Why do even liberals call the president "commander-in-chief?"

[NightTrain]

The president is commander-in-chief of the armed forces ONLY. He is not now, nor has he ever been, commander-in-chief of the American people!

It annoys the crap out of me when even liberals and progressives say "commander-in-chief" in reference to the president. And that goes for ANY president, not just Bunnypants!

[AlbizuX]

1. are you sure they are liberals?

what liberals are saying Bush is commander in chief?

Not any I know.

[NightTrain]

2. I heard it just now on Air America's "Majority Report."

I think it was Katrina Vanden Heuvel of The Nation magazine who said it. My god, Katrina, you should know better!

[lenidog]

6. Its probably a slip of the tongue or in this case

a slip of the pen. Kinda like everyone feels the need to say "Congressional Medal of Honor" eventhough its just the "Medal of Honor.

[BlueEyedSon]

3. 'cause "dickhead" is considered impolite, even by liberals...

[ixion]

4. I refer to chimpy by many names

but that is not one of them. :evilgrin:

[NYC]

5. What liberals?

My guess is that people who refer to Bush as commander in chief "support" the war.

[enki23]

7. sorta depends on the context, doncha think?

as for the war, bush is definitely "commander in chief." this is a bush administration war. they pushed for it over the objections of half our own nation, and almost all the world. we should never let that be forgotten, and let no one else take any blame for the mess they made of it.

[yurbud]

8. take control of language: Baby Bush and Papa Bush

the current occupant of the white house is baby bush. His father is papa bush. His mother is George Washington. (apologies to the face on Mount Rushmore).

[mpanno]

9. As far as I'm concerned

he's Commander-in-Thief

[Top Lizard]

10. Not My Prez

Actually, I won't even use his name and the word "president" in the same sentence. I can rationalize the phrase "Bush White House," however, since he does sit in the Oval Office! Another term of which I'm fond is "George III," since it hearkens back to English tyranny and W's blue-blood background. My grandfather-in-law kept calling him "Governor Bush."

The "commander-in-chief" line is probably a reflexive response to our current wartime environment. I hope it's not a subconscious acknowledgement of Bush's attempt to define himself as a great leader in times of national crisis!