In what is no big surprise, Military Times released results of a poll of military personnel and found that the troops are not particularly optimistic about President-elect Obama.  A mere 33% of respondents were optimistic about the Obama presidency along with 35% uncertain and 25% pessimistic.  The poll also found that more in the military believe President Bush has their best interests at heart than Barrack Obama. 

The results of the poll are really what one would expect.  The military generally leans conservative and history since the Vietnam War shows that Democratic presidents do not generally care for the military.  From Carter’s post-Vietnam gutting of the miilitary to Clinton’s obvious disdain for the men in uniform, poor leadership during conflicts and gutting of military preparedness, military personnel have good reason to be wary. 

As one lance corporal in the article says, “Being that the Marine Corps can be sent anywhere in the world with the snap of his fingers, nobody has confidence in this guy as commander in chief.”

Time will tell but history is not on Obama’s – or the troops – side.