Bharara: When one says something kind and respectful upon a former leader's death, it does not mean

[highplainsdem]

Link to tweet

When one says something kind and respectful upon a former leader’s death, it does not mean one loves everything that person did. But it is right and good and American to honor service and character, especially these days, when it seems in such short supply. IMHO. #RIPGHWB

Seconding that.


Preet Bharara's tweet followed a shorter one:

Link to tweet

RIP George HW Bush. He loved America and served with character, class, and integrity.

And Bharara also retweeted this tweet from Cyrus Habib, lieuenant governor of Washington:

Link to tweet

Let's take a moment to consider the grace it requires to become close friends with the man who removed you from office, and then, as patriarch of the most prominent Republican family ever, cross the aisle to vote for his wife for President.

Habib's statement included this tribute to GHWB from Bill Clinton:

Link to tweet

Hillary and I mourn the passing of President George H. W. Bush, and give thanks for his great long life of service, love and friendship. I am grateful for every minute I spent with him and will always hold our friendship as one of my life’s greatest gifts.

RIP, President Bush.

[spanone]

1. K&R...

[Ilsa]

2. kick & rec. nt

[True Dough]

3. I agree with Preet

We live in an age of polarization. But there were times when ideological differences didn't make us despise the opposition with every molecule of our existence. That's Trump!

[NewJeffCT]

13. Same

I've never danced on anybody's grave or celebrated somebody's death, not even Jerry Falwell. I'll admit I was *slightly* tempted when Scalia died, and look how that turned out.

[True Dough]

16. Well, when Trump's time comes

I'll have to do my damnedest to keep my trap shut.

[SallyHemmings]

33. You and a good portion of the world.

It will be a struggle to muster our better angels.

[47of74]

44. Yeah I'll probably have an aneurysm trying...

Last edited Sat Dec 1, 2018, 10:53 PM - Edit history (1)

....to keep from making commentary about the orange fornicate and his likely new residence.

[Control-Z]

48. Yes. Just remaining quiet will be the best choice of the day.

I have never danced on anyone's grave that I can recall. And I have always been able to fall back, honestly, on the pain ones survivors are experiencing. I'm afraid I carry too much hate for the maggot's family to use this trick.

I'll just have to keep my mouth shut when the time comes.

[kag]

50. It will be all I can do...

to keep my tap shoes off my feet. Maybe I'll just drown my "sorrow" in a bottle of champagne.

[Control-Z]

51. The champagne sounds like the answer.

Besides, you'll have no problem finding others to drink it with you.

[Lefta Dissenter]

4. Humanity. It's a good thing. (N/t)

[highplainsdem]

11. Yes. It's an essential thing.

[mcar]

5. Preet speaks for me

[highplainsdem]

12. I believe he speaks for most of us, which is why I wanted his tweet here.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

20. thanks for posting this

'Daddy' Bush served.

[maddiemom]

38. "Poppy"

[EffieBlack]

40. I agree.

Thanks for posting it.

[get the red out]

53. Me too

I absolutely agree.

[Heartstrings]

6. Thank you, Preet

[bronxiteforever]

7. Kick and recommend.

Rest In Peace President Bush

[Little Star]

8. k&r

[cwydro]

9. Hearty k and r.

I despise grave dancing more than just about anything else on this site.

Sad to see so many hate filled folks that are Democrats.

[Rural_Progressive]

18. There is a difference between dancing on someone's grave

and choosing to not spend time, energy, or emotions "honoring" the passing of the patriarch of one of the country's worst crime families. Of course Donnie O has left the Bushes in the dust for that title, all I can say is that compared to Donnie O, Bush Sr was a class act.

[SammyWinstonJack]

25. +1000000!

[enough]

10. There's also the option of remaining respectfully quiet for a few days.

Not sure I agree with Preet on the “integrity” part where G.H.W. Bush is concerned.

[gademocrat7]

14. K&R

[SCantiGOP]

15. Thanks for this thread

There are some hate-filled statements from some on this site that could have been written by Trump himself.
Bush was a decent man with whom I totally disagreed on political issues, but I can still respect his service and basic humanity.

[burrowowl]

47. Iran-Contra and the

massacre of 200 to 250,000 Guatemalan Natives to say the least, basic humanity!?

[MontanaMama]

17. I would think that the passing of a former American President

would affect all living Presidents very deeply. It’s a very small club. RIP President Bush. 🇺🇸

[Marcuse]

19. He voted for Hillary because Trump attacked him, George II and Jeb.

RIP

[pangaia]

21. " But it is right and good and American to honor service and character, .."

Why "American?"

What does being an American have to do with it?
This same attitude, feeling, is common in many, many countries.

[Chemisse]

22. Thank-you. n/t

[KentuckyWoman]

23. Except that GHWB's Character

was to sent people out of the country to be tortured, start wars for profit (blowing up children and grandmas) and thumb his nose at American laws. No small good in him can make up for any of that and I won't pretend it has value.

But I do hope he can rest in peace. My heart goes to those who mourn him.

[Pepsidog]

24. H W was the last intelligent and decent Republica Pres. to be elected. W was a horribly ignorant

President but I never thought he was an evil man. Trump is an ignorant, dumb evil man.

[hostalover]

26. Cinton? Obama?

[mr_lebowski]

28. Pretty sure they left out 'GOP' there ;)

[SaveOurDemocracy]

29. I'm sure they meant Last Repub President.

[Pepsidog]

31. Thanks, I forgot the word "Republican" President.

[mr_lebowski]

27. This is the type of class I like to see in times like this ...

Obviously we don't approve of every decision the guy made here on DU ... but now is not the time.

When Trump goes, that'll be a different story. He's a complete traitor, and worthy of 0 respect, ever.

Poppy ... was a Patriot, served his country, and acted in what HE BELIEVED to be the Countries best interest (even if I think he was wrong at times) it seems like ... the large majority of the time.

Look, you don't HAVE to say something 'good', but you also don't NEED to say something 'bad'.

[tymorial]

30. So much this.

I am more than an annoyed by the backbiting here today

[Mrs. Overall]

32. K & R

[Mars and Minerva]

34. With the exception of Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot and Trump....

I agree.

[Liberty Belle]

35. Most people have done both good and bad things in their lifetimes.

This includes in my view all past prseidents but not the current one. I honestly cannot think of a single decent thing that Trump has ever done.

But in general when a leader dies, unless they're Hitler or some other murderous scoundrel with no redeeming qualities, out of deference to the grieving family it's a kindness to reflect first on the good that they did for which they may wish to be remembered, while also pointing out the mistakes they made or the ideological views that drew opposition or controversy. As a reporter that's how I approach the death of a famous person, whether national or local.

Sometimes it takes a few years, too, to gain historical hindsight on the long-term ramifications of a president's actions in areas such as foreign policy. The junior Bush, for instance, botched up many things but missing the warnings about 911 and then sending troops into Iraq were debacles that led to over a decade of war and fueled a war on terror rather than tamping it down if he'd only prevented the hijackers from getting on those planes, and then resisted the temptation to march troops into Baghdad and do what his father had the restraint not to do. I suspect though that he had a stronger hand than we may know in some shadowy central American issues includng Iran Contra when he served in the Reagan administration.

Corruption, kowtowing to the oil industry, and conservative views on abortion were key areas where I strongly disagreed with Bush Sr. and I never quite trusted someone who had headed up the CIA to be a president, as the CIA has done many shadowy things through the years, though I suppose it did give him insights and perspectives on geopolitical issues globally that others lacked. The breakup of the Soviet Union and fall of the Berlin Wall were things I never thought i'd live to see, and I suspect he had a hand in helping to make those things happen. He must be rolling over in his grave at Trump being beholden to Putin, our former sworn enemy, and no doubt recognized what a traitor our current president is.

His kindness toward Clinton when the new president took office and his efforts to help with global charitable causes after his presidency were redeeming qualities, as was his willingness to break with his party and vote for Hillary Clinton, recognizing no doubt that as a former Secretary of State and Senator she was by far the most qualified candidate while Trump is a reckless and dangerous moron.

Journalists and the rest of us need to think of future generations reading our perspectives and give an honest analyst, not mean spirited but truthful, on the strengths and weakness of prominent people who pass. Clinton accomplished many great things in his presidency but welfare reform and the Lewinski scandal were not his shining moments, to site an example on the other side of the aisle. Jimmy Carter is a magnificent humanitarian, brilliant and honest, but seemed unable to resolve the Iran hostage situation or the double digit inflation. George W was a caricature of a president, muddling through without the brain power to grasp complex matters and his reliance on evil Cheney was a historic blunder. Kennedy has great ideals and courage and gave the country hope in way that noone has done since until Obama, though the Cuban missile crisis nearly proved his Waterloo. Going back through the history of our nation, many who accomplished great good and laid a foundation for our nation also had personal failings, hypocrisies or blind spots.

No one is one-dimensional, and for the historical record we should be sure not to shy away from what we perceive as the errors of our leaders, while also acknowledging those things that they did right. Also for the younger generation, it's good for them to see that politics has not always been so divisive and that sometimes people can cross the aisle to work for a greater good. Bush Sr. did that when he broke his "read my lips, no new taxes" pledge and approved a budget that raised taxes to address the deficit, rather than gut programs as severely as some in his party wanted hm to do. that cost him his reelection. That took some courage, despite all his other failings, and as a man who volunteered to join the military and be a pilot, that alone sets him apart from the bone spurs coward in the White House.

[EffieBlack]

41. Thank you for taking the time to write this

[UniteFightBack]

54. +1000

[Tom Rinaldo]

36. Well said. n/t

[MFGsunny]

37. K & R

[Gothmog]

39. I agree with Preet Bharara

[canetoad]

42. Kick

It costs nothing to be gracious.

[LudwigPastorius]

43. They say, if you can't say anything nice,...

don't say anything at...

[Honeycombe8]

45. Kick. He sure lived a good, full life. May he rest in peace, with Barbara. nt

[Andy823]

46. Very well said

Thank you for posting this.

[Hekate]

49. Graceful, classy, & a much-needed counterweight to DU's current spate of grave-dancing. Thanks.

[dawg day]

52. Preet fanclub here--

Measured and rational Trump-hatred works for me.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

55. K & R...

We need more of this sentiment in the country today.