this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2024
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[–] MinusPi@pawb.social 36 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Why don't presidents fight the war?

[–] RagingRobot@lemmy.world 12 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I saw a picture of George Washington leading troops on a crappy boat. Why isn't Biden out on a crappy boat somewhere? Lol

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 17 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Because he wasn’t president then. Eisenhower led troops as did Grant

[–] Wogi@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

George Washington did lead troops one time as president, with the secretary of the Treasury at his side.

There was a little revolt over taxes on whiskey and when he showed up they surrendered.

[–] DaPorkchop_@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 month ago

The joke was that Biden is really old.

[–] MinusPi@pawb.social 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Why wasn't Trump? Why wasn't Obama? Why wasn't Bush? It's hardly just Biden.

[–] RagingRobot@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I wasn't singling him out he is just the current president and I can't imagine him in that position lol.

I like Joe.

[–] kofe@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Was Washington leading troops after he became president though?

[–] explodicle@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Alexander the Great was the first over the wall when invading a city.

Edit: source

[–] match@pawb.social 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] Riven@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Yea there's no way the first person over a wall wouldn't get immediately mercd by everyone on top who isn't fighting anyone yet.

[–] explodicle@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago

He was! He took an arrow to the lung and they thought he was dead!

[–] hesusingthespiritbomb@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

America places a lot of value in the concept of the person having the final say over our armed forces being a civilian. There are multiple very good reasons for that.

Multiple presidents have served in the military prior to becoming president, many of whom have seen combat. The last American president to do so was George HW Bush, who served in the air force and was shot down over the Pacific in WW2.

As to why that hasn't happened more recently, it's because the American people don't see it as a priority. HW Bush was replaced by Bill Clinton. W Bush won over purple heart recipient John Kerry. Obama won over veteran and POW John McCain. Clinton, Bush, and Trump went even farther and essentially dodged the draft.