A salute is a military courtesy.
In America, the military is subordinate to the elected civilian leadership, it is NOT a coequal member of government and has no authority over the people (for damn good, historical reasons. And if you don't know why our Founders thought it necessary to make the military subordinate to the civilian population then you need to go back to school because you have failed history).
The president is the elected CIVILIAN Commander-in-Chief. As such he/she should never salute, wear the uniform, or engage in other military displays.
The president is not a general.
Commander-in-Chief is a CIVILIAN position, not a military one.
The president is not a member of the military or subject to the UCMJ (alas).
The president should not salute. Not even to return the gesture from a uniformed military member. He should nod and/or verbally acknowledge the courtesy (this is the same protocol as any military officer out of uniform) and he should put his hand over his heart in situations where the military would salute, such as the National Anthem or other ceremonies. The president must act AS a civilian to remind the people, the military, and HIMSELF of the Constitutional structure of our government, i.e. a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. The fact that so many of you do not understand this, do not understand the danger of a president who thinks himself a general and a military that regards itself as ABOVE the people, is a clear reason why emphasis of this distinction is so damn necessary.
Even Eisenhower, a former GENERAL, didn't salute as president or engage in military trappings, because he KNEW just how important this separation is.
This pseudo military horseshit of presidents saluting was started by Reagan, of course. And it should have ended there.
The president is NOT a general.
And it's long past time to remind the nation and the President of this fact.
[Stonekettle Station]
