# Obama does his best to degrade a couple of Marines. Next episode: Wipers! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 16, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538 "2013-05-16T18:51:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/281 "2013-05-19T19:35:27Z")
> [@Doggo](#): > > BTW, does insulting other people from the safety of your anonimity make you feel like a “real man”? > If I was able to come round to yours and punch you in the face would you be so brave? I see the latest issue of ‘Internet Tough Guy’ magazine has reached certain people’s mailboxes. ---
**Author:** ![Bouncer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bouncer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouncer)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/282 "2013-05-19T20:18:51Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > the accepted protocols of bumbershoot deployment in anticipation of engagement with precipitation, inclement, several minutes of. I would simply like to say thank you for the tremendous belly laugh you just gave me. Every time I read that phrase I start laughing. You’ve written OP orders before. Regards, -Bouncer- ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/283 "2013-05-19T20:28:49Z")
> [@Doggo](#): > > If I was able to come round to yours and punch you in the face would you be so brave? It wouldn’t frighten me, because I can usually pacify the mildly retarded with sweets. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/284 "2013-05-19T20:28:55Z")
> [@Doggo](#): > > If I was able to come round to yours and punch you in the face would you be so brave? Yeah, pretty much, because you are such a pussy my kid sister could take you down. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/285 "2013-05-19T20:39:11Z")
Is that the sister who hunts grizzly bear with a baseball bat? ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/286 "2013-05-19T21:43:17Z")
> [@Bouncer](#): > > I would simply like to say thank you for the tremendous belly laugh you just gave me. > > Every time I read that phrase I start laughing. You’ve written OP orders before. > > Regards, > -Bouncer- Is that some strange for of military English where the words don’t occur in the proper sequence. (For work, I read a lot of contract. I know that Legalese is a special form of English but I’ve never come across this). ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/287 "2013-05-19T21:48:41Z")
> [@Doggo](#): > > Actually, it’s liberals that are constantly wobbling on about him being black, as though that makes him the second coming. Why can’t you just ditch the color references altogether. Does anyone refer to Hillary as a “white” person, as if it matters? Constantly? Hardly. Only when similar behavior in white presidents didn’t result in the same kind of outrage that results when Obama does anything the least bit…presidential. Sorry that it pisses you off that it’s actually worthy of discussion that America has its first non-white president. > [@Doggo](#): > > Actually, I consider it to apply to any president, but the other times it happened I wasn’t posting on this forum. Still being a jackass, I see, since others have already explained that Marines holding an umbrella for the president is not worthy of outrage, or even mild ‘feh.’ > [@Doggo](#): > > BTW, does insulting other people from the safety of your anonimity make you feel like a “real man”? I’m female. And I insulted you not to feel like “a real man,” but because you are worthy of insult. > [@Doggo](#): > > If I was able to come round to yours and punch you in the face would you be so brave? Come at me, bro. Or not. I’ll wait to see if the mods respond to such a ridiculous display of tiny penis syndrome. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/288 "2013-05-19T22:16:26Z")
> [@lisacurl](#): > > [4 Presidents, 4 Umbrellas, 1 Outrage - What’s the Difference?](http://imgur.com/6Ehz1cV) ## Great cite. And entirely predictable: normal people understand that it’s hardly unusual for Presidents to be surrounded by helpers, particularly during diplomatic functions. The Atlantic Monthly observes: Presidents look like doofuses in the rain: > **[The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/)** > > The Atlantic covers news, politics, culture, technology, health, and more, through its articles, podcasts, videos, and flagship magazine. They report that Umbrellagate is a bit of wet squib: > **[The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/)** > > The Atlantic covers news, politics, culture, technology, health, and more, through its articles, podcasts, videos, and flagship magazine. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/289 "2013-05-19T22:32:29Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Is that some strange for of military English where the words don’t occur in the proper sequence. > > (For work, I read a lot of contract. I know that Legalese is a special form of English but I’ve never come across this). “Umbrella, black nylon, folding, 1 each. Government issue. All previous editions obsolete” ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/290 "2013-05-19T22:44:49Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > I stand corrected, couldn’t make out the second stripes. I stand by the rest of my gist, however. > > May as well add: umbrellas were on hand, honor guard was on hand–most likely the Marines were briefed beforehand regarding the accepted protocols of bumbershoot deployment in anticipation of engagement with precipitation, inclement, several minutes of. Exactly this. Does the OP think the umbrellas appeared by magic? It is pretty obvious that the marines were told “be ready to hold an umbrella if it starts raining,” and that the President was told “the marines will hold an umbrella if it starts raining.” Many people–I suspect the OP among them–have this really exaggerated authoritarian view of how things get done by people in charge, entailing that every decision starts from the top. But that just ain’t how it is. The president sets the agenda, but concerning details (and indeed, some of the president’s “details” are the stuff careers are made of) he’s shuffled around from place to place just like many of the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/291 "2013-05-19T22:51:16Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I for one would like to thank the OP for exposing the most blatant coverup I have ever witnessed from government officials. I saw what you did there. 😛 > [@Doggo](#): > > BTW, does insulting other people from the safety of your anonimity make you feel like a “real man”? It makes us feel like real users of the Pit forum, which exists precisely in order that Dopers may cuss and rant and be mean to each other in a contained environment. Honestly, honey, I’m no fan of messageboard aggression in general, but when you complain about having to endure personal insults in the _Pit_, it just makes you look like you don’t know your way around these boards yet. “You pusillanimous jackass” is basically just Pit-speak for “I disagree with your opinion for the reasons stated below”. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/292 "2013-05-19T23:26:24Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Is that the sister who hunts grizzly bear with a baseball bat? She’s switched to a 7 iron. Something about her rotator cuff. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Molesworth\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Molesworth\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molesworth_2)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/293 "2013-05-19T23:34:10Z")
Remember when President Bush was sending Marines to die in Iraq in a War based on lies? Pepperidge Farm remembers. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/294 "2013-05-19T23:54:48Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > “Umbrella, black nylon, folding, 1 each. Government issue. All previous editions obsolete” Would that be the M12A2 umbrella with the “release, button, manually activated”? I really want one of those bad boys. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/295 "2013-05-20T00:02:05Z")
> [@Doggo](#): > > Actually, it’s liberals that are constantly wobbling on about him being black, as though that makes him the second coming. I suppose if Jesus were holding the umbrella for president Obama, that would be a sin, too. But then again, if he _were_ the black messiah, you’d still be angry–because he’s black. Enjoy gnawing on your own soul, **Doggo**. I’m finished with you. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/296 "2013-05-20T00:11:56Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I am a master of Cringing Mantis Kung Pao! It’s not Kung Pao Cringing Mantis? I think I ordered that by mistage once. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > “Umbrella, black nylon, folding, 1 each. Government issue. All previous editions obsolete” Sounds like I can get an old Mil Spec umbrella down at the Army-Navy store, but I suppose I’ll need to clean off the cosmoline. I hear the DOD over-ordered before Desert Storm, having been misinformed about the amount of rain Kuwait gets. ETA: Nothing. I was going to fix the typo but I think it adds a continental flair. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/297 "2013-05-20T00:41:53Z")
And what continent would that be? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/298 "2013-05-20T00:43:10Z")
Atlantis, I’m guessing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/299 "2013-05-20T00:47:00Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Well damn, I kind of wish I was an attention whore troll, cuz this thread would have fit the bill perfectly. > > Unfortunately, I’ll be spending the next ten days with pretty much all of my internet access limited to my phone…and I’ve no intention of playing this game via Swype. > > So farewell for now, and I love you all. Mwah! Mwah! Mwah# Limited to your phone? What happened, was that all you could fit in there with your head so far up your ass? Damn, you are one stupid sack of shit. Good thing your kind isn’t running the executive branch anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/300 "2013-05-20T02:20:44Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > > [@Clothahump](#): > > > > One has to ask why somebody wasn’t smart enough to bother to look at a weather report, see that it might rain, and hold the function indoors. Then one remembers that it is the Obama administration. > > Or they could hold it outside with umbrellas ready in case it rains. > > Are you trying to parody yourself here? Not possible without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humour. With apologies to [Poe’s Law](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Poe's_Law): > [@](#): > > ”Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it is impossible to create a parody of \*\*Clothahump’s \*\*political views that SOMEONE won’t mistake for the real thing" [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538.md?page=16)