President Trump was afraid of rain on the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI

[lpetrich]

Twitter Pelts Trump With Photos Of Obama In The Rain After He Ditches Cemetery Visit | HuffPost

Critics were stunned that President Donald Trump skipped a visit Saturday to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in France – where U.S. war dead were being honored – because of rain. They zapped him with a a series of tweets showing Barack Obama in downpours honoring those who fought in wars in what was bound to be particularly galling to the president.

As many as 1,800 American soldiers killed in the World War I battle of Belleau Wood are buried in the French cemetery. But Trump ditched his planned visit and stayed in his hotel room because of unspecified “scheduling and logistical difficulties caused by the weather,” according to a White House statement. Instead, a delegation led by Chief of Staff John Kelly traveled to the cemetery 50 miles outside of Paris by car. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron were among the world leaders who made the trip.

The rest of the article shows lots of pictures of Barack Obama speaking in rainy weather. Toward the end is a picture of Canadian Prime Minister speaking in that rain. He stated “As we sit here in the rain, thinking how uncomfortable we must be these minutes as our suits get wet, and our hair gets wet...it’s all the more fitting that we remember on that day in Dieppe the rain wasn’t rain, it was bullets.”

The article ended with pictures of Ronald Reagan and George Bush I or II speaking in some rain.

 

[untermensche]

Not fair.

Those people were not bald with a bunch of sewn in pieces to make them look like they have hair.

 

[lpetrich]

Putin Gave Trump a Special Thumbs Up at the Armistice Day Commemorations

Putin gave First Lady Melania Trump, Merkel, Macron, and French First Lady Brigitte Macron polite handshakes. Only Trump received the thumbs up, and Trump was also the only leader to pat Putin on the back—a gesture the Russian authoritarian reciprocated with a warm pat on the arm.

...
It’s not been a great trip for the president. He started off the weekend by insulting his host, Macron, via Twitter. Then, on Veterans' Day Weekend, Trump skipped the commemoration of the Battle of Belleau Wood, where 2,000 U.S. Marines perished. The White House cited rainy weather for the President’s cancellations, but the drizzle didn’t stop Macron, Merkel, and Canada’s Justin Trudeau from making an appearance.

John Kerry:

President @realDonaldTrump a no-show because of raindrops? Those veterans the president didn’t bother to honor fought in the rain, in the mud, in the snow - & many died in trenches for the cause of freedom. Rain didn’t stop them & it shouldn’t have stopped an American president.

The article closed with a picture of Donald Trump smiling at Vladimir Putin.

Putin and Trump: Smiles and a Thumbs Up at WWI Ceremony | Time

Trump, Putin and dozens of fellow world leaders gathered at the Arc de Triomphe in central Paris to commemorate the over 8 million people who died in World War I, which ended 100 years ago on Sunday. French President Emmanuel Macron led the ceremonies, warning of the continued danger of unchecked nationalism in a speech.

Brian Klaas:

Putin murders journalists & opponents, recently used a nerve agent to assassinate a dissident on British soil, annexed Crimea, facilitates war crimes, and attacked American democracy. This is how Trump reacted when he saw him (notice the difference with Macron/Merkel)

Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel looked relatively grim.

 

[Keith&Co.]

Instead, a delegation led by Chief of Staff John Kelly traveled to the cemetery 50 miles outside of Paris by car.

So, logistics and scheduling didn't prevent SOMEONE from going...
And the Scheduling conflict didn't require Kelly to be on hand for Trump. Not like a U2 was shot down or an Embassy was under attack...

Nothing above preserve us.

Really, I don't care that Trump does or doesn't honor the dead, or even if he is comfortable.

Nothing knows these guys died for his right to stay in a hotel if there's rain. And my Oldest is in uniform right now to try to make sure that the worst thing Trump has to decide is whether or not he will sit in a limo for 50 miles and get rained on for a little while.

Just don't act like this and PRETEND to be a tough bastard. This is the guy that would run unarmed into an active shooting school to stop a gunman, but can't face up to rain for a photo op?

 

[lpetrich]

As to what the soldiers in WWI went through, consider how the  Trench coat got its name:

A trench coat or trenchcoat is a raincoat made of waterproof heavy-duty cotton gabardine drill, leather, or poplin.[1] It generally has a removable insulated lining, raglan sleeves, and the classic versions come in various lengths ranging from just above the ankles (the longest) to above the knee (the shortest).[1] It was originally an item of clothing for Army officers (developed before the war but adapted for use in the trenches of the First World War, hence its name) and shows this influence in its styling.

 

[Keith&Co.]

As to what the soldiers in WWI went through, consider how the  Trench coat got its name:

Or Trench Foot...

 

[lpetrich]

 Trench foot

Trench foot is a medical condition caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to damp, unsanitary, and cold conditions. It is one of many immersion foot syndromes. The use of the word trench in the name of this condition is a reference to trench warfare, mainly associated with World War I.

 

[ideologyhunter]

Be fair. Rain makes his bone spurs act up.

 

[poster]

I've been participating in forum discussions long enough that I've probably witnessed every conceivable argument there is for and against honoring military personnel who've died in a war. We go through this every Veteran's day.

The dead can't know they're being honored, so the real purpose for this sort of show is to send the message to current and future military personnel that military service is honorable and that those who attend are somewhat inoculated against some criticisms for engaging in war-like activities.

That Trump didn't find this exercise important enough to get wet and chance however he'd look from it might be a possible sign of a reluctance that he'll send military troops into harm's way. There's no telling anything with Trump because he flies by the seat of his pants so often.

 

[barbos]

He is a stable nationalist

 

[barbos]

Putin Gave Trump a Special Thumbs Up at the Armistice Day Commemorations

It was a sarcastic thumb up, like saying "Great to see you, stable genius!"

 

[Elixir]

Putin Gave Trump a Special Thumbs Up at the Armistice Day Commemorations

It was a sarcastic thumb up, like saying "Great to see you, stable genius!"

I think it was more like "Don't worry Donny boy, you're doing fine - I haven't given the tapes away ... yet! Just stay the course!"

 

[Keith&Co.]

Nah, that would be like saying the purpose of a funeral for a motorcycle fatality is to tell future motorcyclists that it's okay to drive too fast on rain-slick roads.

Funerals are for the living, memorials are for the living without having to haul a casket around. People salute the flag and honor the dead and tell themselves they're patriots.

Trump, however, sees the military as toys, a playset that belongs to him as President. He wants a military parade, not to honor the military, but to get a chubby for having troops line up to salute him like a successful commander.

 

[untermensche]

The man says he is a leader.

But in real world situations among other leaders of nations he is leading nobody.

He is a laughed at outcast.

 

[southernhybrid]

No surprise that Trump didn't want to get wet. After all, snowflakes do melt in the rain.

 

[lpetrich]

Emmanuel Macron rebukes nationalism as Trump observes Armistice Day - CNNPolitics In a speech that day,

"Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism," he said through a translator. "Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism. By saying our interests first, who cares about the others, we erase what a nation holds dearest, what gives it life, what makes it great and what is essential: its moral values."

"I know there are old demons which are coming back to the surface. They are ready to wreak chaos and death," he said. "History sometimes threatens to take its sinister course once again."

Trump delivered a short speech:

"Each of these marble crosses and Stars of David marks the life of an American warrior -- great, great warriors they are -- who gave everything for family, country, God and freedom," Trump said in the 10-minute speech, which was the centerpiece of his visit to Paris for the armistice centenary.

Nothing on the broader meaning of that war, like the US getting involved with Europe. Nothing like saying "We thought at first that we were too proud to fight, but Germany's attacks on us eventually became too much and we had to get into the war."

 

[lpetrich]

Emmanuel Macron warns of ‘dangers’ of nationalism in Armistice speech aimed at Trump and Putin | The Independent

Mr Trump defended his use of the phrase just last week, saying: “You know what the word is? I love our country. You have nationalists. You have globalists. I also love the world and I don’t mind helping the world, but we have to straighten out our country first. We have a lot of problems.”

French President Macron delivered a 20-minute speech, saying

“Ruining this hope with a fascination for withdrawal, violence or domination would be a mistake for which future generations would rightly find us responsible,” he said.

The French leader also defended the European Union and the United Nations, which he said guaranteed peace and enshrined “a spirit of cooperation to defend the common property of a world whose destiny is inextricably linked”.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that

“lack of communication and unwillingness to compromise” can have deadly consequences.

Making an impassioned plea for world peace and cooperation 100 years after Germany’s defeat in the First World War, she said “we must not simply stand by and watch” as more conflicts continue to unfold around the world.

Both leaders thus delivered veiled rebukes to President Trump and his policies.

 

[ZiprHead]

No surprise that Trump didn't want to get wet. After all, snowflakes do melt in the rain.

I'm stealing this.

 

[braces_for_impact]

Seriously, the idea that Trump is some sort of Alpha male only exists in the incredible lack of imagination of his followers. The man is a selfish asshole.

 

[lpetrich]

Trump taunts Macron over European army with world war jibe: 'They were learning German in Paris before US came along' | The Independent

In a 6.50am post likely to provoke dismay in Europe days after he visited the French capital to commemorate the First World War centenary, the US president wrote: “Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the US, China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two.”

He added: “How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not!

Then he grumbled over Twitter about French wine tariffs and EM's approval ratings and EM's slam of nationalism before tweeting "MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN!" From the article, "The outburst was a theatrical escalation of Mr Trump’s indignant response to his French counterpart’s suggestion of a “true European army” to help the EU defend against threats."

First pResident Trump wants Europeans to contribute more to their defense, and then he turns around and objects to them having their own army.