# Its too easy but I pit Ronulans **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 6, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670 "2012-01-06T21:50:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/21 "2012-01-08T18:10:18Z")
> [@GawnFishin](#): > > It does? I must admit to not being from the USA but I’ve never understood this idea. > > I generally look to the rank some one has achieved before deciding how much weight their opinion carries within the military and then work from the assumption that you need to be pretty highly ranked before you can start assuming they are speaking on behalf of the military. Even then it is only an assumption that really shouldn’t be made unless it is openly stated that they are speaking on behalf of the military because the military is civilian controlled and not the other way around. In the US, if someone appears in a uniform of ANY organization, then that person is assumed to be acting on behalf of that organization. If I showed up somewhere dressed as a den mother for the Boy Scouts (actually, for the Cub Scouts), people would assume that I was there in an official capacity as a den mother. If I appeared in a sports team uniform, people would assume that I was a spokesperson for that team. It’s actually against the law to be actively involved in a political activity while in military uniform in the US. It’s a court-martial offense. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/22 "2012-01-08T18:31:40Z")
Plus their subjugation and treatment of the Remans was appalling. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/23 "2012-01-08T18:45:25Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Plus their subjugation and treatment of the Remans was appalling. You mean the Renans. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/24 "2012-01-08T19:04:27Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You mean the Renans. 🙂 Janet Reno 2016! ---
**Author:** ![Oliveritaly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oliveritaly/32/15233_2.png) [@Oliveritaly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oliveritaly)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/25 "2012-01-10T09:50:49Z")
[http://www.lineofdeparture.com/2012/01/04/an-open-letter-to-everyone/](http://www.lineofdeparture.com/2012/01/04/an-open-letter-to-everyone/) I thought this blogger had a very good take on this situation. I’m retired military and work around active duty soldier’s every day … there’s a lot of blame to go around … ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/26 "2012-01-10T13:19:29Z")
We just better hope they don’t develop cloaking technology. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/27 "2012-01-10T14:15:52Z")
I disapprove of their lack of respect for the agreed boundaries of the neutral zone. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/28 "2012-01-10T14:39:18Z")
> [@Oliveritaly](#): > > [http://www.lineofdeparture.com/2012/01/04/an-open-letter-to-everyone/](http://www.lineofdeparture.com/2012/01/04/an-open-letter-to-everyone/) > > I thought this blogger had a very good take on this situation. I’m retired military and work around active duty soldier’s every day … there’s a lot of blame to go around … Thanks for that. Can’t find anything I disagree with there. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/29 "2012-01-10T14:45:42Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I disapprove of their lack of respect for the agreed boundaries of the neutral zone. Nicelyt played. Ron does of course support free Enterprise… ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/30 "2012-01-10T15:27:04Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > It’s actually against the law to be actively involved in a political activity while in military uniform in the US. It’s a court-martial offense. The Hatch Act makes it illegal for _any_ federal employee to engage in political activity while in uniform or while on duty. When I was a fed we were not to have any campaign materials or even pictures of the candidates in our offices. I believe the only exception was if you had a personal picture of yourself with the candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/31 "2012-01-10T17:26:28Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Nicelyt played. > > Ron does of course support free Enterprise… That is out of bounds even for the pit. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/32 "2012-01-10T17:36:06Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > Hold on - supporting people’s right to political speech is “cult-like” now? > > I only saw the part where the reporter was interviewing him, but I have no issue with what he said there, which was only two things: > > That he wished American troops could come back home. > > That he voted for the candidate who supported this position. > > He didn’t claim he represented the Army as a whole, or say anything remotely scandalous. It doesn’t matter. You cannot say anything or do anything while in uniform as that may be mistaken as official policy on behalf of the US military. While the military is inextricably involved in the political process, the members may not appear in any official capacity at any political event, and any statement made in uniform either forces the military to refute the soldier or forces the military into committing to something that they cannot legally commit to, being under civilian control. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/33 "2012-01-10T17:44:24Z")
From Department of Defense Directive 1344.10: > [@](#): > > [A member of the Armed Forces on active duty shall not:] > > 4.1.2.5. Speak before a partisan political gathering, including any gathering that promotes a partisan political party, candidate, or cause. > > 4.1.2.1. Participate in partisan political fundraising activities (except as permitted in subparagraph 4.1.1.7.), rallies, conventions (including making speeches in the course thereof), management of campaigns, or debates, either on one’s own behalf or on that of another, without respect to uniform or inference or appearance of official sponsorship, approval, or endorsement. Participation includes more than mere attendance as a spectator. > > 4.1.4. Subject to any other restrictions in law, a member of the Armed Forces not on active duty may take the actions or participate in the activities permitted in subparagraph 4.1.1., and may take the actions and participate in the activities prohibited in subparagraph 4.1.2, provided the member is not in uniform and does not otherwise act in a manner that could reasonably give rise to the inference or appearance of official sponsorship, approval, or endorsement. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/34 "2012-01-10T21:00:23Z")
> [@Baracus](#): > > The Hatch Act makes it illegal for _any_ federal employee to engage in political activity while in uniform or while on duty. When I was a fed we were not to have any campaign materials or even pictures of the candidates in our offices. I believe the only exception was if you had a personal picture of yourself with the candidate. I only knew about the military uniform problem because my husband was in the Air Force for 12 years, and I was married to him for most of that time. I got exposed to a lot of military information, from him and from other people in the service or married to service members. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/35 "2012-01-10T21:33:26Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > From Department of Defense Directive 1344.10: Since the guy in question is a reservist only certain portions of the directive are applicable. I believe it’s paragraph 4.3. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/36 "2012-01-10T21:53:17Z")
Why do I remember seeing all sorts of military uniforms standing behind candidates at political rallies. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/37 "2012-01-10T23:05:30Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > We just better hope they don’t develop cloaking technology. Ever **seen** a Ronulan? We just better hope they develop cloaking technology. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/38 "2012-01-10T23:17:30Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Nicelyt played. > > Ron does of course support free Enterprise… But he’s against the Fed … and I doubt credits are backed by gold. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/39 "2012-01-10T23:17:34Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Why do I remember seeing all sorts of military uniforms standing behind candidates at political rallies. Perhaps it’s not candidates but elected officials. You know how Presidents always have their military guy sitting front and center during the State of the Union Address? That’s legitimate because it’s considered an honor. Arguably every elected official is campaigning all the time, but if the event is not specifically for that purpose but for honoring guests or the like it is legitimate, like a Veteran’s day event. It gets complicated. The easiest way to avoid having problems is to clear your appearance through your base’s Public Affairs office. They will approve or disapprove and put specific conditions on your appearance such as what you may or may not say. If they approve it it’s all kosher and you may participate, but you may not make the decision to attend in uniform for yourself like this guy apparently did, and you certainly may not make off-the-cuff statements that potentially embarrass your chain of command or the military as a whole. Rule of thumb: if you make a declarative statement it may not be about policy, operational information, troop deployments, or anything political. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670/40 "2012-01-10T23:39:14Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Why do I remember seeing all sorts of military uniforms standing behind candidates at political rallies. That usually happens with the sitting president. But you are mistaken. Those are not political rallies. The president is allowed to act as the president and commander in chief. For instance Obama at Fort Bragg in front of the troops making a speech about the end of the Iraq War. Or Bush on the aircraft carrier making a speech about the end of the Iraq War. The President often uses an audience of soldiers to speak about military policy, in and out of the election cycle. And those soldiers are not there to support the president politically, they are there to hear their commander speak about an issue regarding them. One of the perks of being president, they get to look presidential. What you will not see is soldiers in uniform at campaign events or at political fund raisers. There is a very distinct difference. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-too-easy-but-i-pit-ronulans/608670.md?page=3)