Photo of the Moment: Changing of the Guard

Share article:

The photo above was taken on Jan 20th, 2009. President Obama has since signed an Executive Order calling for the closure of Gitmo within a year.

Share article:

Reader Comments on

Photo of the Moment: Changing of the Guard

5 Comments

(Comments are now closed.)


5 Responses

  1. 2)
    Kelly Anderson said on 1/23/2009 @ 2:32pm PT: [Permalink]

    Hi There,
    I am interested in promoting our site on your blog through a simple embedded text link in the side column. Please let me know if you are interested and how much it would cost.
    Thanks

    Kelly

  2. 3)
    Phil said on 1/23/2009 @ 4:22pm PT: [Permalink]

    A lot of folks that have never been in Service do not realize the importance of the symbolism those photos on the wall invoke inside each person.

    The last time I walked by one of those walls like that (I won’t say where) Rumsfield was on the wall. It can was horrible to me to be reminded of that specific chain of command, when instead I should have had a warm and fuzzy feeling from it. Within the year, Rumsfield’s photo was off the wall.

    I know that says Guantanamo Bay in the background, but trust me there are other agencies that have the same setup.

    I took my oath in front of a wall like that and never ever had the horrible feeling that I did when the Bush administration was on it. It’s deeply symbolic.

    Perhaps this is why for the last four years all that’s been coming out of my mouth is rants about oath breaker this and oath breaker that.

    Really the ones that came down off the wall this time should have had their photos up in the post office. All you really need to do is look at the Constitution and compare it’s state to the oath’s that were taken.

    Irregardless, those who take the oath are sworn to defend with their life the photos on those walls.

    But hey that’s my opinion.

    On the counter side, I have also known a General that wouldn’t retire until after Clinton was out of office, so that Clinton’s signature wouldn’t be on the discharge papers. Literally re-up’d because of it.

    I hope it explains the importance of this seemingly simple ritual to those who might not be familiar with it.

    Some of you might not even agree with what I am saying here. That’s fine. At least you know some folks do, which is I bet why Brad posted this.

  3. 4)
    UnfrozenCavegirlBlogger said on 1/25/2009 @ 9:27am PT: [Permalink]

    That photo is at the naval base facility.
    As for the prison, I’ll check back in a year.

    In interesting news…..Abu Ghraib is re-opening in a month under new management….

  4. 5)
    Emily Troutman said on 1/25/2009 @ 5:25pm PT: [Permalink]

    Great photo! I hadn’t seen that one. Last week I asked 100’s of ppl to pick an emotion to represent how they feel abt Obama the took their picture.

    It’s pretty poignant. Also captures the DC moment well. It was so high energy around here.

(Comments are now closed.)


BB SIDEBAR NOTICE

Thanks to you, The BRAD BLOG has been trouble-making and muckraking for … 22 YEARS!!!

Please help The BRAD BLOG, BradCast and Green News Report remain independent and 100% reader and listener supported in our 23rd YEAR!!!

ONE TIME
any amount...

MONTHLY
any amount...

OR VIA SNAIL MAIL
Make check out to...
Brad Friedman / BRAD BLOG
7095 Hollywood Blvd., #594
Los Angeles, CA 90028

RECENT POSTS

More GOP Vote Rigging Underway. Hey, Maryland Dems! Time to Get Crackin’!: ‘BradCast’ 5/14/2026

Also: GA GOP rigs Atlanta D.A. elections; MT's new voter suppression law nixed by state court; Much more...

‘Green News Report’ – May 14, 2026

With Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen...

Do Dems Have the Courage Required to Restore and Reform American Democracy? (Do You?): ‘BradCast’ 5/13/2026

Guest: Kate Riga of Talking Points Memo; Also: SC Senate leader blocks U.S. House gerrymandering; Primary results from WV, NE...

Offshore Oil Rig Fire in SoCal a Preview of Trump’s NEXT Huge Failure: ‘BradCast’ 5/12/2026

Guest: Brady Bradshaw of Center for Biological Diversity; Also: Inflation spiked to 3-year high in April; Dems still favored to win House, despite GOP map rigging...

‘Green News Report’ – May 12, 2026

With Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen...

Virginia Supremes Void Special Election on Redistricting Referendum in Huge Gift to Vote Rigging GOP: ‘BradCast’ 5/11/2026

Voting rights disappearing, Jim Crow returning before our eyes in GOP-controlled state after state; Callers ring in...

Sunday ‘Redlining Democracy’ Toons

THIS WEEK: The Voting Whites Act ... Iran and Iran We Go ... Happy Mother's Day! ...

Repubs Seek Immunity Law for Big Oil; White South Rising Again After SCOTUS Ruling: ‘BradCast’ 5/7/2026

Guest: Laura Peterson of Union of Concerned Scientists; Also: Trump panel calls for FEMA cuts as MS slammed by another tornado swarm...

‘Green News Report’ – May 7, 2026

With Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen...

Time to Reform our Illegitimate Supreme Court: ‘BradCast’ 5/6/2026

Guest: Alicia Bannon of NYU's Brennan Center for Justice; Also: Primary and special election results in OH, IN, MI...

The Corrupt Hypocrisy of SCOTUS’ VRA Ruling in the Middle of Primary Election Season: ‘BradCast’ 5/5/2026

Also: 'Project Deadlock' in Strait of Hormuz as Admin pretends ill-fated, unlawful, continuing Iran War is over; The conflict's very real, if ironic, upside...

‘Green News Report’ – May 5, 2026

With Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen...

Billionaires Spending Millions to Fight Against, Lie to Voters About CA’s Proposed, One-Time Billionaires Tax: ‘BradCast’ 5/4/2026

Guest: Harold Meyerson of 'The American Prospect'; Also: GOP states scramble to write Black districts out of existence; A warning for CA vote-by-mail voters...

Steyer Facing Deceptive Fire in CA Gubernatorial Race for Call to Eliminate ‘Trump Loophole’

Trump-allied GOP opponent lying about progressive billionaire's proposal to end state's corporate 'property transfer loophole'...

Sunday ‘Dead to Rights’ Toons

THIS WEEK: RIP VRA ... '86 47' by the Seashore ... Ballroom Grift ...

About Brad Friedman...

Brad is an independent investigative journalist, blogger and broadcaster. Full Bio & Testimonials… Media Appearance Archive… Articles & Editorials Elsewhere… Contact…

He has contributed chapters to these books…
…And is featured in these documentary films…

BRAD BLOG ON THE AIR!

THE BRADCAST on KPFK/Pacifica Radio Network (90.7FM Los Angeles, 98.7FM Santa Barbara, 93.7FM N. San Diego and nationally on many other affiliate stations! ALSO VIA PODCAST: RSS/XML feed | Pandora | TuneInApple Podcasts/iTunesiHeartAmazon Music

GREEN NEWS REPORT, nationally syndicated, with new episodes on Tuesday and Thursday. ALSO VIA PODCAST: RSS/XML feed | Pandora | TuneInApple Podcasts/iTunesiHeartAmazon Music

Media Appearance Archives…

AD
CONTENT

ADDITIONAL STUFF

Brad Friedman/
The BRAD BLOG Named...

Buzz Flash's 'Wings of Justice' Honoree
Project Censored 2010 Award Recipient
The 2008 Weblog Awards