Photo Ops

Technically true, but Ronald Reagan also did it;

If you look into the eyes of Reagan, you'll see he where his heart was and to whom the respect was being directed.

As for your second pic, there you go again Stuck, tooling around out in the weeds where the buses don't run.

RR's heart was in the right place.

C'mon,  that Bush pic and caption is pretty funny.

Millionaire: pls tell us why it is "discourteous" and "inappropriate" for the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, as so designated by our Constitution, to return a salute rendered by a member of that same armed force.  Would you be rendering this same sage advice to Washington, Jackson, Grant, Harrison, and Eisenhower?  What am I missing here?

You're 100% Right about Ron,  100% wrong about the pic of President Bush.

Stuck, like GF's have said about me in the not so distant past as they shook their heads, 'You're a mess'.

. . . in front of a mirror and a small group of applauding onlookers no doubt.

Please note, despite the practice and advice, he still got it wrong.  His left hand appears to be dangling at his side.  This is a clear indication he has not paid attention to regulations covering rendering this honor.  When offering a standing salute, the entire body is directly involved in the action.  His left hand should by semi clinched with thumb pointing down the seam of his trousers.

Jeb......see my comment to Millionaire.  THE CONSTITUTION DESIGNATES THE PRESIDENT AS THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.  HE IS, PERFORCE, A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES AND IS PERFECTLY ENTITLED TO SALUTE AND RETURN SALUTES as he sees fit.  The statue you cite has zero bearing on the Commander-in-Chief's conduct regarding salutes.  There is only one rule regarding the President and salutes: is he being rude?

Don't hand me that BS about the Supreme Commander being able to do as he want.  I think we all understand that minor point.  

What is sitting stuck in my craw is his using the coffins of our fallen to make some supposedly deeper point.  They have already given all they have, why does he attempt to use their dead bodies as a means of making personal comment to explain his dalliance.

It was an insincere and callous act.  At its heart is the question every body and their dog is scratching their heads over, 'why is he not rendering a decision on how to proceed in Afghanistan?'  He's got the recommendation from the man he chose to compile it, but it appears he's ready to quibble over the General's conclusion as he clearly doesn't like the message it carriers.  So rather than get to the task at hand, he runs over to Dove and has his picture taken.

If it were a point for me to determine, I would propose only those who have served in a branch of the military would have the right to return a salute in kind.  Those not serving would be permitted to place their hand over their heart as a means of returning the salute being given to the office they hold. 

If it were up to me, the only ones able to seek the highest office in the land must fully and truly understand the role of the Soldier.  To acquire this understanding they will need to have earned the right to wear the the Combat Infantryman Badge by performing their duty as a member of an infantry or special forces unit.  Through that service they would be able to appreciate the full measure of commitment to a cause and perhaps gain the wisdom to understand a fired round knows no favoritism, its only allegiance is to the path it follows.  Those who have the high honor of wearing this badge of Silver and Blue have seen the line between life and death and having witnessed it being drawn, appreciate life more than those who have not. 

Jeb, I think it is possible for those who have not served in infantry, special forces, or in any Armed Forces capacity, to understand and appreciate the role of the Soldier sufficient to be a good Commander-in-Chief.  Jefferson did O.K.  FDR did O.K.  To take the thought further, I believe it is possible for a white man to pass laws fair to men and women of all colors by understanding the essence of Citizenship, that transcends color, creed etc.

Restricting eligibility for President to only those who have served in uniform would have disqualified Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe...

Record of Ronald Reagan's Military service

After completing fourteen home-study Army Extension Courses, Reagan enlisted in the Army Enlisted Reserve on April 29, 1937, as a private assigned to Troop B, 322nd Cavalry at Des Moines, Iowa.  He was appointed Second Lieutenant in the Officers Reserve Corps of the Cavalry on May 25, 1937, and on June 18 was assigned to the 323rd Cavalry. His service number was 0 357 403.

Reagan was ordered to active duty for the first time on April 18, 1942. Due to his nearsightedness, he was classified for limited service only, which excluded him from serving overseas.  His first assignment was at the San Francisco Port of Embarkation at Fort Mason, California, as a liaison officer of the Port and Transportation Office. Upon the approval of the Army Air Force (AAF), he applied for a transfer from the Cavalry to the AAF on May 15, 1942, and was assigned to AAF Public Relations and subsequently to the 1st Motion Picture Unit (officially, the "18th AAF Base Unit") in Culver City, California. On January 14, 1943 he was promoted to First Lieutenant and was sent to the Provisional Task Force Show Unit of This Is The Army at Burbank, California. He returned to the 1st Motion Picture Unit after completing this duty and was promoted to Captain on July 22, 1943.

In January 1944, Captain Reagan was ordered to temporary duty in New York City to participate in the opening of the sixth War Loan Drive. He was re-assigned to the 18th AAF Base Unit on November 14, 1944, where he remained until the end of World War II. He was recommended for promotion to Major on February 2, 1945, but this recommendation was disapproved on July 17 of that year. He returned to Fort MacArthur, California, where he was separated from active duty on December 9, 1945. By the end of the war, his units had produced some 400 training films for the AAF.

This information was gleaned from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan