Of course, that’s assuming the President doesn’t get some sort of SuperSuit with fire-resistant wrinkle-proof fabrics and a necktie with a secret radio transponder for emergencies or something. 😃 In any case, flight suits are just COOL. However, all those pockets, and alas, no good place to keep a wallet and car keys, in my experience. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/26 "2006-03-03T14:47:30Z")
As further proof that Americans wouldn’t have much interest in a president that wore a uniform, I remember seeing, at the Museum of American History, photos of fancy gold trimmed Secret Service uniforms with peaked caps that Nixon had designed. They caused quite an uproar because many people thought they looked like “palace guards” and they were quickly scrapped. Obviously if a Pres. decided he wanted a fancy uniform it would be viewed even more harshly. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/27 "2006-03-03T15:34:37Z")
> [@David Simmons](#): > > the leave that they had accumulated was what was being paid, not their services at the time they were on terminal leave. A service member on terminal leave is still an active duty service member, subject to recall should his services be required. Had s/he chosen not to take leave prior to seperation, then the balance of the leave owed would be paid as you describe. But the fact of the matter is, even while on leave (even terminal leave) you’re still 100% in the military. Former SrA Earthworm Jim, USAF ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/28 "2006-03-03T17:37:05Z")
> [@Earthworm Jim](#): > > A service member on terminal leave is still an active duty service member, subject to recall should his services be required. Had s/he chosen not to take leave prior to seperation, then the balance of the leave owed would be paid as you describe. But the fact of the matter is, even while on leave (even terminal leave) you’re still 100% in the military. > > Former SrA Earthworm Jim, USAF Oh sure. I agree that this would be at least a short term exception to the rule about double government employment. Terminal leave, though, is just that. Should there be a sudden emergency declared that required the military to recall the retiree, the other government job would terminate. Knowing the fussiness of disbursing officers I would guess that if two paychecks somehow were paid past the original end of terminal leave that such money would have to be returned to the government. I don’t think we have any major differences. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/29 "2006-03-03T21:02:45Z")
> [@brianmelendez](#): > > You’re not mistaken. The prohibition appears in [article I, section 6](http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articlei.html#section6): Exactly. The practice of Congressman and Senators also serving in the military has been challenged in court, but I don’t think it’s gone anywhere. The best-known challenge was in _Schlesinger v. Reservists’ Committee to Stop the War_ (1974), 418 U.S. 208, but the Supreme Court (mistakenly, IMHO) dismissed the case, finding that the plaintiffs lacked standing either as U.S. citizens or as taxpayers. But jeez, who else _would_ have standing? An active-duty service member who argued that a Congresswoman who was also serving in the military couldn’t give him an order? ---
**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/30 "2006-03-04T03:37:50Z")
Dubya wore this gown while addressing a graduation. I think something like this would be nice for the State of the Union address. [http://www.thehollywoodliberal.com/bush\_graduation\_speech1.jpg](http://www.thehollywoodliberal.com/bush_graduation_speech1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/31 "2006-03-04T14:08:55Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Yeah, the big thing that Flight Suits have going for them is that they’re considerably more fire-resistant than most business suits. > … > In any case, flight suits are just COOL. However, all those pockets, and alas, no good place to keep a wallet and car keys, in my experience. ☹ G. Gordon Liddy almost lost it when he was talking about how Bush looked in his flight suit on _Hardball_. About how “he’s striding across the deck, and he’s wearing his parachute harness, you know…and it makes the best of his manly characteristic…You know, all those women who say size doesn’t count - they’re all liars. Check that out!” So far, that seems to be the most that Bush has going for him. His “manliness.” So far, that’s what the world has gained from his being commander and chief of the armed forces. feh. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/32 "2006-03-04T22:59:44Z")
**CC**. A word, please. You have **twice** used this thread to make political comments. End it now. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/33 "2006-03-04T23:09:21Z")
my bad. hand slapped. duly chastised. will do. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/34 "2006-03-04T23:23:12Z")
> [@DaveRaver](#): > > Dubya wore this gown while addressing a graduation. I think something like this would be nice for the State of the Union address. Aw, I was kind of rooting for the [poncho](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/main.jhtml?xml=/fashion/2004/11/23/efponch23.xml). > [@Elendil's Heir](#): > > The chain of command runs from the President, to the Secretary of Defense, to the regional combatant commanders (formerly known as CINCs, as in CINCPAC or CINCSAC, but changed in 2002 to make clear that there’s only one commander-in-chief: the President). Huh. I hadn’t heard about that nomenclature change before, but apparently I just hadn’t [got the memo](http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aacincsunk.htm): > [@](#): > > [Oct. 2002] Reminding the US Military that America has only one true commander in chief – President Bush – Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has forbidden the long-used acronym of “CINC” (pronounced “sink”) when referring to for military officers. > > Since before World War II, US Military personnel had commonly used “CINC” as the shortened version of “commander in chief” when referring to commanders of unified commands. For example, the official titles “Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command” or “Commander in Chief, U.S. Transportation Command,” were shortened to “CINC PAC” and “CINC USTRANSCOM” in both verbal and written communications. > > However, in a recent memorandum, Rumsfeld reminds all personnel that the exclusive and proper use of the title commander in chief is “enshrined” in Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution […] > > Rumsfeld goes on to order that the term “combatant commander,” which he said he had been using for months, should immediately be used when referring to regional organizations such as the newly created U.S. Northern Command and “commander” when talking about a specified unit such as the U.S. Strategic Command. […] > > Recognizing that untold dollars had been spent over the years having them printed up, Rumsfeld ordered that existing stocks of stationary and signs using the CINC acronym should be done only as necessary in regular maintenance and should not result in " any undue additional cost to taxpayers." Odd. Does anybody know the reason for this change? If the military has managed to carry on for the past seventy years or so without mistaking the CINCSAC for the President or vice versa, what was the point of changing the term now? Just reinforcing the prestige of the unitary executive, or what? ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/35 "2006-03-05T23:45:23Z")
> [@CC](#): > > G. Gordon Liddy almost lost it when he was talking about how Bush looked in his flight suit on _Hardball_. About how “he’s striding across the deck, and he’s wearing his parachute harness, you know…and it makes the best of his manly characteristic…You know, all those women who say size doesn’t count - they’re all liars. Check that out!” > > So far, that seems to be the most that Bush has going for him. His “manliness.” So far, that’s what the world has gained from his being commander and chief of the armed forces. feh. In the interests of pure factual accuracy, I have yet to hear any evidence that this “manliness” was genuine. Is there any cite to suggest that the contents of his uniform were not padded or enhanced? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/36 "2006-03-06T06:30:56Z")
Why are we to assume that he was padded? Explain. I thought it would be incumbent on you, if you are making such a claim, to prove this. Not for any doubter to prove the negative. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/37 "2006-03-06T06:34:47Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > Why are we to assume that he was padded? Explain. I thought it would be incumbent on you, if you are making such a claim, to prove this. Not for any doubter to prove the negative. Well, debating the veracity of his display strikes me as edging into political matters, so I’ll just retract my question since it’s probably verboten to get too much into a discussion of it here. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/38 "2006-03-06T15:46:55Z")
Ted Rall always shows Bush wearing a cool uniform. [Bush in uniform.](http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/uc/20060305/str060304.gif) ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/39 "2006-03-06T15:51:54Z")
I’ll be sure to keep my comments apolitical. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768/40 "2006-03-06T16:21:26Z")
You’d think the [X-Presidents](http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0679783628/ref=sib_rdr_fc/102-4179936-3952959?%5Fencoding=UTF8&p=S001&j=0#reader-page) would get cool uniforms to wear, but apparently not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-president-have-a-cool-uniform/346768.md?page=3)