How can our F***ing President not go to a former President's funeral??

[The Sushi Bandit]

What is wrong with bush??
Has it anything to do with Fords religion??

[babylonsister]

1. Because his feelings got hurt when Ford dissed him from the grave

for starting an illegal, immoral war?
I don't think for a second it had anything to do with Ford's religion.

[hippiechick]

4. Ford didn't "diss the war" ... he dissed the WMD excuse.

... I'm sure Shrubby just has 'other priorities' next week, like recovering from his New Year's Hangover or continuing his vacation at the Pig Farm. Its much easier for him to attend the dog n' pony memorial service in DC than to actually put forth the effort to go someplace where the audiences aren't vetted or millionaire contributors.

[babylonsister]

12. He dissed *, Cheney, and Rummy for getting into the war in the

first place.

Woodward: Ford Disagreed With Bush About Invading Iraq

By Bob Woodward
Washington Post
December 28, 2006
Page A01

Former president Gerald R. Ford said in an embargoed interview in July 2004 that the Iraq war was not justified. "I
don't think I would have gone to war," he said a little more than a year after President Bush had launched the invasion
advocated and carried out by prominent veteran's of Ford's own administration.

In a four-hour conversation at his house in Beaver Creek, Colo., Ford "very strongly" disagreed with the current
president's justifications for invading Iraq and said he would have pushed alternatives, such as sanctions, much more
vigorously. In the tape-recorded interview, Ford was critical not only of Bush but also of Vice President Cheney --
Ford's White House chief of staff -- and then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, who served as Ford's chief of staff
and then his Pentagon chief.

"Rumsfeld and Cheney and the president made a big mistake in justifying going into the war in Iraq. They put the
emphasis on weapons of mass destruction," Ford said. "And now, I've never publicly said I thought they made a mistake,
but I felt very strongly it was an error in how they should justify what they were going to do."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20 ...

[PrimeRibGuy]

62. I have not heard this talked about yet, but...

do you think it is because Cheney and Ford had a good relationship with a long history and since and him and dicksmack can't be together in public, Cheney went and Bush went to TX to ride his bike and cut trees.

[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rodeodance]

72. I think he did both didn't he???

[AtomicKitten]

2. Because * is a tactless, whiny POS.

His widdle feewings were hurt when Ford's statement re: Iraq were released.

As head of state, * is a disgrace.

[lisa58]

3. are you sure he's not going?

[AtomicKitten]

8. here

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20061228-1435...

[lisa58]

10. Thanks for the link...

...he's a dope - what's new?

[beaconess]

11. Read the story . . . Bush IS going to the National Cathedral funeral

There are several different services - he's going to one of them. He's just not going to the service at the Capitol.

"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.

This is not worth the effort to complain about - Bush IS paying appropriate respects to Ford and we look like silly kids when we bitch and moan about him not attending one of the services. There are plenty of other things to beat up on Bush over. This ain't one of them. Time to move - there's nothing to see here.

[Benhurst]

16. They should have a riderless horse for Bush, as well; because he's

too chicken to ride one.

The Fords are showing better taste than Nancy and Ron did in planning the Gipper's funeral. If Ron had been a stage actor (or even a better movie actor) he would have known not to have such a god-awful, week-long funeral and attempted to have the national audience crying out for more, not glad to have the mawkish event mercifully over.

[beaconess]

20. I agree with you on that one.

[AtomicKitten]

24. I read it.

And in my opinion he is dissing Ford by not attending the official services per protocol as head of state.

You are welcome to your opinion on this and all else, but please have the courtesy to be respectful of others that don't agree with you and refrain from framing that difference of opinion as unknowledgeable and childish, etc. 'Kay?

[beaconess]

29. I wasn't aware that it was required that a head of state attend every single service

for previous heads of state.

And, of course, it doesn't seem to have occurred to folks that maybe the Ford family doesn't WANT Bush to attend every service since his presence (as with any president) turns every event into a whole different thang, something *I* certainly wouldn't want at the services of a loved one.

[AtomicKitten]

31. * is not exempt from protocol

It's a simple sign of respect for a former president.

[beaconess]

38. Where are you getting your information about "protocol" on this

You keep referring to "protocol" but have offered no substantiation other than your opinion.

[AtomicKitten]

45. I don't have a definite answer to that.

And so I will yield.

[AtomicKitten]

47. I did some research.

And it is the formal State Funeral in the Rotunda Saturday Bush isn't coming back for; he is cutting his vacation short (where have we heard that before???) to speak at the service at the National Cathedral on Tuesday. There is much speculation buzzing around about Bush being po'd about Ford's remarks and whether or not that is reason for him not attending the State Funeral.

Bush has pretty much rewritten protocol in Washington and after researching this for quite a while it seems to me that Bush is, in fact, dissing Ford by not attending his State Funeral and not even coming back to Washington until Monday to speak on Tuesday. Of course it is not nor ever was my expectation that he attend every event, however, I stand by my original assertion that he should attend the official events, i.e., the State Funeral AND the services at the National Cathedral.

You, of course, are welcome to believe whatever you like and I will extend you the courtesy you did not extend me and not impugn your opinion regarding this.

[spanone]

50. He was able to fly to DC for the Mary Schiavo vote interrupting his Easter vacation.

He has his priorities straight.

[fuzzyball]

60. Good to see an "adult" post in this thread..

I knew there was something good in you, now I know!
You are not an immature, whinny & snippy little kid!

[SharonRB]

32. Okay, now I see

Is it really reasonable to expect him to go to all three funerals (not counting the fourth one in California, which was just for family). He's missing the one in the Rotunda, but will be at the one at the National Cathedral. Which is the "more important one"? Of course, I do think he should be at the funeral and burial in Grand Rapids.

[beaconess]

37. The burial in Grand Rapids is private at the family's request

in other words, Bush probably isn't invited.

[SharonRB]

41. I thought only the California ceremony was private

I didn't realize the burial was, as well. That's probably best.

[beaconess]

42. According to press reports, the Grand Rapids service is private, but Cheney and Rumsfeld

have been invited, probably not in any official capacity, but because of their personal relationship with Ford.

[SharonRB]

43. Thanks for the info

I'll be sure to stay away from the west side of the state.

[beaconess]

44. :-)

[rodeodance]

73. "and Bush will miss Capitol service "

Ford's funeral tones down regal touches, and Bush will miss Capitol service

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. If he is not going

there will be consequences, I am betting Senior and Rove will have a one way conversation with the kid who wanted to be Dictator

[Riddler]

6. It probably has to do with that fact that the little pissant feels that nothing is as important as

him and what he wants to do. He's never had the first ounce of compassion or sympathy in his entire failure of a life, so why should the piece of shit concern himself with mourning for someone else. Death and grief are jokes to him, as long as it's other people's death and grief. He's about as sorry an excuse for a human being as ever lived, and I would rejoice if he and Saddam could trade places for just a few hours tonight!

[HowHasItComeToThis]

25. THIS MAN IS TRULY A SOCIOPATH

AS EXPECTED OF HIM

[beaconess]

7. Bush IS going to Ford's funeral

There are several different services. He's attending the big one at National Cathedral on Tuesday. He's not going to the ceremony at the Capitol tomorrow. Neither are Nancy Pelosi, Reid, Durbin and many other Democrats.

This is not without precedent. Apparently, it's not SOP for the president to attend state funerals at the Capitol, especially when a service is also held at the National Cathedral. Bush did not attend Reagan's Capitol service either.

Bush can be criticized for countless things. But this isn't one of them.

[babylonsister]

14. He's skipping the weekend activities because he's staying in Crawford.

Reid, Durbin, and a bunch of others, Dems and rethugs, are out of the country on a trip that's been planned for a long time. Plus, * IS the current president; I would think a show of respect would be in order. And yes, he'll show up on Tuesday.

[beaconess]

18. I think attending one of the services is a proper show of respect by the president

He doesn't have to attend every event. Bush is attending - in fact, speaking at - the funeral at National Cathedral. That's plenty.

If he rushed back from Crawford and ran around Washington and Grand Rapids for four days, showing up at every tribute, tying up traffic and corralling all the security resources, people would be bitching that he was using Ford's death as a photo op.

[babylonsister]

21. You're right, whatever he does will be criticized. I just seem to

recall his presence was everywhere after Reagan died, so thought that was standard ops.

[beaconess]

22. I think it just seemed that way - he didn't go to Reagan's Capitol service

He was out of the country and didn't come back until the National Cathedral service.

But my recollection is that we were bombarded with 24/7 coverage of every Republican operative within a 20-mile radius of a camera telling us not only how great Reagan was, but using it as a non-stop free commercial for Bush's 2004 campaign.

[TankLV]

53. Boy you sure seem to be spending a lot of time defending this fuckwad, don't you!

I try to spend my time on something more worthwhile...

[onenote]

55. maybe she just likes to see accuracy here at DU

Something folks ought to spend more time on, imho.

[mzteris]

9. yes and no.......

A) He's NOT the PRESIDENT! (He's the pResident!)

B) 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. http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=7...

[high density]

13. Gawd... I remember when Raygun died

His fucking campaign site was like a shrine.

http://web.archive.org/web/20040607052507/http://www.ge...

[badgerpup]

15. Why do I get the feeling this ain't gonna sit well with the hardcore 33%?

He'd get a pass, or maybe even an "oh, SNAP!" if it was Carter or either of the Clintons who were the dearly departed, but Ford wasn't just a member of his own party.
He was personally popular, a GENTLEMAN, and he always treated Bush with the respect due to the office of the Presidency.

This little stunt ain't gonna improve his ratings, that's for certain.

[madeline_con]

17. He'll be partying after Saddam Hussien's murder. n/t

[Selah]

19. Ford = Great American President!

[Arugula Latte]

71. Whaa?

Why great?

[Crunchy Frog]

23. Them vacations are important business.

He could barely even manage to cut short his vacation when the Gulf Coast was hit by a catastrophic hurricane. Why should he cut one short for a piddling little thing like this.

It's not like he hasn't got the needed photo ops.

[beaconess]

26. He's GOING TO THE FUNERAL - he's just not going to ALL of them!!!

Would you really feel better if he completely changed his schedule - costing the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars - to rush back to Washington to attend BOTH of two official services for Ford?

[AtomicKitten]

28. self-delete

[Selah]

30. Thank you

What is the protocol anyway?

[AtomicKitten]

33. protocol is for the head of state to attend

the official services of a former president

[beaconess]

36. Past practice has been for the president to attend one official funeral

Not EVERY SINGLE state funeral. In fact, attending more than one service would probably give the appearance of grandstanding and not be well-received either by the family or the public.

Bush did not attend all of Reagan's services - like the Ford funeral, he attended only the National Cathedral service, but not the Capitol service.

Nixon had one state funeral, in California. Clinton attended that one.

Lyndon Johnson had two official services in Washington and another funeral in Texas. Nixon attended one of them.

Bush is being very consistent with past practice. Moreover, there's no reason to think that Ford's family is offended - or that they even want Bush at every service. If I were Ford's family, one Bush appearance in this painful time would be more than enough.

[Selah]

39. Uh huh!

Nice job of clarifying.

[TankLV]

54. As opposed ot when he ALWAYS does this (waste taxpayers money) for all his OTHER shit?

Like his runnning from one end of the country to the next to campaign 24/7 and don't forget Terry Shiavo...

Yeah - NOW he is suddenly concerned with OUR money - BULLSHIT!

[uppityperson]

70. he went, he looked, he left.

[SharonRB]

27. Self-delete

[enid602]

34. dem

I'd like to see a prominent dem go to the funeral, and laud Ford for having the guts to stand up to the king, albeit pothumously.

[SharonRB]

35. The Big Dawg could do it...

It will be interesting to see which services Bill and Hillary show up at.

Of course I don't think anything should be said about this at any of the services. It's not the right place.

[beaconess]

40. Oh, I hope not - this is a funeral, not a political rally

There are plenty of opportunities for Dems to bring this up and rub Bush's face in it. I don't think Ford's funeral is the appropriate place to do it.

Also, for what it's worth, Ford DIDN'T stand up to Bush on this. He spoke privately and off-the-record with the understanding that his comments would not be released before his death. While I'm glad to know that he felt this way, this wasn't exactly a profile in courage.

[dflprincess]

46. He's probably still smarting from the smack down he got

at Corretta King's funeral and is afraid it might happen again.

[RedTail Wolf]

48. The chimp? Let me count the ways! LOL (nt)

[DemDogs]

49. He shouldn't have died during vacation time. NT

[leesa]

51. Probably wouldn't be able to hide his execution hard-on today.

[The Sushi Bandit]

52. LOL!!!!

[BuelahWitch]

58. Yeah I'm sure someone told him it would be disrespectful

to show up with it. And probably scare poor Betty too.

[opihimoimoi]

56. Bush is Jealous of the Attention given the Fallen Ford....him being self centered an all.

[The Sushi Bandit]

57. He shows no Class!

[opihimoimoi]

61. Narcissant peeps/Bullies got NO CLASS....only disruptive lives

They are generous in giving out death and misery...they love to see anguish...they get off on other peeps troubles

[Name removed]

67. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BuelahWitch]

59. George Sr. not attending either?

He was CIA director under Ford.

[The Sushi Bandit]

65. Realy?

[JeremyWestenn]

63. I believe it's tradition,

That the President and former Presidents not attend till the end. Something I heard recently, I suppose if you feel so strongly over it then you should look it up. I think it's some sort of tradition though.

[Imagevision]

64. Ford dissed Bush, Bush showing his strength says; " fuck em"

we have a really sick puppy in their under the guise of a President.

Bush, super dangerous because he may freak-out when investigations expose him and his cabal for what they've pulled on the American people

[Name removed]

66. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dinger]

69. Whose President?

Just asking, cuz he sure as hell isn't mine.

[wisteria]

74. Well this has been a good lesson in not believing everything you read.

Obviously, President Bush was there and even walked Mrs. Ford to her seat, then spoke as well as can be expected for Bush. Stupid media, they can't get anything right.

[beaconess]

76. The media got it right - some DUers overeacted

All of the stories I read specifically said that Bush was going to speak at the memorial service at National Cathedral - he just didn't attend the service at the Capitol.

[wisteria]

77. Thank you for clearing that up. n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

75. Well, now that he's there, I wish he had stayed home

We just can't win with this guy.