Ford's State Funeral missed by MOST of gov't - including President

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Link

Disgusting. Only 35 members of House attend, and most astonishing President Bush skips to clear brush in Texas.

 

[d3n]

My wife skipped out on a funeral the other day. She was going to go... but she was told by friends it was not expected. Maybe the Fords didn't wanted to inconvenience people... or maybe controversial types like Bush figured it was best not to stir things up.

 

[Balt]

Conservatives were quick to condemn Reid and Durbin, who proceeded with four other senators on a trip to South America, knowing they would miss the rites in Washington. "He's the incoming Senate majority leader, for crying out loud, and he can't even show a little bit of respect?" commentator Mike Gallagher demanded on Fox News.

:roll:

 

[ProfJohn]

The timing was really bad. Right in the middle of the holidays.

Of course I am not sure why Bush did not show. But I guess he is going to another service for him Tuesday.

Plus it's been 26 years since Ford was President, he sort of faded from view for many people.

 

[dahunan]

They will gladly take the paid holiday on Tuesday though

 

[2Xtreme21]

I can't wait to see the turnout at Bush's funeral.

 

[LegendKiller]

Bush should have been there. I don't give a rats arse if he was personally roping one of his faux herd, he should have been there. As far as the rest, Biden and such had a pre-planned trip. A sitting President shouldn't miss a former President's procession just for a stupid vacation (which bush has had too many of)

I went and paid my respects with my wife, it is certainly something to see. We waited in line for ~1hr and that was about it. It amazes me how many utter morons show up in t-shirts and jeans. I saw numerous people with sweat shirts or pants. You don't need a suit, but we showed up in nice clothes to be respectful.

Now, I am the last person to subscribe to utter pomp and am angry at any suggesting of *owed* respects in a monarch-ish fashion, but FFS, this guy was the *PRESIDENT* show a little shred of respect.

 

[dphantom]

The actual funeral is at the National Cathedral Tuesday. All former and the current president will be in attendance. Today was a memorial, not the funeral. Of note, the incoming Senate Majority leader will NOT attend any event. Too bad that.

 

[imported_Lothar]

Conservatives were quick to condemn Reid and Durbin, who proceeded with four other senators on a trip to South America, knowing they would miss the rites in Washington. "He's the incoming Senate majority leader, for crying out loud, and he can't even show a little bit of respect?" commentator Mike Gallagher demanded on Fox News.

What an idiot.

 

[nageov3t]

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world...f2-0c92-4b4e-89bb-ceffbf6a79e6&k=87584

Part of it will be missing President George W. Bush, too. The president will not attend Ford's state funeral in the Rotunda on Saturday night, but will return to Washington from his Texas ranch on Monday, pay respects to Ford while his remains lie in state at the Capitol, and speak Tuesday at services for Ford at the National Cathedral.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Do we really want all of our nation's leadership in such a small place at the same time?

Seems like a security nightmare.

 

[Lemon law]

Do we really want all of our nation's leadership in such a small place at the same time?

Yes such a concentration of hypocracy in one place could lead to a fast spreading epedemic.

And besides, it could be a health hazard to Gerald R. Ford.

 

[GTaudiophile]

My dad says he can't wait to piss on Clinton's grave!

 

[Thump553]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
The timing was really bad. Right in the middle of the holidays.

Of course I am not sure why Bush did not show. But I guess he is going to another service for him Tuesday.

Plus it's been 26 years since Ford was President, he sort of faded from view for many people.

PJ, your new year resolution should be to think before you issue an automatic apology/rationalization for everything George W. Bush does. Sometimes people make mistakes or tactical missteps. You are in a minority of two (you and GWB) thinking he is infallible.

I personally think it is inexcusable for a sitting President to skip, without any compelling reason, the funeral of a former President. GWB enjoying yet one more of his excessive multitude of vacation days is hardly a compelling reason. He was able to fly back to Washington especially for the Terry Schiavo federal meddling.

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
My dad says he can't wait to piss on Clinton's grave!

I'll bet there'll be a lot more people ready to piss on Bush Jr's grave than on Clintons.

But that is no way to disrespect ANY President. In life one can disagree with a presidents policies, criticize him, protest, whatever, but a dead person, even a President you dislike, deserves some respect.

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: Thump553

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
The timing was really bad. Right in the middle of the holidays.

Of course I am not sure why Bush did not show. But I guess he is going to another service for him Tuesday.

Plus it's been 26 years since Ford was President, he sort of faded from view for many people.

PJ, your new year resolution should be to think before you issue an automatic apology/rationalization for everything George W. Bush does. Sometimes people make mistakes or tactical missteps. You are in a minority of two (you and GWB) thinking he is infallible.

I personally think it is inexcusable for a sitting President to skip, without any compelling reason, the funeral of a former President. GWB enjoying yet one more of his excessive multitude of vacation days is hardly a compelling reason. He was able to fly back to Washington especially for the Terry Schiavo federal meddling.

Couldn't agree more. Of all the dignitaries the sitting President should take time off to attend a former president's funeral.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: GroundedSailor

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
My dad says he can't wait to piss on Clinton's grave!

I'll bet there'll be a lot more people ready to piss on Bush Jr's grave than on Clintons.

But that is no way to disrespect ANY President. In life one can disagree with a presidents policies, criticize him, protest, whatever, but a dead person, even a President you dislike, deserves some respect.

Exactly. I was not a particularly big fan of President Clinton's, but he was easily 100 times better than GWB.

 

[Lemon law]

Well lets see---the Whitewater investigation cost us taxpayers about 70 million and found nothing actionable---so about a one time charge of 25 cents for every man woman and child
in the USA.

Under GWB the Iraq war has already cost some 3000 US dead---has direct costs of some 350 billion to date---with some estimating indirect costs in the range of one to two trillion. So now we are talking in the range of a grand to 7 grand per person---far higher for each taxpayer--and if things go really wrong in Iraq---what is spent so far may be but a pittance in comparison.

Clinton compared to GWB--its no contest---GWB is #1.------and a river of urine poured over GWB's grave won't change anything.---but we can all remember him come tax time
with that lighter than air feeling in our pocketbooks.

But to get this thread back on topic---its time to remember Gerald R. Ford as a fine and decent man---he may have failed to do anything great but did do much to heal this nation during a time of great division---and unlike GWB, he also did not do incredibly stupid things succeeding generations will pay dearly for. During this phase in our nations history,
that is a glowing Presidential tribute--the mere fact he did not do something really stupid.

 

[tomywishbone]

"Do we really want all of our nation's leadership in such a small place at the same time?

Seems like a security nightmare."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I agree. Perhaps Jose Padilla will break out of Gitmo, build a nuclear bomb with his 9th grade education, rent a truck, make sure the truck fits on the Brooklyn Bridge, and then drive to DC and kill everybody.

Security?

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: tomywishbone
"Do we really want all of our nation's leadership in such a small place at the same time?

Seems like a security nightmare."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I agree. Perhaps Jose Padilla will break out of Gitmo, build a nuclear bomb with his 9th grade education, rent a truck, make sure the truck fits on the Brooklyn Bridge, and then drive to DC and kill everybody.

Security?

Aren't you being a bit generous with the word "leadership?"
Not sure it applies to Dub.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Do we really want all of our nation's leadership in such a small place at the same time?

Seems like a security nightmare.

Yes, in fact Congress should convene in groups of four or less, perhaps under a bed with the lights out?

 

[nageov3t]

if george bush and dick cheney were both killed (let's say a rabbit gets released in washington or something) who would be the next president? nancy pelosi or dennis hastert.

damn, now I'm going to be having nightmares about President Ted Stevens... visions of trucks and tubes dancing through my head.

 

[catnap1972]

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Do we really want all of our nation's leadership in such a small place at the same time?

Seems like a security nightmare.

Yes, in fact Congress should convene in groups of four or less, perhaps under a bed with the lights out?

Haven't the Republicans been doing precisely that for the past 12 years?

 

[bobdelt]

who cares about funerals?

the man is dead, now if they visited when he was still alive, that would have been something meaningful.

 

[preCRT]

It was completely disrespectful of Bush to blow off the service Saturday night, it isn't as though he was tied up doing anything necessary. That man is scum, pure & simple. His momma & daddy didn't teach that son any manners.