Americans seem to draw a distinction between insulting the President (the man) and insulting the President.

How do you tell the difference? (And how can it possibly matter ?)

I think the difference is that we don't mind insulting the current scalawag, but we don't want to insult the "office" of president - as if all occupants past and future would be tarred with the same brush.

quote:

Originally posted by frankvan:
I think the difference is that we don't mind insulting the current scalawag, but we don't want to insult the "office" of president - as if all occupants past and future would be tarred with the same brush.

That's the bit I don't understand: insulting 'the office'. How can you insult the office of president? Can anyone give an example of what would be insulting the office?

How about this, Fred? If I say that the present occupant is an inarticulate buffoon, that is perfectly understandable and accurate.IMO. However, if my criticism implies that ONLY by fraud and chicanery can anyone be elected to the office of president, I insult, or do an injustice to the many earlier and future occupants, like Lincoln or FDR for instance. Come to think of it; the present occupant is an insult to the office, IMO.

Aren't British soldiers routinely told that, when they salute, they're saluting the officer's uniform and not the useless buffoon inside it? They can think what they like about individuals, but must not question the basic principles of army discipline.

Obviously George is out of his depth, but that shouldn't mean that people want to abolish, change or even criticise, the office of President.

quote:

Originally posted by newnickname:
Aren't British soldiers routinely told that, when they salute, they're saluting the officer's uniform and not the useless buffoon inside it? They can think what they like about individuals, but must not question the basic principles of army discipline.

Yes. That's because they are soldiers and are bound by their contract of service: 'They have taken the Queen's shilling'. They are duty-bound to obey orders and not do or say anything contrary to good order and discipline.

As far as I'm aware insulting the office of King or Queen or attacking the very existence of monarchy here, or of Parliament, or 'the flag' is not an offence against our society's rules or our laws

Recently some American was forced to apologise for some insult and was driven to explain that they were only being insulting to the holder of the office of president and not the office of president.That statement simply does not translate into British.It was as though the speaker was denying an act of treason.

The irony is that Bush actually is an insult to the presidency...